JamDoughnut* is an app that rewards users with cashback for purchasing digital vouchers and gift cards. Cashback apps are not a new phenomenon, with established companies such as Top Cashback and Quidco featuring heavily in the press and in TV advertising campaigns. However, a common complaint is that the cashback you earn can take many months to be paid, as it needs to be tracked and then approved by the retailer. JamDoughnut is different as it guarantees to pay cashback rewards instantly, ensuring the cashback is credited to your wallet as soon as you make a purchase.
In this article, we explain how the JamDoughnut cashback app works, which retailers are supported and how much cashback you need to earn in order to cash out. We also explain how Money to the Masses readers can get a £5 first-time purchase bonus* by using the code 'MTTM'.
What is JamDoughnut?
JamDoughnut is a smartphone app that allows you to buy digital gift cards and vouchers at a number of popular UK retailers, rewarding you with points that can be converted into instant cashback.
How does the JamDoughnut cashback app work?
First, you'll need to download the JamDoughnut app* onto your smartphone and create a secure account using an email address and password. Once set up, you are free to search the app for the digital gift cards that interest you. If you find an offer you like, simply click on it and you will be guided through the purchase process. You will need to confirm the amount you wish to load onto the digital card then choose to purchase by 'Instant Bank Payment' or via a card using Google or Apple Pay.
If you want to receive the best cashback offers, you will need to complete the purchase by selecting the instant bank payment option. Paying by debit or credit card will reduce your cashback reward in order to cover card processing fees.
How do you pay with digital gift cards using the JamDoughnut app?
Once you have purchased your digital gift card via the JamDoughnut app it will be stored in your wallet within the app, ready to use. Some gift cards and vouchers can also be saved to a Google or Apple wallet for convenience. There is also an option to share the gift card if it is a gift for somebody else. In most cases the digital gift card will be available to use immediately, however, depending on the retailer, there may be a short delay. The app will usually show a warning if this is the case.
Once your purchase has been made, your cashback will show as points in your JamDoughnut wallet. As soon as you have 1,000 points (worth £10), you can make a withdrawal (or use the balance to buy a gift card).
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Partner OfferInstant Cashback and Discounts
Get up to 20% instant cashback on your purchases when you shop with hundreds of retailers through the JamDoughnut app - online or in-store.
- MTTM readers will receive £5 (500 points) first time purchase bonus.
- Use referral code MTTM to receive your bonus
Where can I earn cashback using the JamDoughnut app?
The JamDoughnut app supports over 150 UK retailers. Shoppers can earn cashback in a number of spending categories including eating out, entertainment, groceries, shopping, fashion and travel. The list is regularly updated with new retailers.
JamDoughnut app - Retailers & Cashback rates
We have provided a summary of some of the retailers available on the JamDoughnut app below, including the current cashback percentage that you can earn.
| Groceries | Eating Out | Shopping | Travel |
| ASDA - 4.1% | Costa - 8.1% | Primark - 15% | airbnb - 4.8% |
| Iceland - 3.6% | Cafe Nero - 7.6% | Clarks - 7.6% | Butlins - 5.3% |
| Morrisons - 3.3% | Pizza Express - 8.3% | Currys - 3.6% | Go Ape - 10.1% |
| Sainsbury's - 3.6% | Toby Carvery - 9.1% | Argos - 5.1% | Uber - 3% |
| Tesco - 3.3% | Harvester - 9.1% | Halfords - 5.1% | Virgin Experience Days - 16.1% |
Retailers and cashback percentages correct on 08.08.24
Cashback percentages often change, so it is worth checking the app regularly to ensure you don't miss out on the best deals. It is also worth checking out the 'Pumped Up' section of the app, which we explain below.
How much cashback can I earn using JamDoughnut?
There are a number of ways to earn cashback using the JamDoughnut cashback app, including ways to boost the cashback you can earn. Cashback rates depend on the individual retailer and start at around 1%, but can be as much as 20%. It is important to note that the cashback points you earn with Jam Doughnut expire after 12 months, so make sure you either withdraw your cashback before it expires or alternatively, use your points to purchase additional gift cards. We summarise the ways to earn cashback below.
£5 Welcome Bonus using code MTTM
New users can earn 500 bonus points* when they sign up using the code MTTM. This is credited once they complete their first purchase.
Referral Bonus
Every user is assigned a referral code which can be used to recommend the app to friends and family. If someone registers with your referral code, you will automatically get 400 points (worth £4.00) added to your wallet once they earn at least 1,000 points and cash out for the first time.
Instant Cashback
You can earn between 1% and 20% cashback from a list of over 150 retailers. Cashback is credited to your wallet as soon as you complete a purchase.
'Pumped Up' cashback
Every so often the cashback for certain retailers is 'Pumped Up', meaning you can qualify for boosted cashback rewards for a limited time. At the time of writing Primark was offering a 'Pumped Up' reward of 15% (usually 6.5%) and JD Sports was offering a reward of 9.3% (usually 8%).
Weekday Prizes
Every Monday to Friday, Between 1 pm and 1.45 pm JamDoughnut hosts a live stream where users can win prizes from £1 to £100 just for watching.
How to withdraw cashback on the JamDoughnut app
Cashback can only be withdrawn once you've earned a minimum of 1,000 points, worth £10. You can choose to withdraw the money to your chosen bank account, however, there is a charge of 30p. Alternatively, you can choose to use the money towards a new digital gift card and you can earn cashback on that purchase.
Pros and Cons of using the JamDoughnut app
Pros
- Instant cashback every time you make a purchase
- Rewards can be stacked with existing rewards (Example: Chase Bank offers 1% cashback on purchases, which you could earn by buying a gift card)
- Cashback rates are regularly boosted ('Pumped Up')
Cons
- Gift cards can expire unlike cash and the cashback itself expires after 12 months.
- The cashback points you earn on Jam Doughnut expire after 12 months and the Bonus cashback points expire after 6 months
- Some gift cards can take up to 48 hours to credit
- If you need to return an item you are likely to be given store credit or another gift card (rather than a cash refund) - not ideal for big purchases
- Need to earn a minimum £10 cashback in order to withdraw the money
- 30p charge if you choose to withdraw cashback to your bank account
JamDoughnut alternatives
Alternative cashback apps for buying digital gift cards
If you like the idea of earning cashback when buying digital gift cards then there are alternatives you could consider. HyperJar - a free prepaid debit card and money app - recently launched cashback gift cards and the process works in exactly the same way. There are slightly fewer retailers available, but there isn't a requirement to build up a minimum cashback value, so you can spend or withdraw the cashback straight away.
Most popular cashback apps
Two of the most popular cashback apps are TopCashback* and Quidco. Both have been around for a number of years and they work slightly differently to JamDoughnut. Instead of buying digital gift cards directly through the app, users select a cashback offer and then complete their purchase directly with the retailer. The purchase link is tracked and the cashback amount earned is usually displayed within the app within a few hours. Unlike JamDoughnut, where the cashback is instant, the time it takes to receive cashback via TopCashback and Quidco can vary, taking anywhere from a few days to several months.
Other cashback apps
Other popular cashback apps include Airtime Rewards, an app that rewards you with money off of your phone bill and ZIPZERO, an app that requires you to scan and submit your till receipts in order to get money off utility bills. We explain how these work in more detail in our article '5 of the best cashback apps to download to your smartphone'.
Is the JamDoughnut cashback app any good?
The JamDoughnut* cashback app is easy to use and offers a fresh way to earn instant cashback on your normal everyday spending. Additionally, those who sign up and use the code MTTM* will recieve a £5 first-time purchase bonus. Even if you only use the app to buy supermarket gift cards for your grocery spend, you could earn free cashback with very little effort.
One thing to be mindful of is that the deals regularly change and so you may need to act quickly if you like the look of a particular deal. During our testing, Sainsbury's offered 4% cashback, but later in the day it had been reduced to 2%.
You'll need to earn at least £10 in cashback rewards before you can withdraw your money and there is a 30p withdrawal charge to send the money to your bank account. Alternatively, HyperJar is a free prepaid debit card and app that also offers cashback gift cards. Unlike with JamDoughnut, there is no minimum withdrawal requirement and no charge for withdrawing the money.
If a link has an * beside it this means that it is an affiliated link. If you go via the link, Money to the Masses may receive a small fee which helps keep Money to the Masses free to use. The following link can be used if you do not wish to help Money to the Masses or take advantage of any exclusive offers - JamDoughnut, TopCashback
