Sign-up Bonuses in the UK: New Customer Offers and Rewards

Sign-up bonuses are rewards offered to new customers when they join a service, register for an account or complete a qualifying action.

Depending on the provider, you might receive a cash reward, shopping voucher, account credit, discount, free trial or another introductory benefit.

These offers are available across different industries, including online shopping, food delivery, mobile services, subscription platforms and selected financial products.

Some rewards are available simply for registering, while others require you to make a purchase, spend a minimum amount or remain a customer for a set period.

The key is to understand what you need to do to qualify and whether the reward is genuinely worthwhile after accounting for any costs.

This guide explains how sign-up bonuses work, where to find UK opportunities and what to check before accepting a new customer offer.

What is a sign-up bonus?

A sign-up bonus is an introductory reward designed to attract new customers to a business or service.

A provider might offer a voucher when you create your first account, account credit after your first purchase or a cash reward after completing a qualifying action.

For example, a shopping service might offer a £10 welcome voucher to new customers who spend at least £40 on their first order.

You would need to meet the spending requirement and follow the offer conditions before receiving the reward.

Sign-up bonuses can take several forms:

• Cash rewards: A one-off payment after meeting the qualifying conditions.
• Shopping vouchers: A voucher or gift card to spend with a particular retailer.
• Account credit: Money added to an account that can be used towards future purchases.
• Discount codes: A reduction on your first order or subscription payment.
• Free trials: Temporary access to a service before normal charges begin.
• Welcome points: Loyalty points that can be exchanged for rewards or discounts.
• Free products or extras: A product, service upgrade or additional benefit for joining.

Not all rewards are equivalent. Cash that can be withdrawn is different from credit that can only be spent with one provider.

Always check what the advertised bonus actually gives you.

7 types of sign-up bonuses to explore

1. Online shopping welcome offers

Online retailers sometimes offer new customers a discount or reward when placing their first order.

This could be a percentage discount, a fixed voucher, free delivery or account credit for a future purchase.

Some offers are available simply by registering, while others require you to subscribe to a mailing list or make a minimum first purchase.

How you get rewarded: Usually through a discount code, voucher or account credit.

May suit you if: You already intend to buy something from the retailer and can use the introductory offer to reduce the cost.

Keep in mind: Check minimum spending requirements, excluded products, delivery costs and whether the voucher expires. A first-order discount may be less valuable than an existing sale price elsewhere.

2. Grocery and food delivery offers

Grocery retailers and food delivery services sometimes offer introductory rewards to people who have not used their service before.

These can include discounts on an initial order, promotional account credit, free delivery or rewards across a series of qualifying purchases.

How you get rewarded: Usually through a discount code, account credit or reduced delivery charge.

May suit you if: You already use online shopping or food delivery and can make use of the introductory saving.

Keep in mind: Some offers require a minimum order value, exclude delivery charges or apply only to particular products. Multiple-order promotions may require you to spend again to receive the full advertised reward.

3. Mobile, broadband and utility offers

Telecoms providers and utility companies sometimes offer welcome incentives to attract new customers.

These might include shopping vouchers, account credit, discounted monthly payments or other introductory benefits when you take out an eligible service.

How you get rewarded: Through a voucher, bill credit, introductory discount or another promotional benefit.

May suit you if: You are already considering changing provider and can find an offer that provides better overall value.

Keep in mind: Compare the full contract cost, not just the welcome reward. Check contract length, monthly charges, price increases, exit fees, installation costs and whether the reward depends on remaining a customer for a particular period.

A large voucher does not automatically make an expensive contract worthwhile.

4. Subscription and membership offers

Streaming services, software platforms, online memberships and other subscription businesses sometimes offer reduced introductory prices or free trials to new customers.

An offer might give you an initial free period, a discounted first month or access to premium features before normal subscription charges begin.

How you get rewarded: Usually through temporary access, reduced subscription payments or an introductory membership benefit.

May suit you if: You want to try a service and are confident you can cancel before paying more than you intended.

Keep in mind: Check when the trial ends, what the regular subscription costs and how to cancel. Many free trials require a payment method and automatically convert into paid subscriptions.

Do not assume that cancelling an app or deleting your account automatically ends a subscription. Follow the provider's cancellation process and keep confirmation.

5. Apps and digital service welcome rewards

Some apps and online platforms offer introductory incentives to encourage new customers to register.

These rewards could include account credit, points, discounts, free features or a one-off bonus after completing a first activity.

Examples of services to investigate include shopping platforms, delivery apps, personal finance tools and digital marketplaces.

How you get rewarded: Depending on the provider, you may receive account credit, points, vouchers or cash.

May suit you if: You already need the service or are genuinely interested in using it.

Keep in mind: Some bonuses only become available after completing a first transaction or reaching a minimum activity level. Check whether the reward can be withdrawn, transferred or only spent inside the app.

For more apps and reward platforms, see our Money-Making Apps guide.

6. Financial service welcome offers

Some financial service providers advertise introductory incentives when customers open eligible accounts or take out particular products.

Depending on the product, this could involve cash, vouchers, account credit, reduced fees or another promotional benefit.

Examples may include selected savings products, payment services, investment platforms and insurance products.

How you get rewarded: Through an introductory payment, account credit, reduced fees or another benefit specified by the provider.

May suit you if: You have already decided that the underlying financial product is suitable for your circumstances.

Keep in mind: Do not open a financial account, invest money, take out insurance or borrow simply because a bonus is advertised.

Check:

• Whether you must deposit or invest money.
• Whether your money is locked away for a period.
• Whether fees apply.
• Whether there are withdrawal restrictions.
• Whether a credit check is involved.
• What risks come with the underlying product.
• Whether you are eligible as a new customer.

For investment products, remember that the value of your investment can fall. A promotional reward does not remove investment risk.

Before using a regulated financial service, check the provider and its relevant permissions using the FCA Firm Checker. FCA authorisation is not an endorsement of a particular product or a guarantee that it is suitable for you.

You can also read the FCA's guidance on misleading financial promotions.

7. Welcome offers from reward platforms

Some reward websites and apps offer introductory incentives when new members register.

These may include a joining bonus, a voucher, account credit or an additional reward after completing a first qualifying task or purchase.

However, different reward platforms use different models.

For example, a platform might provide a reward for creating an account, while another may require you to complete a qualifying offer before the bonus becomes payable.

How you get rewarded: Usually through account credit, cashback, points or a fixed introductory reward.

May suit you if: You are comfortable checking offer conditions and using reward platforms to find additional savings.

Keep in mind: Some welcome bonuses are conditional on completing paid trials, subscriptions or other purchases. Do not assume that every advertised joining reward is free.

Where to find sign-up bonuses in the UK

Sign-up offers change frequently, so it is worth checking both the provider's own website and reputable deal sources.

Check official provider websites

Start with businesses and services you already use or are genuinely considering.

Look for sections such as:

• New customer offers.
• Welcome offers.
• Join today.
• Introductory rewards.
• First-order discounts.
• New member benefits.

The provider's own terms should be your main reference. Make sure the offer is still active and available to UK customers.

Check cashback and reward platforms

Some cashback websites and reward platforms list introductory offers alongside their usual rewards.

They may advertise a separate welcome incentive for joining a platform or an additional reward for becoming a new customer at a participating retailer.

Read the individual terms carefully because a welcome bonus and cashback payment may have different qualification requirements.

See our Cashback guide for more information about tracking and claiming shopping cashback.

Look at reputable deal websites

UK money-saving websites and deal communities sometimes highlight new customer promotions.

They can help you discover opportunities, but offers may expire or have limited eligibility.

Always verify the offer directly with the provider before registering or spending money.

Check email and app promotions

Some providers send introductory offers through their official apps or mailing lists.

Be careful with unexpected messages containing links to sign-up bonuses. Rather than following an unfamiliar link, visit the provider's official website or app independently to check whether the offer exists.

How to qualify for a sign-up bonus

Every provider has its own rules, but many new customer offers follow a similar process.

1. Check that you are eligible

Read the conditions to confirm that the offer is available to you and that you meet the relevant age, residency and customer requirements.

2. Follow the correct registration route

Some promotions require you to use a specific link, enter a code or register through an official partner page.

If you create an account through the wrong route, you may not qualify.

3. Complete the required action

This might involve making a first purchase, verifying your account, completing a minimum spend or activating a service.

4. Meet any deadlines

Some offers require qualifying actions within a set number of days after registration.

Check the exact dates rather than assuming you have an unlimited amount of time.

5. Wait for confirmation

The provider may need to verify your account and check that you met the conditions before issuing the bonus.

6. Receive or redeem your reward

The reward might arrive automatically, appear in your account or require you to claim it.

Check whether it is paid as cash, a voucher or restricted account credit.

What should you check before accepting an offer?

A sign-up bonus can look attractive, but the small print often determines whether it is genuinely worthwhile.

New customer eligibility

Many promotions are limited to people who have never used the service before.

Some providers consider previous accounts, household details, email addresses, payment cards, telephone numbers or addresses when deciding whether someone is a new customer.

Do not create duplicate accounts or use misleading information to try to qualify for a reward. This can breach the terms and result in the bonus being cancelled or an account being restricted.

Minimum spending requirements

Some bonuses are conditional on spending a certain amount.

For example, a provider might offer £15 in account credit after an eligible first purchase of £50.

The important question is whether you would have spent that money anyway.

If you spend £50 purely to unlock a £15 reward, you have still spent £35 overall before considering delivery charges or other costs.

Never spend more than you can afford simply to qualify for a bonus.

Qualifying actions

The provider might require you to:

• Make a first purchase.
• Spend a minimum amount.
• Register and verify an account.
• Activate a qualifying service.
• Pay for a subscription.
• Complete a set number of transactions.
• Keep an account open for a specified period.

Make sure you understand exactly which actions count.

Reward restrictions

Not every bonus is paid as cash.

Check whether the reward is:

• Withdrawable to your bank account.
• Redeemable through PayPal.
• Restricted to one retailer.
• Limited to particular products.
• Valid only for future purchases.
• Subject to a minimum redemption amount.
• Due to expire after a certain period.

A £20 voucher is not equivalent to £20 that you can withdraw and spend anywhere.

Payment and delivery times

Some businesses issue welcome rewards immediately after registration. Others wait until the qualifying purchase has been completed, the account has been verified or a return period has passed.

Check the expected payment date and what happens if you cancel or return the qualifying purchase.

Can you combine offers?

Sometimes a sign-up bonus can be combined with a discount code or cashback offer, but not always.

Check whether the provider permits multiple promotions and whether the terms exclude other codes or referral links.

Do not assume that two advertised rewards can automatically be claimed together.

Check the significant conditions

The most important offer conditions should be clear before you sign up.

Look out for:

• New customer or age restrictions.
• Minimum spending or deposit requirements.
• Deadlines for completing qualifying actions.
• Subscription charges after a free trial.
• Restrictions on how the reward can be used.
• Any requirement to keep an account or service active.

The Advertising Standards Authority says significant promotional conditions should be clear and upfront rather than hidden in lengthy terms and conditions. Other terms should also be clearly signposted and easy to access.

See the ASA guidance on promotional terms and conditions.

Are free trials and subscription bonuses worth it?

Free trials and reduced introductory subscriptions can be useful when you genuinely want to test a service.

However, they can become expensive when you forget to cancel before the full subscription price applies.

Before signing up:

1. Check the date the free or discounted period ends.
2. Find out the normal subscription price.
3. Check whether payment starts automatically.
4. Read how cancellation works.
5. Save confirmation of your registration and cancellation.
6. Set a reminder before the trial ends if you do not want to continue.

For many contracts entered into online or by phone, UK consumer law provides a 14-day cancellation period. For services and digital content supplied online, this usually runs from the day after the contract is made.

However, exceptions apply. If you ask a provider to start supplying a service during the cancellation period, you may have to pay for the proportion already supplied. For digital content, you can lose the cancellation right when supply begins if you have given the required express consent and acknowledged that you will lose that right.

The rules do not mean that every free trial can be cancelled at any time without charge. Check the contract and the specific cancellation conditions before signing up.

Read the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 for the legal framework.

Are sign-up bonuses safe?

There are legitimate new customer promotions across many UK industries, but scammers can also use welcome rewards to attract people into giving away money or personal information.

Be particularly careful with offers that:

• Promise unusually large rewards for almost no effort.
• Require an unexplained upfront payment to release a bonus.
• Ask for your bank login details or one-time security codes.
• Pressure you to register immediately without letting you read the terms.
• Ask you to receive or transfer money on behalf of someone else.
• Send you to a website that imitates a familiar company.
• Require you to recruit other people before your own reward is released, without clearly explaining the arrangement.

Check the business independently and register through its official website or app.

If a promotion relates to a financial product, check the provider on the FCA Firm Checker. Being featured in an advert or deal listing is not the same as receiving regulatory approval for the promotion.

Never share your banking password, PIN or one-time security codes to claim a welcome bonus.

Do you pay tax on sign-up bonuses in the UK?

There is no single tax rule that applies to every type of sign-up bonus.

The treatment can depend on what the payment is for, how it is structured and whether it relates to your personal purchases, a business activity, employment or another arrangement.

A promotional discount that reduces the price of a personal purchase is different from a payment made for providing a service or introducing customers to a business. Some financial institution incentives also have specific tax treatment.

For example, HMRC's guidance on certain mortgage cashback arrangements explains that these payments are not normally chargeable to Capital Gains Tax under the circumstances described. However, a cashback payment may be treated as income where it is received in the course of a business or employment. This is specific guidance, not a blanket ruling for every welcome reward.

Keep a record of significant cash rewards and check the relevant HMRC guidance on financial institution incentives if you are unsure. You may also need individual tax advice where rewards are connected to regular business or referral activity.

Do not assume that every cash payment, voucher or account credit is automatically tax-free.

Are sign-up bonuses worth it?

Sign-up bonuses can be worthwhile when you receive a useful reward for joining a service you already want or need.

They can help reduce the cost of a first purchase, provide account credit or give you a benefit for becoming a new customer.

However, the advertised reward is not necessarily the amount you save.

Consider:

• What you need to spend to qualify.
• Whether you actually need the product or service.
• Any monthly subscription or ongoing fees.
• Whether the bonus is cash or restricted credit.
• How long you must wait for the reward.
• Whether you could get a better deal elsewhere.

The best offer is not necessarily the one with the biggest advertised bonus. It is the one that provides the most genuine value after all costs and conditions are considered.

If you are exploring other ways to access rewards, you can also look at cashback, Refer a Friend offers and Bank Switch Offers.

Frequently asked questions

What are sign-up bonuses?

Sign-up bonuses are introductory rewards offered to new customers when they register for a service or complete a qualifying action. They can include cash, vouchers, account credit, discounts, free trials or loyalty points.

Can I get a sign-up bonus just for creating an account?

Some providers offer rewards for registration alone, but many require an additional action such as verifying your account, making a purchase or meeting a minimum spend. Always check the conditions before joining.

Are sign-up bonuses free money?

Not necessarily. Some offers have no purchase requirement, but others require spending, a deposit, a subscription or another financial commitment. Work out the total cost before deciding whether the reward is worthwhile.

Can I claim the same sign-up bonus more than once?

Usually not. Most offers are limited to one reward per new customer, and some also apply restrictions based on household, address, payment details or previous accounts. Check the terms rather than trying to register multiple accounts.

Can I combine a sign-up bonus with cashback?

Sometimes. It depends on the provider and the individual offer conditions. Some welcome bonuses can be combined with cashback, while others exclude additional discounts or promotional codes.

How long does it take to receive a sign-up bonus?

It varies by provider. Some rewards are issued immediately, while others are paid after account verification, a qualifying purchase or a specified waiting period. Check the advertised payment timescale.

Are sign-up bonuses available to existing customers?

Most welcome bonuses are designed for new customers. Some providers run separate retention or loyalty offers for existing members, but these have different eligibility conditions.

Do sign-up bonuses affect your credit score?

Creating an account with a retailer or reward platform does not normally involve a credit check. However, opening some financial products or applying for credit can involve a credit search. Check the application details before proceeding.

Are sign-up bonuses taxable in the UK?

It depends on the nature of the reward and why it was paid. A purchase discount is different from income received through business activity or employment. Check HMRC guidance if you are unsure.

Where can I find legitimate sign-up bonuses in the UK?

Start with official provider websites and reputable UK deal sources. Compare the terms, verify that the offer is active and avoid promotions that require unexplained upfront fees or unnecessary financial commitments.

Explore more Offers & Rewards

Sign-up bonuses are one way to access new customer rewards, but there are other opportunities to explore.

• Discover cashback offers
• Explore Refer a Friend offers
• Compare Bank Switch Offers
• Explore the Monzenta Planner

Monzenta helps you explore and compare different ways to improve your finances. Offers, eligibility, qualifying actions and reward payments are subject to each provider's terms. Rewards are not guaranteed, and you should never spend money you cannot afford simply to qualify for an offer.