The 6 major US cashback sites compared
Head-to-head across every store two or more portals both cover, this is how often each pays the highest rate — plus how you get paid. Figures are computed daily from the stores we track; payout terms are checked periodically.
| Portal | US stores | Avg rate | Wins best rate | Payout methods | Min payout | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TopCashback | 6,301 | 8.2% | 81% | PayPal · Bank · Gift cards | No minimum | Anytime |
| RebatesMe | 2,368 | 6% | 29% | PayPal · Check · Gift cards | $10 | Varies |
| BeFrugal | 3,203 | 5.5% | 19% | PayPal · Check · Gift cards | $10 | ~Weekly |
| Freecash | 696 | 5.9% | 17% | PayPal · Crypto · Gift cards · Visa | $0.50 | Instant–days |
| Rakuten | 2,979 | 3.7% | 16% | PayPal · Check | $5.01 | Quarterly |
| Swagbucks | 387 | 3.3% | 13% | PayPal · Gift cards | Varies | 1–2 days |
"Wins best rate" = across stores covered by 2+ portals, how often this one posts the highest rate — our best measure of who actually pays most. When two or more portals tie at the top rate, each is counted as a win, so the column can add up to more than 100%. Conditional "up to" rates (a ceiling on a few select items, like Amazon) are excluded from the average and the win count — only guaranteed rates compete.
Cashback site sign-up bonuses
New members get a welcome bonus on top of their cashback — but you have to sign up through these links to get it (join direct and it usually won't credit). Biggest first.
| Cashback site | Welcome bonus | How to unlock it | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Rakuten | $50 | Spend $50 within 90 days of joining | Claim bonus* |
 TopCashback | Up to $10 | New-member bonus — check the current offer | Claim bonus* |
 Swagbucks | $10 | Spend $25 at a store within 30 days | Claim bonus* |
 BeFrugal | $10 | Once you earn $10 in cashback | Claim bonus* |
 RebatesMe | $5 | Spend $15 within 30 days | Claim bonus* |
* These are referral links — you need to sign up through them to receive the bonus, and we may earn a referral too, at no cost to you. Amounts and terms are set by each site and can change.
How cashback works — and why stores pay it
A cashback portal is a free site that pays you back a percentage of what you spend. You click through the portal to the retailer, shop as normal at the same price, and the cashback later lands in your portal account. Same product, same price — you just earn a rebate for going via the portal.
So who funds it? The retailer does — and it's advertising. Cashback is affiliate (performance) marketing: a store would far rather pay a commission only when a sale actually happens than spend on search or display ads that might never convert. It runs an affiliate programme through a network — Rakuten Advertising, CJ, Impact, AWIN — and cashback portals are simply affiliate "publishers." The store pays the portal a commission on your completed order; the portal keeps a slice and hands most of it back to you to win the sale. Your cashback is the store's marketing budget, redirected to you.
Because your cashback is a share of the store's commission, everything else follows: the six sites negotiate different commissions, so the same store pays wildly different rates, and those rates move whenever the store changes its marketing spend.
Why it isn't paid on tax, shipping or returns
The commission is calculated on the product subtotal only. Tax goes to the government and shipping is a cost — the store earns no margin on either, so the network pays no commission on them, and you earn no cashback on them. And if you return the item, the sale reverses: the store claws its commission back, so the portal claws your cashback back.
Why cashback needs tracking (and sometimes doesn't)
The network decides which publisher earned a sale from a tracking tag set the moment you click through — and it's "last click wins." So cashback fails to track if you don't click through fresh from the portal, if an ad-blocker or cookie banner blocks the tag, or if you paste a coupon code from another site (its tag overwrites the portal's). Start from an empty cart, click through, and don't wander off hunting codes — that's most missing cashback explained.
Is cashback worth it?
Worth it if you…
- Shop online anyway — free money on spending you'd do regardless
- Make big or occasional purchases (electronics, travel, furniture)
- Are happy to click through a portal first
- Stack it with a rewards credit card for double earnings
Skip it if you…
- Buy something urgently and can't wait for tracking
- Only buy tiny amounts where 2% is pennies
- Rely on coupon codes not listed by the portal (they can void cashback)
- Won't remember to click through — no click, no cashback
Good to know before you buy
- Cash back is on the item price only — not tax, shipping or fees.
- Start from an empty cart and click through fresh, or it may not track.
- An unlisted coupon code can void your cash back.
- Headline rates are often the top tier (new customers or specific products); everyday rates can be lower.
- Gift cards and some premium ranges are usually excluded.
- Cash back takes days to track, weeks to confirm — and returns cancel it.
How much could you earn?
Your real rate depends on where you shop — some stores pay 10%+, others 1%. The top-paying portal often pays 2–3× the lowest, so comparing before each buy is where the difference is made.
How to earn the most cashback
Stack it: cashback + coupons + card rewards
These three rewards come from different places, so you can earn all three on a single purchase — in this order.
| Reward | Paid by | Stacks with the others? |
|---|---|---|
| Cashback portal | The store (affiliate commission) | Yes |
| Coupon code | The store's promotion | Only if the code is listed on the portal — an outside code can void your cashback |
| Credit-card rewards | Your card issuer | Yes — always |
Why rates say "up to", and how you get paid
A rate shown as "up to 8%" usually means the headline figure applies to a specific department, a new-customer order, or the top spend tier — everyday items may earn less. Once a purchase tracks (minutes to a few days), it sits "pending" until the store confirms it isn't returned — typically 30–90 days — then it's payable.
Do cashback rates change?
Constantly — which is exactly why this page exists. We re-check every store across all the cashback sites and gift-card sellers every day and bank the history, so each store's page shows how its best rate has moved. A store paying 2% today might jump to 10% next week during a promotion.
How we compare
We pull live rates directly from all six sites every day, match each store across them, and compute the numbers you see — no editorial ranking, no paid placement. You sort by what matters. Read the full methodology →
Is cashback taxable in the US?
For most people, no. The IRS generally treats cashback on a purchase as a rebate — a discount on what you bought — not taxable income. Bonuses that aren't tied to a purchase can be different.
| Reward type | Usually taxable? |
|---|---|
| Cashback on a purchase | No — treated as a rebate |
| Sign-up / referral bonus | Sometimes — may be reportable if not tied to spending |
| Bank-account opening bonus | Yes — usually reported as interest (1099-INT) |
General information, not tax advice — check with a tax professional for your situation.
Cashback FAQs
Is cashback legit?
Yes. Portals are paid a commission by retailers for referring shoppers and pass most of it back to you. You just click through the portal before you buy, and wait out the store's return window before it's payable.
Why do stores give cashback? What's the catch?
There's no catch — it's advertising. Stores pay a commission for a completed sale through an affiliate network, which is cheaper and lower-risk than ads that don't convert. The portal shares most of that back with you. You get the same price plus a rebate.
Can I use more than one portal?
Not on the same purchase — only the last portal you click through gets credited. But use different portals for different shops: whichever pays most for each store.
How long until I get paid?
A purchase tracks within minutes to a few days, then sits "pending" through the store's return window (often 30–90 days). Payout speed once you withdraw varies by portal — TopCashback pays anytime, Rakuten quarterly.
Does it cost me anything?
No. Cashback sites are free, and going through one never changes the price you pay. We may earn a commission if you join through our links, at no cost to you.
Why did my cashback not track?
Common causes: an ad-blocker or an unlisted coupon code, not clicking through immediately, or buying an excluded item. Most portals let you file a missing-cashback claim.