Rakuten vs TopCashback UK
Both can be useful, but the better choice depends on whether you want a bigger one-off welcome bonus or broader long-term cashback coverage.
Quick verdict
Rakuten is attractive if you already plan to spend enough to unlock the £25 bonus. TopCashback is usually the stronger long-term account because of broad retailer coverage and regular payout options.
Provider
Rakuten UK
Shopping anyway? Route it through Rakuten. Join Rakuten UK via the referral link, spend £50 (exc. VAT) across eligible brands — Amazon excluded — within 90 days of joining, and £25 cashback is yours once the spend tracks and is approved. The £50 can be split across multiple purchases and brands, which keeps things flexible. Mind the tripwires, though: cancelled, returned, untracked or ineligible purchases don't count, and neither do unapproved voucher codes. Start from a clean browser session and click through from Rakuten right before you buy.
Requirement: £50 eligible tracked spend excluding VAT within 90 days
Easy5 minutesPayout After qualifying spend tracks and is approved
Verified 27 June 2026
Provider
TopCashback
The UK cashback institution. Join TopCashback via the referral link and meet the current welcome-bonus terms' payable-cashback requirement to unlock a £10 bonus — the operative word is payable: tracked is not confirmed, and the retailer has to validate the sale first, so patience is required. Then keep earning across 6,000+ retailers, withdrawing to your bank, PayPal or gift cards (which sometimes carry a top-up bonus). The standard account is free; the paid Plus tier lifts some rates but isn't required. Cashback can take weeks or months to confirm — that's just how the game works.
Requirement: Qualifying cashback must become payable before bonus payout
Easy5 minutesPayout After qualifying cashback becomes payable
Verified 27 June 2026
Related reviews
Rakuten UK
Rakuten £25 Referral Review UK
Rakuten is one of the better shopping-referral offers because £25 back on £50 eligible spend is meaningful. It is only good value when the purchase was already planned and you protect tracking carefully.
TopCashback
TopCashback Review UK
TopCashback is worth using if you treat cashback as a bonus on planned spending, not a reason to buy more. The main downside is waiting for cashback to confirm.
Side-by-side
| Factor | Rakuten UK | TopCashback |
|---|---|---|
| Reward | £25 cashback | £10 welcome |
| Quick answer | Use the referral link for the Rakuten UK offer. New eligible customers can get £25 cashback after meeting the requirement: £50 eligible tracked spend excluding VAT within 90 days. Last verified 2026-06-27. | Use the referral link for the TopCashback offer. New eligible customers can get £10 welcome after meeting the requirement: Qualifying cashback must become payable before bonus payout. Last verified 2026-06-27. |
| Best for | Bigger welcome bonus on planned shopping | Long-term cashback rate checking |
| Bonus trigger | Spend £50 excluding VAT within 90 days | Earn qualifying cashback under current welcome terms |
| Main risk | Spending just to unlock the bonus | Cashback confirmation delays |
FAQ
- Is Rakuten better than TopCashback?
- Rakuten can be better for a one-off welcome bonus if you already planned a qualifying purchase. TopCashback is usually better as an ongoing cashback comparison account.
- Can I use Rakuten and TopCashback together?
- Usually not for the same tracked purchase. Check both rates before buying and use one cashback portal per transaction.