Cashback

You can save a further 7% on Aliexpress using cashback portals like Ebates or Topcashback.

If you include joining bonuses, you can save ~40% off a $25 USD purchase (e.g. Ebates gives $10 USD after $25 USD spend).


Current Aliexpress Cashback Offers
 
SiteRateJoining BonusTo unlock bonus
Rakuten (formerly Ebates US)3%$10 USD$25 USD total spend
Topcashback US6% $10 USD $10 USD cashback earned
Befrugal4%$10 USD $25 USD cashback earned
Topcashback UK4.56%£5 Amazon.co.uk£10 GBP cashback earned
Cashrewards AU5%$10 AUD$10.01 AUD cashback earned
Shopback AU 5% $5 AUD $20 AUD total spend


How do I get cashback?
  • Log into a cashback site, click through the Aliexpress store link and shop as normal
  • After purchase, the transaction will be pending on the cashback site
  • After a confirmation period (up to 90 days), the cashback will clear
  • Withdraw the balance - usually as Paypal or Amazon gift card


Where does the cashback come from?
  • Sites like Ebay, Aliexpress and Amazon have affiliate programs that pay a commission per sale (typically 1%-10% of the sale amount) to drive traffic to their sites
  • Cashback sites join these affiliate programs, making their links available to their members
  • They pass on the commissions to their members (in whole or in part)


How do cashback portals earn money for themselves?
  • Incentive bonuses for large traffic volumes
  • Advertising fees by offering sponsored promotions and competitions (e.g. Topcashback's "treats" promotions)
  • By sometimes not passing on the full % commission (e.g. Ebates)


Tips
  • To ensure reliable tracking, use a dedicated "clean" browser without ad blockers
  • Make smaller purchases rather than one big purchase - sometimes big purchases don't track
  • Join more than one cashback portal to earn a bonus from each

Cons
  • Slightly inconvenient to login to a cashback portal before making a purchase
  • The full cashback process often takes some time
  • Some sites have withdrawal conditions ($ minimums, set periods)
  • Signup bonuses usually must be "unlocked" by spending a minimum amount or earning a certain amount of cashback


List of cashback sites


Ebates.com (US based but pays internationally)

Around since 1998

Pros
  • Only $25 USD total spend (not cashback) required to unlock joining bonus
  • Occasional promotional boosts to cashback (e.g. double cashback)

Cons
  • Quarterly payout
  • One account per household only
  • Confirmed Paypal account or cheque payout method only
  • Must unlock bonus within one year of signing up


Topcashback.com (US based but pays internationally)

Around since 2011

Pros
  • More than one account per household allowed
  • Quick pay out (couple of days after request)
  • No minimum for withdrawal
  • Redeem as Paypal or Amazon.com gift card with 3% payout bonus (or other gift card options)
  • Occasional promotional boosts to cashback and "treats" competitions

Cons
  • No missing cashback inquiries accepted for Aliexpress


Befrugal.com (US based but pays internationally)

Around since 2009

Pros

Cons
  • $25 USD cashback required to unlock the joining bonus
  • Minimum payable balance of $25 USD


Topcashback.co.uk (UK based but pays internationally)

Around since 2005

Pros
  • Quick pay out (couple of days after request)
  • No minimum for withdrawal
  • Redeem as Paypal or Amazon.co.uk gift card 
  • Occasional promotional boosts to cashback and "treats" competitions

Cons
  • Payout in GBP only
  • £10 cashback required to unlock the joining bonus
  • Amazon gift card payout option is for Amazon.co.uk


Cashrewards.com.au (Australian residents only)

Around since ~2014

Pros

Cons
  • Payout in AUD to Australian bank accounts only
  • $10.01 AUD cashback required to unlock the joining bonus
  • 6 memberships max per postal address



Further Resources

Wikipedia page for "cashback website"
Wikipedia page for "affiliate marketing"
Article from Cnet

Ebates
Ebates wikipedia page
How Ebates works

Topcashback
About page
Topcashback Wikipedia page