Guide
Cashback vs discount codes: which pays off?
We compare cashback and discount codes to work out which gives you the most value.
Both cashback and discount codes promise to save you money. But what is the actual difference, and which pays off best? Let us take a closer look at the two options.
What is a discount code?
A discount code is a code you enter at the checkout of an online shop to get a set reduction. It can be a fixed sum (for example «100 kr off») or a percentage (for example «15% off»). The codes are often time limited and tend to apply only to certain products or to first orders.
What is cashback?
Cashback gives you money back on everything you buy, with no code and no restrictions. You click through via a cashback service such as Sparebørsen, shop as normal, and get a percentage back automatically. It works every time, across the whole range.
Advantages of cashback over discount codes
- Always available: Cashback needs no code and does not expire.
- Applies to the whole range: No limits to particular products.
- Can be combined: You can use discount codes and cashback at the same time.
- Predictable: You always know what you get back.
When do discount codes pay off best?
Discount codes can give a bigger one off saving, for example 20% on a single purchase. They are at their best when you find a valid code with a good reduction. The problem is that working codes can be hard to find, and many have expired or simply do not work.
Our advice: use both
The smartest approach is to combine them. Start by going via Sparebørsen to activate cashback. Then, if you have a discount code, enter it at the checkout as usual. That way you get both the discount and the cashback. There is no reason to pick one over the other: use both for the biggest saving.
In short
Cashback is the most reliable way to save on online shopping, because it works every time without any extra effort. Discount codes are a nice bonus when you find them. Together they give you the best possible price.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between cashback and a discount code?
- A discount code takes money off at the checkout: you pay less there and then. Cashback does not change the price. You pay in full and get money back afterwards. The discount code is immediate but often time limited or conditional; the cashback comes later, but normally applies across the whole range without a code.
- What is a promo code?
- Promo code, discount code and campaign code mean the same thing in practice: a code you type in at the checkout to trigger a reduction. The conditions vary, such as a minimum spend, selected items or one use per customer, and they are set out in the shop's terms, not in the code itself.
- Can I use a discount code and cashback at the same time?
- Usually yes, but the order matters. Click through via Sparebørsen last, just before you buy, and enter the code at the checkout. If you fetch the code from another website after you have arrived at the shop, that website can take over the tracking, and then your cashback disappears.
- Which pays off most?
- It depends on the numbers. A discount code of 10 per cent beats cashback of 5 per cent on that single purchase. But discount codes have often expired, apply only to new customers or require a minimum spend, whereas cashback applies without a code every time you shop. Do the sums on the actual purchase rather than choosing on principle.