Pay using the card
You’ll use your cashback credit card for everyday spending, whether that be at the supermarket, restaurants or one-off purchases
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Cashback credit cards
Find the right cashback credit card for you
- Compare cards from leading providers
- See your chance of approval before you apply
- Searching doesn’t harm your credit score
Compare cashback credit cards from across the market
MoneySuperMarket works with a range of household-name credit card providers, including
How cashback credit cards work
Like any other credit card, when you use a cashback card you’re effectively borrowing from the card provider and you’ll pay interest on the debt until it’s repaid. But the main difference with a cashback card is you’ll be paid back a percentage of what you spend on the card. Here’s how cashback credit cards work:
Get a percentage of cash back
For many of the transactions you make on the card you’ll get a percentage of that spending back in cash
Pay back your balance
Make sure you pay off the credit card balance each month on time, in full. If you forget, the cashback you’ve earned will be wiped out by interest and fees
How to choose the best cashback deals
There are several factors to consider when choosing the right cashback credit card for you, including:
The most cashback
Look for cards that offer the most cashback per spend. Some cards offer extra cashback once you spend over a certain amount
Boost your credit score
Strengthening your credit score can help you to secure the best deals as lenders will have seen you handle credit responsibly in the past
Suiting your spending habits
Some cashback cards may only reward cashback on certain spending, such as food shopping. Pick a card that suits your spending habits and that won’t tempt you to overspend
Keep an eye on fees and interest
Some cashback cards can come with an annual fee so make sure to factor in these extra charges when deciding which deal is right for you
What can I get cashback on
Cashback credit cards are designed for everyday spending. If you’re unsure if your purchase will receive cashback, make sure to check with your credit card provider. You can typically earn cashback on:
Food shopping
A holiday
A new TV
Household bills
When you a cashback card to spend money, you’re effectively borrowing from the card provider, who pays you back a percentage of what you spend – usually between 1% and 5%.
The amount of cashback you’ll receive on your spending will depend on the cashback card you get and the provider.
For example, if your average monthly spend on the card is £2,000 and your credit card’s cashback rate is 0.5%, you could receive £120 a year in cashback. Remember you should try to pay off the balance in full every month to avoid extra charges or interest – which could wipe out any cashback benefits.
With a pre-approved credit card, the deal you see is what you get
When you apply for a cashback credit card it’s not always clear what deal you’ll be offered or whether you’ll be accepted. But when you’re pre-approved, you know the deal you see is the deal you’ll get – you’ll know where you stand, with information that will help you make the right choice.
Apply with confidence
When you’re pre-approved, the interest rate, interest-free period and fee (if there is one) are all confirmed – the only thing not guaranteed is your credit limit
Tailored to you
You’ll see your personalised chance of approval for all credit cards, so you can easily compare your options
You’re in safe hands
This helps protect your credit score as you’re less likely to be rejected when you apply
Types of credit card
There are many different types of credit card on the market, and while they all work in a broadly similar way, there are some important differences. Not every credit card is useful to every single person – and some are quite niche.
Balance transfer credit card
Lets you transfer balances from other cards, for lower interest.
Purchase credit card
Gives you low or 0% interest on what you buy for a variable period.
Credit-builder credit card
Helps you build up your credit score with careful spending.
Cashback credit card
Gives you a percentage back in on certain purchases.
Rewards credit card
Awards you loyalty points or Air Miles with every purchase.
Balance transfer and purchase credit card
Combines these two functions in one package.
Money transfer credit card
Lets you consolidate other debts for better interest.
Travel credit card
Makes spending abroad easier, with lower fees and exchange rates.
Is a cashback credit card right for me?
Not sure if a cashback credit card is the right choice for you? Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages to consider:
May suit you if...
- You're planning a one-off purchase anyway but want to take advantage of the cashback
- You can pay off your credit card bill in full every month
- You'll use the card for everyday spending to maximise your cashback
- You're planning a one-off purchase anyway but want to take advantage of the cashback
Might not suit you if...
- Your typical spending isn't enough to make the cashback amount worthwhile
- You struggle to manange your spending
- You don't tend to shop in retailers that accept cashback credit cards
- Your typical spending isn't enough to make the cashback amount worthwhile
How to compare cashback credit cards with MoneySuperMarket
If you feel that a cashback credit card could be right for you, the next step is to use the MoneySuperMarket Eligibility Checker to see what cards are available – and which are most likely to approve you.
Tell us about yourself
We’ll ask you a handful of simple questions about you and your financial circumstances, and what you need from a credit card
We browse the market
We’ll sift through dozens of credit card offers from across the market, and then show you the cards we think will suit you best
Pick the card you want
You’ll be shown a range of credit cards, which you’ll then be able to sort according to APR, features and your chances of being approved
Can I get a cashback credit card with bad credit?
What's the difference between a cashback card and a rewards card?
Which is better, points or cashback?
What APR do cashback credit cards have?
Do cashback cards let you withdraw cash?
If you’ve struggled with credit in the past or have a low credit score, you may find it hard to get a good deal on a cashback credit card. This is because lenders use your credit history to see how responsibly you’ve managed credit in the past, to decide whether to accept you for a credit card.
But while the best cashback cards could be out of reach, this doesn’t mean an instant ‘no’ to borrowing if you have bad credit. There are credit cards for bad credit designed for those who need to improve their credit score, but they may come with lower credit limits and higher interest rates. As you pay off your balance each month, you will see your credit score improve over time which can give you access to better credit deals, including cashback cards.
Cashback cards and rewards cards are very similar: the former gives you rewards in the form of money, while rewards cards give you other cash-like benefits, such as store loyalty points, Air Miles or vouchers for certain retailers.
Both types of card work in the same way: the more you spend, the more you earn. Rewards cards tend to earn you slightly more value, because they tie you into spending what you earn at certain brands. This makes cashback cards more flexible but slightly less valuable.
Cashback cards typically have APRs on the higher side, simply because they offer financial benefits and the card companies want to make money.
This is what makes it so important to pay your balance off in full every month: if you don’t, you’ll almost certainly be charged more in interest from the high APR than you earned in benefits.
Cashback credit cards do let withdraw cash but, as with all credit cards, it’s not an efficient way to get money. Credit card companies tend to charge substantial fees to use their cards at an ATM, so it’s best to avoid doing so.
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How we work
If you’re applying for a credit card, you might be able to find a better deal if you look through offers from different providers before taking one out. With MoneySuperMarket you’ll be able to search through multiple credit cards and compare them by a range of factors, including their interest rates and any benefits and rewards they come with.
All you need to do is answer a few questions about yourself and your financial situation, and our Eligibility Checker will show your chances of being accepted for different credit cards. This won’t affect your credit score, so you can run a check without any worries.
Once you know which card you want, you can normally apply by phone, online, or in person if the provider has a high street branch. However, when you do apply, the provider will usually run a hard credit check – which will show up on your credit report – to confirm whether they’ll give you the card. If you’re accepted they’ll tell you your credit limit and interest rate, and soon you’ll be ready to start using your credit card.
MoneySuperMarket gives you lots of clever ways to save a lot, by doing very little.
- Take control of your credit score by checking and improving it for free with Credit Monitor
- Never overpay again with Energy Monitor, our energy monitoring service
- Over 50 ways to Get Money Calm
So how do we make our money? In a nutshell, when you use us to buy a product, we get a reward from the company you’re buying from.
But you might have other questions. Do we provide access to all the companies operating in a given market? Do we have commercial relationships or ownership ties that might make us feature one company above another?
We commit to providing you with clear and informative answers on all points such as this, so we have gathered the relevant information on this page.