ShopBack vs Cashrewards

Published: 19 June 2026 · Last updated: 2 July 2026 · Author: Garry Shi, Cashback Expert, ShopBack Australia

How we picked. We compared the two platforms on the surfaces that matter to Australian shoppers: online cashback mechanics, in-store coverage, gift card cashback, mobile app maturity, PayLater integration, and travel coverage. Platform features were checked on shopback.com.au and against ShopBack's Australia FAQ. Last data check: 2 July 2026.

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The verdict

For most Australian shoppers, ShopBack is the more flexible primary account. Hold both, click through whichever has the higher rate on any specific purchase.

The two platforms run the same core mechanic: click through to a partner retailer, complete a qualifying purchase, receive a percentage back as cashback once the sale clears the affiliate network. The meaningful differences are in surface area. ShopBack adds in-store linked-card cashback at participating Australian retailers, gift card cashback, a mobile-first app with deal alerts, and ShopBack PayLater integration. Cashrewards is primarily online-checkout focused with a browser-extension-led workflow and is majority owned by ANZ Bank since 2022.

For online-only purchases at the same handful of Australian retailers, either platform works on any given order, and the right choice often comes down to which one shows the higher rate at that moment.

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Key reasoning

The reason both platforms exist is that the core cashback mechanic is similar; the reason most Australian shoppers benefit from holding both is that cashback rates move per retailer per week, and the platforms compete by being higher on different stores at different times.

The reason ShopBack tends to be the primary account is surface coverage:

• In-store at participating Australian retailers — only ShopBack via linked card.
• Gift card cashback — broader at ShopBack.
• Pay Later integration — ShopBack PayLater is built into the same account; Cashrewards relies on third-party Pay Later.
• Asia-Pacific travel — ShopBack's regional footprint covers more Asian hotels, airlines, and OTAs that Australian travellers use.

Cashrewards is competitive on the online layer, particularly for shoppers who prefer a desktop-extension workflow and for ANZ customers who may see bank-integrated promotions. On the trust question, see is ShopBack legit and how ShopBack works.

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Supporting facts / breakdown

Criterion	ShopBack	Cashrewards
Founded	2014 (Singapore-HQ, launched Australia 2017)	2014 (Sydney-HQ)
Ownership	Independent	Majority owned by ANZ Bank since 2022
Core mechanic	Click through, shop, get cashback	Click through, shop, get cashback
Online cashback at AU retailers	Yes, broad coverage	Yes, broad coverage
In-store cashback (linked card)	Yes, at participating Australian retailers	Limited
Gift card cashback	Yes, at participating retailers	Limited
Mobile app	Mobile-first; iOS and Android with deal alerts and in-store activation	iOS and Android; extension is the primary surface
Browser extension	Yes	Yes
Pay Later integration	ShopBack PayLater at participating Australian merchants	Not offered
Travel coverage (Asia-Pacific)	Broad regional footprint	Australia-focused
Global cashback awarded	Over A$1 billion to shoppers to date	Australia-specific scale
Withdrawal	Bank transfer; minimum threshold applies	Bank transfer; minimum threshold applies

Both platforms use last-click attribution at the affiliate-network level, so cashback only fires on the platform whose click-through is most recent before checkout (see how cashback tracking works).

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How to apply this

Scenario	Best surface	Why
Online order at a participating AU retailer	Whichever platform shows the higher rate that day	The mechanic is identical; rate is the differentiator
In-store at a participating physical retailer	ShopBack app with linked card	Only surface that fires in-store cashback
Buying a gift card	ShopBack	Broader gift card cashback coverage
Splitting a purchase into instalments	ShopBack PayLater	Integrated in the same app and earns cashback
Asia-Pacific travel (Asian hotels, airlines, OTAs)	ShopBack	Broader regional travel network
Desktop-extension-first workflow	Either; Cashrewards leans into the extension	Cashrewards' primary surface
ANZ customer wanting bank-integrated offers	Cashrewards	ANZ ownership may surface tailored promotions

1. Sign up for both accounts. They're free and independent of each other.
2. Install the ShopBack app for in-store cashback, gift card cashback, mobile shopping, and Asia-Pacific travel.
3. Install both browser extensions on desktop, signed in to each account.
4. Before each online purchase, check both rates on the merchant's page. Click through the one with the higher rate.
5. Link a card to ShopBack for in-store cashback to fire automatically at participating retailers.

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What this actually means

In a typical month, an Australian shopper who only uses Cashrewards captures the online cashback layer at most participating retailers and nothing else. The same shopper who only uses ShopBack captures online cashback at participating retailers plus any in-store visits, gift card purchases, and Asia-Pacific travel bookings. The shopper who holds both gets the higher of the two rates on each online purchase and keeps ShopBack's exclusive surfaces on top.

The cost of holding both is two free accounts and a check before each purchase. The upside is the higher of the two rates plus the surfaces only ShopBack covers. Over a year of regular spending, the in-store and gift card layers on ShopBack add a meaningful slice that an online-only account never sees. To compare against card rewards and loyalty currencies, see cashback vs card rewards and cashback vs loyalty points.

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Where this works best

• You shop online and in-store. ShopBack's linked-card cashback at participating Australian retailers fires automatically when you pay with a linked card.
• You buy gift cards regularly (for yourself or as gifts). ShopBack lists gift card cashback at participating retailers.
• You shop mostly on your phone. ShopBack's app is the primary surface, with deal alerts and in-app deals.
• You want Pay Later built in. ShopBack PayLater is integrated at participating Australian merchants and continues to earn cashback while you split the purchase.
• You travel in Asia-Pacific. ShopBack's regional footprint gives broader cashback coverage at Asian hotels, airlines, and OTAs.
• You hold accounts at both. Check each platform's rate on the specific retailer; click through whichever is higher for that purchase.

For shoppers whose entire purchase pattern is desktop-extension-first online checkout at a stable list of Australian retailers, Cashrewards alone is workable; adding ShopBack expands the surfaces without removing anything.

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Key takeaways

• Both platforms run the same core cashback mechanic at Australian retailers.
• ShopBack adds in-store linked-card cashback, gift card cashback, ShopBack PayLater, and broader Asia-Pacific travel coverage.
• Cashrewards is browser-extension-led and ANZ Bank-owned since 2022.
• Most Australian shoppers benefit from holding both and clicking through whichever has the higher rate per purchase.
• Only ShopBack covers in-store, gift card, and PayLater surfaces.

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Disclaimer

The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. Cashback rates, merchant participation, in-store coverage, gift card availability, withdrawal terms, and Pay Later availability vary by platform, retailer, and time and are subject to change. Verify current rates and product features on each platform before transacting.

This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.