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According to Statista, global e-commerce sales are expected to reach $8.1 trillion by 2026. With online shopping becoming more convenient—and often cheaper—people are constantly looking for ways to save money.
Previously, I’ve shared tools like browser extensions that help shoppers find discounts automatically. Today, let’s take a deeper look at one of the most popular cash-back programs in the world: Rakuten. This review explains how it works, its pros and cons, and whether it truly helps you earn extra money.
What Is Rakuten?
Rakuten (formerly Ebates) is a Japanese e-commerce and retail giant founded in 1997. It offers cash-back at over 2,500 stores, making it one of the easiest ways to save money while shopping online.
While many people in North America know Rakuten as a reward program, the company is much larger. It has major influence in the Japanese internet and credit card markets, has sponsored FC Barcelona, and holds stakes in major companies like Kobo, Pinterest, Lyft, and Acorns.
This review focuses specifically on Rakuten’s cash-back program and browser extension—and how you can earn free money through it.
How Does Rakuten Work?
Rakuten essentially operates as a massive affiliate network. When you shop online at one of its partner stores through Rakuten, the retailer pays Rakuten a commission. Rakuten then shares a portion of that commission with you as cash-back.
This creates a win-win situation:
.Retailers get more customers,
.Rakuten earns a commission, and
.You earn cash back for shopping.
Rakuten partners with thousands of retailers and updates deals frequently. Once your purchase is confirmed, Rakuten adds the cash-back to your account and sends payments every three months through its “Big Fat Check” program.
How to Sign Up
Signing up is easy and free. You can create an account using your email address or Facebook login.
Availability: Rakuten currently operates in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
Make sure you sign up for the correct region, as cash-back offers differ by country. If you shop in more than one region, you can create multiple accounts. For example, I have separate U.S. and Canadian accounts because I use Amazon in both countries.
Sign-Up Bonus: New users can earn a $30 welcome bonus by spending $30 or more on a qualifying offer after creating an account.
Is Rakuten Legit?
Yes—Rakuten is absolutely legitimate. It is one of the largest and most trusted cash-back platforms globally. I’ve personally earned several hundred dollars over time, and payments have always arrived on schedule.
Most of my earnings came from referrals, but I’ve also earned cash-back from buying electronics, flight tickets, hotels, clothing, and home goods.
Your earning potential largely depends on how often you shop online—but the platform is free, so there’s no reason not to install the browser extension.
Ways to Earn Money With Rakuten
- Use the Rakuten Browser Extension
While you can shop directly through Rakuten’s website, many people forget to visit Rakuten before making a purchase. This is where the browser extension becomes incredibly useful.
Once installed, the extension will turn red when you’re on a participating retailer’s website. One click activates cash-back tracking.
Additional features include:
.Automatic coupon application (similar to Honey)
.“Price Magic,” which helps compare prices across stores
.Works on Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge
- Shop with the Rakuten Mobile App
For mobile shoppers, Rakuten’s free iOS and Android apps provide:
.In-store coupon deals
.App-exclusive cash-back offers
.Cash-back for Lyft rides (app-exclusive)
.5% cash-back at thousands of restaurants
Even if you shop mostly on desktop, the app is worth downloading for its exclusive offers.
- Earn Cash-Back for In-Store Shopping
Rakuten isn’t just for online purchases—you can also earn cash-back in stores.
How it works:
(1).Select an offer in the app
(2).Link your debit or credit card
(3).Pay in-store using the linked card (choose “credit” if using debit)
Your cash-back will be added automatically.
- Save Money on Travel
Rakuten partners with Booking.com and many airlines, hotels, rental car companies, and cruise lines. If you’re planning a trip, you can stack travel rewards and Rakuten cash-back for extra savings.
- Use the Rakuten Referral Program
Rakuten offers one of the best referral programs in the industry.
.U.S. referrals: $10–$40 each
.Canada referrals: $10–$30 each
Most of my own Rakuten earnings came from referrals, and both the referrer and new user receive bonuses.
Rakuten Partner Stores
Rakuten partners with more than 3,500 stores in the U.S. and 750+ in Canada, including:
.Amazon
.Best Buy
.Hotels.com
.Macy’s
.Walgreens
.Walmart
.eBay
.Nike
.Kohl’s
.Target
.LG Electronics
.Expedia
.Shein
.Verizon
They also frequently run double cash-back events, so checking the site regularly can lead to higher savings.
How Much Can You Earn?
Most cash-back rates range from 1% to 10%, but some promotions go as high as 50% or more, especially for software and subscription services.
With moderate online shopping, you can realistically earn $50–$100 per year, or much more if you use Rakuten for travel and referrals.
Payment Schedule
Rakuten pays members every quarter via:
.PayPal cash
.Physical check
You only need a minimum of $5.01 to get paid. Note that bonuses do not count toward this minimum.
Most purchases track within 48 hours, but some merchants take up to 30 days to confirm transactions—especially those with return policies.
Pros & Cons
Pros
.Free to join
.$30 welcome bonus
.Automatic cash-back with browser extension
.Works online, in-store, and on mobile
.Over 3,500 partner retailers
.Pays real cash instead of points
Cons
.Payments are quarterly, not monthly
.Some cash-back may take 30+ days to confirm
.Coupon-finding isn’t as strong as some competitors
Rakuten Alternatives
If you want additional ways to earn rewards, consider:
.Capital One Shopping — applies coupon codes automatically
.Coupert — solid coupon and cash-back extension
.Drop — earn rewards for shopping and playing games
.Pogo — automatic PayPal cash with linked cards
.Honey — top competitor for coupons
.Dosh — passive cash-back through linked cards
.TopCashback — high cash-back rates
.Hoopla Doopla — cash-back across many categories
.Kudos — automatically selects the best credit card for rewards
Is Rakuten Worth Using?
If you shop online—even occasionally—Rakuten is absolutely worth it. The browser extension ensures you never miss cash-back opportunities, and the platform is free, easy to use, and trustworthy.
However, if you rarely shop online or easily fall into overspending temptations, then Rakuten may not be ideal.
Is Rakuten a Scam?
No. Rakuten is a legitimate company, and I’ve personally earned over $7,000 in cash-back and referral bonuses. The main frustration among users is delayed cash-back confirmation, but customer service can usually resolve these issues.
FAQ
Is Rakuten safe?
Yes. Rakuten collects and shares anonymous data with retail partners, similar to other reward platforms. You only need a PayPal email to get paid unless you plan to use in-store offers, which require a linked card.
How does Rakuten make money?
Through commissions from retailers. It keeps part of the commission and returns the rest to users as cash-back.
Why is my cash-back pending?
Retailers may take up to 30 days to verify transactions.
Why did Ebates change its name?
Ebates rebranded to Rakuten in 2014 after being acquired.
Final Thoughts
If you regularly shop for gifts, household items, clothing, or electronics on sites like Amazon, Rakuten is a smart way to earn effortless cash-back. Even occasional shoppers can benefit from its referral program and browser extension.
Hopefully, this review helps you understand why millions of people use Rakuten—and how you can start earning extra money from your everyday purchases.