Cashback apps and platforms reward users for purchases made online, in-store, and through everyday actions like submitting receipts, completing surveys or playing games. Platforms differ in how Cashback is earned, which categories and merchants participate, payout methods, and eligibility conditions.
Overview of Cashback apps and providers in Australia
| Platform | Use case | Common exclusions (examples) | Payout options | Categories (examples) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ShopBack Australia | Cashback across retail, grocery, food, experiences and ShopBack Receipts. | Returns or cancellations, unapproved voucher codes, ad-blocker interference | Bank transfer, PayPal | Online retailers, marketplaces, grocery chains, health and beauty, home and lifestyle, food and dining, electronics, experiences, travel booking platforms |
| TopCashback Australia | Cashback via portal model with rate-matching guarantee | Returns or cancellations, unapproved voucher codes, gift cards, session breaks | Bank transfer, PayPal | Online retailers, marketplaces, health and beauty, food, electronics, sports and outdoors, services |
| Qantas Shopping | Qantas Points earning on retail purchases via click-through portal and card-linking | Gift cards, third-party payment methods (e.g. PayPal at checkout), external coupon codes | Qantas Frequent Flyer points | Fashion and apparel, electronics, department stores, health and beauty, home and lifestyle, entertainment, food and gifting |
| CommBank Yello | Tiered card-linked rewards for CommBank customers | Eligible account and activity thresholds required, offer activation required, BPay and cash advances excluded | Cashback credited to account; travel credits via CommBank Travel Booking | Everyday retail, entertainment, home essentials, lifestyle and tech, travel booking |
| Finder Shopping | Cashback directed to mortgage, super, or savings account | Returns or cancellations, unapproved codes, merchant-specific conditions | Superannuation, mortgage offset, or savings account | Grocery and everyday, electronics, home and lifestyle, marketplaces, health and beauty |
Cashback platforms
ShopBack — Cashback across retail, grocery, food, and in-store
What it is: ShopBack is a Cashback platform that supports earnings on eligible purchases made through its app, website, or browser extension. Users are also able to earn Cashback by taking actions that don’t require a purchase like submitting receipts, playing games or completing a survey.
Use cases:
- Cashback across retail, grocery, health and beauty, home, food and dining, electronics, and experiences categories
- Access via mobile app (iOS and Android), desktop website, and browser extension
- Cashback available by taking actions that don’t require a purchase like playing mobile games, submitting physical or digital receipts and completing surveys.
How Cashback is earned:
- Online: Activate Cashback through the app or website before completing checkout — a tracking link attributes the purchase to ShopBack
- Browser extension: The ShopBack browser extension detects eligible merchant pages and prompts Cashback activation without needing to return to the ShopBack homepage
- ShopBack Snap: Submit eligible in-store or digital receipts through the app to earn Cashback on qualifying purchases
- ShopBack Play: earn Cashback by hitting specific in-game milestones (levels, goals) within selected games. Works on both Android and iOS.
Tracking (what to expect):
- Cashback moves through stages: tracked, pending, and confirmed
- Confirmation timing depends on the merchant's return window — this can range from a few weeks to several months for some categories (like travel)
- Switching browsers, devices, or tabs mid-checkout can break tracking
Exclusions to watch:
- Gift cards (unless a specific gift card offer is active)
- Returns or cancellations
- Unapproved voucher codes — only codes listed on ShopBack are safe to use
- Ad blockers, VPNs, or incognito mode may prevent tracking for some merchants
Payout options: Bank transfer (Australian banks), PayPal
Key conditions: Cashback must reach "Confirmed" status before withdrawal; a minimum confirmed balance of $10.00 is required to withdraw
TopCashback Australia — Cashback portal with rate-matching guarantee
What it is: TopCashback is a Cashback marketplace that passes merchant commissions through to members and offers a Highest Cashback Guarantee for eligible purchases.
Use case:
- Cashback across retail, grocery, health and beauty, food, electronics, sports, and services categories
- Access via website, mobile app (iOS and Android), and browser extension
How Cashback is earned:
- Online: Log in and click "Get Cashback" for the chosen merchant before completing checkout
- Browser extension: Identifies eligible partner sites and prompts activation automatically
- Gift card portal: Purchase digital gift cards for participating retailers and earn an immediate Cashback percentage on the purchase price
Tracking (what to expect):
- Cashback moves through tracked, pending, confirmed, and payable stages
- Timing depends on merchant settlement cycles — check the merchant's estimated payable speed in your account
- Missing Cashback claims can be submitted after seven days if a transaction fails to track
Exclusions to watch:
- Unapproved voucher codes
- Returns or cancellations
- Breaking the session mid-checkout (switching tabs, adding items before clicking through)
- Some merchants restrict payout to bank transfer only
Payout options: Bank transfer (BECS), PayPal (no fees)
Key conditions: The Highest Cashback Guarantee allows members to claim a rate match if another Australian portal offers a higher Cashback rate for the same merchant — check current terms in your account for eligibility details; minimum withdrawal threshold is low — confirm the exact amount in your account
Cashrewards (closed — included for reference)
What it is: Previously one of Australia's best-known Cashback platforms.
Important update: Cashrewards ceased making offers available from 8 September 2025 and is not a live Cashback marketplace in 2026.
Click Frenzy (closed — included for reference)
What it is: Click Frenzy was a major Australian online shopping event platform that launched in 2012. It aggregated time-limited deals from participating retailers and ran several sale events per year.
Important update: Click Frenzy entered liquidation on 1 April 2026 following a members' meeting held on 30 March 2026. Its website has been shut down and replaced with a liquidation notice. The platform is not active in 2026.
For deal discovery in 2026, Cashback portals such as ShopBack and TopCashback remain active — though deals and merchant offers will need to be found directly through those platforms.
Other Cashback alternatives (not Cashback marketplaces)
These programs can save money or build value, but they work differently from click-through Cashback portals.
Qantas Shopping (points-based program)
What it is: A shopping portal that awards Qantas Frequent Flyer points on eligible purchases at participating retailers. Points are the reward — not cash.
Key difference: Earnings are in Qantas Points, not cash. The value of points depends on your Qantas Frequent Flyer membership and how you redeem them.
How rewards are earned:
- Online Mall: Click through to a partner retailer from the Qantas Shopping site before completing a purchase — points are awarded after the merchant validates the order
- Card Offers: Link an eligible Australian Mastercard or Visa to your Frequent Flyer account and activate specific offers to earn points automatically when paying at participating merchants — no click-through required
- Points-Prompter: A browser extension that identifies participating stores and prompts points activation as you browse
Exclusions to watch:
- Gift cards — purchasing with or using a gift card at checkout
- Third-party payment methods (e.g. PayPal, Afterpay, Zip Pay) at checkout for card-linked offers
- External coupon codes not listed on the Qantas Shopping site
- Delivery charges, GST, and taxes are excluded from points calculations
Payout options: Qantas Points, redeemable for flights, upgrades, and other rewards through the Qantas Frequent Flyer program
CommBank Yello (card-linked program for CommBank customers)
What it is: A tiered rewards program inside the CommBank App that provides Cashback offers and travel credits based on the customer's banking activity each month.
Key difference: Eligibility depends on meeting monthly activity thresholds and holding eligible CommBank accounts. The program is not available to non-CommBank customers, and benefits are tied to maintaining the banking relationship.
Program structure:
- Organised into tiers, each requiring different levels of account activity and balance
- Tier is reviewed monthly based on the previous month's activity
- Offers must be activated inside the CommBank App before shopping — they are not automatic
Exclusions to watch:
- CommBank Travel Money cards, corporate credit cards, and prepaid Mastercards are not eligible
- BPay payments, cash advances, and transfers between own accounts do not count
- Bankwest and Unloan customers are not currently eligible
- Refunds can reduce eligible spend and affect tier standing
Payout options: Cashback credited directly to the customer's account; travel credits redeemable via CommBank Travel Booking for hotels and flights
Finder Shopping (Cashback directed to super, mortgage, or savings)
What it is: A Cashback platform that redirects shopping rewards into a nominated financial product — superannuation, a mortgage offset account, or a savings account — rather than paying out cash directly.
Key difference: The reward goes into a nominated financial product. Access to funds depends on the product type — for example, super contributions are subject to preservation rules and cannot be accessed until retirement or under specific conditions.
Use case:
- Shoppers who want to direct spending rewards toward long-term financial goals
- Access via mobile app (iOS and Android) and Chrome browser extension
How Cashback is earned:
- Online: Activate through the browser extension or app before checkout — standard affiliate tracking applies
- In-store (card-linked): Link an Australian Visa or Mastercard to your Finder account; Cashback is credited automatically when spending at participating physical retailers
Exclusions to watch:
- Returns or cancellations
- Unapproved voucher codes
- Merchant-specific conditions
Payout options: Directed to a nominated super fund, mortgage or offset account, or savings account
Key conditions: Requires setup with the nominated financial product; funds transfer automatically after the retailer pays the commission — most retailers pay within 60 days, though some can take longer
Tips to maximise Cashback (and avoid missed tracking)
- Start in the app or activate the browser extension right before you shop — not before you start browsing
- Only use codes shown on the Cashback platform — external voucher codes can override the tracking cookie and void Cashback
- Complete checkout in one session — avoid switching devices, opening new tabs, or leaving items in the cart
- Disable ad blockers or strict tracking prevention for the purchase if you are comfortable doing so
- Keep your order confirmation email and note the offer terms for large purchases — useful if you need to submit a missing Cashback claim
- Check exclusions before booking travel — travel Cashback often has stricter conditions around booking modifications, cancellations, and pay-at-property arrangements
FAQ
What is a Cashback app and how does it work?
A Cashback app or site earns a commission when it refers you to a retailer. If your purchase meets the offer terms, the platform shares part of that commission with you as Cashback.
Why didn't my Cashback track?
Common reasons include not clicking through correctly, using an ineligible voucher code, switching devices or tabs mid-checkout, ad blockers interfering with tracking, or buying excluded items such as gift cards.
How long does Cashback take to become withdrawable?
It depends on the retailer. Cashback often tracks quickly but may take weeks or months to be confirmed — especially in categories with longer return windows.
Can I use promo codes and still get Cashback?
Sometimes. Many Cashback offers only allow codes listed on the Cashback platform itself. Using codes from other sources can void the Cashback.
Do Cashback apps work for travel bookings?
Yes — many platforms include travel booking merchants. Travel Cashback typically has stricter conditions around booking changes, cancellations, no-shows, and pay-at-property rules. Always read the exclusions before booking.
ShopBack vs Cashrewards: what's the difference in 2026?
In 2026, Cashrewards is no longer operating as an active Cashback marketplace — offers ceased in September 2025. ShopBack remains an active Cashback platform.
Can I still use Click Frenzy deals in 2026?
No. Click Frenzy entered liquidation on 1 April 2026 and is no longer operating. No new deals or sale events are available through the platform.
What is the difference between Cashback portals and points programs?
Cashback portals like ShopBack and TopCashback pay out in cash via bank transfer or PayPal. Points programs like Qantas Shopping award loyalty points whose value depends on your membership and how you redeem them. Card-linked programs like CommBank Yello provide Cashback or travel credits tied to your banking relationship.
Do I need a browser extension to earn Cashback?
Not always — you can activate Cashback directly through the app or website. An extension can help by prompting you to activate Cashback when you land on an eligible merchant's site on desktop.
Can I earn Cashback on mobile app purchases?
Sometimes. Some merchants support in-app tracking; others require you to complete the purchase in a browser after clicking through. The offer terms will specify what is eligible.
What is ShopBack Snap?
ShopBack Snap allows users to submit eligible in-store or digital receipts through the ShopBack app to earn Cashback on qualifying offline purchases — no click-through required.
Is it safe to use Cashback apps?
They are widely used, but they do involve tracking your shopping journey to attribute purchases. Review the app's privacy policy, use strong passwords, and consider what data you are comfortable sharing.