Cashback websites use affiliate links. This means when you click through to a retailer’s website from a link on a cashback website – the retailer will pay the cashback website a commission.
This is because the cashback website has sent a customer to the retailer who has then purchased a product or service on their website.
The cashback website will then give you some, or all, of what the retailer pays them.
Jump to a list of cashback websites further down the article here – which contains some sign up links that will give you a bonus just for signing up and gaining cashback yourself!
Why cashback websites pay you
Online retailers track where customers arrive at their website from. Having tracked which website customers clicked through to their website from, they then pay that website a commission if the customer makes a purchase.
This is because another webpage has driven traffic, a customer, to their own website.
Cashback websites simply contain a massive list of retailers – which they update daily – making it convenient for you to easily check if you can or cannot get cashback with specific retailers.
Cashback websites list how much you can get for making a purchase through their affiliate link and give details of what will stop you receiving cashback.
This is how cashback websites make money – this is their business model. They simply want to keep you coming back to their own website.
For some of the purchases made through their affiliate links, the cashback website might keep some of the commission themselves and just pay you a small amount of what they receive. Sometimes they will pay you all of the commission they receive from retailers for a purchase.
This is because cashback websites make money in other ways. They have so many visitors to their own website that they can make money through their own advertising and other revenue streams.
How much can you earn in cashback – TopCashback examples
Simply put – it depends on what you buy and how much you spend.
If you are about to purchase anything online and have found the best deal possible through your own research – just take a minute to have a quick check on a cashback website to see if it is listed.
That way, you will save more on the things you are going to buy anyway!
Ink cartridges for your printer, pet insurance for the dog, that takeaway pizza you order on a Saturday night – all of these are listed on TopCashback.
You can even get cashback for buying gift cards – TopCashback offer between 2.5% – 7% when you buy a gift card. They have gift cards for everything from Costa Coffee to Halfords, and Uber to Morrisons.
Getting cashback for buying a gift card is the definition of free money!
Everyday spending
Amazon – depending on which department – 2% – 10%.
Major fashion brands and outlets – New Look, River Island, Converse, Superdry – there are many more and cashback varies – 2% – 20%.
TV’s, games consoles, fridges, kettles, from retailers such as Curry’s, Very, AO and Littlewoods – anything from 1% – 20%
Bills
Home broadband and TV packages are some of the highest paying – these pay you a fixed amount depending on the exact package you take out because you will be buying in to a longer term contract. Top names such as BT, Virgin and Sky, frequently pay between £100 – £200 if you sign up to a product through TopCashback.
Energy bills – Again these are fixed payouts. Search for individual providers to see what they’re offering as it will usually be a higher. Or, if you use a comparison website to search for the best deal, then consider uSwitch – taking out a new policy with uSwitch pays around £15 – £30.
Travel
Hotels – Booking.com, Expedia, Holiday Inn, Travelodge and many more are listed on cashback websites – 2.5% – 10%.
Trainline and National Express – around 5%.
The rest
If you are about to buy anything online – then just take a minute to search for that retailer on a cashback website.
Chances are, it will be listed and you will be able to get some cashback – just for clicking through to the exact same website you would visit anyway but from the cashback website.
Which cashback website should I use?
I personally use TopCashback.
It’s easy to search and it clearly explains which specific products and services you can get cashback for with each individual retailer. It also lists what might stop you getting cashback. For example, you might need to be a new customer with the retailer.
It is easy to monitor your activity on the site. It displays all of your clicks, if they tracked, and when you are likely to receive your cashback.
They also offer some great options when paying out your cash.
You can transfer it straight to your bank account or PayPal, or you can transfer it to a digital gift card and receive an additional percentage on top.
Definitely a great idea if there are gift cards listed for places you shop regularly – gift cards are available for Tesco, M&S, Halfords, B&Q, Waterstones, Pizza Hut, Ticketmaster, plus loads more.
For paying out your cashback on to a gift card, you’ll get around 2.5% – 7.5% extra – for absolutely free!
Am I guaranteed cashback?
No, but – pretty much.
Human error will be the reason you don’t receive cashback. If there is a technical error, you can contact TopCashback directly and they will look in to and resolve the issue for you.
The most important thing to remember:
Make sure your last click through to the retailer’s website was from the cashback website.
If you click through to a retailer’s website from a Google search result page whilst having a casual browse, then open up the cashback website and click through to the same retailer’s website – the retailer will record the first click from your computer or device as coming from the Google search result page.
The retailer would thank Google, but not the cashback website.
You need to ensure that the retailers website is certain you arrived at their site from the cashback website.
To make sure you receive cashback:
- Close all apps and webpages you have open which are from the retailer.
- In your internet settings, clear browsing data (Now the next time you visit the retailer it will be tracked as if it was your first visit)
- Open the cashback app or website.
- Search for the retailer you want.
- Click the link which will take you to the retailer’s webpage.
- Make your purchase.
TopCashback will send you an email telling you that your click has tracked – usually within a few hours.
If you don’t receive this within 24 hours, and if the cashback is a large amount and you have the option to cancel your order, then do so and repeat the process.
Once you have received the email saying your click to the retailer has tracked, the cashback amount you are due will now be displayed in your account as pending.
Cashback will continue to be displayed as pending for anywhere from a month to a few months – but the exact time will be listed. In your account you will be able to see how long you will have to wait for cashback to be confirmed and then payable.
This allows the cashback website to recieve funds from the retailer before they pay you, and it also protects them from people returning products and still recieving cashback.
When the cashback is displayed as payable, you can then transfer it out to your bank account, Paypal, or get a higher payout on to a digital gift card.
Use a referral link when signing up!
It is entirely free to sign up to a cashback website. Cashback websites have constantly changing offers when you sign up – but you’ll need to use a referal link like the ones below.
If you do this, you will automatically gain some extra free cash just for recieveing a certain amount of cashback yourself. Winner!
Here are some great links to get you started:
They almost always have the highest payouts, plus the website is really easy to use.
If you use this link here to sign up for a new account, you will usually get around £5 in free cash or as a giftcard, when you have received £10 in cashback yourself.
If you plan to make use of cashback websites on a regular basis, it is definitely worth having another platform to compare payout rates.
Quidco also have sign up offers, often around £10 in cash, but with Quidco you sometimes only need to earn £5 in payable cashback yourself to get the bonus.
Check out Quidco using this link here to get a sign up bonus with them!
Going overseas soon?
Check out this article on Revolut – A detailed guide discussing a travel money card and app which will save you money when you travel next!
Disclaimer: This article may contain affiliate links, clicking through and paying for these products or services may result in this website getting a commission at no additional cost to you.
