Last updated: August 13, 2026 · 8 min read
What Is Cashback?
Cashback is money a store gives you back after you make a purchase. You pay the normal price at checkout, and a percentage of what you spent comes back to you — typically a few days to a few weeks later, depending on the store and the shopping portal.
Unlike a discount, cashback does not reduce the price you pay at checkout. Instead, it returns money to you afterward, which is why some shoppers think of it as "free money." It is real money, but it usually takes time to land and may have minimum payout thresholds.
Where Does the Money Come From?
Stores already budget money for advertising to bring in new customers. Affiliate and cashback programs simply redirect part of that advertising budget to you. When you shop through a cashback link, the store pays the portal a commission for the sale, and the portal shares a slice of that commission with you as cashback.
This is why cashback rates vary so much by store and by category — a store with thin margins might offer 1–2%, while a store with strong margins can afford 10% or more. Rates also change constantly with promotions and seasons.
How to Start Earning Cashback
- Find a cashback portal or directory like OfferLuck that lists stores and their current rates.
- Pick a store and click through from the site — this is the critical step. If you skip the link and go straight to the store, the sale is not tracked.
- Shop as usual and complete your purchase. Do not close the browser or switch tabs mid-checkout, or the tracking can drop.
- Wait for the cashback to post after the store confirms the order. Timing ranges from days to a few weeks, and returns or cancellations usually void the cashback.
Common Mistakes That Lose Cashback
- Not clicking through the tracked link. The number one reason cashback does not appear.
- Using another coupon or cashback extension that overwrites the tracking cookie.
- Returning or cancelling the order before cashback posts.
- Shopping in the store's app instead of the browser — many portals do not track in-app purchases.
- Assuming the rate you saw is the rate you get. Always read the offer terms: some apply only to new customers or specific categories.
Is Cashback Worth It?
For anything you were going to buy anyway, yes. Cashback adds a few percent back on purchases you were already making — over a year, regular online shoppers can easily recover the cost of a subscription or a nice dinner. The key is to treat it as a bonus on planned spending, not a reason to spend more.
Check the current rates on our stores page before you buy, and always verify the final terms on the store's own website.