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Neither is better for every purchase, so many people sign up to both and check each one before buying. The difference is mainly in the membership fees: TopCashback Plus costs £5 a year, taken from your cashback when you first request a payout in that membership year, and Quidco Premium costs £1 only in months when you make a cashback purchase, taken from your cashback. Both offer a free tier (TopCashback Classic, Quidco Basic) with fewer perks. For most people the deciding factor is simply which site has the higher rate on the shop they're about to use.
Key takeaways
- TopCashback: new accounts start on Plus (£5 per membership year, deducted from payable cashback at payout). Classic is free.
- Quidco: Premium is £1 in any month you make a tracked purchase, deducted from cashback. Basic is free.
- Neither fee comes from your bank account; both come out of cashback.
- Compare rates per purchase. The better site varies by retailer and by week.
Membership fees, side by side
| TopCashback | Quidco | |
|---|---|---|
| Paid tier | Plus: £5 per 12-month membership year | Premium: £1 per month, only in months with a transaction |
| How it's paid | Deducted from payable cashback when you request a payout | Deducted from your cashback |
| Free tier | Classic | Basic |
| Default for new members | Plus | Check the membership level shown when you join |
| Switching | Downgrade in your profile's membership details | Switch account type in settings |
How the TopCashback Plus fee works
TopCashback's help centre says Plus is assigned automatically when you create an account and costs £5 every 12 months, deducted from payable cashback when you request a payout. If you haven't paid out yet, the fee carries over and can be deducted later along with any earlier year's fee. Classic membership has no fee but fewer benefits. If you've already earned cashback in the current Plus year, TopCashback says you can opt out of renewal instead and move to Classic at the end of the year.
How the Quidco Premium fee works
Quidco says Premium costs £1 only in a month where you make a purchase through Quidco, and that it's deducted from your cashback rather than your bank account. A month with no transactions costs nothing. Quidco says Premium members can see higher cashback rates than Basic members on many retailers, plus bonuses on e-gift cards. Note that the rates shown when you're logged out may be Premium rates.
Which pays more?
There's no honest single answer: rates change constantly, and each site runs its own exclusive deals. We don't publish averages because we can't verify them. A practical routine:
- Before a purchase of more than a few pounds, check the retailer on both sites (and the terms, as some exclude gift cards or vouchers).
- Use the site with the higher rate for that purchase, and click through just before you pay.
- Don't apply voucher codes from other sites unless the cashback terms allow it, or the purchase may not track.
- Keep the confirmation email in case you need to claim missing cashback.
Should you pay for the premium tier?
- TopCashback Plus costs £5 a year, so it only makes sense if the extra benefits are likely to be worth more than that to you. If you shop through it rarely, Classic may suit you better.
- Quidco Premium costs £1 in each active month, so it suits people whose monthly Premium extras are likely to exceed £1. If you make one small purchase a month, Basic may suit you better.
Is cashback worth it at all?
Cashback is a small discount, not free money, and it can be declined if a purchase is returned or doesn't track. It's worth it if you were buying anyway. Our guide to whether UK cashback sites are worth it covers the pros, cons and pitfalls. Cashback also pays out on energy and broadband switches, which you can read about in how to switch energy and broadband.
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Frequently asked questions
Is TopCashback or Quidco better?
Neither is better for every purchase. Rates vary by retailer and change often, so many people join both and use whichever has the higher rate for each purchase.
Does TopCashback charge a fee?
TopCashback Plus, the default for new accounts, costs £5 per 12-month membership year, deducted from payable cashback when you request a payout. Classic membership is free.
How much does Quidco Premium cost?
Quidco says Premium costs £1 only in months when you make a purchase through Quidco, deducted from your cashback. Quidco Basic is free.
Can I use TopCashback and Quidco at the same time?
You can have accounts with both, but only use one site per purchase: click through from the one with the better rate just before you buy.
Sources
Official sources this article relies on, checked October 17, 2026. Rules and prices change, so confirm details at the source.
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