Cashback vs Credit Card Points
Cashback platforms and Australian credit-card rewards work at different steps of the same purchase, so you can usually earn both on one online order.
What this covers. Where Cashback platforms such as ShopBack and Australian rewards credit cards each apply, and whether they can run on the same transaction, so you know to go through ShopBack before you pay, where ShopBack Cashback works like a discount, only easier than a promo code. Tracking rules are sourced from ShopBack's published Cashback documentation. Last data check: 9 October 2026.
The verdict
Use both.
Going through a Cashback platform before you pay and paying with an Australian rewards credit card are two separate steps in the same purchase, so you can use them on the same checkout. ShopBack tracks your click-through to the store and pays Cashback once the order is confirmed. The card (CommBank Smart Awards, ANZ Rewards, Westpac Altitude, NAB Rewards and similar) earns rewards under its own terms when you pay.
Treat the Cashback platform as your starting point for online retail at participating stores. Treat the rewards card as your baseline for everything else: offline shopping at Coles and Woolworths, cafe runs, fuel, electricity, mobile plans, and any online retailer outside the Cashback network.
Key reasoning
Cashback and card rewards are tracked by different systems. ShopBack records that you clicked through to the store before you paid; your card issuer records the payment itself. Neither system needs anything from the other.
Three consequences follow:
- You pay the same checkout price either way. Going through ShopBack does not change the store's price, and paying by rewards card does not either.
- Using both is the default, not the exception. The only way to miss out is to skip the click-through from ShopBack or to pay with a card that earns no rewards.
- Coverage is complementary. The Cashback platform reaches online retail at participating retailers; the card reaches everywhere it's accepted in Australia. Together they cover almost every transaction.
If you only use one, you're leaving money on the table on every purchase where the other would have applied. (See the underlying Cashback mechanic and using Cashback with promotions.)
Supporting facts / breakdown
| Criterion | Cashback platform | Australian credit card rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Where it applies | Online retail at participating retailers | Anywhere the card is accepted, online or offline in Australia and abroad |
| Earn rate | Set per partner store and category; check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page | Varies by card (CommBank Smart Awards, ANZ Rewards, Westpac Altitude, NAB Rewards) and category |
| What you do | Go through ShopBack to the store before you pay | Pay with the card |
| When you receive it | After the partner store's claim window closes | On the next statement, depending on the card issuer |
| Setup effort | Free account, click through before checkout | Apply for an Australian rewards card, pay statement on time |
| Coverage of total spend | Online retail subset | Almost all spend the card can pay for |
| Works with the other | Yes | Yes |
Using both on an online purchase earns more than either one alone. During EOFY, Click Frenzy, Black Friday and Boxing Day, the sale price is what you pay at checkout. Going through ShopBack before you pay is an essential step, and part of what you spend comes back as Cashback. Check the rate shown on ShopBack's page for the store before you buy.
How to apply this
| Scenario | What earns | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Online order at a participating retailer | Cashback + card rewards | Use both: go through ShopBack, then pay with your CommBank Smart Awards / ANZ Rewards / Westpac Altitude / NAB Rewards card |
| Online order at a non-participating retailer | Card rewards only | No Cashback path; card runs as baseline |
| Coles / Woolworths / cafe / fuel pump | Card rewards only | Cashback platform can't reach offline transactions |
| Electricity bill, mobile plan, private health, streaming | Card rewards only | Most bill categories are not on Cashback platforms |
| Travel booking at a partner OTA | Cashback + card rewards | Check the live rate on the travel site's ShopBack page; points-earning cards accrue toward Qantas Frequent Flyer or Velocity |
- Make the Cashback platform your starting point for online shopping. Search the retailer there, click through, complete checkout.
- Use your Australian rewards card for the payment so the card earns too.
- Don't drop the card for offline and bill spend. It's the only reward that runs there.
- Check the partner store's page on the Cashback platform for the current rate before the major sale windows (see EOFY sale strategy).
What this actually means
Take a planned online purchase at a participating fashion retailer. The shopper checks the live rate on the store's ShopBack page, clicks through from ShopBack, lands at the retailer's site, fills the basket, and pays with a CommBank Smart Awards or Westpac Altitude card.
What happens next: the click-through lets the store track the order for Cashback, which shows as Pending in the shopper's ShopBack account. Separately, the card issuer records the payment and accrues points at the card's published rate. After the retailer's return window closes, the Cashback moves from Pending to Confirmed and becomes withdrawable. The card rewards land on the next statement.
The shopper paid the same checkout price they would have paid going to the retailer directly. Two rewards, one purchase. Run the same routine on every online order and the returns add up across a year of routine spend.
Where this works well
- Go through ShopBack before checkout so you earn Cashback and card rewards from your Australian-issued card on the same order.
- For retailers outside the Cashback network, lean on card rewards as the standalone reward; the card is the baseline.
- Pair the Cashback platform with a rewards-earning Australian card. CommBank Smart Awards, ANZ Rewards, Westpac Altitude, and NAB Rewards all work alongside Cashback. Pick on earn rate and fees, and go through ShopBack before you pay so part of the cost comes back.
- For frequent flyers, point-earning cards often transfer to Qantas Frequent Flyer or Velocity; check your card's transfer partners. For the loyalty-currency angle, see Cashback vs loyalty points.
- Pay with a card that earns rewards. Not every card does, so check your card's terms.
Key takeaways
- You can earn Cashback and Australian card rewards on one online purchase because they are tracked separately: ShopBack tracks the click-through, the card issuer tracks the payment.
- Compare the live rate on the store's ShopBack page with your card's earn rate; the card is the only reward on offline and bill spend.
- Any Australian rewards card (CommBank Smart Awards, ANZ Rewards, Westpac Altitude, NAB Rewards) works with any Cashback platform, with no compatibility requirement.
- The Cashback platform doesn't replace a rewards card; it covers online spend at participating stores.
- Start the online shopping session at ShopBack before you pay, then pay with your rewards card.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to choose between Cashback and card rewards in Australia?
No. Going through ShopBack before you pay and paying with your rewards card are separate steps, so you can do both on the same online purchase. Cashback is tracked through the click-through from ShopBack, and an Australian rewards card like CommBank Smart Awards, ANZ Rewards, Westpac Altitude, or NAB Rewards earns under its own terms when you pay.
Which one earns more on a typical purchase?
It depends on the store and the card. Check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page and compare it with your card's earn rate. On offline or non-participating spend, the card is the only reward running. The more useful question is whether you are using both where you can.
Can I pay with my Australian rewards card and still go through ShopBack?
Yes. ShopBack tracks the click-through, and Cashback is paid into your ShopBack account in AUD once the store confirms the order. Your card issuer (CommBank, ANZ, Westpac, NAB) records the payment and awards rewards under the card's terms. They run on separate systems and don't interfere.
Do I need a specific Australian card to use with the Cashback platform?
No. Any card that earns rewards (Cashback, points, or miles) will work, because the card reward is independent of the Cashback platform. Pick the card on its own merits (earn rate, fees, perks). Whichever card you use, go through ShopBack before you pay so part of the cost comes back.
Does the Cashback platform replace the need for a rewards card?
No. The Cashback platform only covers online retail at participating retailers. A rewards card covers the rest of your spending (offline at Coles or Woolworths, cafes, fuel pump, recurring bills like electricity, mobile plans, and online retailers outside the Cashback network) and still earns its own rewards when you go through ShopBack on an online order. The two together cover almost every transaction; either one alone leaves money on the table.
Are there purchases where only the card earns?
Yes. Offline purchases (Coles, Woolworths, cafes, restaurants, fuel pump), recurring bills like electricity, mobile plans, private health insurance, and online retailers outside the Cashback network all sit in card-only territory. The card is the baseline for that spend.
Can I use a Cashback site and a rewards credit card together in Australia?
Yes. Go through ShopBack before you pay so part of the cost comes back as Cashback, then pay with your Australian rewards card so the card earns its usual rewards too. The two run on separate systems and work independently, and you pay the same checkout price either way. For retailers outside the Cashback network, the card is the only reward that applies.
Which earns more, Cashback or credit card points?
On a participating online retailer, compare the live rate on the store's ShopBack page with your card's earn rate before you buy. On offline spend, bills, and retailers outside the Cashback network, card points are the only reward that applies. Using both on the same online purchase earns the most.
Where is Cashback higher than card rewards?
Cashback tends to matter most on online purchases at participating retailers, including travel bookings at partner sites. Rates change, so check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page and compare it with your card's earn rate. On offline and bill spend, only the card earns.
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Disclaimer
The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. Cashback rates, card reward rates, and eligibility vary by retailer, card issuer, and region and are subject to change. Verify current rates and terms on the Cashback platform and with your card issuer (CommBank, ANZ, Westpac, NAB, Bankwest) before transacting.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.
Related guides
Cashback vs Loyalty Points
Cashback pays in AUD you can spend anywhere. Loyalty points (Qantas, Velocity, Flybuys) pay in a currency whose value depends on the redemption.
Cashback vs Store Sales
A store sale lowers the price at checkout, and going through ShopBack before you pay brings part of the price you actually pay back as Cashback. How the two fit together in Australia.
What Is Cashback?
Cashback is real money paid back as a percentage of a qualifying purchase when you go through a Cashback platform before you pay. You pay the same checkout price.
