Directory
Cashback by category
Long-form guides to each shopping category, with the best-performing stores and category-specific savings tactics.
Fashion & Apparel
Fashion is one of the highest-margin categories in retail, which is why cashback rates in clothing, footwear, and accessories tend to sit two to four times higher than in electronics. Brands pay retailers between 8% and 30% commission on affiliate sales because acquiring a new fashion customer costs them an estimated $40–$120 in paid advertising — passing that budget through as cashback is cheaper than a Facebook ad and drives higher lifetime value.
Read guideElectronics
Electronics is the toughest category for cashback because manufacturer margins are thin — a $1,200 laptop might carry a total gross margin of $80–$150 by the time the retailer, distributor, and card processor take their cut. That leaves very little room for affiliate commission. Cashback rates in electronics usually sit between 0.5% and 3%, with narrow spikes during launch campaigns when a brand is willing to burn marketing dollars to hit unit-sales targets.
Read guideTravel
Travel is the highest-payout category by absolute dollar amount because a single booking can be worth thousands. Hotel bookings routinely pay 4–8% cashback, package tours 3–6%, and car rentals 2–4% — on a $2,000 family holiday that is $60–$160 back for one click.
Read guideHome & Garden
Home and garden includes furniture, decor, kitchenware, garden tools, DIY, and smart-home equipment. Cashback rates run 3–8% for most retailers, with furniture on the higher end because a single order value is high enough to justify a bigger commission share.
Read guideBeauty & Personal Care
Beauty cashback rates are consistently generous — 6–15% is the normal range, with new-customer campaigns spiking to 20%. Cosmetics and skincare margins are famously high, which means the affiliate commission pool is large, and beauty brands rely heavily on affiliate content to acquire customers because they are locked out of most direct-drug-listing advertising channels.
Read guideKids & Baby
Baby gear, toys, and kids' apparel form a resilient cashback category because parents shop consistently regardless of the broader economy. Rates run 4–10% at the major specialty retailers and often spike during back-to-school and holiday windows.
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