Booking.com Cashback: Every Portal's Rate, Compared

The best Booking.com cashback we found is 5.4% at Price.com, read from Price.com's own Booking.com page.

Booking.com cash back rates by portal

Every rate below was read from that portal's own Booking.com page, and every row shows when we last looked. Where a rate has a catch, the catch is printed next to the number rather than underneath it.

PortalRateLast checked
Price.com
5.4%source
RebatesMe
Up to 6%A maximum, not a standing rate. RebatesMe's category table for this store goes as low as 4%.source
MaxRebates
4%source
Mr. Rebates
3%source
RetailMeNot
3%source
Active Junky
Up to 5%A maximum, not a standing rate. Active Junky's category table for this store goes as low as 2.5%.source
Sunshine Rewards
2%source
Fluz
1.5%Fluz's general virtual card, available at most merchants. Not a rate negotiated for this store specifically.source
BeFrugal
Up to 11%A maximum, not a standing rate. BeFrugal pays the top rate only on some departments or products, and the everyday rate is usually lower.source
TopCashback
6%This is a maximum, not a standing rate. The everyday rate is usually lower.source
Extrabux
Up to 5%A maximum, not a standing rate. Extrabux pays the top rate only on some categories, and the everyday rate is usually lower.source
Rakuten
Up to 5%A maximum, not a standing rate. Rakuten applies the top rate only to some departments or products, and the everyday rate is usually lower.source
ShopBack
Up to 5%A maximum, not a standing rate. ShopBack pays the top rate on some departments or products, and the everyday rate is lower.source
GoCashBack
Up to 4%A maximum, not a standing rate. GoCashBack pays the top rate only on some categories, and the everyday rate is usually lower.source
Lolli
Up to 0.843%A maximum, not a standing rate. Lolli prints only the ceiling, and the everyday rate is usually lower.source
MyPoints
Up to 2 points per $1A maximum: the per-dollar rate varies by category on the page.source
CouponFollow
Rate not publishedThis portal lists the merchant but did not show a rate we could read. That is different from paying nothing.source
chirpyest
Not carriedThis portal does not cover this merchant.
Hoopla Doopla
Not carriedThis portal does not cover this merchant.
Raise
Not carriedThis portal does not cover this merchant.

Rates move without notice, so treat anything more than a couple of days old as worth re-checking at the portal before you shop.

How to get Booking.com cashback, step by step

  1. Open Price.com's Booking.com page and click through to Booking.com from there. That click is what ties the order to your account, so start every Booking.com order this way rather than from a bookmark or a search result. The rate as we last read it was 5.4%.
  2. Shop in that same tab and session. Don't leave for a coupon site and come back, and turn off any other cashback or coupon extension before you check out: the last click before the order is the one that gets credited, and another extension's click can take it.
  3. Check out in one go, using only codes Price.com itself shows for Booking.com. A code from somewhere else can void the cashback on many stores.
  4. Wait for it to confirm. Typically 30 to 90 days: pending until the retailer confirms the purchase and its return period ends. Returning part of the order, or cancelling it, changes what gets paid.
  5. Get paid. Price.com pays by: Debit card deposit, PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, gift cards, a donation to charity, or crypto. Minimum: $10 per withdrawal, with a $500 cap per withdrawal and per day. Timing: On request, once the cash back is approved.

Getting paid, portal by portal

Each portal's own help pages, as written there. The source link on each row goes to the page it came from. These are the portal's terms, not Booking.com's.

PortalPaid byMinimumConfirmation window
Price.comsourceDebit card deposit, PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, gift cards, a donation to charity, or crypto.$10 per withdrawal, with a $500 cap per withdrawal and per day.Typically 30 to 90 days: pending until the retailer confirms the purchase and its return period ends.
RebatesMesourcePayPal, credit card, Alipay, check or gift cards.$10 in available cash back, not counting bonuses.Cash back becomes available after the 90-day return window.
MaxRebatessourceCheck or PayPal, in US dollars, and sometimes other options such as a donation to charity.$10.00 per payment, with a $2,000.00 maximum.Pending for 90 days to cover store return policies, cancellations and commission collection; it often takes up to 90 days for cash back to become payable, depending on the product and the merchant.
Mr. RebatessourceA rebate check by mail, or payment via PayPal, Venmo or an Amazon gift card.$10 in Available Rebates.Rebates post to Pending within 1 to 3 business days of the order or ship date, then stay Pending for 90 days from the posting date before moving to Available.
RetailMeNotsourcePayPal or Venmo, from the RetailMeNot account.A minimum approved balance of $5.01 is required for a redemption.In about 45 days the cash back lands in the RetailMeNot account as redeemable.
Active JunkysourceCheck, PayPal, Venmo or a credit/debit card. Approved cash back can also be cashed out early as a gift card.None stated for the monthly payout. Cashing out early as a gift card takes $5.01 in approved cash back.Orders stay pending until the partner store approves them. For travel and events, partners typically approve within about 3 months after the trip or event.
Sunshine RewardssourcePayPal, or gift cards from time to time through the Redemption Center.20.00 in credits, and the account has to be at least 45 days old. Cashouts are capped at $500 a month.Earnings should post within 10 days. Sale credits are then held: 28 days per the help page, 21 days from the date of purchase per the terms page.
FluzsourceBank transfer (ACH), PayPal or Venmo, or spent in the app on more gift cards. Without a US bank account, PayPal or Venmo.$15 in lifetime earnings once, then $1 per withdrawal.Instant. The cashback lands in the Fluz balance when the gift card is bought.
BeFrugalsourceCheck, PayPal, direct deposit, Venmo, Zelle or an eGift card. Check and direct deposit are US only.$0.01 for PayPal or direct deposit; $25 for a check.Verified cash back sits in the account for 30 to 90 days, set by the retailer's return policy and its payment cycle with BeFrugal. Store pages say cash back is typically available for payment 15 to 60 days after purchase.
TopCashbacksourceBank transfer, Venmo, PayPal, gift cards, a Virtual Visa Prepaid Card or an American Express Virtual Reward Card.None for PayPal, Venmo or bank transfer; some gift cards have one.No fixed window. Cash back goes pending, then confirmed once the retailer reviews the order, then payable once the retailer's network is invoiced. TopCashback prints an estimated payout speed on each merchant's page.
ExtrabuxsourcePayPal, eGift cards, ACH bank deposit (US only), check (US only), or a donation to a charity.$10 available balance, with at least one confirmed purchase carrying more than $1 in available cash back.Usually tracked within 1 to 7 days of purchase, then held through a 90-day window for returns or cancellations at most stores before it becomes available.
RakutensourceBig Fat Check by mail, PayPal, American Express Membership Rewards points, or Bilt. A confirmed balance of $5.00 or more can also be redeemed as a gift card within minutes.$5.01 in confirmed cash back before the payment date; $5.00 or less carries over to the next one.3 to 14 weeks for online and in-store purchases; 45 to 120 days for travel.
ShopBacksourcePayPal or a US bank account via ACH, once the balance clears the minimum.$5 of Confirmed Cashback on ShopBack's payment-methods and clear-time guides; its withdraw how-to says $10.Pending within 48 hours of checkout, then Confirmed once the partner store's claim time has been fulfilled: usually a few weeks for retail, after trip completion for travel.
GoCashBacksourcePayPal, check, gift card (US only) or Helipay.$10 in withdrawable cash back, not counting sign-up, referral or activity bonuses for the first withdrawal.It can take up to 120 days for cash back to become available.
LollisourceTransfer to any bitcoin address if you're earning in bitcoin, or withdraw to a US bank account. Lolli holds the bitcoin in a custodial wallet until you withdraw it.$15 in available balance.Rewards become available once each retailer's confirmation period has passed, typically 90 days after the purchase or completed travel reservation. It can take up to 90 days.
MyPointssourcePoints, redeemed for gift cards, travel miles or cash via PayPal.At least 480 available Points to redeem (MyPoints blog, 2019).Not verified yet
CouponFollowsourcePayPal; a valid US PayPal account has to be connected to CouponFollow.An Available Balance of at least $10.Pending for up to 60 days, to ensure a purchase isn't returned or refunded.

Does Booking.com have its own cashback or rewards program?

Yes, and unlike Expedia's, this one is directly confirmed on Booking.com's own site rather than resting only on a portal's editorial. Genius is Booking.com's free loyalty program, and it's permanent once you reach a level: "After unlocking each Genius Level, the rewards are yours to enjoy for life." and "We don't demote members to lower levels." source. Three levels, stated in Booking.com's own words:

  • "Genius Level 1": "Unlock instant discounts on select stays and car rentals worldwide upon signing in." "10% discounts on stays" and "10% discounts on select rental cars" source. Free, no booking history required.
  • "Genius Level 2": "Enjoy this level on select stays and rental cars worldwide upon completing 5 bookings in 2 years." "10–15% discounts on stays" and "10–15% discounts on select rental cars" source.
  • "Genius Level 3": "Enjoy this level on select stays and rental cars worldwide upon completing 15 bookings in 2 years." "10–20% discounts on stays" and "10–15% discounts on select rental cars" source.

The discounts are "applied to the price before taxes and fees" source. Beyond the discount percentages, Booking.com's own page names three more Genius rewards by level: "Free breakfasts", "Waking up is easy with complimentary breakfast, available at select stays" (Level 2); "Free room upgrades", "Travel in style with free upgrades, applied automatically to select stays" (Level 2); and "Priority support for stays", "Get direct access to a live agent to discuss or modify any of your stays" (Level 3) source. TopCashback's and Price.com's editorial both describe the same three perks in less precise, unattributed-to-a-level terms source source.

Booking.com also has a co-branded card, confirmed to exist by its own nav menu, "Genius Rewards Visa®" source, with the rate structure per TopCashback's editorial: the "Genius Rewards Visa Signature Credit Card" has "no annual fee", and once approved "you'll automatically unlock Genius Level 3 rewards" plus its own rates on top, "6% on stays booked in the Booking.com app", "5% on flights, car rentals, stays, attractions and cruises on Booking.com", "3% on all purchases made during a stay booked on Booking.com", "3% on dining, gas and groceries", and "2% on everything else", plus "$150 in travel credits after spending $1,500 on your Booking.com rewards credit card within the first 90 days of opening" and "$100 in travel credits each year with card purchases of $1,500+" source. That's a credit card, a separate financial product from any portal here, and it stacks with portal cashback the way any other rewards card does.

Two more things TopCashback's FAQ states plainly, worth knowing before you book: no on a military discount, "No, Booking.com does not offer a military discount at this time." source, and yes on price matching, "If you find a lower price for the same property and accommodation type on another website, you have up to 24 hours before check-in to submit a We Price Match claim to Booking.com." source.

What Booking.com cashback stacks with

LayerStacks with portal cashback?Notes
A hotel or accommodation stayYes, at Rakuten, TopCashback and Price.comA stay is the top tier at two of them: Rakuten pays its highest rate on "Accommodations" source and TopCashback on "Hotels" source. Price.com is the exception, paying more on a prepaid rental car than on "Hotels and Attractions" source. Today's numbers are in the table above.
Rental cars, pre-paid vs. pay at pickupYes, and each portal splits it into two ratesRakuten pays more on "Rental Cars Pre-Paid" than on "Rental Cars Pay at Pickup" source. Price.com does the same split, "Car Rentals (Prepaid)" above "Car Rentals (Not Prepaid)" source. TopCashback shows a car-rental rate on its own table too, "Car Rental - Pay in advance" above "Car Rental - Pay on collection" source, but see the contradiction noted below. Prepaying pays more at all three, and at Price.com a prepaid car is the best-paying thing on the page.
Attractions and airport taxisPortal-dependentRakuten pays the same lower rate on both "Airport Taxis" and "Attractions" source; Price.com folds attractions into its "Hotels and Attractions" tier and doesn't name airport taxis source. TopCashback's rate table lists "Attractions" source, again subject to the same contradiction below.
FlightsPortal-dependent, and a flat amount rather than a percentageRakuten and Price.com both pay a flat dollar amount per flight rather than a share of the fare source source, so the cashback is the same on a $90 fare and a $900 one. TopCashback's rate table shows a flat amount on "Flights" too source, but its own exclusions list separately states "Purchases of flights, packages, car rentals, attractions and airport taxis" are excluded source, directly contradicting the rate its own table just showed. See the exclusions section for what that means in practice.
A package (accommodation plus flight, booked together)Yes at Rakuten, by nameRakuten's special terms: "Accommodations or flights booked as part of a package are eligible for Cash Back." source. Neither TopCashback's nor Price.com's terms mention packages booked together as their own category source source.
Booking.com for BusinessNo, at Rakuten by name"Cash Back is not available on purchases made on Booking.com for Business." source. Neither of the other two portals' terms mention a business product source source.
The Genius Rewards Visa Signature Credit CardYes, it's a separate mechanismIt earns its own points on the same spend, so it stacks the way any general rewards card does; the pillar guide covers how card rewards and portal cashback coexist.
A coupon code not displayed on the portal itselfNo, at TopCashback"Use of a coupon code not displayed on TopCashback." source. Rakuten's and Price.com's terms don't address seller-provided codes source source.
A booking made outside the US or CanadaNo, at Price.com by name"Cash Back applies only to purchases made in the United States or Canada." source. Neither Rakuten's nor TopCashback's terms state a country restriction source source.
The Fluz virtual cardYes on its own purchase, but the page carries no Booking.com-specific detailFluz's page for this merchant is generic boilerplate, "Booking delivers products and services designed to meet the needs of a wide range of customers every day" source, with the same general virtual-card mechanism used across every merchant on this site, paid "with no fees, credit checks, or minimum spend required" source. Its rate is in the table above.
A second portalNeverOnly one tracking click gets credit; the pillar guide explains why the last click wins.

Booking.com cashback exclusions and what breaks tracking

The biggest thing to know here isn't a category exclusion, it's that one portal's own page disagrees with itself about which categories are even eligible.

  • TopCashback's own page contradicts itself on almost everything except hotels. Its displayed rate table shows real, paying rates for four non-hotel categories, "Car Rental - Pay in advance", "Attractions", "Car Rental - Pay on collection" and "Flights" source, and its own exclusions list, printed on the same page, states "Purchases of flights, packages, car rentals, attractions and airport taxis." are excluded outright source. Only "Accommodation stays that are not completed, including canceled bookings, no-shows and unused reservations" are separately excluded source, which reads as though completed stays are the only thing meant to earn anything at all. Which line governs isn't stated; don't rely on the non-hotel numbers in that table without checking the live page yourself first. Its other terms: "Excessive bookings or cancellations." "Multiple bookings for the same stay that are not paid for in one transaction." "Taxes and surcharges." are all separately excluded, and "If you make multiple bookings, you must click through TopCashback before each booking to ensure your Cash Back tracks." source. Currency: "Booking.com converts transactions from the hotel's local currency to euros before paying TopCashback. TopCashback then converts the amount to U.S. dollars, so the final amount is subject to currency exchange rates." source. Timing: "Please allow up to 60 days after your completed stay for your Cash Back to become available." source, and a "Missing Cash Back Claim" has a "100 days" window source.
  • Rakuten's category table and terms. Five categories, highest to lowest: "Accommodations", then "Rental Cars Pre-Paid", then "Airport Taxis", "Attractions" and "Rental Cars Pay at Pickup" together, with "Flights" paid as a flat dollar amount rather than a percentage source. Special terms: "Accommodations or flights booked as part of a package are eligible for Cash Back. Cash Back is not available on purchases made on Booking.com for Business." source. Timing: "Cash Back will be added to your Rakuten account within 3 months after travel has been completed." source, the longest wait of the three.
  • Price.com's category table, and its own restriction. Highest to lowest: "Car Rentals (Prepaid)", then "Hotels and Attractions", then "Car Rentals (Not Prepaid)", with "Flights" paid as a flat dollar amount source. Worth noting that this is the one portal here whose top tier is a rental car rather than a stay. Its one stated exclusion is geography, not category: "Cash Back applies only to purchases made in the United States or Canada." source. Timing: "Purchases will typically show in your wallet as pending in 5 hours" and "Cash Back will be added to your wallet within 90 days days after completing your travel." source (the doubled "days" is printed that way on the page).
  • Fluz's page carries no Booking.com-specific exclusions or spec, unlike Fluz's pages for some other merchants here; its FAQ is the same general virtual-card boilerplate reused across merchants source.
  • What doesn't count toward Genius progress, in Booking.com's own words, a separate list from any portal's cashback exclusions: "ride hail, cruises, insurance, public transit, free options, and any extra purchases like room upgrades, car seats for rental cars, and additional luggage" source. Cruises show up on every exclusion list in this file, the portals' cashback terms and Booking.com's own loyalty program both. A Genius discount can usually be combined with other savings too: "In many cases, your Genius discount can be combined with other applicable discounts, offers, and deals." source, and a higher level doesn't guarantee a bigger discount on every property: "discount percentages can vary by property. Some participating properties may offer the same discount to members at every level." source.
  • Cancellations. TopCashback's FAQ: "The cancellation policy varies for each booking. Unless a hotel listing mentions Free Cancellation in Booking.com, you'll be charged a fee for a canceled booking. Keep in mind that canceled bookings are no longer eligible for Booking.com Cash Back rewards." source. That matches its own exclusions list naming "canceled bookings, no-shows and unused reservations" source.

What breaks tracking at Booking.com specifically, on top of what breaks it anywhere (the pillar guide has the portals' own general wording):

  • Booking through Booking.com for Business rather than the consumer site, at Rakuten by name.
  • Multiple bookings made in one visit without clicking through again before each one, at TopCashback's own instruction.
  • A coupon code from somewhere other than the portal's own page, at TopCashback.
  • A booking made from outside the US or Canada, at Price.com.
  • A cancellation, a no-show, or an unused reservation, which reverses the stay the cashback was waiting on.
  • Excessive bookings or cancellations in a pattern TopCashback treats as abuse.

Booking.com cashback rate history

Only changes are listed. Re-confirmations are not noise worth showing.

  1. Fluz1.5%
  2. Price.com5.4%
  3. RakutenUp to 5%
  4. Fluzrate no longer published
  5. Price.comrate no longer published
  6. ShopBackUp to 5%
  7. Price.com5.4%
  8. ShopBackUp to 10%
  9. Price.comrate no longer published
  10. RetailMeNot3%
  11. MyPointsUp to 2 points per $1
  12. chirpyestmerchant dropped by this portal
  13. Mr. Rebates3%
  14. Price.com5.4%
  15. TopCashback6%
  16. RakutenUp to 6%
  17. MaxRebates4%
  18. Hoopla Dooplamerchant dropped by this portal
  19. CouponFollowrate no longer published
  20. ShopBackUp to 5%
  21. Raisemerchant dropped by this portal
  22. LolliUp to 0.843%
  23. GoCashBackUp to 4%
  24. Active JunkyUp to 5%
  25. Sunshine Rewards2%

How these Booking.com numbers were produced

Booking.com cashback FAQ

Which portal pays the most for Booking.com cashback right now?

Price.com, at 5.4%. That's the rate a returning shopper gets, which is how the table ranks: an "up to" ceiling or a new-customer rate never takes this spot over a lower rate everyone gets.

How long does Booking.com cashback take to pay out?

On a click-through portal there are two waits, one after the other: the portal has to confirm the order with Booking.com, which mostly tracks Booking.com's return window, and then the confirmed balance has to be paid out, which is the portal's own rule. Buying Booking.com's gift card through a portal skips the first wait: that cashback is paid when the card is bought.

Is there a minimum payout?

Does Booking.com have its own rewards program?

Yes, called Genius, and it's confirmed on Booking.com's own page rather than resting on a portal's word for it. It's free and permanent: "After unlocking each Genius Level, the rewards are yours to enjoy for life." and levels never drop back down, "We don't demote members to lower levels." source. Level 1 is instant on signup, "10% discounts on stays" and "10% discounts on select rental cars"; Level 2 unlocks "upon completing 5 bookings in 2 years" at "10–15% discounts on stays"; Level 3 unlocks "upon completing 15 bookings in 2 years" at "10–20% discounts on stays" source. None of that is a portal, so it stacks with whichever one of the three below you click through, on the same booking.

Does cashback pay on flights, car rentals, or attractions?

At Rakuten and Price.com, yes. Flights pay a flat dollar amount at both rather than a percentage source source, which is worth far less than a percentage on any fare above a rounding error, and car rentals and attractions each have their own tier. At TopCashback, the honest answer is that its own page doesn't agree with itself: its displayed rate table shows a paying rate on Flights, car rentals and attractions source, while its exclusions list, on the same page, states flights, car rentals, attractions and airport taxis are all excluded source. Given that contradiction, don't count on TopCashback paying anything on a non-hotel Booking.com purchase without checking the live page for yourself first.

Does Booking.com offer a military discount?

No. TopCashback's own FAQ answers it directly: "No, Booking.com does not offer a military discount at this time." source.

Does Booking.com price match?

Yes, within a short window. Per TopCashback's FAQ: "If you find a lower price for the same property and accommodation type on another website, you have up to 24 hours before check-in to submit a We Price Match claim to Booking.com. Once approved, Booking.com will refund the difference." source, and "the competing offer must have the same check-in and check-out dates." source. None of the three portals' own terms mention whether a price-match refund changes the cashback amount, since the refund happens after the stay and the cashback commission is calculated on what you were actually charged.

What happens to cashback if I cancel my booking?

It goes away. TopCashback is the one of the three that spells it out, and it excludes "Accommodation stays that are not completed, including canceled bookings, no-shows and unused reservations" source, and its FAQ repeats it in plain language: "canceled bookings are no longer eligible for Booking.com Cash Back rewards." source. Whether a stay counts as canceled or "Free Cancellation" depends on the individual listing, not a storewide rule source.

Is there a minimum order, or a country restriction?

No minimum is stated by any of the three portals. There is a country restriction, but only at one: Price.com pays "only to purchases made in the United States or Canada" source; neither Rakuten's nor TopCashback's terms name a country limit source source. All three pay on the item price only: TopCashback excludes "taxes, shipping or other fees" source, Booking.com's own Genius discounts are stated as "applied to the price before taxes and fees" source, and neither Rakuten's nor Price.com's cashback terms mention taxes being included source source.