Shopping online can be exciting, but it’s even better when you can earn money back on the things you buy. Cashback portals are one of the best-kept secrets for saving money while shopping online. Think of them as a gateway to perks and discounts you might not even know existed. Instead of paying full price for your favorite items, you get a percentage of what you spend back. You could be buying clothes, electronics, booking a vacation, or whatever! Cashback portals are a simple way to make your money work a little harder for you. This is how these portals work, why they’re worth using, and how to increase your savings.

What Are Cashback Portals?

A cashback portal is essentially a third-party website or app that partners with retailers to give you money back on your purchases. When you shop through the portal, it tracks your transaction and rewards you with a percentage of your spending, ranging from 1% to 20%, depending on the retailer and the promotion.

Here’s how it works in a nutshell:

  1. You visit a cashback portal (like Rakuten or TopCashback).
  2. Search for the retailer you want to shop with.
  3. Click the retailer’s link within the portal.
  4. Complete your shopping as usual on the retailer’s website.
  5. Earn cashback, which gets credited to your portal account after the retailer confirms your purchase.

The cashback you earn can usually be redeemed as direct deposits, PayPal payments, or gift cards. It’s money you wouldn’t have gotten back otherwise.

Popular Cashback Portals and Their Features

Not all cashback portals are the same, and choosing one often depends on which retailers you shop with most frequently. Here are a few of the most popular options.

Rakuten

Rakuten is one of the oldest and most trusted cashback portals. Its easy-to-use app and browser extension make shopping through it a seamless experience. Rakuten often runs promotional deals, doubling or tripling cash back at popular stores during certain times of the year. You’ll also get $30 in bonus cash just for signing up and making your first qualifying purchase.

TopCashback

With no minimum payout threshold, TopCashback appeals to people who want smaller but more frequent payouts. It also often offers higher cashback rates compared to competitors on major retailers. Another unique feature is their “Fair Play” policy, which gives you the total amount of cashback available without hidden fees.

Honey

Best known for automatically applying coupon codes at checkout, Honey also has a cashback feature called Honey Gold. Earn Honey Gold points by shopping through its portal, and redeem points for gift cards to stores like Amazon or Target.

Swagbucks

Swagbucks stands out because it rewards you in multiple ways, not just through cashback. You can earn Swagbucks (SB points) by shopping, watching videos, or taking surveys, and then redeem them for gift cards or PayPal cash. It’s a great multi-purpose platform if you want savings from more than just shopping.

BeFrugal

BeFrugal guarantees the highest cashback rates, or they’ll match and beat the offer. If you’re looking for deals backed by a money-saving guarantee, it’s worth exploring. They offer a welcome bonus similar to Rakuten.

How Cashback Portals Benefit Shoppers

The biggest draw of cashback portals is, unsurprisingly, saving money. But the benefits go further than just having extra cash in your pocket:

  • Double-Dip Savings: Shopping through cashback portals doesn’t mean you miss out on store discounts. You can stack cashback with sales, coupons, and store rewards programs. The combination of these savings can add up to significant totals over time.
  • Extra Incentives for Loyalty: Many portals offer bonus rewards for signing up, referring friends, or hitting specific spending milestones. Rakuten might reward you with an extra $10 or $20 just for referring a friend who makes a purchase.
  • Travel Savings: The perks are especially useful for travel bookings. Portals partner with airlines, hotel chains, and travel sites, letting you save hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars on trips you planned to take anyway.

Tips for Using Cashback Portals Effectively

Using a cashback portal is simple, but you might not be getting the most out of what these sites can offer. Here’s how to get the most bang for your buck.

1. Use Browser Extensions

Many portals offer browser extensions that automatically notify you of cashback opportunities as you browse online stores. Honey and Rakuten are great examples of this. Whenever you’re visiting a retailer’s website, the browser extension will alert you if cashback is available and prompt you to activate it. It eliminates the need to visit the portal separately.

2. Check for Special Promotions

Timing is key. Cashback rates often increase during holidays, back-to-school season, or special sales weeks like Black Friday. These “double cashback” events can effectively double your savings without any extra effort on your part. Keeping an eye on promotions can mean the difference between earning 5% back and 15%.

3. Combine Cashback with Rewards Credit Cards

Pairing your cashback portal with a rewards credit card maximizes your savings. Suppose you’re earning 5% cashback through the portal and another 2% cashback via your credit card. That’s 7% savings on every dollar spent. Just be sure to pay your credit card bill in full to avoid interest charges, which can eat into your savings.

4. Compare Rates Across Portals

One portal might offer 5% cashback at a retailer, but another might offer 7%. BeFrugal and CashbackMonitor are great tools for comparing rates and make sure you’re getting the highest possible return. A little comparison shopping can go a long way.

5. Request Payouts Regularly

Waiting too long to cash out your earnings isn’t ideal. Some portals require minimum balances before you can withdraw, so staying on top of it prevents your rewards from sitting idle. You always want to double-check that your cashback gets tracked properly.

The Downsides to Watch Out For

Although cashback portals are generally a win-win, there are a few pitfalls to be aware of:

  • Delayed Cashback: Cashback isn’t instant. Retailers often wait weeks to confirm your purchase to account for potential returns or cancellations. If you need cash fast, these delays could be frustrating.
  • Portal Exclusivity: Sometimes, cashback requires you to exclusively use the portal's link. Having multiple browser tabs open while shopping or failing to check out through the portal’s link may result in forfeiting your rewards.
  • Limited Retailer Partnerships: Not all stores partner with cashback programs, so your favorite brands may not always be available. Checking portal-supported retailers before making major purchases helps you plan accordingly.