loyalty programs — any actually worth it?

Most loyalty programs are confetti — points, tiers, badges, and somehow nothing of value. A couple of sites do give real cashback with no strings, and those are the ones I stay loyal to. Anyone found others worth it?

Okay but which ones though? Don't leave us hanging, Trevor.

Honest answer: it's the ones where cashback lands as actual cash, not bonus funds with homework stapled to it. Check the terms on any program and you'll spot the difference in about a minute.

That's a solid tell, actually. Cash is cash, 'cash' with an asterisk is a chore.