By Lal Singh CashKaro is one of India’s most popular cashback and coupon platforms. Founded in 2013 by Rohan and Swati Bhargava, the site claims to partner with over 1,500 online retailers — giving users cashback and discounts on purchases made via CashKaro links.
Many frequent online shoppers use it to get “extra savings” on top of regular discounts and credit-card offers. But does that mean it’s truly safe to use? Yes, CashKaro can be a useful, legitimate tool for savings and cashback. But it’s not risk-free. Its reliability depends a lot on how you use it, how carefully you follow terms, and how realistic your cash-back expectations are.
Let’s break down the strengths and the limitations.
Pros — What Works in Favor of CashKaro
1. Well-Established Platform with Strong Footing
- CashKaro has been around for more than a decade, and has gained substantial visibility and user base. Many people have used it successfully without issues.
- Its business model is based on affiliate-marketing: when you buy from a store via a CashKaro referral link, CashKaro earns a commission from the retailer, and shares a significant portion with you as cashback. Given this transparent mechanism — commission from retailers rather than shady back-room deals — the platform is structurally aligned to reward users if conditions (link usage, payment method, return-window expiry, etc.) are met.
In short: CashKaro’s business model is legit and widely used — not some fly-by-night money-making gimmick.
2. Adds Real Savings — Cashback + Discount + Offers
When it works, CashKaro can stack savings: you get the regular store discounts, maybe bank/credit-card offers, and an additional cashback from CashKaro.For frequent online shoppers — electronics, clothes, travel, pharmacy, etc. — that added cashback can accumulate into meaningful savings over months.
Also, the cashbacks are often real money (transferable to your bank or via gift cards), not just opaque points with limited use.
3. Wide Retailer Partnerships & Ease of Use
CashKaro works with hundreds of big e-commerce and marketplace sites. As long as you click through from CashKaro’s portal/app to the retailer’s site — and complete purchase properly — everything else is automatic.
The “extra cashback + coupon + regular discount + card offer” stacking makes it convenient. For users who shop online often, CashKaro can feel like “found money” for otherwise planned purchases.
4. Transparency — Cashback Is Tracked, Redeemable, Not Hidden
CashKaro tracks your cashback in its dashboard. Once confirmed (usually after return-window expires), you can request payout to your bank account or redeem via gift cards. The process is documented.
This transparency — clear record of purchases → cashback credited → redeemable payout — distinguishes reputable platforms from shady “cashback” apps that never pay up.
Cons & Risks — What Could Go Wrong with CashKaro
1. Cashback Is Not Guaranteed — Tracking and Credit Issues Happen
While many users get cashback, there are frequent complaints about cashback being “lost,” delayed, or rejected even after following all steps. On public review platforms, several users say they did not receive promised cashback — or it was “blocked” without clear reason.
One user comment from a community review said:
“They get paid by merchants … but they don’t payout their customers.”
Reddit threads also show a similar mixed experience. Some users say it works fine, others warn that many recent purchases failed to give cashback. This means cashback depends on many variables — merchant cooperation, correct referral link, no cancellation/return, waiting period — and there is no absolute guarantee.
2. Delays or Account Issues in Payouts
According to reviews on sites like Trustpilot, some users have complained of long delays, account blocks, or unresponsive customer service when they try to withdraw cashback or report issues.
In extreme cases, users claim that even after confirmation of cashback, withdrawal was blocked or flagged — leading to frustration. That’s the downside of depending on a third-party middleman for payout.
3. Cashback Works Only If You Follow Steps Exactly — Risk of Human Error
Cashback via affiliate-link platforms like CashKaro is conditional. If you:
- Forget to start your shopping via CashKaro’s link
- Use coupon codes unsanctioned by the merchant
- Abandon cart or cancel the order
- Use return or exchange later
— then cashback may get invalidated. These conditions are easy to miss, especially if you shop often or casually.
4. Not a Substitute for Discounts or Price Comparison — Only a Supplement
Cashback isn’t always large. If product discount + bank/card offer already gives good saving, the extra cashback may not make huge difference. Also, maximum benefit comes only when you plan your purchase — random impulsive buying rarely recoups the cost when considering delivery, return hassles, price drops, shipping fees, etc.
So, it’s helpful — but not a magic “save money” guarantee.
5. Earnings Depend on Merchant Commission and Business Model — Could Change
CashKaro earns via commissions from retailers. If retailers change commission rates or restrict affiliate promotions, the cashback offered to users may drop, or tracking may become more difficult.
Essentially, your benefit depends on market/business-side economics — not fully under your control. That means long-term reliance on high cashback rates may be risky.
When CashKaro Makes Sense (And You Maximise Its Utility)
CashKaro works well when:
- You shop online occasionally but with planning — when you need to buy something anyway, not just impulse purchases.
- You follow the correct flow: start from CashKaro link → go to retailer → complete payment and check cashback status.
- You treat cashback as a small bonus, not main saving goal.
- You track your cashback dashboard and redeem regularly — not rely on hanging cashback for long-term.
- You compare final price + cashback + offers against competitors — don’t assume cashback ensures the best deal.
If used smartly, CashKaro can reduce overall online shopping cost — especially for planned purchases or bulk buys.
When You Should Be Cautious (Or Limit Dependence on CashKaro)
Be careful if:
- You expect cashback on every single small purchase — risk of missing tracking or no-payout is higher.
- You rely on cashback as income or savings — it’s unstable and unpredictable.
- You buy perishable or return-likely items often — returns void cashback.
- You feel tempted to overspend just to “earn cashback” — that defeats the purpose of savings.
In these cases, usual caution applies — cashback is a perk, not a guarantee.
Final Verdict
CashKaro is among India’s better-known cashback/coupon platforms, with a transparent affiliate-based model, large retailer partnerships, and history of paying real cashback to many users. For online shoppers who plan purchases and follow correct steps, it can deliver genuine savings and a neat bonus.
But it is not a guaranteed savings scheme. Cashback depends on merchant cooperation, correct tracking, no returns, and on-time payout. Problems in any link — tracking glitch, return, delayed payout — can wipe out cashback.