Assuming you live in the UK and want to cut a few pounds off your monthly mobile bill simply by shopping as you usually would, then Airtime (previously Airtime Rewards) might interest you. The app connects to your payment cards, lets you track your spending at partner stores, and offers you a credit that can be used on your phone bill or pay-as-you-go top-ups. It’s a straightforward concept. However, what will it look like in 2025? What’s different, what’s improved, or what issues might there be? This step-by-step guide explains how it works, who it’s suitable for, how much you can save, and whether it’s worth adding to your phone today.
Airtime’s offer has grown. It has renamed its brand to Airtime, rather than Airtime Rewards. Its site indicates that it deals with over 200 brands and states that the smartest spenders earn up to £ 50 per month, with members uniting to earn over 2 million rewards monthly. These figures are not guaranteed, but rather marketing estimates that indicate the size of the market in 2025.
What is Airtime and How Does it Work?
Airtime is an app used as a reward within the UK. It converts the cashback you receive into mobile credit rather than cash. You link your Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card, make purchases at participating brands, and accumulate a balance that can be applied to your mobile bill. The app is designed for use on iPhone and Android devices; however, a full desktop version is not available. In the help pages and partner pages, it states that you are earning with over 200 retailers, and by default, the credit is applied to your bill rather than to PayPal or a bank account.
Airtime isn’t just any cashback wallet. It’s an app designed to help lower your phone bill. If you need actual cash, this probably isn’t your main savings app. The page also mentions that you can redeem credit to pay your phone bill or for pay-as-you-go vouchers, but only if you have a supported network.
How It Works in Reality
Getting started is quick. Install the application, enter your phone number, select your network and connect your cards. According to Airtime, it typically takes 24 hours for a card to become active. Therefore, you will not necessarily be able to track a shop that was added to your card on the same day. Thereafter, you do your regular shopping among the partner retailers and your cashback is put on hold in the form of pending until the merchant completes the transaction period (returns, chargebacks and cancellations can postpone).
You don’t need to use a special connection every time; tracking happens through your linked card and the merchant’s match. This is handy because it stops you from missing deals due to forgetting a link. According to MoneySavingExpert, this is an effective system that requires little effort. It works well when used alongside other cashback platforms if a retailer is enrolled in both. Typical rates are listed on the site, ranging from 15 to 1 per cent, with the 200-plus retailers figure repeated.
Some of its partners offer up to 20% on a blog and marketing by Airtime, but what appears in the app will vary depending on the merchant and promotion. View increased rates as sporadic rather than the norm.
Which Cards Work?
Visa and Mastercard are accepted. In 2025, American Express is not widely accepted. The Amex gap is still mentioned in community posts, even though some pages indicate this might change in the future. If you have an Amex, consider making purchases with Visa or Mastercard that are Airtime-eligible; otherwise, you risk losing any tracking altogether.
Which Networks Work?
You also need to have a UK telephone number on a supported network. According to Airtime, it works with EE, O2, Vodafone, and most other major networks. There are the big four and numerous virtual networks offering both mobile and pay-as-you-go plans, such as Asda Mobile, iD Mobile, Lebara, Plusnet, Smarty, Talkmobile, Tesco Mobile, Voxi, Giffgaff, and Lycamobile, among others, listed in the buyer’s guide of MoneySavingExpert. When you choose your provider, the confirmed live list appears in the app.
How Redemption Works
Cash in the app when you reach the minimum. On Airtime pages, there is usually a threshold of 10. Some critics mention fixed amounts (e.g., 20 pounds) or selectable values, but the actual amount can vary, and it will show up on your bill or pay-as-you-go top-up within about 24 hours, depending on the network’s billing cycle.
One such nuance is that some users of virtual networks might be able to withdraw their balance as cash to a linked bank account in 2025. Airtime does not promote this as standard for everyone, and it should be regarded as a rare exception, not a guaranteed feature. Try using it with some providers where possible, but don’t rely on it as a common option.
Earning Potential: Reasonable Expectations.
Your savings depend more on where you shop now than on how much you can change your habits. If your usual grocery, clothing, home, or entertainment stores are partners of Airtime, you’ll gradually build credit. Otherwise, you’ll earn only minimal income unless you spend with purpose.
Airtime states that the smartest spenders can earn up to 50 pounds per month, which means users need to be very active and redirect much eligible spending. Most households will see small savings of a few pounds to low tens of pounds each month unless they can make larger purchases at higher rates. In this case, Airtime can be combined with other cashback apps when both involve the same merchant, but not always. Other ways of earning, like buying gift cards in the app or booking trips, can also be promoted on the app and store pages, which can boost totals if you would otherwise do those activities. Note: the earnings do not go into a bank account by default, but are added to your phone bill.
Referral Program Helpful Boost, Variable Terms.
Referrals exist, although their amount and rules fluctuate over time. Previous offers ranged from 50p per sign-up (plus an extra £ 1 after the first purchase) to straightforward one- or two-pound rewards based on spending within a specific period. The reward amounts and qualifying actions vary because they depend on what the app shows when you share your code, not a fixed figure found on the internet.
The referrals are a welcome addition as long as your friends in the UK share the same networks. They won’t replace the daily income of retailers but can help you reach the £10 mark more quickly.
Mobile Experience and Easy to Use.
Airtime is user-friendly and offers a simple experience: verify your number, select a network, connect card(s), shop, and redeem. The Google Play listing (current at the time of writing) states that you can add up to ten cards, which suits most users, and it also reiterates the minimum of £10. The interface updates in recent years are not gimmicks, but focus on clarity; the app keeps a very gentle approach, avoiding aggressive push for click-through purchase links.
Convenience Cardlinked offers can be redeemed in-store and online. The trade-off is slower updates: as long as the merchant’s period has not expired, transactions are shown as pending. According to third-party guides, some merchants take 35–90 days to clear; what you see will depend on the retailer and their return policy.
Guidelines on When to Use or Avoid Airtime.
If you have a supported UK network and use Visa or Mastercard cards at retailers on the Airtime list, and you prefer to keep your phone bill private, then Airtime is a great alternative. It requires no fees and usually runs in the background after setup.
Airtime isn’t suitable if you’re looking for cash payouts, mainly on American Express, or if you’re not living in the UK. Unsupported networks prevent registration for UK users, posing a significant obstacle to system development.
Support, Trust and Reputation.
Airtime offers FAQs, in-app support, and email support, which are common features of a rewards app, and has Trustpilot ratings of Great (high 3s out of 5) with several thousand reviews. Customers praise the free money off their phone bills and its user-friendly nature, although its features are often criticised for lacking tracking or changing rates, or missing out on merchants. Airtime also responds to negative reviews. Like any cashback software, it’s advisable to save screenshots of transactions, keep receipts, and submit claims if issues arise.
Data and privacy: You permit transaction-level tracking using connected cards to determine spending eligibility. The terms and privacy pages of Airtime detail the use of data; read them before linking financial instruments.
Should Airtime remain part of in 2025?
Yes, for most UK users, provided your network is compatible and you already shop at Airtime’s partner stores. It helps in earning low-effort credit that reduces your bill. Think of it as easing the annoying part of your mobile expenses every month rather than a part-time job to earn extra cash.
Airtime isn’t as valuable when you need real cash, when you use Amex to earn points or cashback, or when you don’t shop at participating brands very often. In those cases, a more traditional cashback method (bank or PayPal disbursement) or a points card that suits your spending pattern can be better. However, when you want to lower your phone bill without extra effort, Airtime is quite handy, and its list of networks and retailers is broader than it was a few years ago.
How to get the most out of it.
Since the effectiveness of Airtime depends on your habits, some strategic adjustments could be helpful. To start with, select a list of in-app brands and choose 2-3 high-spend categories where you already make purchases (groceries, fashion, home). When you access Airtime and find one of your regular stores listed, shop there using a linked Visa or Mastercard. Most of the benefit can come from that change.
Second, be alert to increased rates and seasonal offers within the app. View them as an opportunity to sell planned purchases rather than a reason to buy more products. It’s easy to drain savings chasing deals. Airtime recommends itself, and third-party reviews emphasise traditional shopping, not existing expenditure, as the best way to achieve optimal results.
Third, opt for gentle stacking when possible. When using a merchant that appears in both Airtime and your preferred cashback portal, you may sometimes earn on both. It’s not guaranteed and all conditions vary, but in their 2025 overview, MoneySavingExpert highlights it as a common optimisation.
Lastly, be realistic about your expectations. There are waiting times, merchants come and go, and networking processes credits with fluctuations in billing cycles. Redemption should be completed before your bill is due to avoid issues if you need a payout on a specific date.
Conclusion
Airtime (formerly Airtime Rewards) remains one of the easiest ways to reduce your phone bill in the UK, especially if you’re already spending through its 200+ partners on a supported network. It isn’t a cash earner and isn’t aimed at those who mainly use Amex, but it’s a handy method to cut down your mobile costs with minimal effort. It’s worth downloading and trying for a month to see how quickly you can reach the £10 savings target. If you want to convert everything into cash, consider using a more traditional cashback site.
Quick FAQ (for clarity)
Is it legitimate? Yes. Airtime is an established company with years of experience in the market and has been widely featured on UK consumer finance websites; Trustpilot rates it as Great, with thousands of reviews.
Minimum to redeem? £10 in most cases; see your app for the current amounts. Credits typically take effect in a period of approximately 24 hours, but may follow your billing cycle.
Does it accept American Express? Not widely accepted yet; track using Visa or Mastercard.
What networks are compatible? The fantastic four (EE, O2, Vodafone, Three) and numerous MVNOs; enquire in-app when choosing your provider.
Can I cash out at a bank? Airtime is created in credit of the bill. This has not been the case on all virtual networks, with some of the users reporting bank withdrawals. Please consider it a non-mandatory feature, rather than a mandatory one.
