How to Get Cashback on Groceries UK: Save £100+ a Year (2026)

Last updated: 8 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

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This article is for information only and does not constitute financial advice. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. Rates and terms can change; always check the provider's current terms before acting.

If you want cashback on groceries UK, there are a handful of apps that deliver results. We have been using JamDoughnut, TopCashback, and Sprive for our own weekly food shops for months, and the savings quietly stack up. This is not couponing. This is not switching to own-brand everything. It is simply routing your existing spending through an app that gives you a percentage back.

We ran the numbers on a typical £80 weekly Tesco shop using JamDoughnut and, at a standard rate of around 2%, that works out at roughly £83 back over a year. When rates get "pumped up" (more on that below), it could be closer to £125 or more. For cashback beyond groceries, see our full cashback apps roundup.

Our pick for grocery cashback

Of the three we use, JamDoughnut is the one I like best for the weekly shop, thanks to the widest supermarket list and instant payouts.

Get started with JamDoughnut

How grocery cashback works

Most grocery cashback apps work through a gift card model. Instead of tapping your debit card at the till, you buy a digital gift card for your supermarket through the app, then spend it at the checkout as normal. The app gives you a percentage back, typically between 1.5% and 5%, funded by the retailer's marketing budget. The shopping experience itself does not change at all.

So if you load £80 onto a Tesco gift card through JamDoughnut, you spend it at Tesco exactly as you would with any other payment method, and JamDoughnut credits your account with cashback within seconds. It is a small habit change that takes about 30 seconds once you get the hang of it.

The key thing to understand: these are not discount codes or vouchers with restrictions. A gift card works like cash at the till. You can still use your Clubcard, Nectar card, or any loyalty scheme alongside it. More on stacking later.

JamDoughnut: what we use most for in-store shops

JamDoughnut is an instant cashback app with over 230 UK retailers. For groceries specifically, it covers all the major supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Waitrose, M&S Food, Iceland, Farmfoods, and (as a bonus) Aldi.

How it works, step by step

First, download the free JamDoughnut app and create an account. When you are ready to do your food shop, open the app, search for your supermarket, and choose how much to load onto a gift card. You can pay via Open Banking (which gives the best cashback rate), or by debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay (slightly lower rates). The gift card appears in your app wallet instantly. At the checkout, scan the gift card barcode just like any other payment. Cashback hits your JamDoughnut account immediately.

Once your balance reaches £10, you can withdraw to your bank account (with a small 30p fee) or convert your balance into another gift card and earn cashback on top, effectively getting cashback on your cashback.

Supermarket cashback rates

JamDoughnut rates fluctuate daily and vary depending on your payment method. Open Banking consistently offers the highest percentage. As a rough guide based on our experience, typical base rates for supermarkets via Open Banking fall between 1.5% and 5%. Tesco tends to sit at the lower end (around 1.5-2% at base), while Asda and Morrisons often offer 3-5%. These rates regularly jump during "pumped up" promotions, where JamDoughnut temporarily boosts rates for specific retailers. We have seen Tesco reach 4-7% during pumped-up periods. Always check the app before you shop, as rates can change by the hour.

Important: rates quoted here are based on our experience as of mid 2026 and will change. Always check the app for the current rate before buying a gift card.

The Aldi point

Aldi does not offer its own loyalty scheme or cashback programme. However, JamDoughnut sells Aldi gift cards, which means you can buy an Aldi gift card through the app, earn cashback on the purchase, and spend it in store as normal. It is one of the few ways to get any kind of rebate at Aldi, which makes JamDoughnut particularly useful if Aldi is your main supermarket.

Is it worth the effort?

In our experience, yes. The first time you buy a gift card before your shop it feels like an extra step. By the third or fourth time, it takes about 30 seconds. If you use scan-as-you-shop at Tesco, you can buy the gift card for the exact amount while you are still in the aisle. It becomes automatic very quickly.

Get started with JamDoughnut

TopCashback gift cards

TopCashback is better known as a traditional online cashback site, but it also runs TopGiftCards, a gift card marketplace that works similarly to JamDoughnut. You buy a gift card for a retailer and earn cashback on the purchase.

The supermarket selection through TopGiftCards tends to be smaller and more variable than JamDoughnut's. At various points, M&S, Asda, and Morrisons have appeared, with rates typically ranging from 2% to 4.75%. However, the lineup changes, so it is worth checking both apps before you shop.

Where TopCashback suits regular shoppers

The broader TopCashback ecosystem is where it really shines. Beyond gift cards, you can earn cashback on online purchases across thousands of retailers, from insurance renewals to broadband switches. If you are already a TopCashback member, adding grocery gift cards to your routine is a natural extension. You can also boost your payout by converting your TopCashback earnings into gift cards rather than cashing out to your bank, as they often add a bonus percentage on top.

For in-store grocery shopping, JamDoughnut tends to offer better rates and a wider supermarket selection in our experience. TopCashback is worth having as a backup and for everything else you buy online.

See TopCashback deals

The mortgage angle: using Sprive for grocery cashback

If you have a mortgage, Sprive's cashback feature adds another dimension. Sprive is a mortgage app that helps you make overpayments. One of its features, "Shop with Sprive", works like JamDoughnut: you buy gift cards through the app and earn cashback. The difference is that your cashback goes directly towards your mortgage overpayments.

Sprive partners with over 1,000 brands, including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, M&S Food, Waitrose, and Iceland. According to Sprive's own site, cashback rates typically range from 1% to 4% for supermarkets, depending on the retailer and promotional periods. Higher percentages advertised reflect limited promotional categories rather than everyday grocery rates.

Why this can be more powerful than regular cashback

When you overpay your mortgage, you reduce the outstanding balance. Less interest accrues from that point forward, and the effect compounds over the remaining term. So £10 per month in grocery cashback through Sprive does not just save you £120 a year: it could save you more in mortgage interest over time.

To illustrate: on a £200,000 repayment mortgage at 5% interest with 20 years remaining, an extra £10 per month in overpayments could save you roughly £1,700 in total interest and take around three months off your mortgage term. That is from doing nothing more than buying your weekly groceries through Sprive instead of tapping your debit card.

This is an illustration only, not a projection. Your mortgage terms, interest rate, remaining term, and lender's overpayment allowance will all affect the outcome.

Mortgage disclaimer: Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Check your lender's overpayment terms and any early repayment charges before overpaying. Most fixed-rate mortgages allow up to 10% of the outstanding balance per year without penalty, but this varies. Sprive Limited is an appointed representative of Connect IFA Ltd (FRN 441505), which is authorised and regulated by the FCA.

Try Sprive for mortgage cashback

Stacking cashback: can you combine these?

Yes, in most cases. Here is how the different layers work together.

Gift card + loyalty card: You can use a JamDoughnut or Sprive gift card to pay at the till and still scan your Tesco Clubcard, Nectar card, or any other loyalty card as normal. The loyalty card tracks your purchases for points and offers; the gift card is simply your payment method. They do not conflict.

Gift card + cashback credit card: If you pay for your JamDoughnut gift card using a cashback credit card (such as an Amex or Chase card through Apple Pay), you could potentially earn cashback on the gift card purchase itself. However, JamDoughnut gives a lower cashback rate when you pay by card rather than Open Banking, so do the maths on whether it is worth it. In some cases the combined return still works out ahead.

JamDoughnut vs Sprive: These are both gift card models, so you cannot use both for the same shop. If you have a mortgage, Sprive makes sense for your regular weekly shop because of the compound interest benefit. For everything else, use JamDoughnut or TopCashback.

One approach that works well for mortgage-holders: Sprive for the main weekly shop, JamDoughnut or TopCashback for other retailers and one-off purchases, and always scanning your loyalty card on top. Three layers of value from the same spending.

How much can you actually save?

Here is a realistic worked example based on typical cashback rates. Rates change frequently, so treat these as a rough guide only.

Supermarket	Weekly spend	Typical cashback rate	Estimated annual cashback
Tesco	£80	2%	~£83
Asda	£80	4%	~£166
Morrisons	£75	3.5%	~£136
Aldi	£70	2.5%	~£91

Rates shown are approximate and based on JamDoughnut's Open Banking rates at the time of writing. During "pumped up" promotions, these can jump significantly. Even at the lower end, you are looking at £80-£170 per year for a habit that takes roughly 30 seconds per shop.

Quick mention: other grocery cashback options

Airtime Rewards is worth downloading alongside JamDoughnut. It earns credit towards your mobile phone bill when you shop at partner retailers (including some supermarkets). It works by linking to your payment card and tracking your spending automatically, so there is no extra step at the checkout. It can stack on top of gift card cashback because it tracks the card used to buy the gift card, not the gift card itself.

Shopmium takes a different approach. Rather than cashback on your whole shop, it offers cashback on individual branded products via receipt scanning. You buy the product, scan your receipt in the app, and get money back. It is useful for trying new products at a discount (sometimes 100% cashback on selected lines), but it will not replace whole-shop cashback from JamDoughnut or Sprive.

Finally, do not forget your supermarket's own loyalty scheme. Tesco Clubcard, Sainsbury's Nectar, and the Co-op membership card all offer their own rewards and are designed to stack with however you choose to pay. They are not "cashback" in the gift card sense, but they add another layer of value on top.

Frequently asked questions

Can you get cashback on groceries in the UK?

Yes. Apps like JamDoughnut, TopCashback, and Sprive let you earn cashback on your supermarket shopping by purchasing digital gift cards. You buy the gift card through the app, spend it at the till as normal, and receive a percentage back. Rates typically range from 1.5% to 5% depending on the retailer and payment method.

Does JamDoughnut work at Aldi?

Yes. Although Aldi does not offer its own loyalty scheme or cashback programme, JamDoughnut sells Aldi gift cards. You buy the gift card through the app, earn cashback on the purchase, and spend it in store. It is one of the few ways to get any kind of cashback at Aldi.

What is the best grocery cashback app UK?

For in-store grocery shopping, JamDoughnut has offered the widest supermarket selection and competitive rates in our experience. If you have a mortgage, Sprive may suit you because your cashback goes directly towards overpayments, which saves compound interest over time. TopCashback suits online shopping and non-grocery purchases well.

Can you use JamDoughnut and Clubcard together?

Yes. JamDoughnut gift cards are simply a payment method. You can still scan your Tesco Clubcard (or Nectar card, or any loyalty card) at the checkout to collect points and access member pricing. The two systems do not conflict.

Is JamDoughnut free?

Yes. The app is completely free to download and use. There is a small 30p fee when you withdraw cashback to your bank account. Alternatively, you can avoid the fee by converting your balance into another gift card.

Can you get cashback on groceries towards your mortgage?

Yes, through Sprive. The app works like JamDoughnut (gift card model with instant cashback), but your earnings are routed towards mortgage overpayments. This means your grocery cashback reduces your mortgage balance, saving compound interest over the remaining term. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

How much can you save with grocery cashback?

It depends on where you shop and how much you spend. As a rough guide, a household spending £80 per week at a supermarket with a 3% cashback rate would earn around £125 per year. During promotional periods with boosted rates, this could be higher. If you use Sprive, the total value is amplified by the mortgage interest savings on top.

All information is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute financial advice. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. Rates and terms can change at any time; check the provider's current terms before acting. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

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