With TopCashback, you can earn cash-back rewards on your purchases, plus you’ll receive a $25 bonus just for signing up.

If you're not actively earning points or cash back on your online purchases, you might be missing out on valuable rewards. In a time when inflation is impacting many households, every bit counts. Fortunately, securing those extra rewards is easy—it just takes a few extra clicks.

Numerous online shopping portals exist, including those linked to major airlines and hotel loyalty programs, as well as various independent cash-back reward platforms. These sites can reward you with points, miles, or cash back on nearly everything you shop for online. Simply start at one of these portals and click through to the retailer’s website to accumulate extra rewards, rather than going directly to the merchant’s site. So, before you purchase that lawnmower from homedepot.com, jeans from gap.com, or decorative dish towels and essential home goods from target.com, ensure you maximize your spending by earning rewards.

At TPG, we frequently discuss Rakuten, a versatile program that enables you to choose between cash back or American Express Membership Rewards points on your online shopping. However, it’s important to note that no single program consistently offers the highest returns, as different portals can provide varying earning rates for the same retailers.

This guide will take a closer look at another cash-back portal—TopCashback. While it doesn’t offer points, it allows you to exchange your rewards for cash or gift cards. Additionally, it features a unique offering: the "Highest Cash Back Guarantee," which sets it apart from other cash-back portals.

What is TopCashback all about?

TopCashback is a shopping portal that collaborates with over 7,000 online retailers, including well-known brands like Adidas, Apple, eBay, Macy's, and Sephora, as well as travel companies like Marriott, Vrbo, and Hilton. You can earn cash back on specific gift card purchases and curbside pickup orders through the portal.

TopCashback proudly claims to be "the USA's most generous cashback website." It achieves this by returning 100% of the everyday commission earned from merchants back to its members. The platform generates revenue through advertisements and sponsored links labeled as "zero cashback," while merchants occasionally provide bonuses to the site as well.

How to create an account with TopCashback

New members can earn a $25 sign-up bonus if you earn your first $10 in cash back before December 31.

Joining TopCashback is a breeze. Simply visit the website, input your email, and create a password.

After signing up, you can start earning cash back on your online purchases right away and also receive rewards for every friend you refer.

How to navigate TopCashback

Using TopCashback is similar to any other online shopping portal once your account is set up. Just visit the site before making any online purchases.

At the top of the website, you'll find a search box where you can look up the merchant you wish to shop with.

After that, simply click through to the retailer's site to finalize your purchase.

When you click the "Get Cash Back" button beside a store, a new window or tab will open to show that you're being directed to the merchant's website. Make sure to complete your purchase in that window, so TopCashback can track your spending and reward you accordingly.

If you prefer a more convenient option, consider downloading TopCashback's browser extension.

This extension is compatible with Chrome and Firefox and will alert you automatically when you’re shopping with a retailer that participates. You’ll simply need to click "Activate Now" to earn cash back without visiting the main portal. It will also display any available coupons for that retailer's site.

Transactions typically appear on your earnings page within a week. Initially, they will show as "Pending," indicating that your transaction has been logged, but the retailer has yet to verify that all conditions for cash back have been satisfied. Within a month, your transaction will change to "Confirmed" status. Finally, it will become "Payable," which generally happens within a few weeks after the affiliate network bills the retailer, although it can take up to 90 days.

You can withdraw your cash back at any time once it reaches payable status. TopCashback offers several cash-out options, including PayPal, automated clearing house transfers, and a range of gift card choices from retailers like Amazon, Disney, and Sephora—though some merchants may require a minimum amount for gift card rewards.

Unlike many cash-back portals, there are no minimum thresholds to request a payout. Additionally, you can often receive up to a 5% bonus if you opt for your payout as store credit with select merchants or as a prepaid Visa or American Express card.

Cash-back assurance on TopCashback

TopCashback differentiates itself from other online shopping portals by providing a "Highest Cash Back Guarantee." Simply put, if you discover a better cash-back offer on another website, you can submit a claim, and TopCashback will match it once it’s reviewed and verified. This unique guarantee sets it apart from all other online shopping portals we know of.

The higher rate must have been available on the same day your transaction took place. Furthermore, TopCashback will only match cash-back rates from the following competitors:

• BeFrugal
• GoCashBack
• Honey
• MaxRebates
• Mr. Rebates
• Rakuten
• Tada (previously ShopAtHome)

In other words, you cannot match rewards that aren't monetary, such as airline miles.

To submit a claim, you need to complete a form on the customer service page. This must be done within seven days of the transaction date, and the transaction should be visible in your account. Although you can't attach files to the initial claim form, TopCashback recommends keeping a timestamped screenshot of the better offer as proof.

To make the most of this feature, consider using a shopping portal aggregator like Cashback Monitor. This tool allows you to search for retailers and view the earning rates across all relevant shopping portals. Even if TopCashback isn’t providing the best rate, you can find out which portal is offering a better one to match it.

Key reminders for using TopCashback

Using TopCashback is fairly simple, but there are a few crucial points to remember:

• Make sure cookies are enabled in your browser so TopCashback can track your shopping activity.
• Only utilize promotions or promo codes found on the portal; using others may void your rewards.
• Check the restrictions for each merchant, as many do not consider gift cards eligible for earning bonuses, and some may exclude certain items.
• Be sure to use a credit card that provides the best earning rate for your purchase. Most online merchants don’t fit traditional bonus categories, so a card suited for everyday spending is usually your best option.

For instance, you can utilize the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on all purchases.

Keep in mind that the Highest Cash Back Guarantee is only beneficial if your goal is solely to earn cash back. If you're open to other options, you might achieve a better return by using a portal that earns points or miles, even if the cash-back rate is lower.

For example, with Rakuten, you can choose to earn American Express Membership Rewards points. TPG estimates the value of Amex points at 2 cents each, which could effectively double your return compared to cash back. If you have the option to earn 3% cash back through TopCashback or 2 Amex points per dollar with Rakuten, you’d benefit more from Rakuten if you value Amex points similarly to TPG's assessment.

In conclusion

Always use a shopping portal when making online purchases.

If you're looking for cash-back rewards, TopCashback is an excellent option to keep handy, especially with its "Highest Cash Back Guarantee." Additionally, until December 31, new members can earn a $25 sign-up bonus after accumulating their first $10 in cash back.

That said, you might find better value by using a portal that offers points or miles, so it's essential to calculate and determine the best option for your needs.