Verdict up front: TopCashback has the highest rates. ShopBack has the best app and in-store cashback. Aura is the best option if you want an Australian-owned platform. Use all three — it takes 10 minutes to set up and costs nothing.
Last updated: April 2026 | [Affiliate disclosure: We earn a referral fee if you sign up via our links. This never affects our ratings.]
Cashrewards closed on September 8, 2025. If you used it, you’re not alone in looking for what to use instead.
The good news: there are three solid options right now. The bad news: none of them are a perfect like-for-like replacement, and none of them are honest enough about their own weaknesses. So let me do that for them.
I’ve tested all three with real purchases over the past few months. Here’s what actually happened.
The Quick Comparison
| ShopBack | TopCashback | Aura | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | In-store cashback + big retailers | Highest online rates | Australian-owned loyalty |
| Retailers | 1,500+ | 700+ | 1,200+ |
| Cashback rates | 2–15% typical | 3–20% typical | 2–12% typical |
| Minimum payout | $5 | None | $10 |
| Payout method | PayPal / bank | Bank / PayPal | Bank / charity |
| In-store cashback | Yes (GPS-based) | Limited | No |
| Browser extension | Yes | Yes | App only |
| Ownership | Singaporean | UK-based | Australian |
| Sign-up bonus | Varies (check current offer) | Varies | Varies |
ShopBack — Best App Experience
ShopBack is the most mature platform in Australia right now, especially after absorbing a large chunk of Cashrewards’ former users. Its biggest advantage over the others is in-store cashback — you link your card, walk into a participating store, pay normally, and cashback appears automatically. No screenshots, no codes.
What it’s good for:
- Everyday retail: Big W, Chemist Warehouse, Kmart, Cotton On
- Travel: Booking.com, Hotels.com, Webjet
- Amazon AU (usually 2–5%)
- In-store dining and retail via GPS card-linking
What it’s not great for:
- Cashback rates have dropped since Cashrewards closed. With less competition, ShopBack has quietly reduced rates on several categories.
- Customer service response times are slow when cashback doesn’t track correctly.
My experience: Bought $340 worth of vitamins from Chemist Warehouse via ShopBack at 6% cashback. Tracked correctly within 3 days, paid out within the standard window. Straightforward.
âž¡ï¸ Join ShopBack and get a sign-up bonus → (affiliate link — we earn a referral fee)
TopCashback — Highest Rates, Best for Serious Shoppers
TopCashback is UK-headquartered and has been quietly building its Australian presence for years. After Cashrewards closed, they reported doubling their transactions — and it shows. Their rates for many retailers are genuinely higher than ShopBack’s, and their no minimum payout threshold is a real point of difference.
What it’s good for:
- Retailers where their rate beats ShopBack (check both before every purchase — takes 30 seconds)
- Travel categories — the fastest-growing area for them in Australia, and rates are competitive
- Shoppers who find minimum payout thresholds annoying
What it’s not great for:
- In-store cashback — this is ShopBack’s lane
- Brand recognition — less well-known, which means fewer promotional bonus rates
My experience: Found TopCashback was offering 8% at a retailer ShopBack had at 5%. Used TopCashback, tracked fine, no issues. The difference on a $200 purchase: $16 vs $10. Worth the 30 seconds to check.
Pro tip: Don’t pick one. Check both before every online purchase. The one with the higher rate for that retailer wins that transaction.
âž¡ï¸ Join TopCashback free → (affiliate link — we earn a referral fee)
Aura — The Australian-Owned Option
Aura (aura.club) launched on September 10, 2025 — literally the day after Cashrewards closed. Convenient timing, but the platform is real. It’s Australian-owned, which matters to some people after Cashrewards was wound up by ANZ’s venture arm with $100 million written off.
What it’s good for:
- Shoppers who want an Australian-owned alternative with 1,200+ retailers
- Unique “donate cashback to charity or club” option — you can direct your cashback to a sports club or charity instead of withdrawing it
- Coles, Woolworths, JB Hi-Fi, Bunnings, Amazon AU are all on the platform
What it’s not great for:
- Rates are generally slightly lower than TopCashback
- App-only — no browser extension yet
- Newer platform = less track record on payout reliability
My verdict: Use Aura if the Australian ownership matters to you, or if you want to donate your cashback rather than withdraw it. Otherwise, ShopBack and TopCashback will usually have higher rates.
âž¡ï¸ Join Aura → (affiliate link)
The Strategy: Use All Three
Here’s the thing nobody tells you: these platforms are free to join and there’s no penalty for using all of them. The smart approach:
- Before every online purchase, check ShopBack and TopCashback. Takes 30 seconds. Use whichever has the higher rate.
- For in-store purchases, use ShopBack’s app (it’s the only one with proper in-store GPS cashback).
- Check Aura when the others don’t have your retailer.
Stack your cashback with:
- Your credit card rewards (points on the same purchase)
- Everyday Rewards or Flybuys points (for Woolworths and Coles purchases)
- Any current sale or promotional pricing
This “triple dipping” is completely legitimate and entirely overlooked by most Australians.
The One Thing to Do Right Now
Don’t leave cashback on the table. If you’re shopping online and not clicking through a cashback platform first, you’re giving money away. Over a year of normal household spending, the difference is typically $200–$600.
Sign up to all three (free, takes 10 minutes total), then check before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cashback worth it?
Yes, for online shopping it’s nearly always worth the 30-second detour through a cashback platform. For in-store, only ShopBack offers meaningful in-store cashback in Australia.
What happened to Cashrewards?
ANZ Bank shut it down on September 8, 2025 with no advance notice to users. ANZ wrote off approximately $100 million. Users had until October 24, 2025 to withdraw their cashback balances.
Which cashback app has the highest rates?
TopCashback usually has the highest standard rates, but it varies by retailer. Always check both ShopBack and TopCashback before purchasing.
Is Aura legitimate?
Yes — it launched in September 2025 and is operated by an Australian company. It’s newer, so has less track record, but the platform works.
Does cashback work with credit card rewards?
Yes. You earn credit card points on the purchase AND cashback from the platform. This is the “double dipping” that savvy shoppers use.