UK cashback · September 2026
Rewards apps compared: how they pay and what to watch
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Important: This guide provides general information, not personalised financial advice. Financial products, rates and eligibility rules can change, so check the provider’s current terms before applying. Some links are referral links — we may earn a commission. You can check a firm’s details on the FCA Register.
Quick comparison
Which rewards app fits how you shop? If you’re on a supported mobile network and want rewards without thinking about it, a card-linked app like Airtime pays credit off your phone bill. If you already plan to spend with a retailer, gift-card apps like Cheddar and JamDoughnut give you cashback when you buy the gift card first.
All of them pay small amounts. Treat rewards as a top-up, not a reason to spend.
Rewards apps: card-linking vs gift cards (checked 4 October 2026)
All three apps below were still operating when we checked on 4 October 2026.
Snapshot from the detailed table below (as of 12 September 2026). Check each app before relying on a figure.
Want a bit back without changing how you shop? Check the apps’ current offers →
Rewards apps at a glance
Columns use the closest public equivalent where an app does not publish every field the same way.
| Brand | Fees | Minimum payout | Cashback delay or processing time | Payment methods | App availability | Referral bonus | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airtime Rewards (now Airtime) | Free for supported-network bill credit; card withdrawals for unsupported networks may take about £1.30 (check in-app) | £10 bill credit (£5 with optional Airtime Up) | Often up to about 90 days pending on free tier; Airtime Up can clear much faster | Mobile bill credit (EE, O2, Vodafone, Three and some PAYG partners); limited card withdraw if network unsupported | iOS and Android | Varies — check live in-app | Check Airtime’s current offer → |
| Cheddar | None advertised for standard cash-out | £5 to bank | Gift-card style cashback is typically near-instant to the balance once purchased; older auto card-link rewards closed to new earning after January 2025 | Bank transfer from in-app balance | iOS and Android (FCA-authorised firm) | Varies | Check Cheddar’s current offer → |
| JamDoughnut | About 30p on bank cash-out; gift-card cash-out usually free | £10 (1,000 points) | Bank cash-outs often within about one working day once requested | UK bank transfer or gift cards / vouchers | iOS and Android | Friend bonuses vary (example public codes exist; amounts change) | Check JamDoughnut’s current offer → |
| CheckoutSmart | 5% if you cash out below £20 | £20 for fee-free cash-out (lower amounts may take a 5% fee) | Claims then cash-out: often several working days (reports cite about 5–10) | Bank transfer / PayPal (confirm in-app) | iOS and Android (UK receipt scanning) | Varies | — |
| Shopmium | Free to use; inactivity fees can apply after long quiet periods (check terms) | £10 | Claims often reviewed within about 2 business days; withdrawals typically about 3–5 business days | Bank or PayPal | iOS and Android | £1 each way on first approved claim (live referral terms) | — |
| MyMoneyPocket | — | — | Service reported closed (2022) — not a live option | — | — | — | — |
Some links in this table are referral links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Rankings are based on our review methodology, not commission.
Some brands link to the official site until a referral code is available.
Drawn from public help pages and 2025–2026 reviews (Airtime FAQs / MSE; Cheddar site; JamDoughnut help; CheckoutSmart and Shopmium public guides). Confirm every figure in the live app before you plan a cash-out.
Good for
Who each option suits
- Airtime may suit you if you’re on a supported network and want card-linked rewards without changing how you shop.
- Cheddar may suit you if you’re happy to buy a gift card before you pay and want a £5 cash-out to your bank.
- JamDoughnut may suit you if you buy gift cards where the rate beats alternatives that week.
- CheckoutSmart or Shopmium may suit you if you already snap receipts for branded supermarket deals.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who doesn’t want to link a card or bank account to an app
- People who won’t reach the minimum cash-out
- Anyone tempted to buy gift cards they won’t use
- People who find app admin more effort than the reward
Which app fits
The right app depends on how you shop.
- Airtime fits if you are on a supported network and want passive card-linked bill credit.
- JamDoughnut or Cheddar fits if you are happy buying gift cards where the rate beats the alternatives that week.
- Shopmium or CheckoutSmart fits if you already snap receipts for branded supermarket deals.
No single app suits every basket. Stacking with a shopping portal such as TopCashback or Quidco can help on big online orders — but only when each site’s terms allow it and tracking works.
Some links in this table are referral links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Rankings are based on our review methodology, not commission.
Which app fits each need
Full explanation
Content as of 13 September 2026 (Europe/London). App terms change — check each app before you rely on a payout figure.
Rewards apps chip a little money back when you shop — via a linked card, a gift-card purchase, or a snapped receipt. They are handy extras, not a wage. Tracking fails.
Pending periods drag on. The balance in an app wallet is not an FSCS deposit (FSCS covers eligible bank deposits up to £120,000 per person, per authorised institution).
This page covers Airtime, Cheddar, JamDoughnut, CheckoutSmart and Shopmium. MyMoneyPocket is named because readers still search for it — public reports say it closed in 2022, so it is not treated as a live option below.
Visual summary — pros and cons
Airtime
- Strengths: automatic card-link; useful bill credit
- Limitations: long pending; weaker if your network is unsupported
Cheddar
- Strengths: low £5 cash-out; regulated firm
- Limitations: model now centred on gift cards, not auto card cashback
JamDoughnut
- Strengths: gift-card cashback with quick bank option
- Limitations: £10 minimum; 30p bank fee
CheckoutSmart
- Strengths: supermarket receipt offers
- Limitations: £20 fee-free bar; scanning faff
Shopmium
- Strengths: product-level cashback; PayPal option
- Limitations: £10 threshold; offers are brand-led
The catch
- Airtime: pending rewards can take up to about 90 days on the free tier; cash withdrawals for unsupported networks may take about £1.30.
- Cheddar: older automatic card-linked rewards closed to new earning after January 2025.
- JamDoughnut: bank cash-outs cost about 30p.
- CheckoutSmart: cashing out below £20 may cost 5%.
- Shopmium: inactivity fees can apply after long quiet periods.
Honest limits
- Pending cashback can take weeks or months and can still fail.
- App balances are not bank deposits and are not covered by the FSCS £120,000 deposit limit.
- Never spend more just to hit a cash-out threshold.
- MyMoneyPocket is reported closed, so don’t download look-alike apps.
Check providers’ current offers
Airtime Rewards (now Airtime)
Good for: Airtime may suit you if you’re on a supported network and want card-linked rewards without changing how you shop.
Card-linked rewards paid off your mobile bill; £10 balance to redeem.
Check Airtime’s current offer →Cheddar
Good for: Cheddar may suit you if you’re happy to buy a gift card before you pay and want a £5 cash-out to your bank.
Gift-card cashback paid from your bank via Open Banking; £5 minimum cash-out.
Check Cheddar’s current offer →TopCashback
Shopping cashback portal; no fixed minimum for bank or PayPal withdrawals.
Check TopCashback’s current offer →Rakuten (UK)
Cashback portal paid monthly once you have £5.01 confirmed.
Check Rakuten’s current offer →Some links in this table are referral links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Rankings are based on our review methodology, not commission.
Want rewards without changing how you shop?
Some links in this table are referral links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Rankings are based on our review methodology, not commission.
Key takeaways
- Match the app to how you already shop: card-link, gift card, or receipt snap.
- Watch minimum payouts (£5–£20) and any cash-out fees.
- Expect delays and occasional missed tracking.
- Treat rewards as a small top-up, not a reason to overspend.
FAQ
How do rewards apps give money back?
The apps on this page use one of three main routes: a linked card, a gift-card purchase or a snapped receipt. How and when you’re paid depends on each app’s own terms.
What is a cash-out threshold?
It’s the minimum balance an app needs before you can withdraw. Thresholds and any cash-out fees vary by app and can change, so check the live app before you plan a cash-out. Spending more just to reach a threshold can cost more than it returns.
Why can rewards take so long to arrive?
Pending periods can run for weeks or months, and rewards can still fail. Missed tracking is common if you use the wrong payment route, apply an excluded voucher or shop through a different app.
Is MyMoneyPocket still available?
This page notes MyMoneyPocket as closed, so it doesn’t treat it as a live option.
Do rewards apps work like shopping portals?
Not quite. Shopping portals usually pay when you click through to a listed retailer, while rewards apps work through a linked card, gift cards or receipts. Cashback sites compared covers the portal side.
What’s the difference between cashback apps and rewards apps?
The terms overlap. Cashback apps usually pay money back on spending through a linked card, receipts or gift cards, while some rewards apps pay in points or vouchers instead. Our cashback FAQs answer common questions about tracking and payouts.