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You can get cashback on Amazon purchases by buying Amazon gift cards through cashback apps first. It's the same apps you'd use for any other shopping, just applied to Amazon.
There's a simple method that gets you 5% back, and a more complex one that can get you up to 26%. I'll start with the simple method that most people should use.
How Amazon Gift Cards Work for Cashback
The Basic Idea
Instead of paying Amazon directly with your card, you:
- Buy Amazon gift cards through cashback apps
- Get cashback on the gift card purchase
- Add gift cards to your Amazon account - they become "Amazon Gift Card Balance"
- Use the balance to pay for any Amazon purchase
Key point: Amazon gift cards work exactly like cash on Amazon. Once added to your account, they're just "balance" you can spend on anything. The balance expires after about 10 years, so plenty of time to use it.
Why This Works
Amazon rarely appears on cashback sites directly, but you can buy Amazon gift cards through loads of cashback apps. So instead of getting 0% back shopping on Amazon, you get 5% back by buying gift cards first.
Simple Way: 5% Back on Every Amazon Purchase
Use the Uphold cashback debit card to purchase Amazon gift cards via the Airtime Rewards app (a cashback app that gives you money back when you buy gift cards or use a linked debit card) to get a total of 5% cashback.
Perfect for Beginners - Set Up Once, Use Forever
What You Need:
- Uphold Mastercard (free, 1% cashback)
- Airtime Rewards app (free)
How It Works:
- Link Uphold card to Airtime Rewards
- Go to More → Want to earn more rewards → Buy gift cards → Amazon
- Buy Amazon gift card with Uphold card
- Get 4% from Airtime + 1% from Uphold = 5% total
Advanced Way: Up to 26% Back (For Serious Optimizers)
This approach can save you up to 26% on Amazon purchases by combining discounted gift cards, cashback apps, and receipt scanning. It's much more complex than the simple way above, but the savings can be huge for large purchases.
Advanced users only: This approach is complex, requires NX Rewards access, and is only worth it for large purchases (£100+). Most people should stick with the simple 5% way above.
What is NX Rewards?
This advanced approach relies on NX Rewards, a cashback service that offers heavily discounted gift cards. The main benefit is One4All gift cards at 20% off - so a £100 card costs just £80. You can get NX Rewards access for free by using it once each month (I submit a picture of my Tesco receipt to claim back my monthly subscription fee).
Key Benefits for Amazon Cashback
- One4All Discounts: £100 gift cards for £80 (20% off)
- Receipt Cashback: 2% back on store receipts
- Works with Other Apps: Combine with Airtime Rewards for extra cashback
- Free Access Available: Often no subscription fee required
Important Details
- Free Access: Can get subscription fee (£18/month) refunded every month by using the site once a month.
- Best For: People making regular large purchases
- No Risk: If you use NX Rewards anyway, you will get free access after claiming the monthly bonus, no downside to trying
Want more details? Check out my complete NX Rewards guide on r/beermoneyuk for everything you need to know about getting free access.
How the Advanced Way Works
What You Need:
- NX Rewards access (often free)
- Airtime Rewards app
- Access to Boots store
How It Works:
- Buy One4All card: £100 card for £80 from NX Rewards (20% off)
- Add to One4All app: Download the One4All app and add your gift card to it
- Set as default: Make sure the One4All card is selected as your default card in the app
- Set up tap and pay: Enable NFC/tap and pay in the One4All app (One4All acts as its own wallet)
- Shop at Boots: Use tap and pay with your One4All card to buy £100 EveryWish gift card
- Get Airtime cashback: 4% back on Boots purchase (make sure you have Airtime Rewards set up first)
- Submit receipt: 2% back from NX Rewards
- Convert to Amazon: Use EveryWish for Amazon gift cards (you must use the search box to search for Amazon. Amazon does not show up on EveryWish when browsing, but does when you search for it.)
Step 1: Buying One4All Cards from NX Rewards
Search for "One4All" on NX Rewards to find the discounted gift cards (click to enlarge):
You can see the "SAVE 20%" badges on the One4All cards - this is where the big savings come from.
What You're Looking For at Boots:
When you get to Boots, you're looking for EveryWish gift cards that look like this (click to enlarge):
These work with 250+ brands and can be converted to Amazon gift cards through the EveryWish website.
After Your Boots Purchase:
Your One4All app will show the transaction like this (click to enlarge):
You can see the successful £100 transaction at "BOOTS THE CHEMIST" - this is what triggers the Airtime Rewards cashback.
Converting to Amazon Gift Cards:
Once you have your EveryWish gift card, go to the EveryWish website and search for Amazon (click to enlarge):
You can then convert your EveryWish balance directly to Amazon gift cards. Remember to use the search box - Amazon doesn't appear when browsing categories.
The Math:
- One4All discount: £20 (20%)
- Airtime cashback: £4 (4%)
- NX receipt: £2 (2%)
- Total: £26 saved = 26% back
Which Method Should You Use?
Most People: Simple Method (5%)
- Easy setup, works every time
- Perfect for regular Amazon shopping
- No subscription fees
- Consistent 5% savings
Big Purchases: Advanced Method (26%)
- Worth the complexity for £100+ orders
- Requires NX Rewards subscription
- Need access to Boots store
- Planning and setup time needed
My strategy: Simple method for regular shopping, advanced method for expensive items like electronics.
Essential Apps You Need
Uphold Mastercard
- Rate: 1% back on everything
- Annual Fee: £0
- Use For: Foundation card for all methods
Airtime Rewards
- Amazon Rate: 4% back on gift cards
- Boots Rate: 4% back (for advanced method)
- Use For: Both simple and advanced methods
NX Rewards (Advanced Only)
- One4All Discount: £100 cards for £80
- Receipt Cashback: 2% back on receipts
- Use For: Advanced 26% method only
Essential Tips
For Gift Cards
- Screenshot your purchase in case something goes wrong
- Use them quickly - don't let them sit for months
- Check rates regularly - they change frequently
For Advanced Method
- Plan ahead - multi-step process takes time
- Keep receipts - needed for NX Rewards cashback
- Worth it for large purchases - £100+ orders
When Things Go Wrong
Gift Card Issues
Screenshot your purchase and contact app support within 48 hours. Keep PayPal/card transaction records as proof.
Missing Cashback
Wait 2-3 days for tracking, then submit missing cashback claim with order proof. Most apps resolve within a week.
Remember: Don't stress if something occasionally doesn't work. Even 90% success rate with these methods beats 0% cashback.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which method should beginners use?
Start with the simple 5% method (Uphold + Airtime). It's reliable, consistent, and takes 10 minutes to set up.
Is the 26% method really worth it?
For purchases over £100, absolutely. Saving £26 on a £100 order is worth the extra steps. For smaller amounts, stick to the simple method.
How often do rates change?
Gift card rates change regularly. The 4% Airtime rate for Amazon is fairly stable, but always check before large purchases.
Do I need both methods?
No. Most people use only the simple method and save 5% consistently. The advanced method is for optimization enthusiasts.
