I've been using Quidco for several years, and this is what I think of it.
As someone who loves finding ways to save money, I’ve tried my fair share of cashback websites, most of which you'll find right here on this blog, but when it comes to reliability, ease of use, and the sheer variety of offers, Quidco consistently stands out as a good choice.
If you’re based in the UK and haven’t tried Quidco yet, you might be wondering: what’s the hype about? Is it really worth it? After using the platform for several months, here’s my honest review of Quidco, including how it works, its pros and cons, and whether it’s a good fit for you.
What is Quidco?
Quidco is one of the UK’s most popular and, in my view, best cashback sites, offering users the chance to earn money back on their online and in-store purchases. Founded in 2005, it has built a strong reputation over the years, partnering with over 5,000 retailers, both big and small. You can earn cashback on making physical purchases from retailers as well as the opportunity to earn cash back on products such as holidays, taking out new insurance, (home insurance, pet insurance, car insurance, other motor insurance, travel insurance etc) and setting up new bank accounts, so it's pretty extensive in the ways you can earn some cashback via the site/app!
I didn't always rate Quidco that highly; when `I first started using it, I considered it as a bit of a TopCashback wannabee service, with only a more limited number of retailers and inferior offers, but over the last few years, they've really improved their service and offers,, and Quidco can really be an excellent cashback option for you to use to earn cashback!
How Does Quidco Work?
Like most cashback sites, Quidco has negotiated a percentage of any sale that their users make, having clicked from Quido to a retailer's site, via Quidoc's affiliate links. As an example, if you spend £100 at a retailers site, lets use Argos as an example, Argos will give Quidco a percentage of that sale sas Quidco's commission for sending that customer to them. They might receive a 5% commission, and Quidco will then share a percentage of that commission with the shopper as cashback to say thanks. That amount might be 3 or 4%, which means that Quidco keeps an additional 1 or 2% small commission as its profit.
It's a win-win as both the shopper and Quidco are making some money on your purchase, and it's especially great for the shopper, in my opinion, because they receive cashback on something they were going to buy anyway, so they have nothing to lose as they're getting a better deal than if they did some online shopping at the retailer's website and placed an order, as they'll not receive any cashback rewards; with Quidco, they will!
Quidco will also make money from income from its premium membership (Quidco Premium), which costs users £1 a month.
The concept behind Quidco is simple, but it’s worth understanding the process to get the most out of it. Here’s how it works from a user’s perspective:
1. Sign Up for Free
Creating a Quidco account is quick and straightforward. You can sign up on their website or download the app; there’s no fee to join. There is a Premium option, and Premium accounts benefit from up to 10% top-up on cashback rates, earning members even more cashback with Quidco. Premium members also get up to 20% higher payout bonuses, double the difference top-up on Quidco's Highest Cashback Guarantee and ad-free browsing. This service costs you £1 of cashback per active month you purchase from Quidco, and it is well worth it for excellent cashback deals!
2. Browse Offers
Once registered, you can browse cashback offers from thousands of retailers. The platform is well-organised, with categories like fashion, travel, groceries, and electronics, making finding deals relevant to you easy.
3. Click Through and Shop
When you find an offer you like, click on the retailer’s link through Quidco. This ensures your purchase is tracked. From there, you shop as usual – no special codes or complicated steps are required.
4. Earn Cashback
After your purchase is confirmed, Quidco tracks the transaction and credits your account with cashback. The amount varies depending on the retailer and offer, but it typically ranges from 1% to 20% of your total spend. There is a wait time for the cashback to be checked and confirmed by the retailer, and thats the downside to these conventional cashback services, as it can take quite some time for the cashback to become available in your Quidco account cashback balance.
5. Withdraw Your Earnings
Once your cashback is confirmed (this can take a few days to several weeks, depending on the retailer), you can withdraw your earnings to your bank account, PayPal or convert them into gift cards.
My Experience Using Quidco
The Good
Wide Range of Retailers
One of Quidco’s biggest strengths is the sheer variety of retailers it partners with; 5,000 retailers to choose from, and more being added often, gives you a good chance of finding a retailer you can buy what you need to buy from and earn cashback on the sale. Whether I’m shopping for clothes, booking a hotel, or even ordering a takeaway, there’s almost always a cashback offer available.
User-Friendly Platform
Quidco’s website and app are intuitive and easy to navigate. The search function makes it simple to find specific retailers, and the “Top Offers” section highlights the best deals available.
Bonus Cashback Opportunities
Quidco often runs promotions where you can earn bonus cashback for trying out new retailers or spending a certain amount. I’ve taken advantage of these offers a few times, and they’ve significantly boosted my earnings, especially at Christmas time or during sales events such as Black Friday. Last Christmas I racked up £45 of extra cashback through deals such as spend £50+ at Argos and get £10 bonus cashback; and these type of great offers meant Quidco knocked rivals out of the water, as its extra free money for buying what I was going to buy anyway!
I don't think I used any of my other conventional cashback sites over Christmas, as Quidco seemed to be offering better deals on places I needed to buy from, or I switched retailer to buy something from a different retailer I didn't intend to buy from originally, but the bonus cashback made it a better deal for me to swap to; which is, I'm sure the exact reason the retailer and Quidco were offering the bonus cashback rates; it makes people buy from retailers they might not have done otherwise!
Reliable Payouts
In my experience, Quidco has been reliable when it comes to tracking purchases and paying out cashback. While some transactions take longer to confirm than others, I’ve never had an issue with missing cashback that wasn't resolved by the Quidco customer service team.
The Not-So-Good
Cashback Tracking Can Be Slow
One downside is that cashback can take a while to track and confirm. For some retailers, it’s instant, but for others, it can take weeks or even months. This requires a bit of patience and is frustrating on big-ticket items where you have a decent amount of cashback pending that you'd like to have sat in your bank account!
Not All Purchases Might Track
Occasionally, a purchase doesn’t track properly, which means you miss out on cashback. While Quidco has a “Missing Cashback” tool to help resolve these issues, it’s not always successful, but to be fair, that's the same with its rivals, too; it's not just a Quidco thing!
Membership Fee For Higher Cashback Rates
Quidco offers a free membership tier, but there’s also a paid option called Quidco Plus (£1 per month) that gives you access to higher cashback rates. While the fee is minimal, it’s something to consider if you’re a casual shopper, but that additional cashback you can earn does outweigh the £1 a month charge, so it's not really a negative as such, plus, if you don't use Quidco for that billing month, they won't charge you, plus they'll only take that £1 from your cashback balance, they'll never take it from your actual bank account.
Is Quidco Worth joining?
I think Quidco is absolutely worth it for UK shoppers to join up with, and they should! It’s free to join, easy to use, and the cashback adds up over time. I’ve earned over £400 in cashback in just the last year or so, simply by shopping through Quidco for things I would buy anyway.
That said, it’s not a get-rich-quick scheme. The cashback amounts are relatively small, so it’s best to think of it as a way to save a little extra on your everyday purchases, but in fairness, thats the same with all cashback services, and it is important to look at cashback savings over the course of a more extended period, such as a year, rather than weekly etc, as that cashback will definitely add up over time, and might be enough to pay for Christmas if you were to save it up from January! Quidco is a no-brainer if you shop online frequently or like to hunt for deals.
As with all these kinds of cashback services, you do need to shop to get the best cashback rates, as you can't be certain that Quidco is offering you the best rates you can get! Quidco's main rival is TopCashback, which offers very similar services and does have better rates from time to time, as well as exclusive retailers, so always make sure you are getting the best deal by checking rates before you buy something, especially on big ticket items such as a new TV or washing machine, or even a holiday, as even a couple of per cent difference in cashback can be substantial!
For this reason, I'd recommend you sign up with all the main cashback services, to make sure you have access to all the best rates.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Quidco
Make it a habit to check Quidco before making any purchase. Even if the cashback amount is small, it’s still money back in your pocket, but as I've already said, make sure you check out rival sites, too!
Combine Cashback with Sales and Discounts
For maximum savings, stack Quidco cashback with retailer sales and voucher codes. Quidco has a handy discount code section that gives you updates on promotions, the latest deals, and discount codes that can be used in conjunction with Quidco cashback, which will offer extra discount savings and cashback.
Use the Quidco App
The Quidco website is a great way to use the cashback site, but Quidco does also have a useful app and the app is a convenient way to browse offers and shop on the go. It also sends notifications about exclusive deals and bonus cashback opportunities, which I've found to be really useful, as they've saved me some money over the years!
Refer Friends
Quidco’s referral program rewards you with £15 for every friend who signs up and earns £5 in cashback. It’s an easy way to boost your earnings. You can refer your family, friends and workmates; it's up to you, and there is no limit to the number of people you can refer.
Quidco is a fantastic tool for UK shoppers looking to save money on their everyday purchases. While it’s not without its flaws, the pros far outweigh the cons. The platform is easy to use, the cashback adds up over time, and the variety of retailers means there’s something for everyone.
If you’re not already using Quidco, I’d highly recommend giving it a try. It won’t make you rich, but it’s a simple and effective way to put a little extra cashback in your pocket. And in today’s economy, every little bit helps!
If you'd like to join up, then I'd appreciate you using our Quidco referral link; it won't cost you anything, in fact, the opposite, as it will give you an additional £15 cashback bonus once you get £5 of confirmed cashback in your Quidco account!
Are you using Quidco?
0%Yes
0%No
0%I'm thinking about it
0%I don't do cashback