TopCashback and Quidco are the UK's two biggest cashback sites. They work the same way: click through from the site to a retailer, shop as normal, and get a share of the commission back. They often list the same retailers at slightly different rates, so the "winner" changes purchase by purchase. Here's how they compare on fees, payouts and bonuses, checked in October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Both have a free tier: TopCashback Classic and Quidco Basic.
- Paid tiers are cheap: TopCashback Plus is £5 a year, taken from your cashback. Quidco Premium is £1 a month, only in months you shop.
- Withdrawals: TopCashback from 1p, Quidco from £1. Both pay by bank, PayPal or gift card, with a bonus for choosing a gift card.
- Rates differ by retailer. Neither is always higher, so compare before big purchases.
- Biggest wins come from insurance, broadband, energy and financial products, which can pay £20-£100+.
TopCashback vs Quidco at a glance
| TopCashback | Quidco | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Classic | Basic |
| Paid tier | Plus: £5 a year, taken from your first £5 of cashback | Premium: £1 a month, only in months with a transaction |
| What the paid tier adds | Higher rates on many retailers and bigger referral rewards | Up to 25% higher rates on selected retailers, up to 20% extra on gift card payouts, no ads |
| Minimum withdrawal | 1p | £1 |
| Payout options | Bank, PayPal, gift cards (with a bonus) | Bank, PayPal, gift cards (bonus on Premium) |
| Sign-up bonus | Often available for new members | Often available for new members |
Sign-up and refer-a-friend bonuses change throughout the year. They're typically paid once a new member earns a minimum amount of cashback, so check the current offer when you join.
Which pays higher cashback rates?
Neither wins every time. Both sites compete for the same retailers, and their rates change daily. TopCashback has a reputation for passing on the full commission, especially on its Plus tier. Quidco Premium matches or beats it on some retailers, and Quidco sometimes runs exclusive deals.
The practical answer is to check both for any purchase over about £50, and especially for:
- Car, home and travel insurance renewals
- Broadband, mobile and energy switches
- Bank accounts, credit cards and investment platforms
- Large electronics and holiday bookings
On a £300 insurance renewal, a few pounds' difference between the two sites is common. On financial products the gap can be bigger.
Take Action: Before your next big purchase, search the retailer on both TopCashback and Quidco, and click through from whichever pays more.
Is the paid membership worth it?
For TopCashback, almost always yes. Plus costs £5 a year, taken automatically from your cashback, so you never pay out of pocket. If the higher rates earn you more than £5 extra a year, it's paid for itself. For most active users that happens with one or two purchases.
For Quidco, it depends how often you shop. Premium costs £1 in each month you make a purchase, so up to £12 a year. It's worth it if the extra rates and the up to 20% gift card bonus earn you more than that. If you only use Quidco occasionally, the fee only applies in those months.
How fast do they pay out?
Both sites show cashback as pending first, then confirmed once the retailer pays them. This step is what takes time:
- Online shopping: usually a few weeks to a couple of months.
- Insurance, broadband, energy and finance: often two to six months.
- Withdrawing confirmed cashback is quick on both, usually a few working days to your bank or PayPal.
If cashback doesn't track, both sites accept missing cashback claims. Keep your order confirmation, and make sure ad blockers and coupon extensions were off when you clicked through.
Can you use TopCashback and Quidco together?
Yes, but not on the same purchase. Retailers credit the last site you clicked through from, so using both on one order usually means one gets nothing and tracking may fail entirely. Join both, compare rates, then click through from just one.
They also stack with other types of cashback: gift card apps, card-linked apps like Airtime Rewards, and rewards credit cards. See our guide to stacking cashback apps.
Shopping the sales this year? Our Black Friday cashback guide covers the 2026 dates, how to stop cashback going missing and how to protect bigger purchases.
Which should you choose?
Choose TopCashback if you:
- Want one site to start with and the lowest fees
- Like withdrawing small amounts (from 1p)
- Will make enough purchases to cover the £5 Plus fee
Choose Quidco if you:
- Spot better rates there for the retailers you use most
- Prefer to pay nothing in months you don't shop
- Like taking payouts as gift cards with a bonus (Premium)
Best of all: use both and check each time. It takes a minute, and the difference adds up.
Related guides
FAQ
Is TopCashback or Quidco better?
For most people TopCashback is slightly better overall: a generous free tier, a £5-a-year Plus option taken from your cashback, and withdrawals from 1p. Quidco is close and sometimes pays more at particular retailers, so the best approach is to join both and compare before each larger purchase.
How much does TopCashback Plus cost?
TopCashback Plus costs £5 a year, deducted automatically from your first £5 of cashback, so you never pay it upfront. It gives higher rates at many retailers and bigger referral rewards. The free Classic tier remains available if you'd rather not pay.
How much does Quidco Premium cost?
Quidco Premium costs £1 a month, taken from your cashback, and only in months when you make a transaction. It offers up to 25% higher cashback at selected retailers and up to 20% extra when you withdraw as an e-gift card. Quidco Basic is free.
Can I use TopCashback and Quidco on the same purchase?
No. The retailer credits whichever site you clicked through from last, so using both on one order usually means one site tracks nothing, and you could lose the cashback entirely. Compare both, then click through from only the one paying more.
How long does cashback take to pay out?
It depends on the retailer. Online shopping cashback usually confirms within a few weeks to two months, while insurance, broadband and financial products can take two to six months. Once confirmed, withdrawals to your bank or PayPal usually arrive within a few working days.
The information in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Fees and features were checked on 21 October 2026 and can change.
Sources: Quidco: Basic vs Premium, Smart Saver: TopCashback vs Quidco 2026, TopCashback.