Cashback platforms pay you a percentage of your purchase price when you shop through them. They receive a commission from retailers and share some of it with you. It is one of the simplest ways to save money on spending you were planning to do anyway.
How cashback platforms work
You sign up to a cashback site, click through to a retailer via the platform, complete your purchase, and the retailer pays the platform a commission. The platform shares a portion with you, usually as a percentage of the purchase. Some platforms pay in cash, others in vouchers or gift cards.
Main types of cashback in the US
- Shopping portals: click through a platform to retailers like John Lewis, M&S, Argos, insurance providers and more
- Cashback credit cards: earn cashback on purchases made with the card (only useful if paid in full each month)
- Bank account cashback: some current accounts offer cashback on direct debits
- Supermarket loyalty schemes: Nectar at Sainsbury's, Clubcard at Tesco offer cashback-equivalent rewards
Making the most of cashback safely
- Only use cashback on purchases you had already planned to make
- Never spend more to earn more cashback — the maths almost never works
- Check cashback is tracked before completing a purchase
- Keep records of your cashback claims in case you need to follow up
- Withdraw or use cashback once it clears — do not let it build indefinitely
Where Ask Fin can help
The Cashback Finder tool in Ask Fin helps you explore cashback opportunities relevant to your regular spending patterns — without encouraging you to spend more.
General guidance only — not regulated financial advice.
How much cashback can you realistically earn?
Cashback rates vary by retailer and platform, but typical rates for US shopping portal cashback are: supermarkets and groceries 1 to 3%, electronics 1 to 5%, clothing and fashion 3 to 10%, insurance 5 to 15% (or a fixed amount per policy), travel 2 to 6%. A household spending $10,000 per year through a cashback portal on applicable purchases might earn $150 to $400 in cashback annually — without spending anything they would not have spent anyway.
Stacking cashback for maximum return
Some purchases allow you to stack multiple cashback sources simultaneously: a cashback credit card (paid in full each month) combined with a shopping portal combined with a loyalty scheme. For a large purchase like a holiday or home appliance, this combination can generate meaningful cashback on a single transaction. Always check the terms — some platforms prohibit stacking with other offers.
When cashback credit cards make sense
Cashback credit cards earn a percentage on every purchase — typically 0.5 to 1.5% for standard cards, higher for premium cards with annual fees. They only make financial sense if the balance is paid in full every month without exception. If you carry a balance, the interest rate (typically 20 to 30% APR) will far outweigh any cashback earned. Ask Fin does not recommend specific credit products — check the FCA-regulated comparison sites for current offers.