ShopBack vs Cashrewards vs Swagbucks in Australia (2026)
Cashrewards ceased operations on 8 September 2025, so the live Australian choice in 2026 is ShopBack (cashback in AUD to an Australian bank or PayPal) versus Swagbucks (SB points paid in US dollars, with a US-skewed retailer list). This guide compares what each actually pays, where it is redeemable, how long it takes, and where ShopBack is weaker.
Published: 1 October 2026 · Last updated: 1 October 2026 · Author: Jia, Editor-in-Chief, ShopBack
How we picked. Cashrewards' closure is sourced from the Australian Marketing Institute and Hello Partner. Swagbucks figures are from swagbucks.com and The Champagne Mile's Swagbucks Australia review. ShopBack figures are from the ShopBack Australia help centre. Where a platform does not publish a figure, we describe the mechanism. Last data check: 1 October 2026.
One of these three Australian cashback names no longer pays anyone, one pays in a currency you cannot spend at Woolworths, and one pays Australian dollars into an Australian bank account. Working out which is which is most of this comparison. Cashrewards ceased operations on 8 September 2025. Swagbucks is alive and legitimate but pays SB points redeemable in US dollars, with a shop portal built for American retailers. ShopBack pays AUD cashback on Australian stores, in-store and online. Below is what each actually is, what it pays, how long it takes, and where ShopBack is honestly the weaker option.
The verdict
In 2026 the live comparison for Australian shopping is ShopBack versus Swagbucks, and ShopBack wins it on currency, retailer coverage, in-store surfaces and payout minimum. Swagbucks wins on everything that is not shopping: surveys, videos, games and the occasional US-only retailer. Cashrewards is closed and cannot be chosen.
If you only shop, use ShopBack. If you want to earn a few dollars a week answering surveys while watching TV, add Swagbucks and treat its shopping portal as a backup for US stores ShopBack does not list. If you are a former Cashrewards member, your earning has to move somewhere, and for Australian retailers that somewhere is ShopBack.
What happened to Cashrewards?
Cashrewards was founded in Sydney in 2014 and listed on the ASX in 2020. ANZ's venture arm, 1835i, took it private in January 2022 in a A$72.5 million bid. On 8 September 2025, Cashrewards announced it was shutting down and stopped making offers available on its website, app and browser extension, as reported by Hello Partner the same day. The Australian Marketing Institute attributed the closure to a wider ANZ Bank corporate restructure and reported that the rewards business had not performed to the bank's expectations.
Members were asked to withdraw their balances by 11:59 am AEDT on Friday 24 October 2025. PayPal withdrawals ceased at that deadline and later withdrawals were handled to nominated bank accounts, manually via member services. If you still have an unresolved balance, Cashrewards member services is the only path; ShopBack has no visibility of Cashrewards accounts and cannot pay those balances.
The practical effect is that the two largest Australian cashback brands became one. ShopBack Australia is the remaining full-service cashback platform for Australian retailers.
What is each platform, actually?
The three names get lumped together, but they are different products.
ShopBack is a cashback platform. You start a purchase at ShopBack, click through to the store, and a percentage of the order comes back as Australian dollars. It also pays in-store cashback via a linked card and via Snaps receipt scanning, plus gift card cashback. Payout is to an Australian bank or PayPal.
Cashrewards was a cashback platform with the same online mechanic and an ANZ-integrated angle. It is closed.
Swagbucks is a rewards site operated by Prodege, a US company. Members earn SB points for surveys, watching videos, playing games, uploading receipts and shopping through its portal. 100 SB equals US$1. SB are redeemed for gift cards or PayPal cash. Swagbucks is open to Australians, but it is a US product: the shop portal leans on US retailers and PayPal payouts are made in US dollars whatever your home currency, per The Champagne Mile's review.
Comparison table
| Criterion | ShopBack | Cashrewards | Swagbucks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status in 2026 | Operating in Australia since 2018 | Closed 8 September 2025 | Operating; open to Australians |
| Owner | ShopBack Group (Singapore HQ, independent) | 1835i (ANZ) until closure | Prodege (US) |
| What you earn | Cashback in Australian dollars | Cashback in AUD (historic) | SB points; 100 SB = US$1 |
| Online shopping cashback | Yes, Australian retailer catalogue | Was yes | Yes, US-skewed retailer list |
| In-store linked-card cashback | Yes, participating AU retailers | Limited (historic) | No |
| Receipt scanning | Snaps, Australia-only | No | Magic Receipts on specific products |
| Non-shopping earning (surveys, videos, games) | No | No | Yes, the core of the product |
| Payout methods | Bank transfer to AU bank, or PayPal | Bank or PayPal (historic) | PayPal (USD) or gift cards |
| Minimum payout | A$10 Confirmed Cashback | n/a | 2,500 SB (US$25) for PayPal; gift cards lower |
| Daily withdrawal limit | A$300 | n/a | Not published as a daily limit |
| Payout time | Within 10 working days | n/a | PayPal typically a few days; first redemption can be held for verification |
| Pending period on shopping | Store's return window; weeks for retail, after travel for trips | n/a | Roughly 30 days or more depending on retailer |
| Missing cashback claim window | 30 days by default; 45 to 90 for listed merchants | n/a | Support ticket with screenshots |
| App, web, extension | All three | All three (historic) | App, web, extension |
Sources: ShopBack Australia help centre (withdrawal and missing cashback articles), as of October 2026; swagbucks.com; The Champagne Mile Swagbucks Australia review; AMI and Hello Partner on Cashrewards.
Where is each one redeemable, and in what currency?
This is the question that decides it for most Australians.
ShopBack cashback is money. Once Confirmed, it sits in your ShopBack balance in Australian dollars until you withdraw it to a CommBank, Westpac, ANZ, NAB or any other Australian bank account, or to PayPal. The help centre's published minimum is A$10, the daily cap is A$300, and the transfer lands within 10 working days. You can spend it on rent.
Swagbucks SB is a points balance. You can redeem it for gift cards (Amazon, eBay and others are available to Australians) or for PayPal cash. The PayPal payout is in US dollars, so a 2,500 SB redemption arrives as US$25 and becomes roughly A$37 to A$39 after conversion at 2026 exchange rates, minus whatever PayPal's conversion margin takes. For an Australian who wants a gift card, that is fine. For an Australian who wants cash in a local account, there is an extra step and an extra cost that ShopBack does not have.
How long does each take to pay?
Both shopping mechanics have the same shape: the retailer will not pay a commission until its return window has passed, so both platforms hold shopping rewards as pending.
On ShopBack, the order shows as Pending within 48 hours and confirms once the store validates it, which is typically a few weeks for retail and after the stay or flight for travel. Bonus cashback from promotions confirms within 5 working days once you have met the conditions. After that the withdrawal is the short part.
On Swagbucks, shopping SB typically stay pending for about 30 days and can run longer for retailers with long return windows. Once available, a PayPal redemption usually clears within a few days, though Swagbucks can hold a member's first redemption for identity verification.
The practical difference is not speed; it is what arrives at the end. ShopBack's wait ends in AUD in your bank. Swagbucks' wait ends in SB that you then redeem for USD or a gift card.
Where is ShopBack weaker?
A comparison that only lists wins is not a comparison.
- Non-shopping earning. ShopBack has no surveys, no videos, no games. If your goal is pocket money for time rather than for spend, Swagbucks is the product for that and ShopBack is not.
- US-only retailers. Swagbucks' portal covers US stores that ShopBack Australia does not list. If you regularly order from a US brand that ships here, Swagbucks may be your only cashback option for it.
- Gift card redemption flexibility. Swagbucks lets you cash out small SB balances as low-value gift cards. ShopBack requires A$10 Confirmed before you can withdraw anything, though the money is then cash rather than a voucher.
- Validation timing is not ShopBack's to control. Travel cashback that stays Pending for months is the same on any cashback platform, but it is the complaint ShopBack hears most, and no platform can speed up a hotel's post-stay reporting.
- Browser extension dependence on desktop. On a desktop without the extension, forgetting to start at ShopBack is the most common way to miss cashback. Cashrewards had the same weakness; Swagbucks' extension has the same job.
How to apply this
| You are | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A former Cashrewards member who shops Australian retailers | ShopBack | Same online mechanic, AUD payout, plus in-store and Snaps |
| Someone who wants cash in an Australian bank account | ShopBack | Only one of the three paying AUD to an AU bank in 2026 |
| Someone who wants to earn from surveys and videos | Swagbucks | ShopBack does not offer it |
| A buyer of US-only brands that ship to Australia | Swagbucks for those orders, ShopBack for everything else | Last-click rule means one platform per order |
| An in-store or supermarket shopper | ShopBack | Linked-card cashback and Snaps receipt scanning |
| Someone who wants small, frequent gift card redemptions | Swagbucks | Gift cards start below the PayPal minimum |
- Sign up to ShopBack Australia and install the app and browser extension.
- If you also want survey income, sign up to Swagbucks and keep it for non-shopping tasks and US-only retailers.
- Pick one platform per purchase. Affiliate networks pay the last click, so clicking through both for one order wastes one of them.
- Start every Australian retailer purchase at ShopBack, use only the codes shown on the store's ShopBack page, and check the Pending tab within 48 hours.
- Withdraw ShopBack cashback once Confirmed reaches A$10; redeem SB when you have enough for the gift card or the 2,500 SB PayPal threshold.
What this actually means in a year
Take an Australian who spends A$6,000 a year online across Amazon Australia, Woolworths, The Iconic, JB Hi-Fi and one Booking.com trip, and A$2,000 a year in-store at participating retailers.
With ShopBack only, both the online and in-store spend are covered, cashback accrues in AUD, and the person withdraws to their bank in roughly monthly batches once Confirmed passes A$10. The withdrawal is free and lands within 10 working days.
With Swagbucks only, the in-store spend earns nothing (no linked-card surface), some of the online spend earns nothing (Australian retailers not on the US-skewed portal), and what does accrue is SB redeemed as USD via PayPal or as gift cards. The person also has to clear 2,500 SB before a PayPal payout.
With both, the shopper puts every purchase through ShopBack and uses Swagbucks for surveys and the odd US store. That is the pattern we would actually recommend, and it is the one where Swagbucks adds something rather than competes.
FAQ
Is Cashrewards still operating in Australia?
No. Cashrewards stopped making offers available on its website, app and browser extension on 8 September 2025, as reported by the Australian Marketing Institute and Hello Partner. The closure was part of a wider ANZ Bank restructure; ANZ's venture arm 1835i had owned Cashrewards since 2022. Members were asked to withdraw remaining balances by 24 October 2025. You cannot earn new cashback through Cashrewards in 2026.
What is the difference between ShopBack cashback and Swagbucks SB points?
ShopBack pays cashback as Australian dollars that you withdraw to an Australian bank account or PayPal. Swagbucks pays SB points, where 100 SB equals US$1, which you redeem for gift cards or PayPal cash; PayPal payouts are in US dollars regardless of where you live, per The Champagne Mile's Swagbucks Australia review. One is cash in your currency, the other is a points balance denominated in someone else's.
How does Swagbucks shopping cashback work for Australians?
The same click-through mechanic as any cashback site: open the retailer through the Swagbucks shop portal, buy, and SB are credited after a pending period that typically runs 30 days or more and mirrors the retailer's return window. The retailer list skews toward US brands, with some Australian-accessible stores such as Amazon and eBay included. Swagbucks' bigger earning surfaces for Australians are surveys, videos and receipt uploads rather than shopping.
Is Swagbucks cheaper to cash out than ShopBack in Australia?
No. ShopBack's minimum withdrawal is A$10 of Confirmed Cashback with no fee, per the ShopBack Australia help centre. Swagbucks' published PayPal minimum is 2,500 SB, which is US$25, and the payout arrives in US dollars so you also carry the conversion into Australian dollars. Gift cards on Swagbucks start lower, but a gift card is not cash.
Is ShopBack better value than Swagbucks for Australian online shopping?
For shopping, yes, because ShopBack's catalogue is built for Australian retailers (Amazon Australia, Woolworths, Coles, JB Hi-Fi, The Iconic, Myer, Booking.com, Agoda) and pays in AUD, while Swagbucks' shop portal is US-centric and pays in USD. Where Swagbucks is better value is non-shopping earning: surveys, videos, games and app downloads, none of which ShopBack offers.
When does each platform pay out?
ShopBack: cashback shows as Pending within 48 hours, confirms once the store's return window closes (weeks for retail, after the trip for travel), and a withdrawal of A$10 or more lands within 10 working days. Swagbucks: shopping SB are pending for roughly 30 days or more depending on the retailer, then available; PayPal redemptions typically take a few days, with first redemptions sometimes held longer for verification.
When did Cashrewards members have to withdraw their balance?
By 24 October 2025. Cashrewards advised members to withdraw to a linked bank account or PayPal by 11:59 am AEDT on Friday 24 October 2025, after which PayPal withdrawals stopped and remaining balances were handled manually through member services or transferred to a linked bank account. If you still have an unresolved Cashrewards balance, contact Cashrewards member services directly; ShopBack cannot see or pay out Cashrewards balances.
Can I use ShopBack and Swagbucks at the same time?
Yes, with one rule: only one of them can get credit for any single purchase, because affiliate networks pay the last click before checkout. The sensible split for an Australian is ShopBack for every online purchase and in-store trip, and Swagbucks for surveys, videos and the occasional US retailer that ShopBack does not list. Never click through both for the same order.
Does ShopBack have in-store cashback that Swagbucks lacks?
Yes. ShopBack Australia offers in-store cashback when you pay with a card linked in the app at participating retailers, plus Snaps, which pays cashback for scanning eligible receipts. Swagbucks has a receipt-upload feature called Magic Receipts that rewards specific grocery products, but no linked-card in-store cashback and no Australian-dollar payout.
What if a retailer is on Swagbucks but not on ShopBack?
Use Swagbucks for that purchase and accept the USD payout and 2,500 SB PayPal minimum, or redeem the SB for a gift card. This is the main case where Swagbucks wins for an Australian shopper: a US-based retailer that ships to Australia and is not in ShopBack's catalogue. For Australian retailers, ShopBack's coverage is broader and the payout is in AUD.
Key takeaways
- Cashrewards closed on 8 September 2025; balances had to be withdrawn by 24 October 2025. It is not an option in 2026.
- ShopBack pays AUD to an Australian bank or PayPal: A$10 minimum, A$300 daily cap, within 10 working days, no fee.
- Swagbucks pays SB points, 100 SB = US$1, redeemed as gift cards or USD via PayPal with a 2,500 SB PayPal minimum.
- ShopBack covers Australian retailers plus in-store and Snaps; Swagbucks' shop portal is US-skewed and has no in-store cashback.
- Swagbucks wins on surveys, videos, games and US-only stores, which ShopBack does not offer at all.
- Use one platform per purchase; affiliate networks pay the last click.
Related reads
Ready to move your shopping over?
See Amazon Australia on ShopBack to check how a tracked purchase works, or open ShopBack Australia and search for the retailer you used to earn on at Cashrewards.
Disclaimer
The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. Platform features, payout minimums, currencies, pending periods and retailer coverage are set by each platform and change over time; figures were checked against each platform's published pages and the named press sources as of October 2026. ShopBack's help centre and each retailer's ShopBack page are the authoritative sources for ShopBack terms.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.
Related guides
ShopBack vs Cashrewards
Cashrewards ceased operations on 8 September 2025 and shut its site on 24 October 2025. This page keeps the original comparison for reference and explains what former Cashrewards members get on ShopBack: online cashback, in-store cashback, gift card cashback, and PayLater.
Is ShopBack Legit?
ShopBack is a real cashback platform paying Australians in AUD since 2018. Free to use, no withdrawal fee, regulated under the Privacy Act 1988.
How ShopBack Works
ShopBack pays real AUD when you shop online via app, site, or extension. Start at ShopBack, click through to a partner store, earn a percentage back.
Cashback vs Deal Sites
A cashback platform pays a percentage of purchases back as withdrawable AUD. A deal aggregator like OzBargain surfaces prices but does not pay the shopper.
