Cashrewards Shut Down: The Best Alternatives in Australia (2026)

If you were one of the 2.5 million Australians who used Cashrewards, you'll know it shut down suddenly and without warning on 8 September 2025, with the platform fully decommissioned on 24 October 2025. ANZ Bank, which owned Cashrewards through its 1835i venture arm, closed the platform as part of a broader corporate restructure — giving members no advance notice and no explanation.

The good news: cashback in Australia is alive and well. The platforms that have emerged as the leading alternatives are in many ways better than Cashrewards was. Here's exactly where to go.

What Happened to Cashrewards?

Cashrewards was founded in 2014 by Andrew and Lorica Clarke and grew to become one of Australia's largest cashback platforms, generating over $165 million in cashback for members and driving more than $4 billion in sales for advertisers over its 11-year history. ANZ Bank acquired a controlling stake through its venture arm, and when ANZ announced major job cuts in September 2025, Cashrewards was closed the same day with zero warning to members.

Members who had linked bank accounts had remaining balances automatically transferred by 24 October 2025. If you still have an outstanding balance and believe it was not transferred, your only option is to submit a manual request — the platform is otherwise fully decommissioned.

The Best Cashrewards Alternatives in Australia (2026)

1. TopCashback Australia — Best Overall Replacement

TopCashback Australia has emerged as the most recommended Cashrewards alternative among former members on forums including OzBargain and Australian Frequent Flyer. Originally a UK-founded platform with over 20 years of operation globally, TopCashback offers:

• 1,000+ Australian and global retailers including Woolworths, eBay, THE ICONIC, Booking.com, Amazon, Chemist Warehouse, and major energy and insurance providers
• No membership fee — completely free to join and use
• No minimum cashout threshold — withdraw as little as $1
• Highest cashback rates guaranteed — TopCashback matches any competitor rate
• Rated Excellent on Trustpilot with 125,000+ independent reviews
• Energy and insurance switch bonuses of $50–$150 — a category where Cashrewards was strong

One OzBargain member noted: "I was bitterly disappointed when Cashrewards shut down as I had cashed out more than $700 over the years. TopCashback has been excellent since switching." This sentiment is common among former Cashrewards users who have migrated.

Best for: General online shopping, energy and insurance switching, Woolworths grocery delivery, travel bookings.

Join TopCashback Australia free — takes 2 minutes →

2. ShopBack — Best App and Browser Extension

ShopBack is the other major Cashrewards alternative, with 2.5 million+ Australian users and 4,000+ partner brands. Like Cashrewards, ShopBack is app-first and offers a browser extension that automatically detects cashback opportunities as you browse. Highlights:

• 4,000+ Australian and global brands including Woolworths, Coles, Amazon, THE ICONIC, Booking.com, Wotif
• ShopBack Button browser extension — pops up automatically on eligible sites
• Gift card cashback — buy gift cards in-app for immediate cashback usable in-store
• Cashback Saturday and other bonus events that multiply earning rates
• Strong travel cashback across major booking platforms

ShopBack was already the second-largest cashback platform in Australia before Cashrewards closed, and has benefited significantly from the migration of former Cashrewards users.

Best for: Shoppers who want a slick mobile app, automatic cashback detection via browser extension, and strong retail coverage.

3. Cashback Australia

Cashback Australia (cashbackaustralia.com.au) is a smaller but established Australian-owned platform that has been operating since Cashrewards's closure. It covers travel, retail and service categories with a focus on Australian brands. A useful backup option particularly for travel-related cashback.

4. Qantas Shopping and Velocity eStore (Points-Based Alternatives)

For Australians who prefer earning frequent flyer points over cash, the airline shopping portals are strong alternatives:

• Qantas Shopping: Earn Qantas Points when shopping through the portal at 500+ retailers. Good for frequent Qantas flyers who want to accelerate point accumulation on everyday spending.
• Velocity eStore: Virgin Australia's equivalent — earn Velocity Points at hundreds of retailers. Particularly good for Virgin flyers and those with Velocity credit cards.

The limitation: points-based portals are only worthwhile if you actively fly and redeem points. For everyday shoppers who want cash back in their bank account, TopCashback or ShopBack are more practical.

How TopCashback Compares to What Cashrewards Offered

Feature	Cashrewards (when active)	TopCashback (now)
Membership fee	Free	Free
Minimum cashout	$10	None
Number of retailers	2,000+	1,000+ AU, many more global
Energy/insurance bonuses	Yes	Yes — $50–$150
Woolworths cashback	Yes	Yes
Browser extension	Yes	Yes
Cashout method	Bank transfer, PayPal	Bank transfer, PayPal, gift cards
Trustpilot rating	N/A (AU-only platform)	Excellent (125,000+ reviews)

Should You Use One Platform or Multiple?

Most savvy cashback users operate with two platforms — one for its retailer coverage strengths and one as a backup for the retailers the first doesn't cover. The most common combination among former Cashrewards users in 2026 is:

• TopCashback as primary — for energy and insurance switches, Woolworths grocery orders, and retailers where TopCashback offers the highest rate
• ShopBack as backup — for retailers where ShopBack has better rates, and for the browser extension's automatic detection

Both are free. Installing both browser extensions means you'll always see which platform has the better rate for any given purchase before you click through.

Tips for Migrating From Cashrewards

• Sign up to TopCashback and ShopBack with the same email you used for Cashrewards — it makes it easier to track which retailers you've used before
• Install both browser extensions (Chrome or Safari) immediately — this is what prevents you from forgetting to activate cashback
• If you were using Cashrewards for energy or insurance switching bonuses, check TopCashback's current energy offers — they frequently list $50–$150 cashback bonuses for switching providers
• Check both platforms before any purchase over $50 — rates differ by retailer and change frequently

Bottom Line

The closure of Cashrewards was frustrating for its 2.5 million members — but the replacements available in 2026 are strong. TopCashback Australia is the most recommended direct replacement, with no minimum cashout, guaranteed highest rates, and a proven track record stretching back to 2005. Sign up takes 2 minutes and you can start earning on your next online purchase immediately.

For more on maximising cashback in Australia, see our complete guide to Australian cashback platforms in 2026.