
Last updated: 22 March 2026
Airtime Rewards is a free UK cashback app that automatically earns you money off your phone bill when you shop at over 200 partner retailers. Link your Visa or Mastercard, spend as normal, and redeem once you hit £10. It works with EE, O2, Vodafone, Three, and other major networks on both contract and PAYG. The app is an official partner of Visa and Mastercard and is PCI Level 1 compliant. Sign up to Airtime Rewards and use code YHR79JYH to earn up to a £5 bonus when you join and spend £5 within 7 days.
Airtime Rewards tracks your spending via your linked bank cards. When you shop at a participating retailer, whether in-store or online, the app automatically detects the transaction through its integration with Visa and Mastercard. You don't need to click through a link, activate an offer, or scan a receipt. The cashback is applied to your account and, once it clears, can be redeemed as credit against your monthly phone bill or PAYG balance.
Cashback rates typically range from 1% to 10% depending on the retailer, though limited-time Reward Flash promotions can push this as high as 20%. Participating brands include Boots, Argos, IKEA, ASOS, Deliveroo, Greggs, Waitrose, and many more. The full list is available inside the app and changes regularly as brands join and pause their offers.
Setting up Airtime Rewards takes just a few minutes:
1. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play, or register through the My O2, EE, or My 3 app if you're on one of those networks.
2. Create your account with your mobile number, network, and account type (contract or PAYG).
3. Link your cards. You can add up to 10 Visa or Mastercard debit or credit cards. Cards take up to 24 hours to become active. American Express, PayPal, Klarna, and store cards are not supported.
4. Enter referral code YHR79JYH in the Promo Code section under Promotions in your account. You can earn up to a £5 bonus when you join and spend £5 at a participating retailer within 7 days.
5. Shop as normal. The app tracks eligible purchases automatically. Once you reach £10 in cleared rewards, you can redeem them against your phone bill.
Airtime Rewards works with most major UK mobile networks. For direct bill credit on monthly contracts, the supported networks are Three, EE, O2, and Vodafone. On pay-as-you-go, Giffgaff and Lebara are also supported alongside the four above.
If your network is not on the list (for example Smarty, iD Mobile, Sky Mobile, Tesco Mobile, BT Mobile, or Voxi), you can still earn cashback but will need to withdraw to your bank card instead. This comes with a £1.30 processing fee and a £10 per-withdrawal cap. For the latest on supported networks, check the official Airtime FAQ page.
Automatic tracking. No click-throughs, no receipt scanning, no offer activation. Spending is tracked via your linked cards in the background.
Stacks with other cashback. Airtime Rewards works alongside Quidco, TopCashback, and similar services. You can click through a cashback portal and still earn Airtime rewards on the same transaction.
Monthly challenges. Each month, Airtime runs a stamp-based challenge where shopping at participating retailers earns you stamps. Complete the challenge for a bonus reward, usually 50p to £1.
Gift cards. You can also buy gift cards for over 120 retailers through the app (including Sainsbury's, Primark, and JD Sports) and earn around 4% cashback on those purchases too.
Airtime Up. An optional upgrade that uses Open Banking to connect your bank account directly. Benefits include faster reward clearing (one day instead of up to 90), a lower £5 minimum redemption, exclusive retailer offers, and priority support. You need to reauthorise access every 90 days.
Completely free. There are no sign-up fees, no monthly charges, and no hidden costs. The service is free to use and always has been.
Transactions can take up to 14 days to appear in the app, and rewards then sit in a pending state for around 35 days (sometimes longer, depending on the retailer) before they clear into your available balance. It's a slow accumulation, not instant cashback.
The retailer list changes. Brands can join, pause, or leave the programme at any time. If a retailer you rely on disappears, there's no advance notice in the app.
American Express is not supported and, based on our experience, we wouldn't expect that to change soon.
If you switch from a supported network to an unsupported one, you should redeem your balance before the switch. Otherwise, contact Airtime support to arrange a withdrawal to your bank card.
Yes. Airtime Rewards is PCI Level 1 compliant, the highest standard of payment data security. It is an official technology partner of both Visa and Mastercard. Your card details are encrypted and Airtime does not have access to your PIN or online banking passwords. If you opt into Airtime Up, the Open Banking connection is handled through regulated, FCA-authorised providers. The app has over 4.5 million members and thousands of reviews on Trustpilot.
That depends on where and how often you shop. Cashback rates range from 1% to 10% at most retailers, with occasional flash offers up to 20%. Most regular users can build up £10 every couple of months without changing their habits.
Yes. Because Airtime tracks via your bank card rather than a click-through link, it stacks with other cashback services. You can earn from both on the same purchase.
You can still use Airtime and earn cashback. You'll just need to withdraw your balance to your bank card instead of applying it to your phone bill. This costs £1.30 per withdrawal, capped at £10 per transaction.
In many cases yes, provided the card you use through Apple Pay or Google Pay is linked to your Airtime account. However, not all retailers support contactless tracking, so results may vary.
On the standard plan, the minimum redemption is £10. With Airtime Up (the Open Banking upgrade), the threshold drops to £5.
For our honest opinion on Airtime Rewards, including what we love and what could be better, read our Airtime Rewards review.
Join Airtime Rewards with code YHR79JYH
This page contains a referral link. If you sign up using it, we may receive a small bonus at no extra cost to you. All information is accurate at the time of writing but offers and terms may change. Always check the Airtime app or website for the latest details.
Image from Airtime Rewards
Chase Refer a Friend Code: Get £50 When You Pay In £1,000
App
Trading 212 investment app: free share up to £100 (UK)
App
Affinity by Canva – The Free All-in-One Design App That Rivals Adobe
App
Zopa Biscuit bank account: £10 referral + 2% cashback
Service
Sprive Mortgage Saving App - £5 Off Your Mortgage
Service
Chip Savings App UK: How It Works, Rates and Fees
App
American Express Referral: Sign Up for Any Card and Get Rewarded
App
Freetrade - Start trading today with a free share
App
Follow us: Instagram
Copyright 2026 CoolCuration | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Affiliate Disclosure | Cool Factor
-----------
We are proud supporters of a safer more private internet via encouraging people to use Brave browser and are actively taking on Spammers as part of ProjectHoneypot. This site is hosted on servers that run on 100% renewable energy in the UK thanks to GreenWebHosting.
This site contains affiliate links, including to Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase or sign up for a service via these links, at no extra cost to you. All offers and promotions are accurate at the time of publication but are subject to change or withdrawal by the businesses featured. We cannot guarantee their continued availability. Read our full affiliate disclosure.
Reviews and opinions on CoolCuration reflect the personal experience of our writers at the time of publication. They are not professional endorsements and your experience may differ. Scores use our Cool Factor rating system and are given independently of any commercial relationship.
All content on CoolCuration is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice, investment recommendations or an endorsement of any product or service. We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and do not offer personalised financial guidance. You should always do your own research or consult a qualified financial advisor before making any financial decisions.