Compare the best cashback credit cards

Get rewarded in pounds instead of points with the right cashback credit card. See the latest intro deals and rates in our table - updated every day.

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By

Chris Lilly

Reviewed by

Rachel Wait

Updated

Fact checked
Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
1 - 6 of 15
Updated daily
Product UKCCF Finder Score Max. intro bonus Default earn-rate Annual/monthly fees Representative APR Incentive Representative example
Santander All in One Credit Card
Santander All in One Credit Card image
Finder score
9.3Excellent
N/A
0.5%
£3 per month
29.8% APR (variable)
0.5% after £1 of monthly spend. Maximum of £10 cashback paid per month. Cashback paid Monthly into Card Account. Maximum spend for cashback purposes is limited to credit limit.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 23.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £3 per month, your representative rate is 29.8% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
Read review
Amex® Cashback Everyday Credit Card
Finder Award
Amex® Cashback Everyday Credit Card image
Finder score
7.2Great
£125
1%
£0
30.4% APR (variable)
Welcome offer: Get 5% cashback on your purchases (up to £125) for the first 5 months of Cardmembership. Terms and minimum spend apply. 18+, subject to status.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.4% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 30.4% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
Read review
Amex® Cashback Credit Card
Finder Award
Amex® Cashback Credit Card image
Finder score
6.8Standard
£125
1.25%
£25 per annum
36% APR (variable)
New Cardmembers get 5% cashback on your purchases (up to £125) for the first 3 months of Cardmembership. T&Cs apply, 18+, subject to status.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.4% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £25 per annum, your representative rate is 36% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
Read review
Bank of Scotland Platinum Low Rate Credit Card
Bank of Scotland Platinum Low Rate Credit Card image
Finder score
5.3Standard
N/A
0.25%
£0
10.9% APR (variable)
0.25% after £1 of yearly spend for introductory period of 36 months. Cashback paid January into Card Account. Maximum spend for cashback purposes is limited to credit limit.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 10.94% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 10.9% APR (variable).
Read review
MBNA Limited Platinum Visa
MBNA Limited Platinum Visa image
Finder score
9.1Excellent
N/A
0.25%
£0
13.9% APR (variable)
0.25% after £1 of yearly spend for introductory period of 36 months. Cashback paid January into Card Account. Maximum spend for cashback purposes is limited to credit limit.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 13.94% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 13.9% APR (variable).
Read review
AIB Options 1 Credit Card
AIB Options 1 Credit Card image
Finder score
6.6Standard
£25
0.5%
£0
18.9% APR (variable)
0.5% after £5000 of yearly spend. Minimum of 12 transactions per year required. Maximum of £250 cashback paid per year. Cashback paid Anniversary into Card Account. For initial £5K a £25 cashback is paid, plus an additional £1 for every further £200 spent.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 17.44% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 18.9% APR (variable).
Read review
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Finder Score for credit cards

To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Costs, perks and suitability across 120+ cards are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the card – simple.

Read the full methodology

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Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables is provided by Moneyfacts.

What are cashback credit cards?

Cashback credit cards earn you cash in proportion to the amount you spend on them. This is known as your “earn rate”. A card that rewards you with £1 for every £100 you spend would have an earn rate of 1%, for example.

Higher earn rates are typically offset by an annual card fee – but this could be worth paying depending on how much you plan to use the card and therefore how much cashback you think you’ll get over the year.

Earn rates aren’t as high as they were a few years ago, and there are fewer cashback credit cards around. But there are some tasty intro bonuses up for grabs, from elevated earn rates for a set period of time to one-off lump sums – provided you meet the minimum spend requirements.

Some cards only offer the occasional opportunity to earn cashback when you spend with a specific brand they’ve partnered with, but dedicated cashback cards usually let you earn money back on every purchase.

handful-of-cash-cashback-offers

How do cashback cards work?

A cashback credit card gives you cash rewards on pretty much all your spending, usually in the form of credit on your account. Cashback offers vary between credit cards and sometimes even an individual card can have multiple earn rates that apply depending on where you spend. Some cashback credit cards also offer an introductory “sign-up” bonus as a sweetener.

In fact, there are three main ways you can earn cashback on your credit card purchases, which we’ve outlined here:

  1. Instant cashback when you make an eligible credit card purchase. For example, if you make a credit card purchase of £1,000 and there is a 2% cashback promotion, the credit card provider will give you £20 back.
  2. Cashback promotional offers on sign up. Some cards have a cashback promotion for new customers. These offers usually require you to apply before a set date and spend a specific amount within the first few months of having the card.
  3. Cashback via a credit card rewards programme. As well as using points for flights or merchandise, some credit card rewards programmes give you the option to redeem your points for cash added back to your account.

Is there a catch?

There are a few catches to know about. As with other reward credit cards, you need to meet the spending requirements or eligibility requirements to earn cashback. For example, cashback may only be earned on “eligible purchases”, with common exclusions including cash advances, balance transfers and refunded purchases. Some cashback credit cards may also cap or limit the amount of money you can earn per month or year. Make sure you read the card’s Product Disclosure Statement for more information.

How to choose cashback credit cards

ccf-cashback-250x250Here are the key details to look at when you’re comparing different cashback credit card options:

  • The cashback amount. Weigh up the value of the cashback you can earn based on your spending habits and the overall cost of the card (i.e. the annual fee and purchase rate). This will help you decide if the rewards are worth it.
  • Reward caps. Some cashback cards limit the amount of money you can get from them. For example, you might be able to get 1% cashback per £1 spent but have a limit of earning £50 per month in cashback.
  • Introductory offer requirements. If the cashback reward is offered as a special promotion, make sure you understand the terms and conditions before signing up. Depending on the offer, you may want to look for the date the offer expires, spending requirements or participating retailers to take advantage of the cashback reward.
  • Ineligible transactions. While most everyday purchases are eligible to earn cashback rewards, transactions such as cash advances, bill payments and credit card fees are usually ineligible. Check these details before you get a card to decide if it suits your spending habits.
  • Rewards value. If you have a card that earns points and want to redeem them for a cashback reward, check to see if there are other rewards (such as flights, travel upgrades or merchandise) that have a retail or regular price value that is higher than the cashback amount. This will help you get the most value out of your rewards.
  • Annual fee. Weigh the card’s annual fee against the cashback you expect to earn to work out how much value you’ll get from the rewards. Ideally, the amount of cashback you get should be worth more than the annual fee.
  • Other card features. Make sure you also consider the card’s standard variable purchase rate, as well as any additional charges, fees and complimentary extras. Along with the rewards and annual fee, these features will help you decide if the card suits all your needs.

Cashback calculator

This tool is designed to help you establish whether or not a particular cashback card would be worth it for you. Bear in mind that the calculation is based on clearing your balance each month and not using the card for cash advances, so that you don’t incur any interest or fees other than any obligatory annual/monthly card account fees. Don’t forget that depending on the card issuer, some transactions might not be eligible for cashback, and cash advances definitely won’t be.
Expected annual spend


Cashback earn-rate


Account fee (per annum)


You’d earn £45.00 in cashback over the year. Taking into account fees of £25.00, you’d pocket £20.00.

Advantages and drawbacks of cashback offers

Weighing up some of the pros and cons could help you determine whether a cashback credit card is right for you.

Pros

  • Money in your pocket. This type of credit card reward gives you the chance to earn money back for paying with plastic.
  • Pound value. Instead of earning points per £1 spent, cashback credit cards offer a straightforward cash reward. If you know roughly how much you’re going to spend, you can easily calculate the potential benefit of cashback.
  • Other extra features. Credit cards with cashback promotions may offer other features such as complimentary travel insurance, rewards programmes and concierge services.

Cons

  • Annual fees. To access higher earn rates, you’ll generally have to pay an annual credit card fee. The value you get back from the rewards and cashback should be higher than the annual fee – if it isn’t, the card’s not worth your while.
  • Rates of interest. If the cashback offer is a feature of a more premium product, you may find that credit card comes with a higher interest rate. Make sure you can repay the amount you’ve spent before the end of the statement period to avoid interest charges on any outstanding balance.
  • Limited rewards. Some cashback credit cards may cap the amount of cashback you can earn per month or year. It’s important to check this so you don’t get caught out.
  • Encourages spending. As with any rewards card, you earn through spending. If you think chasing cashback could tempt you into spending more than you can afford to pay back, an incentivised credit card might not be the right card for you.

How to apply for a cashback credit card

If you’ve decided you want a cashback credit card and have chosen the one that best suits your needs, you can usually apply for it online. But before you apply, make sure you meet the eligibility requirements and have the necessary documents needed to complete your application. These will vary from card to card, but you can usually expect the following:

Eligibility requirements

  • Age. Cardholders must be at least 18 years of age.
  • Residential status. Most credit cards require cardholders to be permanent UK residents.
  • Minimum income. The minimum income requirement will vary between cards. Some providers don’t require you to have any guaranteed yearly income at all. Others will simply state that you must have a regular income, and some will require a minimum household income.
  • Credit history. Most cashback credit cards require applicants to have a good credit history.

Necessary documents and information

  • Proof of identification. You’ll be required to provide a copy of your driver’s licence and/or passport for proof of identification.
  • Proof of income. In some cases, you might be asked to provide your employer’s details, as well as recent payslips. If you’re self-employed, you might need to provide a recent tax return.
  • Financial information. You may need to provide other information about your finances including debts, liabilities and expenses.

Once you’ve provided all of this information and hit “submit” on your online application, you should get an immediate response regarding your application. If you’re approved, you’ll receive your credit card in the post within 1-2 weeks. If the card has a cashback offer, you should read the Product Disclosure Statement to confirm the terms and conditions and when you can expect to receive the cashback in your account.

Setting up a direct debit to pay off the full balance of your credit card each month is key to ensuring you pay on time and avoid high interest charges.”

– Rachel Wait, financial journalist

What’s the best cashback credit card for bad credit?

Unfortunately, you’ll generally need a good credit score to be eligible for the best cashback credit cards. It’s worth taking the time to rebuild your credit score by paying bills on time and checking you’re on the electoral roll before you apply for a cashback credit card. Using an eligibility checker will allow you to see which cards you’re most likely to get without hurting your credit score.

Bottom line: is a cashback credit card worth it?

If you use your credit card regularly, but are still able to pay off your balance each month, a cashback credit card can give you a better return on your spending. You’ll earn cashback on all your purchases, which can make a big difference over time, as long as you’re disciplined about using your card and repaying the balance.

If you don’t use your card much, or have trouble clearing your monthly balance, you may find that a cashback credit card doesn’t represent good value for money – especially if it also charges an annual fee.

Earn cashback on business spend

A business credit card is one way to boost spending power and enjoy a little flexibility in handling your company’s cashflow. And on top of this, you could enjoy perks like cashback.

Frequently asked questions

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We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been reviewed by Rachel Wait, a member of Finder's Editorial Review Board.
Chris Lilly's headshot
Written by

Head of publishing

Chris Lilly is Head of publishing at finder.com. He's a specialist in personal finance, from day-to-day banking to investing to borrowing, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their money. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more. See full bio

Chris's expertise
Chris has written 582 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Loans & credit cards
  • Building credit
  • Financial health
  • Share trading
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