Earn cash-back rewards with TopCashback — plus, enjoy a $25 sign-up bonus - The Points Guy (2024)

You could be leaving rewards on the table if you aren't earning points or extra cash back with your online purchases. And with inflation remaining a serious concern for many Americans, every little bit helps. Thankfully, getting extra rewards is super simple — it just requires a couple of extra clicks.

There are many online shopping portals — including ones from major airlines and hotel loyalty programs, and several independent cash-back rewards programs you can join. These sites award points, miles or cash back on almost everything you buy online. At the most basic level, you start at one of these portals and then click through to the retailer's website to earn extra rewards rather than starting directly at the merchant's website. So, before you buy your next lawnmower at homedepot.com, jeans from gap.com or decorative dish towels and must-have home goods from target.com, be sure to get rewarded for every dollar you spend.

Here at TPG, we often talk about Rakuten, a hybrid program that allows you to earn either cash back or American Express Membership Rewards points on your online purchases. But no one program always has the best return. After all, different portals often have varying earning rates for the same retailers.

This guide will dive deeply into a different cash-back portal — TopCashback. While it doesn't award points, it does let you redeem rewards for cash or gift cards. Plus, it has one valuable feature that no other cash-back portal has: a "Highest Cash Back Guarantee."

What is TopCashback?

TopCashback is an online shopping portal that partners with over 7,000 online retailers, including big names like Adidas, Apple, eBay, Macy's and Sephora, and some travel brands like Marriott, Vrbo and Hilton. You can use the portal to earn cash back on certain gift card purchases and place curbside pickup orders.

TopCashback calls itself "the USA's most generous cashback website." That's because it passes 100% of the day-to-day commission from merchants back to members. The site explains that it makes money through advertisements and sponsored links labeled "zero cashback." Merchants also pay the site bonuses from time to time.

How to sign up for TopCashback

Until Dec. 31, new members will receive a $25 sign-up bonus when you earn your first $10 of cash back.

Signing up for TopCashback is easy. Just head to the website, enter your email and choose a password.

Once you've joined, you can immediately start earning on your online purchases and earn cash back for every friend you refer.

Earn cash-back rewards with TopCashback — plus, enjoy a $25 sign-up bonus - The Points Guy (1)

Daily Newsletter

Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter

Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

How to use TopCashback

TopCashback works just like any other online shopping portal once you have an account. Head to the site before making any online purchases.

Earn cash-back rewards with TopCashback — plus, enjoy a $25 sign-up bonus - The Points Guy (2)

There's a search box at the top of the website, which you can use to search for the merchant you want to shop with.

Then, click through to the retailer's site to complete the purchase.

Earn cash-back rewards with TopCashback — plus, enjoy a $25 sign-up bonus - The Points Guy (3)

When you click the "Get Cash Back" button next to a store, a new window or tab will open, indicating that you're being redirected to the merchant's website. You must complete your purchase in that window so that TopCashback can track how much you spent and reward you.

Earn cash-back rewards with TopCashback — plus, enjoy a $25 sign-up bonus - The Points Guy (4)

Alternatively, if you want to simplify your life, you could download TopCashback's browser extension.

It's available for Chrome and Firefox and will automatically notify you when shopping with a participating retailer. So, you'll need to click "Activate Now" to earn cash back instead of going through the main portal. It will also show you any coupons available for that site.

Earn cash-back rewards with TopCashback — plus, enjoy a $25 sign-up bonus - The Points Guy (5)

Transactions should show up on your earnings page within seven days. First, they'll appear as "Pending," meaning that your transaction has been recorded, but the retailer hasn't yet confirmed that all criteria have been met for cash back. Then, your transaction will switch to "Confirmed" status within a month. The final step is to wait for your transaction to become "Payable." This usually occurs within a few weeks once the affiliate network invoices the retailer, though it can take up to 90 days.

Earn cash-back rewards with TopCashback — plus, enjoy a $25 sign-up bonus - The Points Guy (6)

You can claim your cash back at any time once it reaches payable status. TopCashback allows you to cash out through PayPal, automated clearing house transfer and a variety of gift card options with retailers such as Amazon, Disney and Sephora — though some merchants have minimum amounts for gift card rewards.

Unlike with some cash-back portals, there are no minimums to request a payout. You can usually get up to a 5% bonus when you request your payout as credit with certain merchants or as a Visa or American Express prepaid card.

Earn cash-back rewards with TopCashback — plus, enjoy a $25 sign-up bonus - The Points Guy (7)

Cash-back guarantee on TopCashback

TopCashback stands out from the other online shopping portals because it offers a "Highest Cash Back Guarantee." Plain and simple, if you find a better cash-back deal on another site, you can file a claim, and TopCashback will match the offer once it's been reviewed and approved. This is the only online shopping portal we know to offer a guarantee like this.

Earn cash-back rewards with TopCashback — plus, enjoy a $25 sign-up bonus - The Points Guy (8)

The higher rate must have been offered on the same day your transaction occurred. Also, TopCashback will only match cash-back rates from the following competitors:

  • BeFrugal
  • GoCashBack
  • Honey
  • MaxRebates
  • Mr. Rebates
  • Rakuten
  • Tada (formerly ShopAtHome)

In other words, you can't match non-monetary rewards, such as airline miles.

To file a claim, you must fill out a form via the customer service page. It must be submitted within seven days of the transaction date, with the transaction visible in your account. Although there's no option to attach files to the initial claim form, TopCashback suggests retaining a timestamped screenshot of the higher offer.

Earn cash-back rewards with TopCashback — plus, enjoy a $25 sign-up bonus - The Points Guy (9)

Your best bet for maximizing this feature is to use a shopping portal aggregator like Cashback Monitor. It allows you to search for retailers and see the earning rates you'd get across all applicable shopping portals. So, even if TopCashback isn't offering the highest rate, you'll be able to see who's offering a better rate to match it.

Related: Use a shopping portal aggregator to maximize online purchases

Important reminders when using TopCashback

Using TopCashback is relatively straightforward, but there are a few important things to keep in mind:

  • For TopCashback to track your shopping trips, you must have cookies enabled on your browser.
  • Only use promotions or promo codes found on the portal; if you use others, they may void your rewards.
  • Be sure to read the restrictions for each merchant. Many won't count gift cards as eligible purchases for earning bonuses; others will exclude certain products.
  • Remember to pay with a credit card that will offer the best earning rate on your purchase. Most online merchants don't fall into the traditional bonus categories, so you'll probably want to stick with a card that's good for everyday purchases.

For example, you can use the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and earn 2 miles per dollar on all purchases.

Also, remember that the Highest Cash Back Guarantee is only useful if you're only trying to earn cash back. If you're flexible, you can sometimes get a greater return by going through a portal that earns points or miles — even if the earning rate is lower.

For instance, with Rakuten, you can opt to earn American Express Membership Rewards points. TPG values Amex points at 2 cents apiece, effectively doubling your return over the same cash back. If you had to choose between earning 3% cash back via TopCashback or 2 Amex points per dollar spent via Rakuten, you'll get a higher return with Rakuten if you value Amex points similarly to TPG.

Earn cash-back rewards with TopCashback — plus, enjoy a $25 sign-up bonus - The Points Guy (10)

Bottom line

You should always go through a shopping portal when making online purchases.

If it's cash-back rewards you're after, then TopCashback is a great tool to bookmark, thanks to its "Highest Cash Back Guarantee." And until Dec. 31, new members will receive a $25 sign-up bonus when you earn your first $10 of cash back.

However, you can sometimes get greater value through a portal earning points or miles, so it's important to do the math and see what makes the most sense.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Earn cash-back rewards with TopCashback — plus, enjoy a $25 sign-up bonus - The Points Guy (2024)

FAQs

Earn cash-back rewards with TopCashback — plus, enjoy a $25 sign-up bonus - The Points Guy? ›

31, new members will receive a $25 sign-up bonus when you earn your first $10 of cash back. Signing up for TopCashback is easy. Just head to the website, enter your email and choose a password. Once you've joined, you can immediately start earning on your online purchases and earn cash back for every friend you refer.

How do I get my cashback from TopCashback? ›

Once your transaction has become payable you have the option to withdraw the cashback via BACS & PayPal. Alternatively, you can transfer your payable cashback in to Reward Wallet and gain access to a wide range of gift cards and prepaid cards.

What is TopCashback plus? ›

Plus Account

£5.00 subtracted from your annual cashback earnings. Up to 25% payout bonus through Reward Wallet. £35 Tell-a-Friend bonus for referring your friends. Extra Top Up on Cashback. Enhanced monthly cashback statements.

How long does it take for TopCashback to pay out? ›

After you have sent the image of your receipt to us, the cashback amount will track to your account Earnings at pending status within 1 hour. It can then take up to 30 days for the cashback to be approved and made payable (the point at which you can withdraw your cashback).

Does TopCashback give you money? ›

It's really simple. Every time you click through and purchase something from one of the 6,000 major retailers featured on TopCashback, the retailer pays us a commission for referring you to their website. We pass 100% of this commission back to you as 'cashback'.

How do I access my cash back rewards? ›

Many card issuers will allow you to redeem your cash back with a statement credit, a direct deposit to your bank account or a check payable to you. Some issuers also offer redemption options like gift cards, tickets to concerts and sporting events or even charitable donations.

Is a TopCashback plus account worth it? ›

As a TopCashback Plus member, you will have access to a range of features and benefits in addition to those that members with a Classic account will receive, including a bonus on most transactions, enhanced Tell-a-Friend bonus rates, and cashback deals and account features that are exclusive to you!

Does TopCashback charge a fee? ›

TopCashback is completely free to join. If you opt for a Classic account, then the site will be completely free for you to use as well. If you opt for a Plus account, then we will deduct a £5 annual admin fee from your Earnings in return for a range of added features and benefits.

How do I spend my money on TopCashback? ›

Go in store to your chosen retailer and simply pay with your gift card at the checkout. If you spend all the funds on your card, remember to keep hold of it so that you can re-load it at a later date with additional funds.

Why can't I withdraw from TopCashback? ›

If you find that you can't use your desired payout option, you may need to press 'split payout by merchant', untick any restricted merchants and the Payout amount will automatically recalculate.

Why is TopCashback not paying out? ›

If this happens, then firstly – don't panic. Please wait for seven days for this to track; as some transactions take a little while to be reported to us by the merchants. If at this stage, the cashback has not tracked to your account, simply lodge a 'Missing Cashback Claim' and we'll be able to look into it for you.

What is the minimum payout for TopCashback? ›

You can request a payout via BACS or PayPal, or request an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card for any amount above 1p. The threshold for an M&S ecode is £1.00.

Do I pay tax on TopCashback? ›

The collected data will encompass tax ID, bank account details, and transaction specifics. It's important to note the new measures do not apply to cashback sites such as Quidco and Topcashback as cashback is not taxable.

How do I make sure TopCashback works? ›

How can I make sure I receive my cashback?
  1. Open the menu.
  2. Go to 'Settings'
  3. Type 'cookies' into the search box.
  4. Select 'Cookies and other site data'
  5. Change your Cookies setting to 'Allow third-party cookies'

Which is better, Quidco or TopCashback? ›

The only two sites that offer really worthwhile cashback amounts are TopCashback and Quidco. But the former has a bigger selection and is easier to use, so it takes a narrow win.

How do I get cashback on my payment? ›

For instance, you could use your Credit Card to pay your utility bills and earn cashback. You could also earn cashback on specific purchases like flights, hotel bookings, shopping vouchers, etc., using specific Credit Cards on PayZapp.

Why is my TopCashback bonus not showing up? ›

HomeTopCashback FAQs and HelpWhy is my 'referral bonus' not showing in my account? For the referral bonus to be credited to your account, the following criteria must have been met: - Both you and your friend must authenticate your email addresses with us. - Your friend must have joined TopCashback using your link.

Why is my cashback not tracking? ›

HomeTopCashback FAQs and HelpWhy didn't my purchase track? Whilst the vast majority of transactions do track, there will always be situations where, for instance, anti-spyware, anti-virus or other protection on your computer might prevent cashback tracking back to your account.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Edwin Metz

Last Updated:

Views: 5461

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Edwin Metz

Birthday: 1997-04-16

Address: 51593 Leanne Light, Kuphalmouth, DE 50012-5183

Phone: +639107620957

Job: Corporate Banking Technician

Hobby: Reading, scrapbook, role-playing games, Fishing, Fishing, Scuba diving, Beekeeping

Introduction: My name is Edwin Metz, I am a fair, energetic, helpful, brave, outstanding, nice, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.