Topcashback-review
Updated January 07, 2024

TopCashback Review 2024

Cash Back Cash-Back Apps and Sites
  • topcashback
    TopCashback
    • Basics: TopCashback is a well-established service that gives consumers cash back on online purchases from more than 4,000 stores.
    • Pros: The brand partners with thousands of online stores and gives their full commission back to the buyers. With no minimum payout amount, you can withdraw your earnings at any time.
    • Cons: At many retailers, only certain purchases apply. Users cannot redeem in-store cash back, and there is no sign-up bonus.
    Legitimacy 9/10
     
    Store selection 7/10
     
    Cash back rates 10/10
     
    Payment options 10/10
     
    Ease of use 5/10
     
    Customer support 4/10
     
    • Number of Stores:

      4,400, but online stores only

    • Minimum Payout:

      None

    • Payout Options:

      Bank transfer, PayPal, pre-paid credit cards, gift cards

    • What's Unique?

      Payout bonuses of up to 5% on gift cards

We may receive a commission if you sign up or purchase through links on this page. Here's more information.

What Is TopCashback?

TopCashback is a service that gives consumers cash back on certain online purchases. 

Launched in 2005 in the UK, the service expanded to the USA in 2011. 

Once you sign up, you can browse a variety of categories and shop from more than 4,400 online retailers, including many top brands.

While TopCashback offers high cash-back rates and a variety of stores, the platform does have some key drawbacks that can make it frustrating to use.

Check out my full video walkthrough below.

https://youtu.be/VD4y9pvYttg

TopCashback At a Glance

Number of Stores4,400+
How to Earn Cash BackBuy products from participating retailers
FeesNo
Minimum Payout$0.01
Payout TimingFour business days
Payout OptionsBank transfer, PayPal, Pre-paid credit card, gift cards
Payout BonusesUp to 5%
Mobile App Yes
Desktop VersionYes
Browser ExtensionYes
In-Store Cash BackNo
Coupons Yes
Sign-Up BonusNo
Referral Bonus$10

How Does TopCashback Work?

This program is simple. When you make a purchase at a participating retailer, you’ll get a cash-back rebate.

Like other cash-back programs, you browse for retailers on the TopCashback site, then go to the retailerโ€™s site to make your purchase.

They claim to be the only site to return 100% of their commissions to users. 

But thereโ€™s a catch.

For some of the most popular stores, many categories, brands, and products are excluded. 

Despite all these downsides, if you can find a product thatโ€™s not excluded, TopCashback remains one of the most profitable cash back sites for users. 

A recent visit showed cash back rates of 15% for Leviโ€™s and 2% for Kohlโ€™s, compared to 5% for Leviโ€™s and 1% for Kohlโ€™s on Rakuten

This would earn you more in the long run โ€” if you avoid excluded products. 

Related: 90+ Ways to Make Extra Money

Number of Stores 

The number of stores the service partners with changes constantly, but you can pick from over 4,400 retailers when shopping through TopCashback.

TopCashback number of stores

Store types vary from general shopping to services.

Ways to Get Cash Back 

The primary way to earn cash back is by shopping online through the TopCashback app or website. 

As we mentioned, not all purchases qualify for cash back even if youโ€™re shopping through the app. 

You should always read the conditions before buying to avoid making purchases. 

For instance, you can only earn Amazon cash back when shopping Amazon-branded devices or home security and smart home devices. 

Likewise, Walmart only offers cash back in selected categories.

Look on the right-hand side of the Walmart store page to see which departments offer cash back.

At time of writing, your best options are the Photo Center (7% cash back) and the Pharmacy (4%). Fashion, baby gear, and jewelry are all listed as well. Each comes with a 2% cash-back bonus.

walmart store page departments with cash back

At time of writing, the exclusion list for Walmart is rather lengthy.

You can find exclusion lists for Walmart or any other retailer listed on TopCashback by going to the retailer’s store page on the site and scrolling down to “Terms & Conditions.”

TopCashback walmart exclusions

To be fair, other popular cash back sites have similarly long lists of exclusions for Walmart.

But based on our review, stores listed on TopCashback seem to have more exclusions than others.

In addition to regular shopping, you can also get cash back when purchasing gift cards, airline tickets, hotels, or services like car or personal insurance, online courses, or digital money transfer and remittance services.

TopCashback also offers a referral program, described below.

Fees 

TopCashback is free to join, and there are no fees for payouts.  

This is fairly standard among cash back platforms.

Payouts 

Among all cash back platforms, TopCashback is the most convenient in terms of payouts.

You can withdraw your payable earnings at any time regardless of the sum you have in your TopCashback account, and there is no minimum payout amount.

Another highlight is the variety of withdrawal methods. 
TopCashback payout methods variety

PayPal and bank transfers are two of the most popular options, but you can also transfer the money to a prepaid debit card.

You can get a bonus between 3% and 5% if you choose to withdraw to a prepaid Visa card or American Express Reward Card.

At time of writing, these were the bonus rates for popular prepaid cards and gift cards.

gift card payout bonuses from topcashback
Card IssuerType of CardPayout Bonus
VISAPrepaid credit card5%
Old NavyGift card5%
DisneyGift card4%
American ExpressPrepaid credit card3.25%
TargetGift card3%
AmazonGift card2%
WalmartGift card1%

PayPal and bank transfers donโ€™t benefit from a payout bonus. 

If you plan to buy something from these retailers anyway, this is a good way to maximize your cash back.

Payments can take 30 days or more to become available. 

This is because TopCashback has to invoice the retailer, then wait to receive payment themselves before passing the money along to customers.

Most cash back platforms have a similar waiting period.

Platforms

While TopCashback makes searching easy on their website, they don’t make it fast.

The site often suffers from slow load times.

In addition to the website, the service is available as a mobile app for Android and iOS users. 

The app offers the same functionality as the website; the interface is intuitive and user-friendly.

TopCashback mobile app home screen

Users who donโ€™t want to keep a TopCashback tab open in their browsers can also install the browser extension. 

The extension is available in Chrome and Firefox and sends real-time alerts on new offers, discount codes, vouchers, and more. 

In-Store Cash Back

TopCashback doesnโ€™t offer in-store cash back. 

For this reason, the service only suits online shoppers.

If you prefer to do your shopping in-person, apps like Ibotta that offer deals on specific in-store products may be a better option.

Coupons 

Staying true to its online shopping approach, TopCashback doesnโ€™t have coupons you can use in-store. 

But you can browse the Curbside Pickup section to find flat-rate cash-back offers from retailers.

TopCashback curbside pickup flat-rate offers

Another way to find vouchers and cash-back offers is by searching terms like TopCashback Target, TopCashback Best Buy, or TopCashback Kohls into your search engine. 

This method can help you find offers faster than browsing the website or app if you already know where you want to buy. 

Sign-Up Bonus 

TopCashback doesnโ€™t offer a sign-up bonus. 

Referral Bonus 

Another way to earn with TopCashback is through their referral program, Tell-a-Friend. 

Each user receives a referral link upon sign up that they can use to invite their friends to join the platform.

referral bonus

You can share your link via email or social media. Youโ€™ll get $10 for each new user that signs up via your referral link.

But you only get the bonus if your friend authenticates their account and reaches a minimum of $10 cash back. 

You can also create your links to TopCashback retailers and send them to your contacts. 

If friends and family can use these links to make online purchases, the cash back they redeemed via this method will be added to your account. 

(They wonโ€™t get any of it, which they may or may not feel thrilled about.)

If you decide to share your referral link on social media with people who are not close friends or family, you should specify what the link is for and that you might receive a reward. 

Otherwise, youโ€™ll breach TopCashbackโ€™s referral terms and conditions and your account may be suspended or terminated.

Related: Best Referral Programs to Make Money

How Much Money Can You Make with TopCashback?

There is no limit on how much money you can make, but youโ€™re unlikely to earn a living through cash-back sites alone. 

Unlike most other cash-back platforms, TopCashback doesnโ€™t use a point system. 

All amounts in your account are shown in USD, and depending on your monthly purchases, you can earn anywhere from a few bucks to a few hundred dollars.

Here are cash back rates from top US retailers.

RetailerCash Back RateExclusions?
WalmartUp to 7%Yes, many categories excluded, like groceries
AmazonUp to 8%Yes, cash back only on purchases of Amazon devices
Home DepotUp to 8%Yes, cash back on only on specific product types
TargetNo cash back
AppleUp to 4%Yes, cash back only on Beats products and refurbished products

The referral program allows you to increase the earnings โ€” the best way to earn would be if you have many social media friends or followers who will subscribe through your referral link or purchase through the platform.

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Number of Stores
4,400+Online stores only.
Payout Minimum
$0.01Payouts take 30 days or more.
Payout Options
Cash or Gift CardsGift card payouts earn bonuses.

Is TopCashback Legit?

Yes, TopCashback is legit. The service was launched in the UK in 2005, and it entered the US market in 2011. 

Today, TopCashback counts millions of users worldwide and works with thousands of online retailers and marketplaces.

TopCashback reviews trustpilot

TopCashback holds a 4.4 out of 5 rating on the TrustPilot platform, comprising more than 7,000 reviews.

On TrustPilot, customers praise the timely payouts and high cash back rates.

TopCashback better business bureau rating

But not everyone is happy. On the Better Business Bureau platform, the site has an atrocious “F” grade and 1.18 out of 5 review rating.

What users find most frustrating are the cash-back exclusions, but they also mention long payout times and missing transactions in their cash-back accounts.

I’m inclined to take the BBB grade with a grain of salt, because it is based on only 17 reviews.

TopCashback Tips and Hacks 

TopCashback is mainly used to redeem cash back on your purchases, but there are other ways to make the most out of it.

1. Take advantage of payout bonuses.

Most users prefer withdrawing the money to their PayPal or bank account, but you can earn more using another payment method. 

American Express is the safest choice if youโ€™re eligible for a debit card โ€” at time of writing, converting your cash back to an Amex pre-paid card earned a 3.25% bonus.

Alternatively, you can opt for a gift card, and earn a bonus of up to 5% to maximize your earnings.

2. Visit the site frequently to see top offers.

Cash-back rates are always changing, and that purchase you’ve been holding off on may suddenly become much more attractive with a large cash back rate.

top cash back updated offers

As you can see, TopCashback’s top offers back shows cash back offers that have doubled or even quadrupled.

3. Subscribe to the newsletter.

TopCashback sends exclusive offers and discounts to subscribers of their newsletter. 

Youโ€™ll also be the first to know about new deals or new stores joining the network.

TopCashback Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Payout Bonuses: When you withdraw money via a gift card, prepaid card, or American Express Reward Card, you can earn an extra percentage on top of your original cash-back rate.
  • Impressive Store Variety: Earn cash back at over 4,400 stores, restaurants, and more.
  • No Minimum Payout Amount: Withdraw money from your TopCashBack account at any time as soon as the amount becomes payable.
  • High Commission Rate: Get full commission back for your purchases.

Cons

  • Slow Cash-Back Accrual: Purchases can take up to 30 days (sometimes more) to be processed and confirmed in your account.
  • Cash-Back Exclusions: Merchants and marketplaces may only include specific product categories in their cash-back program, and TopCashback can also exclude products. Buying excluded goods or services wonโ€™t get you cash back.
  • Online Purchases Only: In-store purchases are not eligible for cash back.
  • Site Is Slow: The TopCashback site is not fast or user-friendly.

Alternatives to TopCashback

TopCashback has impressive payouts, but it isnโ€™t the only cash-back platform out there. Check out TopCashback vs. Rakuten and other similar services.

 TopCashBackRakutenBeFrugalMr. Rebates
 
Number of Stores
  • 4,400+
  • 2,500+
  • 5,000+
  • 3,000+
Fees
  • No
  • No
  • No
  • No
Minimum Payout
  • $0.01
  • $5.01
  • $1
  • $10
Payout Timing
  • Four business days
  • Every three months
  • 30-90 days
  • 90 days
Payout Options
  • Card, bank transfer, PayPal, gift cards
  • Check, PayPal, donation
  • Zelle, ACH Direct Deposit, Venmo, PayPal, gift cards
  • Check, PayPal, Venmo, gift cards
Payout Bonuses
  • Up to 5%
  • No
  • Up to 6%
  • No
Mobile App
  • Yes
  • Yes
  • Yes
  • Yes
Desktop Version
  • Yes
  • Yes
  • Yes
  • Yes
Browser Extension
  • Yes
  • Yes
  • Yes
  • Yes
In-Store Cash Back
  • No
  • No
  • Yes
  • No
Coupons
  • Yes
  • Yes
  • Yes
  • Yes
Sign-Up Bonus
  • No
  • $10
  • $20
  • $7.50
Referral Bonus
  • $10
  • $10
  • $10
  • 20% of referralโ€™s cash back
 

Is TopCashback Worth It?

TopCashback wonโ€™t provide you with a full-time income, but compared to similar services, it is a reliable cash back option. 

Who Is TopCashback Best For?

TopCashback is best for online shoppers who donโ€™t care much about in-store purchases and coupons. 

While the platform offers vouchers and exclusive discounts, its strongest point is the high cash-back percentage. 

Who Is TopCashback Not For? 

The service doesnโ€™t suit in-store shoppers or those who are more interested in redeeming discount codes and coupons rather than claiming cash back.

How to Use TopCashback (Step-by-Step)

Follow the quick steps below to set up an account and start earning.

Step 1: Sign up for TopCashback.

Go to the official TopCashback website and sign up with your preferred email. Set a password and click the Join Free button.

sign up TopCashback

Step 2: Confirm your email address.

Click on the confirmation link received in your inbox. 

Step 3: Complete your profile.

Go to the My Profile tab and fill in the required details, including payout details and email preferences. 

TopCashback full profile page
Turn notifications off if you donโ€™t want to be bothered or leave them on to receive exclusive offers and discounts via email.

Step 4: Browse and shop.

Browse merchants by category or browse all merchants by clicking the desired option in the menu. 

Find the best offers and shop goods and services. 

Check your cash back transactions in the Earnings section of the website. 

browse and shop TopCashback

Final Thoughts on TopCashback

TopCashback isnโ€™t as versatile as some other cash-back platforms because it only works for online purchases โ€” but the amount of cash back you can earn is one of the highest around.

You have to pay attention to the purchases you make as some goods and services are excluded from the program. 

Getting your money may also take a while, so arm yourself with patience. 

But if you find a site offering a big rebate and pair that with a bonus payout to a gift card, you could be looking at an effective cash-back rate of 15% or higher.

All in all, as a potential tool for getting a large rebate for an online purchase, the site is well worth your time if you are a big fan of earning cash back.

TopCashback offers some of the highest cash-back rates in the industry plus bonus percentages if you pay yourself back in gift cards.

4.5/5 Rating
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Frequently Asked Questions 

  • How do I earn money on TopCashback?

    You earn a simple percentage of money on each qualified purchase, and that amount is credited to your account once TopCashback receives their commission.

    TopCashback does not have points or any other system.ย 

    Like most cash back sites, you have to go purchase through the site to get your bonus, an extra step every time you shop online.ย 

  • Why isnโ€™t my transaction showing on the Earnings page?

    Your transaction may not appear on the Earnings page because the merchant hasnโ€™t yet confirmed the purchase.

    Or, the transaction may not show because you purchased a product or service that was not included in the cash back.

    You can file a missing transaction complaint to solve the problem.

  • Why has my cash back not reached payable yet?

    Your cash back is not payable yet because the merchant hasnโ€™t confirmed the transaction or they havenโ€™t paid back the commission.

    The TopCashback approval process generally requires up to 30 days, but some merchants may have longer processing times.

  • Why was my TopCashback account canceled?

    TopCashback may cancel your account if they detect suspicious activity.

    This includes multiple accounts in your name or too many referrals.

  • How does TopCashback make money?

    TopCashBack makes money from advertisements on the site, sponsored links, and periodic additional bonuses from retailers.

Author:

Logan Allec, CPA

Logan is a practicing CPA and founder of Choice Tax Relief and Money Done Right. After spending nearly a decade in the corporate world helping big businesses save money, he launched his blog with the goal of helping everyday Americans earn, save, and invest more money. Learn more about Logan.

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