Key Points
- Rakuten offers up to 40% cash back at 3,500+ stores and stacks with credit card rewards for double-dipping opportunities.
- New members earn a $30 welcome bonus after their first $30 purchase, making it immediately worthwhile.
- Smart pairing with the right credit cards can turn a $1,000 shopping trip into $150+ in combined rewards.
Introduction
Here's something most travelers miss: while you're chasing credit card bonuses and transferring points to airlines, you're probably leaving money on the table with everyday purchases. Shopping portals like Rakuten let you earn cash back on purchases you're making anyway—and yes, you can stack this with your credit card rewards.
I've been using Rakuten since 2018, and it's become part of my travel funding strategy. Between the cash back I earn and my Chase Sapphire Preferred bonus categories, I'm routinely pulling 15-20% back on purchases that would have earned nothing extra. Let me show you exactly how this works and whether it makes sense for your travel goals.
What Is Rakuten and How Does It Work?
Rakuten is a cash back shopping portal that pays you a percentage of your purchase when you shop through their website or browser extension. Think of it as a middleman between you and retailers—stores pay Rakuten a commission for sending customers their way, and Rakuten shares part of that commission with you.
The platform partners with over 3,500 stores including major retailers like Macy's, Best Buy, Walmart, and even travel sites like Priceline and Hotels.com. Cash back rates typically range from 1% to 40% depending on the store and current promotions.
The Welcome Bonus
New members who sign up through a referral link earn a $30 welcome bonus after making their first $30 purchase within 90 days. This essentially gives you 100% cash back on your first purchase up to $30—not a bad way to start.
How to Use Rakuten: Three Methods
1. Through the Website
Log into Rakuten.com, search for the store you want to shop at, click through to the retailer's site, and complete your purchase. The cash back tracks automatically and appears in your account within a few days.
2. Browser Extension (Recommended)
Install the Rakuten browser extension and it'll automatically alert you when you're on a site that offers cash back. One click activates the deal—no need to remember to go through the Rakuten website first.
3. Mobile App
The Rakuten app works similarly to the website but also includes in-store offers at select retailers. Link a credit or debit card, shop at participating stores, and earn cash back automatically.
Stacking Rakuten with Credit Card Rewards
Here's where this gets interesting for points and miles enthusiasts. Rakuten cash back stacks with credit card rewards—you're not choosing between them. This creates powerful earning combinations when you pair the right card with the right purchase.
Best Credit Card Pairings
For Online Shopping: The Amex Blue Cash Preferred earns 3% back on online retail purchases up to $6,000 per year. Combine this with Rakuten's typical 2-5% cash back at most online retailers, and you're earning 5-8% total.
For Department Stores: When Macy's runs a 10% Rakuten promotion, use your Chase Freedom Flex during a quarter when department stores are a 5% category. That's 15% back total—$150 on a $1,000 purchase.
For Travel Bookings: Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3x points on travel. When you book hotels through Rakuten's travel partners offering 5% cash back, you're earning both the 5% cash back AND 3x Ultimate Rewards points on the same purchase.
For General Purchases: The Citi Double Cash earns 2% on everything. Stack this with any Rakuten offer and you're guaranteed at least 3% back, often more during promotional periods.
Real-World Example: My Black Friday Strategy
Last November, I needed a new laptop. Here's how I maximized the purchase:
- Purchase price: $1,200 at Best Buy
- Rakuten cash back: 10% during Black Friday promotion = $120
- Credit card rewards: Used Chase Freedom Flex during electronics quarter = 5% = $60 in Ultimate Rewards points
- Best Buy rewards: 2% in Best Buy points = $24
- Total rewards: $204 back on a $1,200 purchase = 17% return
Those Ultimate Rewards points transferred to Hyatt are worth more like $90 for travel, bringing my effective return to around 19.5%. All for spending five minutes setting up the purchase correctly.
Rakuten vs. Other Shopping Portals
Shopping portals work similarly to each other, but Rakuten consistently offers the highest cash back rates and most reliable tracking in my experience. I also use Swagbucks for certain purchases, but Rakuten is my default.
Why I Prefer Rakuten
- Better rates: Often 1-2% higher than competitors on the same purchases
- Reliable tracking: Purchases track consistently within 24 hours
- Quarterly payments: Cash out via PayPal or check every three months (minimum $5 balance)
- Browser extension: Best-in-class tool that actually works
- No points conversion: Cash back is straightforward—no complex point valuations
That said, it's worth checking rates across platforms before major purchases. Sometimes Swagbucks runs better promotions on specific retailers.
Where Rakuten Shines for Travel Rewards Enthusiasts
1. Travel Booking Sites
Hotels.com, Priceline, and Booking.com all offer Rakuten cash back. While booking through your Chase Ultimate Rewards portal might earn more points, sometimes the hotel's direct rate plus Rakuten cash back beats the portal price.
2. Travel Gear and Luggage
REI, Backcountry, and luggage retailers frequently offer 5-10% through Rakuten. Combined with your travel credit card earnings, you're essentially getting travel gear at a significant discount.
3. Gift Cards for Travel
While gift card purchases typically don't earn Rakuten cash back, buying them during promotional periods at stores that DO offer cash back (like grocery stores or office supply stores) lets you stack rewards. Then use those gift cards for travel expenses.
4. Everyday Purchases
Groceries, gas, and dining out don't work with Rakuten, but online household purchases do. The cash back you earn can offset annual fees on premium cards like the Amex Platinum or fund your next trip.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Forgetting to Activate Before Shopping
This is the #1 mistake. Install the browser extension so you never forget—it automatically alerts you when cash back is available.
2. Using Multiple Extensions
If you have Rakuten, Honey, and Capital One Shopping all installed, they can interfere with each other and your cash back might not track. Pick one primary portal (I recommend Rakuten) and only activate one extension per purchase.
3. Combining with Too Many Coupons
Retailers sometimes don't pay commission when you stack certain coupon codes, which means your Rakuten cash back won't track. The browser extension will warn you if this might happen.
4. Not Tracking Your Purchases
Check your Rakuten account within 24 hours to confirm your purchase tracked. If it didn't, you can submit a missing cash back claim—but you need to do this within 45 days.
5. Shopping Through Different Tabs
Once you click through Rakuten, complete your purchase in that same browser session. Opening new tabs or browsing other sites can break the tracking.
Maximizing Your Rakuten Strategy
Watch for Double Cash Back Days
Rakuten runs quarterly promotions where certain stores offer double cash back. These are usually announced via email. I've seen rates as high as 20-30% at major retailers during these events.
Stack with Seasonal Sales
Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and back-to-school sales often coincide with elevated Rakuten rates. This is when the math gets really good—15-20% total returns are common.
Refer Friends for Bonuses
Rakuten pays $30 for each friend who signs up through your referral link and makes a qualifying purchase. If you're already sharing credit card recommendations with friends, add Rakuten to the conversation.
Use the Right Credit Card
Your cash back credit card choice matters. Match the card's bonus categories to where you're shopping through Rakuten for maximum combined earnings.
How Rakuten Fits Into Your Overall Strategy
If you're serious about maximizing travel rewards, Rakuten is a complementary tool—not a replacement for your credit card strategy. Here's how I think about the hierarchy:
- Credit card welcome bonuses: Still your biggest bang for the buck. A 75,000-point bonus is worth $750-$1,500 in travel.
- Category bonuses: Using the right card for each purchase type maximizes ongoing earnings.
- Shopping portals: Rakuten adds an extra layer on top of your card strategy.
- Manufacturer spending: Advanced techniques for hitting bonus thresholds faster.
The beauty is that Rakuten requires almost zero effort once you install the browser extension. It's passive income that compounds with your active credit card strategy.
Who Should Use Rakuten?
Perfect For:
- Anyone who shops online regularly (even 5-10 purchases per year)
- Travel rewards enthusiasts looking to maximize every purchase
- People working toward credit card minimum spend requirements
- Shoppers who can wait 3 months for payments (quarterly payout schedule)
Not Ideal For:
- Primarily in-store shoppers (limited physical store offers)
- Those who need immediate cash back (payments are quarterly)
- People who forget to activate shopping portals (though the extension helps)
My Personal Results
Over the past year, I've earned $847 in Rakuten cash back. That's funded:
- The $95 annual fee on my Chase Sapphire Preferred
- A night at a Marriott property in Portland
- Airport parking for three trips
- Part of a new camera for travel photography
None of that required changing my shopping habits—just clicking through Rakuten before purchases I was making anyway. Combined with my credit card earnings, every online purchase now returns 8-15% on average.
Getting Started with Rakuten
Here's the fastest path to your first rewards:
- Sign up for Rakuten through a referral link to get the $30 welcome bonus
- Install the browser extension immediately
- Make your first qualifying $30 purchase within 90 days
- Check your account in 24 hours to confirm tracking
- Receive your $30 bonus and purchase cash back in your next quarterly payment
The whole process takes about 10 minutes. Your first payout arrives via PayPal or check approximately 3 months after your purchase, assuming you've reached the $5 minimum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Rakuten cash back stack with credit card rewards?
Yes. Rakuten cash back is paid by the retailer, while credit card rewards are paid by your card issuer. You earn both on the same purchase. This is one of the easiest "double-dipping" opportunities in travel rewards.
How long does it take to receive cash back?
Purchases typically track within 24 hours, but cash back isn't paid out until the return period ends (usually 90 days after purchase). Rakuten then processes payments quarterly—February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15.
What happens if my cash back doesn't track?
Submit a missing cash back claim through your Rakuten account within 45 days of purchase. You'll need your order confirmation email. Rakuten investigates and typically credits legitimate purchases within 2-4 weeks.
Can I use Rakuten with airline shopping portals?
Technically yes, but I don't recommend it. Airline shopping portals and Rakuten compete for the same commission, so only one will pay out. Since Rakuten usually offers better rates and more reliable tracking, stick with Rakuten for most purchases.
Is there a minimum payout?
Yes, you need at least $5 in your Rakuten account to receive payment. If you're below $5 when a quarterly payment date arrives, your balance rolls over to the next quarter automatically.
Does Rakuten work on mobile purchases?
Yes, if you use the Rakuten mobile app or mobile browser extension. Just make sure you're logged into Rakuten and activate the cash back before completing your purchase on the retailer's app or mobile site.
Final Verdict
Rakuten is one of the easiest ways to boost your travel fund without changing your spending habits. The $30 welcome bonus alone makes it worth trying, and the browser extension removes any friction from the process.
Is it going to replace your travel credit card strategy? No. But paired with the right cards and used consistently, it's an extra 5-10% back on purchases you're making anyway. Over a year, that easily covers annual fees on premium cards or funds a domestic flight.
My recommendation: Sign up for the $30 bonus, install the extension, and give it three months. If you're like me, you'll wonder why you waited so long to add this to your travel rewards toolkit.
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