The real return on every sign-up bonus.
We don't tell you the bonus is $200. We tell you it's a 12.4% effective annualized return on the $1,000 you have to lock up for 60 days — and whether you can beat that by stacking three smaller bonuses instead.
Last updated:Current bonus tracker
| Program | Bonus | Min deposit | Hold | Effective APR | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading bonuses… | |||||
Effective APR = (bonus ÷ required deposit) × (365 ÷ hold days). It's the annualized return if you treat the bonus as interest on the locked capital. Instant means no balance is required after the qualifying action (the APR math doesn't apply).
Effective-APR calculator
Plug in any bonus you're considering — including ones not in our tracker. We'll tell you whether it actually beats a high-yield savings account.
HYSA baseline for comparison: 4.00% APY (rough average of top high-yield savings accounts, May 2026). Tax effect not applied — see FAQ.
Frequently asked
What is the effective APR on a sign-up bonus?
Effective APR is the annualized return on a sign-up bonus, treating the bonus as interest earned on the required capital over the hold period. The formula is (bonus ÷ required deposit) × (365 ÷ hold days) × 100. A $300 bank bonus that requires $5,000 held for 90 days has an effective APR of 24.3% — far above any savings account.
Are sign-up bonuses taxable?
Yes. Bank, brokerage, and cashback sign-up bonuses are generally treated as interest or miscellaneous income by the IRS and must be reported on your tax return. The issuing institution will typically send a 1099-INT or 1099-MISC if the bonus exceeds $10. Factor this into your effective return — at a 22% federal bracket, a $400 bonus is worth roughly $312 after taxes.
Can I stack multiple bonuses at once?
Often yes, especially across different categories (one brokerage + one bank + one cashback app). Most institutions only restrict their own offer — you cannot usually claim the same bank's bonus twice within 12–24 months. The Stack Planner takes your available capital and hold time and returns the optimal combination of bonuses to maximize total return.
Why do you show effective APR instead of just the dollar amount?
A $5,000 HSBC bonus sounds bigger than a $300 Chase bonus, but they're not comparable. The HSBC bonus requires you to lock $100,000 for 90 days; the Chase bonus needs a $500 direct deposit with no balance requirement. Per dollar-day of capital tied up, Chase is enormously better. Effective APR puts every offer on the same yardstick.
How often are the bonuses on this page updated?
Every bonus has a "last verified" date. We refresh the full database the third week of every month and verify any time-sensitive offers (those with expiration dates within 14 days) weekly. If you see an offer that has changed, please contact us and we'll verify and update within 24 hours.
Do you receive a commission when I sign up through your links?
Yes. Many of the programs listed on this page pay us a referral commission when you open an account through our link. This commission does not change the bonus you receive — your offer is identical whether you use our link or go directly. We list every program that meets our criteria, including those that pay no commission, and we never alter the math to favor programs that pay more. See our full disclosure.
Why don't you list every bank bonus available?
We focus on bonuses that meet two criteria: published terms (no hidden requirements) and broad availability (avoiding regional-only or invite-only offers). We also exclude offers with effective APR below 5% unless they have unusually low capital commitment. The goal is curation, not exhaustive listing.
Is this site investment advice?
No. MakeSomeCashOnline is an editorial publisher that tracks publicly available sign-up offers and provides math to compare them. We are not a financial advisor, broker, or bank, and nothing on this site should be construed as personalized investment, banking, or tax advice. Consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.
More ways to make some cash
Sign-up bonuses are one-shot capital plays. Two other trackers cover the rest of the landscape.
Earn by the Hour →
Realistic $/hour for surveys, research panels (Prolific, UserInterviews, Respondent), microtasks (MTurk, Clickworker), and gig-app driver referrals. Includes an effective-hourly calculator that subtracts the unpaid overhead nobody else accounts for.
Passive Earners →
Set-and-forget bandwidth-sharing apps (Honeygain, Pawns, EarnApp), receipt scanners (Fetch, Receipt Hog), and play-to-earn — ranked by what they actually pay per device per month. Most stack together without conflict.