Reviews
Gains App Review 2026 – Is It Legit? + £2 Referral Bonus
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Gains App is a UK cashback app that lets you earn instant cashback by purchasing digital gift cards for hundreds of popular retailers.
Instead of clicking through to a retailer and waiting weeks or months for cashback to track, you buy a gift card through Gains, receive the cashback instantly and then spend the gift card online or in-store.
We've tested Gains ourselves, and in this Gains App review we'll explain how it works, whether it's legit, the cashback rates available and how the referral offer works.
New users can currently get £2 bonus cashback after earning their first £10 in cashback when joining through our Gains referral link or using referral code MYSIDEGIG.
Gains App Referral Code – Get £2 Bonus Cashback
Our current Gains App referral code is MYSIDEGIG.
New users can join Gains using code MYSIDEGIG or through our referral link.
You'll receive £2 bonus cashback after earning your first £10 in cashback through Gains.
To claim the offer:
- Download Gains using our referral link or enter referral code MYSIDEGIG when joining.
- Buy eligible gift cards through Gains and earn cashback as normal.
- Earn a total of £10 cashback.
- You'll then receive your £2 bonus cashback.
How Does Gains App Work?
Gains uses Open Banking technology to allow users to securely purchase gift cards from hundreds of brands and receive cashback instantly.
The process is simple:
1. Browse cashback offers
Open the Gains app and choose from available cashback offers across popular retailers.
2. Buy a gift card
Purchase a gift card for the amount you need using a secure Open Banking payment.
3. Earn cashback instantly
Your cashback is added straight away, and you can use the gift card online or in-store.
This makes Gains different from many cashback platforms where you need to wait for transactions to track and become payable.
How Much Cashback Can You Earn With Gains?
Gains advertises average cashback rates of around 7%, although rates vary depending on the retailer and offer available.
For everyday spending, even smaller percentages can add up:
| Category | Example Cashback Rate | Potential Annual Saving |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries £150 per week | 3% cashback | £234 per year |
| Clothing £30 per week | 5% cashback | £78 per year |
| Social & Eating Out £100 per week | 5% cashback | £260 per year |
| Household £30 per week | 4% cashback | £62 per year |
| Travel £2,500 per year | 5% cashback | £125 per year |
| Total Potential Saving | Based on everyday spending | £759+ per year |
If you regularly use gift cards for purchases you were already planning to make, the savings can quickly build up over the year.
Gains Cashback Offers Compared
One of the easiest ways to maximise cashback is comparing rates before buying.
Different cashback apps and gift card platforms can offer different rates for the same retailer.
For example, before buying a supermarket gift card, it’s worth checking alternatives including:
- Gains
- JamDoughnut
- Cheddar
- TopCashback Gift Cards
- Quidco Gift Cards
- Airtime Rewards
You can compare the latest cashback rates across supermarkets, shopping, travel and more using our comparison:
What Retailers Are Available on Gains?
Gains offers cashback across a wide range of categories, including:
🛒 Supermarkets & groceries
👕 Fashion & clothing
🏠 Home & household
✈️ Travel
🍽️ Eating out & experiences
The biggest benefit is that cashback applies to spending you are already doing rather than encouraging extra purchases.
Is Gains App Legit and Safe?
Gains is a legitimate UK cashback app, and we've tested the service ourselves.
The app uses Open Banking for payments and states that it has FCA Agent Status through its banking partners. When you purchase an eligible gift card, the cashback is credited through Gains rather than relying on traditional affiliate cashback tracking.
As with any gift-card cashback service, we'd recommend only purchasing gift cards for spending you were already planning. Gift cards can also have different consumer protections from paying a retailer directly, so don't buy unnecessarily large balances simply to earn cashback.
From our experience using Gains, the main thing to remember is that cashback rates can change, so it's worth comparing the rate against other gift-card cashback apps before making a larger purchase.
Gains App Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Instant cashback rather than waiting weeks
- Works with everyday spending
- No subscription required
- Cashback can be earned on gift cards you were buying anyway
- Large range of retailers
- Extra budgeting tools available
❌ Cons
- You need to buy gift cards rather than simply shopping normally
- Cashback rates can change
- Best value depends on comparing alternatives
- Requires linking a bank account for payments
Is Gains App Worth It?
I think Gains is worth having if you regularly shop with retailers available through the app and you're comfortable paying with digital gift cards.
The biggest advantage is the instant cashback. You know the saving you're getting before purchasing the gift card rather than relying on cashback tracking correctly and then waiting weeks or months for it to become payable.
However, I wouldn't automatically buy every gift card through Gains. Cashback rates vary between platforms, so it's worth comparing Gains against alternatives such as JamDoughnut, Cheddar, TopCashback and Quidco before larger purchases.
Overall, Gains is another useful cashback app to have available rather than necessarily being the only cashback app you use. If Gains has the best rate for a retailer you're about to shop with, buying the gift card through the app can be an easy way to save a few percent.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Gains App referral code?
Our current Gains App referral code is MYSIDEGIG. New users can use the code when joining Gains to access the current referral offer.
How much is the Gains referral bonus?
New users can currently receive £2 bonus cashback after earning their first £10 in cashback. Offers can change, so check the current terms when joining.
Is Gains App legit?
Yes. Gains is a genuine UK cashback app that allows users to purchase digital gift cards and earn cashback. We've also tested Gains ourselves.
How does Gains App work?
Choose a retailer in the Gains app, purchase a digital gift card and receive the advertised cashback. You can then use the gift card with the retailer online or in-store where supported.
Is Gains free to use?
Yes. There is no monthly subscription required to use the standard Gains cashback service.