The Ultimate UK Cashback, Rewards & Points Guide for 2026

Details

The secret to maximising cashback in the UK isn’t finding the single “best” card—it’s stacking multiple tools together. This guide shows you exactly how to build an optimised rewards stack for 2026.

🏆 The Optimum UK Cashback Stack

Layer these together for 5-10%+ returns on everyday spending

📋 In This Guide

PayPal+ Debit Card

PayPal+ has emerged as one of the strongest uncapped cashback options in the UK. Unlike capped alternatives, there’s no monthly limit—ideal for higher spenders.

Blue Tier

1%

baseline

Gold (£25k/yr)

1.3%

+ £150 subs

Black (£50k/yr)

1.5%

+ £200 subs

The subscription cashback alone—covering streaming, software, domains—is essentially free money if you already pay for subscriptions through PayPal.

Curve Card

Curve sits in front of your other cards. Tap Curve at the till, and it charges whichever underlying card you’ve selected—while earning Curve’s own cashback on top.

The trick: Select 6-12 high-spend merchants (supermarkets, fuel, Amazon) for 1% Curve cashback, stacked on PayPal+ underneath = 2-2.5% combined.

JamDoughnut

JamDoughnut is where returns get serious. Buy gift cards through the app, receive instant cashback—then pay for the gift card using your reward card for double-dipping.

🛒 Supermarkets

3-4%

Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Morrisons, Iceland

🏪 Retail & Dining

5-10%

150+ brands, restaurants, DIY stores

Shopping Portals

Before any significant online purchase or contract signup, check TopCashback and Quidco. Single transactions on insurance, broadband or mobile can yield £50-150 cashback.

Pro tip: TopCashback typically offers higher rates (returns ~100% of commission). Both offer £10-20 sign-up bonuses for new users.

Airtime Rewards

Link your cards once, then forget about it. Airtime automatically tracks spending at 180+ partner retailers (Boots, Greggs, Argos, supermarkets) and credits 2-10% cashback against your mobile bill. Zero effort, free bonus layer.

Card Comparison

Why PayPal+ often wins: For anyone spending £25k+ annually, no cap means your effective return keeps climbing. Trading 212 and Chase max out at £15/month regardless of spend.

Portals & Apps

TopCashback

Best rates, ~100% commission returned. Essential for insurance, utilities, contracts.

Quidco

Good backup portal. Sometimes beats TopCashback on specific promos.

Honey

Browser extension. Auto-tests coupon codes, price history tracking.

Airtime Rewards

Link cards, earn automatically at 180+ retailers against your phone bill.

💰 Zopa Biscuit Account

Zopa’s Biscuit account offers around 2% cashback on eligible household bills paid by Direct Debit. Route your council tax, utilities, and broadband through it to earn on spending that normally returns nothing.

Credit cards worth noting: Amex Cashback offers 5% for new users during intro periods (3-5 months). Barclaycard Rewards and Santander Edge provide steady 1% options. For flights, BA Amex and Nectar Amex can deliver excellent value depending on redemption.

Practical Example: £100 Grocery Shop

Here’s how the stack works in practice

Step 1: Open JamDoughnut, buy £100 Tesco gift card → +£3-4

Step 2: Pay using Curve (with PayPal+ behind) → +£1 Curve +£1-1.50 PayPal+

Step 3: Shop at Tesco, scan Clubcard → +Clubcard points as normal

Step 4: Airtime auto-credits if Tesco is a partner → +bonus

Total: £5-6.50+ back on £100 (5-6.5%+) before Clubcard value

Scale this across groceries, fuel, dining, retail—annual savings easily reach hundreds of pounds.

Quick-Start Checklist

Set up your stack in 15 minutes:

Final Thoughts

The UK rewards landscape has matured significantly. Single cards with headline rates get attention, but methodical stacking delivers consistently higher returns. The tools listed here work together—each layer adds value without conflicting with the others.

Start with the core stack (PayPal+, Curve, JamDoughnut, TopCashback) and add layers as you get comfortable. Within a few weeks, checking for cashback before purchases becomes automatic.

Last updated: December 2025. Rates and offers change frequently—always verify current terms before signing up. This guide contains referral links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.