Cashback programs are one of the easiest ways to get money back on your online shopping and are one of the smartest ways to earn extra value on your everyday spending—whether you're shopping for clothes, booking a holiday, or even switching electricity providers.
If you're not using them, you're literally leaving money on the table.
Let’s dive into:
How these platforms work (and how they make money)
What kinds of offers you can get (hint: travel, tech, utilities)
A real example using Red Energy & Can get you up to 16,500 BONUS Qantas Points
A side-by-side breakdown of the top cashback platforms in Australia
How Cashback Platforms Work?
Cashback sites partner with brands and retailers. When you make a purchase through their referral link. Retailers pay a referral fee (a percentage of your spend) to the cashback platform for each sale. The platform shares part of this with you and keeps the rest as profit. This allows them to remain free to use while rewarding customers for their purchases.
How Cashback Works (In Simple Terms)
Click Through a Cashback Site First
Before buying something online, you visit a cashback site (like ShopBack, Raiz Rewards or TopCashback AU) and click on the store you want to shop at.Shop As Usual
You’re redirected to the store’s official website. You make a purchase just like you normally would.You Get Paid a % Back
The cashback platform gets a commission from the store for referring you, and they share part of that commission with you.Cash Is Paid to You Later
After the return/refund period passes (usually 30–90 days), the cashback is confirmed and can be transferred to your Bank Account or PayPal.
Browser Extensions: Don’t Miss Cashback!
To make life easier, install the browser extensions for each of these cashback programs. When you land on a retail site, the extension will automatically pop up and tell you which platform is offering cashback—and who’s offering the most.
No need to guess. Just click “Activate” and you’re good to go.
NOTE: you can ONLY use one program and you cannot use 2 at once. Make sure that you only activate the one with the best offer
Where You Can Earn Cashback?
Cashback isn't limited to retail shopping. Major categories include:
Travel
Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia, Viator, Accor, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Klook, Trip.com, Virgin Australia
Retail
Myer, David Jones, Apple, The Iconic, eBay, Amazon AU, JB Hi-Fi, Adore Beauty
Utilities and Services
Red Energy, AGL, ING, Everyday Insurance, HCF, Telstra, Optus
Subscriptions and Food
Foxtel, HelloFresh, YouFoodz, Disney+, NordVPN, Binge, Menulog, Uber
Key Cashback Platforms in Australia
1. ShopBack Australia
Popular Partners: Current offers include, Coles (up to 25% cashback), Chemist Warehouse (up to 6% cashback), BooHoo (up to 10.5% cashback), Temu (up to 45% cashback), Red Energy (up to $171 cashback)
Typical Tracking Time: Within 1–2 hours
Payout Time: 30–90 days
Referral Bonus: Get $10 bonus when you sign up and make your first eligible purchase
👉 ShopBack Referral Link – Get Your Bonus
2. Raiz Rewards (for Raiz App Users)
Popular Partners: THE ICONIC, Catch, Apple, Bonds, Petbarn
How it works: When you shop through Raiz Rewards, the cashback is automatically invested into your Raiz investment portfolio—not paid as cash.
Tracking Time: Varies, but generally within a few hours
Payout Time: 30–90 days
Referral Bonus: Join Raiz here and get $5 invested after your first purchase
👉 Raiz Referral Link – $5 Invested
3. TopCashback Australia
Popular Partners: Amazon (up to 8% cashback), Pizzahut (currently offering up to 100% cashback - Free Pizza), Myer (up to 6.25% cashback), Temu (up to 38% cashback) Net-a-Porter (up to 6% cashback)
Known For: Often offers higher cashback than other platforms for niche or international retailers
Highest Cashback Guarantee: 'If you see a better cashback offer elsewhere, we'll guarantee to beat it.' see the T&C's here
Tracking Time: Within 1–2 hours
Payout Time: 30–90 days
Referral Bonus: Get $10 bonus when you make your first purchase
👉 TopCashback AU Referral Link – Claim $10
How Long Does Cashback Take?
You’ll get email notifications once the cashback is tracked and confirmed.
Cashback Example with Red Energy + 16,500 Qantas Points
Red Energy is currently offering new customers:
Currently upsized to $171 cashback when signing up via Shopback, using my referral link will increase the cashback to for new customers $181 (the normal cashback offer for Read Energy is normally a respectable $112 cashback)
15,000 Qantas Points when selecting the Qantas Red Saver Plan (Electricity & Gas) for linking your Qantas Frequent Flyer account during sign-up.
1,500 bonus Qantas Points if you add this referral code 8478675 under have you been referred by a friend & ender this number in the friends account number section.
Combined you will earn 16,500 Qantas Points plus the cashback, that’s over $500 in value (subject how you use it) from a gas and electricity switch you're likely considering anyway.
Pro Tip: Stack Offers
To maximise savings, combine cashback with:
Paying with a Credit card that earns Rewards Points
Discount codes (check the T&C's on the relevant cashback site, only use the approved coupons or ones listed on the website or you risk missing out on the cashback)
End-of-season or site-wide sales
Amex or Mastercard Offer
Additional Secret Hacks (happy to tell you if you subscribe)
How much I have saved using Cashback?
Since using these cashback programs back in 2021, below is my balance of my Cashrewards account (Cashrewards has unfortunately closed)
Now this balance has accumulated from normal purchase like shopping online at Liqourland & Coles where I am getting not only the cashback, but stacking any coupon promos, using any activated flybuy offers & getting sometimes up to 3000 flybuys points on just a $100 shop
I have received a HUGE $1,688.96 cashback, now think of what you could do with that money for just shopping through a link?
Referral Links for Free Bonuses
Click the links below to sign up and get a bonus after your first eligible purchase:
By using these referral links, you'll receive bonus cashback once your first eligible transaction is confirmed.
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