TopCashback Review: Does Its 100% Cashback Model Really Pay More?

Trying to make the most of topcashback review does its? You are in the right place. Below we break it down in plain English, with practical tips you can actually use.

Key Takeaways

• Share Some links on our website are sponsored, and we may earn money when you make a purchase or sign-up after clicking.
• Learn more about how we make money and read our review methodology.
• TopCashback’s main differentiator is its business model.

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Some links on our website are sponsored, and we may earn money when you make a purchase or sign-up after clicking. Learn more about how we make money and read our review methodology.

TopCashback’s main differentiator is its business model. The company says it passes 100% of the commission it receives from retailers back to users, rather than keeping a cut.

That’s uncommon in this space, where most platforms hold back part of the referral fee.

Instead of relying on that claim, I’ve compared TopCashback’s rates against other major portals across the same merchants, on the same day, to see how it actually plays out.

It doesn’t win every time. But over time, it’s consistently been one of the better-paying cashback sites, especially for larger online purchases where small percentage differences add up.

This review reflects:

• How TopCashback’s model works
• My personal use of the platform
• Side-by-side rate comparisons with other cashback sites

4.6/5

TopCashback is one of the original cashback sites, and in my experience it still does one thing particularly well. It frequently pays more than competing portals.

I have used the platform a good amount over the years and have generally had a smooth experience with tracking and payouts. The company says it passes 100% of the commission it receives from retailers back to users, which frequently shows up as the highest base cashback rate.

That said, TopCashback is not my default portal. When rates are close, I frequently prefer Rakuten because I can transfer rewards into miles, and I have had good customer service experiences. While I have not personally had issues with TopCashback tracking, it is not uncommon to see complaints in forums about slow resolution times.

Pros:

• 100% cashback model frequently results in better payouts
• Large network of online and travel retailers
• Cash payouts via bank transfer, PayPal, or bonus gift cards
• Occasional standout offers that materially beat other portals

Cons:

• Mixed reviews on reliability of their tracking
• Customer service is less consistent
• No in-store spend options
• No extra features beyond traditional online cashback

Visit TopCashback

What Is TopCashback?

TopCashback is an online shopping portal that gives you a percentage back on eligible purchases.

Unlike numerous cashback sites, it has long said it passes the full retailer commission back to users, while supporting the platform through on-site advertising and other partnerships.

That model has helped TopCashback build a reputation as one of the higher-paying options among the best cashback sites.

How to Use TopCashback

Using the site is straightforward and simple.

1. Create a TopCashback account.

   You only need to provide an email address and choose a password.

2. Search for a store.

   You can browse by category (travel, electronics, fashion, etc.) or search by store name. You’ll see the percentage of cash-back each retailer is offering right in the search bar.

3. Click “Get Cash-Back Now”.

   You’ll be redirected to the retailer’s website.

4. Shop as you normally do.

   Clicking the “Get Cash-Back Now” button allows TopCashback to track your purchase. After you complete your order, the cashback typically appears in your account as pending. It becomes payable only after the retailer confirms the transaction, which can take anywhere from a few days to several months depending on the merchant, return window, and the type of purchase, such as travel booked far in advance.

5. Collect your earnings.

   You can cash-out your earnings via direct deposit to your bank account or via a transfer to your PayPal account. Or you can get gift cards.

Most cashback offers are between 1% and 10%, but you can sometimes find promotional rates as high as 40% or more.

You can also earn additional money using the membership referral code you’ll receive when you create your TopCashback account.

TopCashback Browser Extension

TopCashback also has a free browser extension. Once installed, you’ll see a notification whenever you visit a website that offers cashback, as well as the cashback rate.

Here’s an example of what it looks like:

The TopCashback browser extension on a site that offers rewards.

After clicking the “Get 6% cash back” button, you’ll be temporarily redirected to TopCashback, before being returned to the merchant. This takes about three seconds and is necessary for tracking. 

Once you’re back on the merchant’s website, you’ll be notified that the offer has been activated. You can verify this by clicking the extension icon, as shown below. 

Doing so will also show you key information about the offer, such as any excluded items or product categories. 

Click the extension icon to see the offer terms and exclusions.

Unfortunately, some partner merchants are only available by going through the main cashback portal; you can’t access them in the extension. So while it can help make sure you never miss an opportunity to save, it does not serve as a total replacement for visiting the TopCashback website. 

How TopCashback Compares to Other Sites

Cash-back shopping rates vary widely from site to site, and they change all the time. Plus, sites regularly offer bonuses and promotions, such as Rakuten’s “Triple Cash-Back” days.

So the only two surefire ways to find the best rates available at any moment are to check multiple platforms or to use Cashback Monitor, a rate aggregator.

But to give you a sense of how TopCashback fares against the competition, we sampled the rates from 10 popular online retailers on four of the biggest cash-back portals. 

We chose these merchants because they represent a variety of shopping categories, and because they’re examples we’ve used in other articles. The data was collected on a single day, so what you see on each site now may be different than the numbers below. 

Our research found that:

• TopCashback had the best available rate for all 10 merchants that we sampled, or was tied for the best rate.
• On average, TopCashback’s rates were approximately 2.6% higher than other platforms.

MerchantTopCashbackBeFrugalRakutenSwagbucksBest Buy2%0.5%1%2%Expedia6%5%3.5%3%Gap8%4%6%6%Home Depot8%8%0%1%Lego.com3%2%2.5%1%Lululemon5%5%2.5%2%Macy’s12%12%10%8%Nike6%3%1.5%6%Petco6%4%2%4%Sephora7%5%2%2%

The data above suggests that TopCashback’s advertising-powered business model does make it the highest-paying cashback website in most cases.

Editor’s Note: BeFrugal has a “Highest Cash Back Guarantee,” which promises to pay you 125% of the cash-back you could have earned through an offer on a competing site. However, the scope of the program is limited and the requirements are onerous, meaning that TopCashback may still be the better choice in most cases. You can learn more about the guarantee here.

When Do You Get Your Cash-Back?Final Thoughts

The bottom line: a little research on topcashback review does its goes a long way. Compare your options, watch for seasonal offers, and never pay full price when a better deal is one click away.

Originally published at thewaystowealth.com.