Cash Back Sites vs Credit Card Rewards

A common question we get: "If my credit card already gives me 2% cash back, do I still need a cash back site?" The answer is yes - and using both at the same time is the single biggest savings hack most people don't take advantage of. Here's why and how it works.

The Two Things Are Not Competitors

Cashback sites and rewards credit cards earn money from completely different sources, so they stack on top of each other without any conflict.

• Credit cards earn rewards from interchange fees - the small percentage every merchant pays the card network on every transaction.
• Cashback sites earn from affiliate commissions - a separate marketing budget the merchant pays to drive traffic.

Both are paid by the merchant for completely separate reasons, so you can use both on the same purchase and earn both rewards.

How to Stack Them

1. Click "Shop Now" through a cashback site like StackWell. This adds an affiliate referral cookie to your browser.
2. Shop normally and add items to your cart at the merchant.
3. At checkout, use a rewards credit card.
4. You'll earn the cashback rate from StackWell AND the credit card rewards from your card on the same purchase.

Real Example

You buy $200 of clothing through StackWell at a store paying 10% back, using a 2% rewards credit card:

• Cashback from StackWell: $20
• Rewards from your credit card: $4
• Total back: $24 on a $200 purchase (12%)

The credit card reward goes through your card statement automatically. The cashback shows up in your StackWell dashboard within 24-72 hours.

Best Credit Cards to Stack With Cash Back Sites

Any rewards card works, but the highest stacking value comes from cards with rotating category bonuses (e.g. 5% back on online shopping) and flat-rate cards (2% back on everything). Combine those with a high-paying cashback store and you can reach 15%+ effective discounts.