Last Updated on February 2, 2021 by Yetty Akindele
When it comes to maximizing cash returns for my day to day purchases, I am all for cashback applications that are 100% legitimate and have a high level of security. This is even more important when I can have them installed as browser extensions in my Google Chrome and Firefox. If you have been shopping online and don’t have any cashback applications installed in your browsers, then you have been losing a lot of money which you could have earned as cashback.
I have different cashback browser extensions in my chrome and Firefox. This way I am able to ensure I get the highest cashback percentages from any of the applications as they usually carry the same merchants. This is shown as an example for TopCashback and Swagbucks in the images below;
In this post, I write on the very best cashback applications available today.
So, what qualifies a good cashback application?
- It should have a large database of merchants. This guarantees that you will most likely earn money for your online purchases.
- A high level of security for the safety of your data.
- A good cashback application should redirect you to the merchant website and not some dubious links.
- The cashback application should make payments in time without delay!
The cashback applications reviewed here are applicable to people in Canada and the US. They are applications that I have tested myself and which have excellent customer reviews on Trustpilot. Some of them also have additional ways to earn money such as surveys, playing games online, and earning points redeemable for cash.
1. TopCashback
On this platform, you are able to search for any store of your choice to see if it is a part of their merchant database. This applies if you create an account and log in directly. Alternatively, you get to see if a particular website you are shopping on is eligible to give you cashback with TopCashback browser extension installed on your Google Chrome and Firefox.
With over 6400 reviews and an average rating of 4.6 on Trustpilot, this is one excellent application to sign up for and have the browser extension installed. The application currently has over 15 million members and 4400+ merchants.
Key Highlights
- Free sign up
- High level of security
- Very high Cashback rates compared to others
- Refer friends and earn $30 in cashback when they accumulate cashback of $10
2. Swagbucks
While this isn’t just a cashback application, which is one of the reasons why it is a favorite for most people. You can also earn by way of having Swag Button, the app’s browser extension installed on your Google Chrome or Firefox. Swagbucks offers various ways to make money online.
On this platform, you can take surveys, play games, upload grocery receipts install applications, and earn rewards in the form of SB. This is redeemable for gift cards and as cash through PayPal. When you sign up to Swagbucks, you get a $5 sign up bonus. Additionally, when you install the browser extension from within your Swagbucks dashboard after signing up, you get 100 SBs.
Swagbucks is a well-known and trusted platform with over 7600 customer reviews on Trustpilot and an average rating of 4.6.
Key Highlights
- Multiple ways to earn money such as surveys, playing games, receipt uploads, app installations etc
- Free sign up
- High level of security
- Refer friends and earn 300SB plus 10% of the lifetime earnings for your referrals! You also get 100SBs when your friend installs the Swag Button.
#Related:Check out the best paid online survey platforms in Canada
3. MyPoints
This platform despite not being a direct cashback application still gives you cashback. Earning here is by way of points for dollar spent. These points then accumulate and can be redeemed via PayPal as cash or for the purchase of gift cards. The platform has a variety of merchant gift cards such as Amazon, Cineplex, iTunes, American Eagles, etc.
With over 5500 customer reviews and an average rating of 4.4 on Trustpilot, this is another rewards app that pays to sign up with. Similar to Swagbucks, there are also other ways to earn points on this platform. These include surveys, games and watching videos. The platform also offers useful coupon codes and coupons for groceries which you also earn 25 points for when you redeem the coupons in store.
Key Highlights
- Free sign up
- Multiple ways to earn points which translate to money or gift cards
- High level of security of data.
- Refer friends and earn 10% of all eligible points your friend earns, plus earn points when your friends accept your invite.
4. Rakuten
This is a very well-known cashback application in Canada and the US. Its major competitor from this list will be TopCashback. The platform is very similar to TopCashback and operates in like version.
They claim to have paid out over $70 million in cash back. Customer reviews on Trustpilot are also mainly positive with an average rating of 4.6 from over 7600 reviews. To get started, you need to create an account on the platform, search for stores, and make your purchases as usual.
Key Highlights
- Free to sign up
- High level of security of data
- Earn $25 for every friend you refer who spends $25. Your friend also gets $5.
- Option to purchase gift cards
#Related:Check out the best paid online survey platforms in Canada
5. Checkout51
This is a cashback application for grocery and gas purchases. You earn money by uploading receipts for purchases of items on the platform that are eligible for cashback. There are other ways to earn too by way of application installations. Money earned is redeemable once you have accumulated $20.
Key Highlights
- Free to sign up
- Upload receipt for eligible purchases and earn cashback. Receipts from online retailers are also accepted
- High level of security