The Best Referral Bonuses Available in 2026 | EasyEarns | EasyEarns
Blog PostReferral ProgramsMarch 8, 2026Verified
The Best Referral Bonuses Available in 2026
Discover the highest-paying referral bonuses in the UK for 2026, from banking and investing to energy and cashback. Updated with current bonus amounts.
If you're looking to earn extra money through referral programmes, it pays to know which ones offer the best bonuses. Not all referrals are equal — some pay £5, others pay £100 or more.
We've rounded up the best referral bonuses available in the UK right now, ranked by category and payout. All figures are accurate at the time of writing, but referral amounts can change without notice, so always check the latest terms before sharing.
Banking Referrals
Banks consistently offer the most generous referral bonuses because the lifetime value of a banking customer is high. Here are the standout offers:
Chase UK
Bonus: £20 for both referrer and referee
Chase UK offers one of the most straightforward bank referrals around. Your friend opens a current account using your link, and you both receive £20 cash once they make a qualifying transaction. No minimum deposit, no monthly fees, and the account comes with a competitive savings rate.
Chase's referral programme is particularly good because:
The account itself is genuinely excellent (fee-free, great app, strong savings rates)
The sign-up process is quick and fully digital
There's no awkward minimum spend requirement
Both parties get the same amount
Monzo
Bonus: £5 for both referrer and referee
Monzo was one of the first challenger banks to popularise referral bonuses in the UK. The £5 bonus is paid when your friend makes their first card payment — which could be as simple as buying a coffee.
Monzo's lower per-referral amount is offset by volume. Because the app is so popular and the sign-up barrier is so low, many people find it easy to refer large numbers of friends. Some users have earned hundreds of pounds in Monzo referral bonuses alone.
Revolut frequently runs promotional referral campaigns with higher-than-usual bonuses. The standard offer varies, but during promotions, both you and your friend can receive up to £60 each.
Revolut's referral programme tends to have more specific conditions than others — typically requiring three card purchases within 30 days. Make sure your friend knows the requirements before they sign up.
First Direct
Bonus: £25 for the referee, plus potential referrer rewards
First Direct has long been rated as one of the best banks for customer service, and their referral programme reflects that. New customers who switch their current account can receive £25, and First Direct regularly offers additional incentives for existing customers who refer.
The switching process uses the Current Account Switch Service, which means it's guaranteed, hassle-free, and completes within 7 working days.
Investment Platform Referrals
Investment platforms have become fierce competitors in the referral space, often offering free shares or cash bonuses worth significantly more than banking referrals.
Trading 212
Bonus: A free share worth up to £100 for both parties
Trading 212 gives both the referrer and referee a random free share worth up to £100 when the new user opens an account and deposits at least £1. The actual value of the share you receive is random, but the expected value sits around £10–£20 for most people.
Trading 212 is an excellent entry point for people new to investing, with commission-free trading and a clean, intuitive app. That makes it an easy recommendation for friends who've been curious about the stock market.
Coinbase
Bonus: £10 in Bitcoin for both parties
Coinbase offers £10 worth of Bitcoin to both the referrer and referee when the new user buys or sells at least £100 of cryptocurrency. If your friend is already planning to buy crypto, this is essentially free money.
A word of caution: always be upfront about the risks of cryptocurrency when making this referral. Not everyone understands that crypto values can drop significantly, and a responsible recommendation includes that context.
Energy Referrals
Octopus Energy
Bonus: £50 credit for both referrer and referee
Octopus Energy has one of the best referral programmes in the energy sector, offering £50 account credit to both parties. Given that energy bills are a significant household expense, this is a genuinely useful bonus.
Octopus Energy consistently ranks among the highest-rated energy suppliers in the UK for customer service and value, making it an easy recommendation. The switching process is fully managed and usually takes just a few weeks.
Savings and Fintech Referrals
Chip
Bonus: Varies — typically £10–£20 per referral
Chip is an automatic savings app that rounds up your purchases and puts the spare change into savings. Their referral bonus varies but typically sits around £10–£20 for both parties.
Chip is particularly easy to refer because it solves a universal problem — people want to save more but struggle to do it consistently. The app automates the process, making it a genuinely helpful recommendation.
How to Maximise Your Referral Earnings
Now that you know which programmes pay the most, here's how to get the most out of them:
1. Stack Across Categories
Don't limit yourself to one type of referral. Combine banking, investing, energy, and fintech referrals to build up earnings across multiple sources. A single friend could potentially use your referral for their bank, investment platform, and energy provider — earning you bonuses from all three.
2. Prioritise High-Value, Easy-to-Convert Offers
The best referrals combine a high payout with a low barrier to entry. Chase UK is a prime example — £20 bonus, no fees, quick digital sign-up. Compare that with programmes that require switching your primary bank account and it's clear which one your friends are more likely to complete.
3. Time Your Sharing
Many programmes run seasonal promotions with boosted bonuses. Keep an eye on your accounts for limited-time offers, and share during these windows for maximum value. January (New Year financial resolutions) and September (back-to-routine) tend to be particularly active periods.
4. Use Dedicated Platforms
Sharing referrals one-to-one limits your reach. Listing your codes on platforms like EasyEarns means people actively searching for referral links can find and use yours. Browse all available offers on our referrals page or check out what a referral programme is if you're just getting started.
Summary: Top Referral Bonuses at a Glance
| Programme | Bonus (Referrer) | Bonus (Referee) | Category |
|-----------|-----------------|-----------------|----------|
| Revolut | Up to £60 | Up to £60 | Banking |
| Octopus Energy | £50 credit | £50 credit | Energy |
| First Direct | Varies | £25 | Banking |
| Chase UK | £20 | £20 | Banking |
| Trading 212 | Free share (up to £100) | Free share (up to £100) | Investing |
| Chip | £10–£20 | £10–£20 | Savings |
| Coinbase | £10 in BTC | £10 in BTC | Crypto |
| Monzo | £5 | £5 | Banking |
A Note on Terms and Conditions
Every referral programme has specific terms that must be met for the bonus to be paid. Common conditions include:
New customers only — the referee must not already have an account
Minimum activity — making a purchase, depositing a minimum amount, or completing a certain number of transactions
Time limits — conditions often must be met within 30–90 days of sign-up
Referral caps — some programmes limit the number of referrals per person per year
Geographic restrictions — most of these offers are UK-only
Always read the full terms before sharing a referral, and make sure the person you're referring knows exactly what they need to do to qualify.
Final Thoughts
The referral landscape in 2026 is genuinely generous. Between banking, investing, energy, and fintech, there are hundreds of pounds available to anyone willing to share products they already use.
The most important thing is to only recommend products you believe in. A referral should feel like a favour, not a sales pitch. If you stick to that principle, the bonuses take care of themselves.
