The 4 Best Cashback and Discount Apps in 2026

The shop pays the platform a commission for every sale that reaches it through its link, and the platform gives you back part of it. That's why you have to enter the shop from the app or the extension: if you buy directly, there's no link to track and there's no commission and no refund. It isn't a discount from the retailer, it's a share of its advertising budget.

Quite a while: from several weeks to a few months. The amount first appears as pending and is only confirmed once the product's return window has passed, because if you send the purchase back there is no commission. On top of that, almost all of them require a minimum balance before you can withdraw to your bank account.

It depends how much you buy online. On everyday purchases the percentage is small, but on big spending, such as a trip, electronics or insurance, it can add up to a noticeable amount for one extra click. What makes no sense is buying something you didn't need because the cashback is good: there the maths works out the other way round.

They don't need access to your bank accounts to work: they only track that the purchase came through their link, and you give them your account number solely to receive the payment. What they do collect is a detailed profile of what you buy and where, which is their real asset. Stick to well-known platforms and read their privacy policy.