Zilch referral code: get £5 free when you sign up for BNPL
Zilch has built one of the more flexible buy-now-pay-later products in the UK, working like a virtual card rather than a checkout button, and its referral scheme is generous. Sign up and use a Zilch referral link and you and your friend can both get £5 in Zilch Rewards once a qualifying first purchase is made.
What Zilch actually is
Zilch is a UK fintech offering a "pay over 6 weeks" and "pay now" virtual card that works anywhere Mastercard is accepted, both online and in-store, rather than being tied to specific retailer checkouts like some BNPL rivals. It's regulated as a consumer credit provider, with representative APRs from 14.9% attached to its pay-later product, though paying in full within the window can avoid interest depending on how you use it. Zilch also runs a cashback-style Rewards programme, letting you earn a percentage back from participating retailers on top of any referral bonuses.
How the Zilch referral code works
- Download the Zilch app.
- Sign up using a referral link, such as zilch.onelink.me/sOUJ/11dod0aa.
- Complete Zilch's standard verification and eligibility checks, since it's a regulated credit product.
- Set up your virtual card in the app.
- Make your first Tap and Pay purchase using Zilch.
What you and your friend get
Zilch's own referral terms confirm both parties get £5 in Rewards once the referred friend makes their first Tap and Pay purchase. There's no cap on the number of friends you can refer, so it can add up if you're introducing several people to the app.
Eligibility, timing and the small print
You need to be a UK resident aged 18 or over with an existing (or newly opened) Zilch account to take part, and the usual credit eligibility checks apply since Zilch is a regulated lender. The reward is tied to a genuine first Tap and Pay purchase, not simply opening the app, and Zilch's referral terms and conditions page sets out full detail on qualifying transactions and reward timing. As with any BNPL product, only spend what you can comfortably repay, since missed repayments can affect your credit file.
Using Zilch well
The main benefit beyond the referral bonus is Zilch's cashback-style Rewards on top of purchases at partner retailers, so it's worth checking which brands are currently boosted in the app before a big shop. Because Zilch works as a virtual Mastercard rather than only at specific retailer checkouts, it's more flexible than single-retailer BNPL options, but that flexibility means it's easier to overspend, so treat it like any other credit product and budget accordingly.
Pros and cons
- Pro: Works almost anywhere Mastercard is accepted, unlike retailer-specific BNPL.
- Pro: £5 referral reward for both sides is a decent incentive for a low-effort sign-up.
- Pro: Rewards programme adds ongoing cashback potential beyond the referral bonus.
- Con: It's regulated credit with interest potentially applying, so it's not free money if you don't manage repayments.
- Con: New UK BNPL regulation is changing how providers operate, so terms can shift.
Alternatives worth comparing
Klarna and Clearpay are the most obvious BNPL comparisons, both tied more closely to specific retailer checkouts than Zilch's virtual-card model. PayPal's Pay in 3 is another option for online purchases. If you'd rather avoid credit products altogether, a simple savings buffer or a 0% purchase credit card with a clear repayment plan can achieve a similar spreading-the-cost effect without the referral gimmick.
Verdict
The Zilch referral code is a solid £5-for-both-sides deal if you were already going to try a flexible BNPL card, but treat Zilch like any other credit product rather than free money, budgeting for repayments before you get the bonus.
