Best UK Cashback Platforms (2025)

Complete Guide to Cashback: Everything You Need to Know

Save Money on Every Purchase with Top UK Cashback Sites and Apps

As prices for everyday essentials continue to rise, finding ways to cut costs is more important than ever. According to recent data, UK households spend an average of £3,800 a year on groceries (NimbleFins | AHDB). Households also spend an average of £1000 a year on fuel to get around (Office for National Statistics). With this in mind, cashback websites and apps offer a simple way to reduce your spending by earning money back on purchases you already make.

Many supermarkets and retailers also budget cashback offers into their pricing strategies, meaning that by not using these platforms, you're leaving money on the table. It's a smart and easy way to cut costs on your everyday essentials like groceries and fuel, without changing your shopping habits.

How Much Can You Save with Cashback Sites?

By taking advantage of cashback offers on everyday purchases, you can receive:

• 1% to 10% back at supermarkets and most shops (online and in-store)
• Bonuses for first-time users or referring friends
• Around 4% cashback on groceries and fuel typically

What Are Cashback Websites and How Do They Work?

Cashback websites act as intermediaries between shoppers and retailers. The process is simple:

• You click through a cashback site before making a purchase
• The cashback site earns a commission from the retailer for referring you
• Instead of keeping all that commission, the cashback site shares a portion with you
• That shared portion is your "cashback"

Types of UK Cashback Platforms Compared

Cashback Debit Cards

Several UK banks and FinTech companies now offer debit cards with built-in cashback features. I cover these in detail in my complete guide to cashback debit cards:

• Uphold offers 1% cashback on almost all spending
• Chase, Nationwide FlexDirect, and Santander's Edge account also offer cashback
• Bank cards usually have stricter restrictions on what qualifies

Best for: All everyday spending

Traditional Cashback Websites

Sites like TopCashback and Quidco are comprehensive cashback platforms covering everything from online shopping to service signups. You visit the cashback site first, then click through to complete your purchase or signup. I use both of these regularly and they offer:

• The widest range of retailer partnerships for online shopping
• Fixed cashback amounts for bank switches, broadband contracts, and energy switching
• Often the highest rates for big purchases like holidays, insurance, and utilities
• "Get paid to" (GPT) offers for service signups like streaming platforms and software subscriptions

I track these signup offers across multiple platforms in my GPT offer comparison tool to find the best rates.

Best for: Major purchases, service switching, and planned online shopping

Cashback Apps

Apps like EverUp, Airtime Rewards, and Jam Doughnut specialize in:

• Mobile shopping and gift card purchases
• Instant cashback when you buy gift cards for in-store use

Best for: High-street shopping and retail purchases

Card-Linked Offers

Services that connect directly to your payment cards track purchases automatically without needing to visit a website first. You simply register your card once, then earn cashback whenever you shop at participating retailers.

Best for: Everyday spending where you might forget to claim cashback

Receipt Scanning Apps

Apps that reward you for uploading photos of your shopping receipts after purchase. While technically not pure cashback, these complement cashback sites well. I maintain a comprehensive list of receipt scanning apps if you want to explore these further.

Best for: Claiming multiple rewards from a single shopping trip

Most cashback sites are free to join, though some premium services like NX Rewards charge a monthly fee. From my experience using these platforms regularly, I've joined every major cashback site available - many are worth signing up for just to claim the referral bonus.

Top Cashback Categories for Maximum Savings

Groceries and Everyday Essentials

With food prices higher than they have been in years, supermarket cashback should be essential for all households. I track rates across all major platforms in my supermarket cashback comparison tool.

• Supermarket gift cards typically offer 3-5% cashback
• Occasional promotions push this to 7-10%
• Most UK supermarkets participate: Tesco, Sainsbury's, ASDA, Morrisons, and Waitrose

Popular apps: EverUp, Jam Doughnut, and TopCashback's TopGiftcards service.

Travel and Holidays

Travel bookings often feature the highest cashback percentages. From my experience booking trips through these platforms:

• Hotels: 5-12% on major booking sites
• Flights: 1-4% on airlines and comparison sites
• Package holidays: 2-8% on travel agencies
• Car hire: 6-12% on rental services

I use TopCashback and Quidco for all my travel bookings as they typically offer the best rates. Always book travel through these platforms to avoid leaving significant money on the table.

Energy and Utility Switching

Energy, broadband, and mobile contract switches can earn substantial fixed cashback amounts:

• Energy suppliers: £30-£60 per switch
• Broadband packages: £50-£120 for new contracts
• Mobile contracts: £30-£100 for new plans

Quidco Compare and TopCashback often have exclusive utility switching deals that other platforms can't match.

Banking and Financial Products

Financial products offer some of the highest-value cashback opportunities:

• Credit cards: £10-£30 for approved applications
• Current accounts: £50-£150 for switching banks
• Insurance policies: 5-25% cashback on premiums
• Investment platforms: £50-£250 for new accounts (depending on deposit amount)

Always check the specific requirements to qualify for financial product cashback, as these often have the strictest terms.

Common Cashback Problems and Solutions

Tracking Issues

Problem: Your purchase doesn't track or show in your cashback account.

Solution: Always clear cookies before clicking through to retailers, disable ad blockers when using cashback sites, and take screenshots of your orders. Most platforms have missing cashback claim forms if tracking fails.

Payment Delays

Problem: Cashback takes months to become payable.

Solution: Be aware of typical tracking times for different retailers (travel and financial products are notoriously slow). Plan your withdrawals around these timeframes and consider platforms with faster payment options for urgent needs.

Account Restrictions

Problem: Cashback account limitations or suspensions.

Solution: Carefully follow platform terms of service, avoid using VPNs when making tracked purchases, and maintain consistent personal details across all shopping activities.

Declined Cashback

Problem: Tracked cashback later shows as declined.

Solution: Always check exclusions before purchasing (some sale items, discount codes, and multi-buy offers may invalidate cashback). Keep detailed records of purchases to contest unfair declines.