TopCashback and Quidco are the two best-known cashback sites in the UK.
TopCashback and Quidco are the two best-known cashback sites in the UK. Both pay you back part of what you spend when you click through to a retailer from their site, and both let you cash out by bank transfer, PayPal or gift card. The real difference is how each one charges for its paid tier: TopCashback Plus takes £5 a year from your cashback, while Quidco Premium keeps £1 in each month you shop. Below we compare the fees, payout options and referral rewards using each site's own pages, checked on 26 October 2026, so you can pick the one that suits how often you shop.
Disclosure: 10Deals may earn a commission if you join a site through links on this page. This does not change what we write. This guide is general information, not financial advice.
| TopCashback | Quidco | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Classic: free, no charges | Basic: completely free |
| Paid tier | Plus: £5 a year, taken from your cashback at payout | Premium: £1 a month, kept from your cashback only in months you shop |
| Most you pay for the paid tier in 12 months | £5 | £12 (if you shop in all 12 months) |
| Default when you join | Plus | Premium (3-month free trial for new members) |
| Paid-tier rate boost | "Extra Top Up on Cashback"; Plus members earn "an average of 16% more" than Classic | "Up to 25% higher cashback" on selected retailers |
| Gift card payout bonus | Up to 25% (Plus), up to 12.5% (Classic) via Reward Wallet | Extra bonus on gift card withdrawals (Premium) |
| Refer-a-friend reward | £25 (Plus), £20 (Classic) | £25 (Premium) |
| Payout methods | Bank transfer, PayPal, gift cards | Bank transfer, PayPal, gift cards |
| Minimum bank/PayPal withdrawal | Not stated on the help page we checked | £1 |
Visit TopCashback or Quidco to compare the rate for your next shop.
Sources: TopCashback Plus vs Classic, Quidco Premium, and each site's help pages. Checked 26 October 2026; offers change, so check the live site before you join.
How we pick
Figures on this page come from the providers' own official pages, checked on the date shown. We do not invent rates or bonuses, and offers change, so always check the live site. How we recommend.
Buying advice
How cashback sites work
A cashback site is paid a commission by the retailer when you click through from it and buy. TopCashback's terms describe it as acting as an advertising agent for retailers and passing that commission on to you as cashback. Quidco says its free Basic membership is funded by sponsored advertising paid for by retailers, with Premium as an optional paid tier.
Cashback is not instant. Your purchase first shows as pending or tracked, then the retailer confirms it, and only once the retailer pays the site can you withdraw it. Quidco says the whole process can take between 3 and 6 months, and sometimes longer.
Fees: £5 a year vs £1 a month
TopCashback Plus costs £5 a year. It is deducted from your cashback when you request a payout, never charged to your card. If you earn less than £5 in a year, the shortfall carries over to the next year. You can pick Classic instead and pay nothing.
Quidco Premium keeps £1 from your cashback in each month you shop through Quidco. If you go 30 days without a transaction, no fee is retained for that month. If you shop through it every month, that is £12 over a year (12 x £1). New members get a 3-month free trial, and Basic is free.
So for someone who uses a cashback site most months, TopCashback's paid tier costs less. For someone who only uses one a few times a year, Quidco Premium may cost the same or less (for example, 4 active months = £4).
What the paid tiers add
TopCashback Plus lists an extra top-up on cashback, up to a 25% payout bonus through Reward Wallet gift cards, a £25 Tell-a-Friend bonus, enhanced monthly statements and Plus-only promotions and competitions. TopCashback says Plus members earn an average of 16% more cashback than Classic members.
Quidco Premium lists up to 25% higher cashback on selected retailers, extra cashback when you withdraw as a gift card, a £25 refer-a-friend reward and ad-free browsing. Note that when you are logged out, Quidco shows Premium rates, so log in to see the rates for your account type.
Getting paid
Both sites pay out by bank transfer, PayPal or gift card. Quidco's minimum is £1 for bank transfer and PayPal; gift card minimums vary by retailer. New bank or PayPal details on Quidco go through a 48-hour security check, and payments typically arrive within five working days. TopCashback lets you withdraw part of your cashback, but some retailers only allow payout by bank transfer.
Verdict: who each site suits
TopCashback suits
- People who shop through a cashback site most months, because the paid tier is a flat £5 a year.
- Anyone who wants a completely free option, as Classic has no charges.
- People who like gift card payouts, with up to 25% bonus for Plus members.
Quidco suits
- Occasional users, because Premium only costs £1 in months you actually shop.
- New members who want to try the paid tier first with the 3-month free trial.
- People who want a free Basic account they can upgrade or downgrade at any time.
Rates for the same retailer differ between the two sites and change often, so the simple move is to compare the rate for the shop you are about to use on both sites before you click through. Use only one site per purchase.
Prices and rates note
Fees, bonuses and payout details were checked on the official TopCashback and Quidco pages on 26 October 2026. Cashback rates are set per retailer and change often, so we do not list them here. Always check the live site before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Is TopCashback better than Quidco?
Neither is better for everyone. TopCashback's paid Plus tier costs a flat £5 a year, while Quidco Premium keeps £1 in each month you shop, so frequent users pay less with TopCashback and occasional users may pay less with Quidco. Rates differ by retailer, so compare the rate for your shop on both sites.
Is TopCashback free?
Yes, joining is free and the Classic account has no charges. New accounts start on Plus, which deducts £5 a year from your cashback earnings at payout; you can opt for Classic instead.
Is Quidco free?
Yes. Quidco Basic is completely free. Premium costs £1, kept from your cashback in any month you shop through Quidco, with nothing charged in months you don't shop.
Is Quidco Premium worth it?
It depends how much you shop. Premium offers up to 25% higher cashback on selected retailers, extra cashback on gift card withdrawals and a £25 referral reward, for £1 in each active month. If the extra cashback you earn in a month is more than £1, it pays for itself; new members can test it with a 3-month free trial.
Can you use Quidco and TopCashback?
Yes, you can have accounts with both and check which pays more for each shop. Use only one site per purchase: TopCashback's terms say cashback only tracks when you click through with its Continue button, and Quidco warns that codes from other websites can stop cashback tracking.
How do cashback sites make money?
Retailers pay the site a commission when you click through and buy, and the site passes that to you as cashback. Quidco also says its free Basic membership is funded by sponsored advertising from retailers, while paid tiers like TopCashback Plus and Quidco Premium take a small fee from your cashback.
