Rewards apps you can start using to maximise your savings in 2024
Earn Rewards Apps: How to make the most of them
In today’s digital age, saving money and earning rewards has never been easier, thanks to the myriad of rewards apps available in the UK.
Whether you’re looking to get cashback on your purchases, earn points for gift cards, or take advantage of loyalty programs, there’s an app out there to meet everyone’s needs.
This blog post aims to guide you through the best rewards apps I have come across and tried out for you. I have included cashback apps as these are something I truly believe everyone shou;d be making the most of.
All the cashback and rewards apps I talk about are available in the UK for 2024.
We’ll explore the top apps, compare their features, and provide tips on how to maximise your rewards. Let’s dive in and start saving!
What are Rewards Apps?
Free rewards apps are mobile applications that allow users to earn rewards for various activities they do in every day life. These activities can include things like shopping, taking surveys or market research questions, watching videos, or even simply walking. The rewards can come in various forms such as cashback, points, gift cards, or discounts.
Types of Rewards Apps:
- Cashback Apps: These apps offer you a percentage of your spending back as cash or sometimes vouchers. Some popular examples include TopCashback and Cheddar App.
- Earn Rewards Apps: These apps allow you to build up points towards cash or vouchers by completing certain activities. Some examples are AttaPoll which is a short survey app or Macadam which is an app where you get paid for walking.
- Loyalty Apps: These apps are often tied to specific retailers or brands and offer rewards for frequent purchases or some points per pound you spend. Some examples include Tesco Clubcard and Nectar.
Top Rewards Apps in the UK 2024 – Cash Back Apps
Cashback apps are a fantastic way to get money back on your purchases. Here are some of the best cashback apps available in the UK for 2024:
Quidco
Quidco is one of the most popular cashback apps in the UK. It offers cashback on purchases from thousands of retailers and is simple to use once you have signed up.
Pros: There are some really competitive and high cashback rates with lots of retailers you already shop at. Quidco is also really simple to use.
Cons: Payouts from some rewards apps can take some time, and this is one of them, it is not instant cash back and so you will need to check back after some time to get your payout. This can be used as a good way to save though, I know many people who cash out once a year and use the cashback for an event like Christmas.
Bonus – at the time of writing you can get a £15 sign up bonus with my link.
TopCashback
TopCashback is another leading cashback app and one I have used extensively over the last two years. TopCashback offers competitive cashback rates and a large selection of retailers and one of my favourite things is they have great bonus payments on insurances and their own comparison calculator within the website. Insurance bonuses is how I have made the most money from this app.
Pros: The bonuses you can get on insurances and services! There is also no minimum payout amount so you can cash out as soon as you have money in your wallet.
Cons: Again, like many of the rewards apps with competitive rates you do have to wait a while for the payouts.
Bonus – at the time of writing you can get a £10 bonus when you sign up using my link.
Honey
Honey is not just a cashback app but also a tool that works hard to find coupon codes for your purchases and adds them to the checkout. Users can earn Honey Gold which can be redeemed for gift cards.
Pros: This app can save you a significant amount of time if you are shopping around to find the best possible price of something you want to purchase. You can also set up notifications if you have something specific in mind you want to purchase but are waiting for a discount or sale, Honey will notify you as soon as the price drops.
Cons: Sometimes the rates are not as high as some other cashback rewards apps. There are times when the coupons don’t work as these change often and also reach capacity, so there is no guarantee the coupons that are found always work.
Bonus: The bonus points vary when using my link to download on this one.
Cheddar
Cheddar is a relatively new cashback rewards app in the UK that offers users cashback on everyday purchases made with any linked debit or credit cards on your account. Unlike some of the more traditional cashback rewards apps that give you rewards by requiring you to shop through specific links or use special codes, Cheddar automatically tracks purchases you make on your regular cards in person and online.
Pros: The automatic cashback is a massive pro for me, meaning I don’t have to remember every time I want to purchase something from participating retailer, I get the cash without thinking! Cash back also becomes available faster than some other cashback rewards apps.
Cons: Cheddar is very quickly growing its available retailers, but as it is one of the newer apps they do not have as many right now as some of the more established cashback rewards apps. Sometimes the automatic cashback rates are lower than on other cashback apps, however do check out and make use of the gift card option for even better rates of cashback.
Bonus: You get boosted rates when you sign up with my link – sometimes you get a cash bonus too!
Jam Doughnut
Jam Doughnut is a UK-based cashback app that offers users instant cashback on purchases made through the app. To use the Jam Doughnut app you purchase digital gift cards in the app for the specific amount you are spending with any retailer you can find on the app. You then get the cash back percentage back in your Jam Doughnut wallet as cash which can be withdrawn. It’s a little different to the other cashback rewards apps but once you get the hang of it it’s well worth it for some great rates and simple instant cashback.
Pros: They often host in app live games and giveaways where you can win extra bonus cash back, sometimes up to £100 voucher. I actually have had the chance to spin the wheel on one of the giveaway shows before, job of dreams!
Cons: Some people find using gift cards slightly more complicated, however like I said before, once you know how it’s far less tricky.
Bonus: Use my referral code FXFZ when you download the app with this link, for a £5 bonus.
Airtime Rewards
Airtime Rewards is a UK-based cashback app that allows users to earn cashback on their everyday purchases automatically when your credit and debit cards are linked up to the app. Like with some other rewards apps, the airtime rewards app links directly to your cards and tracks any purchases you make at participating retailers. The cash back is then applied automatically to your phone bill, reducing the amount you then need to pay.
Pros: As with Cheddar, the cash back is accumulated automatically via any cards that are linked and you use in store and online at any of the retailers listed on the app. This makes it super simple to use and means you don’t forget to claim your cash back. It also sends the money to your mobile whine bill automatically, so again, not much to remember. There is also a wide range of retailers available so it is not hard to make some cash back and get a discount on your phone bill.
Another pro is that you can receive cash back on this app at the same time as using another cashback app or site like TopCashback because it is registered automatically and the transaction is still registered, therefore doubling up on the cashback.
Cons: The only con for me is really that the cash back can only be applied to mobile phone bills. You may not have a large phone bill, or any, and so this would be less useful for you. However, most adults in the UK can benefit from this rewards apps so I felt it was still very worth sharing.
Bonus: Use my link and code 9CLQTX7G for a £2 signing up bonus
EverUp
EverUp is another UK-based savings and rewards app that combines the concept of saving money with the dopamine hits of winning prizes. The app encourages you to save by offering you entries into daily, weekly, and monthly prize draws based on your savings balance. The more you save, the more chances you have to win cash prizes.
Pros: The gamification of saving and the potential to win extra money does make it a fun app to use and give you the extra motivation needed to save more and more often. The chance of winning cash prizes is also another pro, with lots on offer every week.
Cons: As the rewards are price draws, you may win nothing, there is no saying how much you could make. There is also a gambling feel to the app, so if you are someone who has had an issue with this I would recommend avoiding as it may trigger something.
Bonus: You can use my link to sign up and receive a bonus to get your saving going. At the time of writing the bonus is 10000 points.
Best rewards apps uk – Points Based Apps
Gener8
Gener8 is the first rewards app I wanted to share in this section. You are paid points for your data, you can link things such as your email to gain points. It is also a UK based rewards app that also allows you to earn extra points by viewing tailored ads. You can choose between two modes: Rewards Mode, where they earn points for sharing data, and Privacy Mode, which minimises data collection. The points you earn can be redeemed for gift cards, products, or charitable donations.
Pros: There is a good variety of rewards, however as a start up do be aware they gift cards that are more in demand do run out sometimes, but the app tells you when more will be available. I like the fact you can also use the app to enhance your data privacy, but you do need to choose between that and the rewards.
Cons: The fact you need to choose between the rewards or extra privacy, and the rewards may not be at the same level a private company might get for your data, and we all know there is big money in selling data! Also, the fact that sometimes the gift cards run out can be annoying, but there are more and more available as the app is used by more people. You may also not feel comfortable selling your data, I personally don’t mind as I have been giving it away for free my whole adult life as have never been so strict with things like data sharing.
Bonus: I have a referral link which is likely to give you some points for siding up.
Survey Spin
Survey Spin is a mobile app that allows users to earn rewards by participating in surveys. You can complete surveys on a variety of topics and earn points that can then be redeemed for cash via PayPal or for gift cards that can be used in popular retailers. The app is simple to use and tries to make the survey-taking experience fun as well as rewarding.
Survey Spin is a straightforward app for earning rewards by taking surveys. It offers the potential to earn cash or gift cards, making it a practical option for those looking to monetize their opinions. However, users should be prepared for the possibility of limited survey availability and the occasional disqualification.
Pros: I think the fact you can earn actual cash you can transfer to your PayPal is great, cash is king in my opinion when using earn rewards apps. The app offers a wide range of surveys on different types of topics, which keeps filling them out more interesting. Survey Spin is really user friendly and easy to use and cash out from.
Cons: The availability of surveys can fluctuate and so you may not always have lots of money making opportunities when you log on to the rewards app. Sometimes surveys can end up being time consuming and occasionally you can fill some out and then be kicked out, which is frustrating.
Bonus: Use my link to download the app and apply my code 91LB58 for an 80p bonus to get you going.
AttaPoll
AttaPoll is a mobile survey app that connects users with companies looking for consumer opinions. You will be able to take short surveys and earn cash or gift cards for your time. AttaPoll is simple and straightforward to use, and has a lot of short surveys for when you only have a few minutes to spare.
Pros: A big pro for me is being able to cash out actual pounds to your PayPal account. I also like the fact there are often a lot of surveys available, and many of them are very quick, like 1-2 mins, which it tells you before you start.
Cons: I have found a few times where I have filled out some of the survey and then been disqualified, and the small token amount you get for your time is not worth it so it can be frustrating, this doesn’t happen very often though. Some of the earnings can be very low too, so do make a judgement if you think the fee is worth the time, sometimes it’s not.
Bonus: Use my link for a sign up bonus – which at the time of writing is 20p
Top rewards apps – Loyalty apps UK
Loyalty apps (or shopping rewards apps) are designed to reward customers who regularly shop with them. More recently in the UK loyalty cards for any shop you shop at have become a necessity as there are lots of instant ‘special/member’ prices at the checkout. Here are some of the best loyalty apps available in the UK:
Nectar
Nectar is a popular loyalty rewards apps in the UK, offering points for purchases at Sainsbury’s and some other retailers like Argos, and eBay. You can use just the card, which is available to store in your phone, to scan to build up points and get offers at check out, but note that it is also worth checking the app for extra offers before shopping.
Pros: As far as rewards apps go for simplicity, Nectar has made it super simple to earn points and you can use them on multiple things including groceries, travel, and entertainment.
Cons: I personally think of it as a Sainsbury’s only card as not many retailers give nectar points so I forget to check for other retailers and possibly miss out on points. I also think it makes shopping at Sainsbury’s impossible if you don’t have your card on you due to the savings you make with the card. I see people often asking to borrow someone else’s card to get the discount as they don’t have theirs.
Tesco Clubcard
If you shop at Tesco you have lots of rewards apps to chose from. As well as utilising the others mentioned above you can double up on rewards by using a Tesco Clubcard. Tesco Clubcard members can earn points for everything they buy from Tesco and Tesco petrol stations. The club card points can be converted into vouchers, which can be used for shopping or exchanged for rewards with Clubcard Boost.
Pros: It’s got to be the clubcard prices, I wouldn’t shop without my club card these days, and I save the card in my phone so that I always have it on me.
Cons: The value of the points has reduced massively, I used to hear stories of people having holidays with their Club Card points but now they have reduced they don’t go as far.
Boots Advantage Card
One of the original rewards apps…the Boots Advantage Card rewards apps allows customers to earn points on purchases made at Boots stores and online on boots.com. The advantage points can be redeemed for discounts on future purchase and I use them for things I would be purchasing anyway, so a genuine saving.
I have had bonus points in very high numbers before when purchasing some larger more expensive products when there have been deals on, and it has really felt like good value for money.
How to Maximise Rewards from These Apps
In order to maximise your savings with using rewards apps you need to be strategic, consider the following tips before you make purchases, especially big ones.
- Combine Apps: Use multiple rewards apps to take advantage of different rewards programs at the same time, sometimes referred to as deal stacking. You can, for example use Cheddar and TopCashback on the same purchase and collect cash back in two places.
- Plan Purchases: Make sure you shop during promotional periods when you’re using rewards apps to get discounts and also to earn more rewards that are often offered at specific times. Make a list of things you are looking to purchase and use something like Honey to identify the best time to buy.
- Refer Friends: Many apps offer referral bonuses that you can share with family and friends once you have signed up, and get some b onuses for everyone who signs up using your referral link.
- Stay Updated: Keep an eye on app notifications for special offers and promotions.
- Link Cards: Ensure you have linked all your payment cards to the apps that offer automatic cashback so you don’t miss out on any cashback.
Some other questions you may have
Which App Has the Best Rewards?
Deciding which rewards apps are the best rewards apps really depends on your individual shopping habits and preferences. I always recommend everyone downloads them all, and looks at each when considering a purchase, and using the one with the best rate. After some time you will get a feel for which ones suit you. I love the automatic ones because when I am in a rush I don’t always reminder. However, when I| make a larger purchase, I always remember to use Quidco or TopCashback as they often seem the best due to their high cashback rates and wide range of retailers.
Which Payment App Gives the Most Rewards?
Curve is a great payment app that offers cashback from various retailers. If you have a Curve card you can link multiple other cards to Curve and earn rewards on purchases made with the Curve card.
Which App is Best to Earn Money?
For those looking for rewards apps to earn money through a variety of activities, Swagbucks rewards apps is a top choice. It offers multiple ways to earn points that can be redeemed for cash or gift cards. I personally don’t use it, as there are a number of links to gambling, but it is the most varied and I know so many people who find it really good.
What is the Best Legit App to Earn Money?
All the apps I have talked about in this blog are great for earning a little money on the side, be it cash back you wouldn’t have had it you didn’t use a cash back app, or some of the survey apps which give you extra pounds, they are all worth a try.
Which Banks Have the Best Rewards Programs?
Several UK banks offer excellent rewards apps and programs:
- American Express Membership Rewards Offers points for every pound spent, which can be redeemed for travel, shopping, or statement credits.
- HSBC Rewards Provides points for spending on HSBC credit cards, redeemable for vouchers, travel, and more.
- Barclaycard Rewards Offers cashback on everyday purchases with no foreign transaction fees.
- Chase has great interest rates and cash back on purchases.
Thanks so much for reading and I hope you find some rewards apps to help you save or make more money! Please do leave a comment if there is an app you think others should try, or if you have anything to add on the rewards apps discussed in this blog!