This is not financial advice. Information provided is for general information only and is accurate as far as the author is aware, at the time of writing.
The answer to that question will really depend on your time, how you shop and whether you’re willing to make new habits of how you spend. For me, I’m happy to spend a bit more time clicking an additional link or using a gift card to pay because I think of cashback as ‘bonus money’ and it’s nice to get a bit of money back for purchases you were already going to make.
I first looked into cashback probably about ten years or so ago. Back then, it felt clunkier to use and it only felt worth it if you purchased gift cards which you then had to keep track of. Now, there are apps, online shopping is more the norm and gift cards can be purchased instantly and for the exact amount of your bill.
The reason I’m writing about it today is because it’s something I’ve started doing in the last couple of months and I think it is SO good! So I wanted to share what I’m currently using and how it’s gone for me so far. I’m going to specifically write about apps and websites anyone can sign up for (not credit or debit cards).
What is cashback?
Cashback is essentially a financial reward or incentive, usually a percentage of your purchase, made for using a particular retailer. I found this article on the Martin Lewis MoneySavingExpert website really useful for a more detailed explanation of how cashback websites work and make their money.
What I’m using
TopCashback
I signed up to the TopCashback website in August 2025. They also have an app which means keeping track of earnings is easy. I’ve used it a lot for online groceries. I will go to the website, find the supermarket, click on the link and it will redirect me to the online shop. I’ll then do my shopping as usual and that’s it. At the time of writing, I have earned £13.52.
Things I like
- App and website are clear and easy to use
- Lots of retailers available including all the major supermarkets
- There is no minimum amount to withdraw cash
- Withdrawing cash be done either via gift card, bank transfer or PayPal
Things to be aware of
- Cash becoming available for payout can take months. I’ve not yet received any supermarket cashback but I have received a few pounds for some trainers I bought and have cashed that out via PayPal.
- There is a Plus membership (I am on Classic which is free) where £5 of your annual cashback is taken as a fee. I can’t comment on this as I haven’t used it and I’m not sure if it’s worth it.
- A general point that choosing a retailer in order to get the cashback isn’t a sensible spending method. You may end up spending more by choosing a specific retailer because they’re listed on the website when you could actually get the item cheaper elsewhere. Something to be aware of (as there can be a lure to browse the retailers). It’s better to make the decision first (i.e. what you want to buy and where) and then check if it’s available on the cashback website.
- It is worth noting that you will need to allow website cookies in order for the website to track your visit to the retailer (I automatically would ‘decline’ all cookies so I’m having to remember to ‘accept’ for cashback purposes). Before you start, you may need to clear your previous cookies to ensure accurate tracking.
Everup
I signed up to Everup [NOTE this link contains my referral code so if you sign up using it, we both get a little something if it’s a valid referral – see this article for an explanation] at the start of September 2025. This app provides instant gift cards. I have used it a few times for online groceries and a few times in store. If I’m in the store, it does take a few seconds for the gift cards to load so I get the app ready before I get to the checkout so I can enter the amount as soon as I know it. So far (two weeks in), I’ve earned £12.92.
Things I like
- Very easy app to navigate
- Good choice of retailers including major supermarkets
- Has mini games where you use virtual coins (so no actual spend)
- Instant cashback (so no waiting for weeks or months)
- Withdrawing cash can be done via gift card or bank transfer (£0.30 fee applies)
Things to be aware of
- Minimum spend is usually £5
- Can take a bit of time to load the instant gift card. Fine if you’re doing an online shop at home. If you’re in store, just be prepared to wait a few seconds. It doesn’t actually take long usually but can feel like it if there’s a queue! Take the pressure off by loading up the app in advance and if you can, calculate how much your shop will be. You could risk buying the gift card before you get to the check out if it’s somewhere you shop regularly and can use the rest of the gift card another time if you get the calculation wrong.
- There are some quirks to be aware of for some retailers (this is always shown at the bottom of the retailer screen where you enter the amount you want to buy). For example, with Aldi, you can’t use the self scanners but have to use a normal check out.
- Sometimes there are exclusions. For example, I couldn’t use gift card money towards a delivery fee. If in doubt, I’d suggest purchasing less on the gift card as you can make up the difference with your usual payment method.
Airtime
I got Airtime through my mobile provider. It’s an app and when you link a card, it will track your spending automatically. Cashback can be redeemed against your mobile bill. I joined this in June 2025 and to date I’ve earned £8.17 (with £8.32 pending).
Things I like
- All automated so you don’t need to click on links to track. Therefore passive tracking and minimal effort
- Bonus challenges each month where you might get an extra 50p for spending (but watch out and don’t spend just for the sake of getting that extra few pennies because it’s not then really a saving)
Things to be aware of
- Minimum amount to redeem against your mobile bill is £10
- Some retailers can take a long time (weeks) to pay out
Conclusion
I’m really enjoying these three apps and watching the pennies turn into pounds. You can even double up on cashback, so for example, when I do a weekly online grocery shop, I’ll log in via TopCashback and then pay for it using an instant gift card. I am finding I have to remember to check the apps to see if my chosen retailer is featured but I think it’s a habit worth getting into.
So is cashback really worth it? I think so … ?
