cashback apps Archives - COOLCURATION

April 22, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Apps to Save Money UK 2026: The Ones We Actually Use

Last updated: 10 September 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

There are hundreds of money-saving apps in the UK app stores. Most of them are rubbish. The best apps to save money are the ones we've tested over the past few years, narrowed down and kept on our phones because they actually work. No fluff, no apps we downloaded once and forgot about. Just the ones that earned a permanent spot.

Between the team we've got about 12 money apps installed. Half of them we actually use. The other half sit there judging us. We tried about 20 apps before settling on this list. Some were too fiddly. Some had great ideas but terrible execution. A couple were brilliant but shut down. These are the survivors.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Some apps in this list offer savings and investment features. Your capital may be at risk. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.

Our top money-saving pick

If you only set up one, make it Chip: it is the app that has quietly saved us the most by moving money before we miss it.

Try Chip

Published by Stiv in Apps, Finance, Money saving, Personal finance, Saving

Tags: airtime rewards, auto-saving, budgeting apps, cashback apps, chip app, emma app, JamDoughnut, money saving apps, monzo, personal finance uk, Plum app, saving apps UK, Sprive, TopCashback, TrainPal

March 28, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Cashback Apps UK 2026: TopCashback, Sprive & Airtime

Last updated: 8 October 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

If you're still paying full price for your groceries, energy bills and online shopping in 2026, you're leaving hundreds of pounds on the table. The best cashback apps UK shoppers use have evolved far beyond basic reward schemes, with some offering instant payouts while others help you pay off your mortgage faster. We tested the UK's most popular cashback platforms to find out which ones actually deliver.

Whether you want passive earnings through card-linked tracking, instant supermarket discounts or mortgage overpayment bonuses, there's a cashback strategy that fits your spending habits. Here's everything you need to know about the best cashback apps UK shoppers are using in 2026.

This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them. This is information, not financial advice.

Our top cashback pick

If you only set one app up, TopCashback is the one I reach for first. It covers the most retailers and pays out from just £1.

Get started with TopCashback

Published by Stiv in Money, Personal finance, UK Deals

Tags: airtime rewards, cashback apps, money saving apps, personal finance, Sprive cashback, TopCashback, UK money saving

February 8, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Sprive Mortgage App Review UK: Honest Verdict After Five Years (2026)

Last updated: 24 October 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

I've used Sprive since October 2021, first on my Nationwide mortgage and, since a June 2026 remortgage, on a Halifax one. The auto-save started at £100 a month and runs at £250 now. By 13 October 2026 I had overpaid £10,237.41 through the app, mostly from the auto-save. This review is based on that daily use.

If you're looking for a realistic way to make progress on your mortgage without committing to rigid overpayments, the Sprive mortgage app is one of the better-known tools in the UK. Sprive has also pushed further into the mainstream in 2026, with a TV advert running on Channel 4 under the line "Shop away your mortgage. Brick by brick." After five years, my Sprive mortgage app review verdict is that it suits people who mean to overpay but never get round to it, and adds little if you already run a standing order. If you're mainly concerned about security and FCA regulation, we cover that separately: Is Sprive safe?

This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, and this is an opinion, not financial advice.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Short on time?

The current Sprive sign-up bonus and how to claim it are kept up to date on one page.

Claim the Sprive referral bonus

Cool Factor

★★★★☆

4 out of 5

Reading up on Sprive? This review is my verdict. For every guide we have written on the app in one place, see our Sprive guides hub, kept current as the app changes.

Published by Stiv in Discount, Saving, Services

Tags: cashback apps, cashback apps UK, home finance UK, mortgage app, mortgage overpayments, Open Banking, pay off mortgage, pay off mortgage faster, personal finance tools, Sprive, Sprive app, Sprive mortgage app review, Sprive review, UK finance apps

October 8, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

What Is Sprive, and How Does the App Work? (UK Guide 2026)

Last updated: 24 October 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

I've used Sprive since October 2021, with Nationwide and now Halifax as my lender. This guide is based on the actual setup process and daily use since then.

How does the Sprive app work? You link a current account and your mortgage, then set a monthly saving range. Sprive collects money by direct debit into a safeguarded balance, based on your spending. With one tap, that balance goes to your lender as an overpayment. Cashback from gift cards bought in the app adds to the same pot.

The one thing to check first is your lender's overpayment allowance, usually 10% of the balance a year on a fixed rate. Go over it and you can pay an early repayment charge, so set the range with that limit in mind.

This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them. This is information, not financial advice, and CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Just here for the sign-up bonus?

The current Sprive offer and the steps to claim it are always kept up to date on our referral page.

Get the Sprive sign-up bonus

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Getting started with Sprive? This guide covers the basics. For everything else, from cashback to the prize draws, see our Sprive guides hub, all in one place.

Published by Stiv in Finance, Personal finance, Saving, Services

Tags: cashback apps, cool curation, finance app, how Sprive app works, mortgage helper, mortgage overpayment, mortgage saving, Open Banking apps UK, pay off mortgage faster, personal finance uk, referral app, smart money apps, Sprive app, uk money tools