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Did you know that you can save even more money on purchases you make online? Cash back programs make it as easy as enabling a browser extension or using an app, and it's helped me save over $700 since I've started.
While it sounds questionable, I'm here to quell your concerns. I've been using Rakuten's cash back program for nearly two years, and I've scored big -- like the time I received $30 cash back on my Shark vacuum cleaner or $43 cash back on my Hisense Canvas TV. I began using the platform in early 2024 -- but now I'm a user for life.
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Before I break down how I did it, let's cover some basics, including what to know and why you should join ahead of Rakuten's Give Big Week, which runs May 4-11, 2026.
If you're unfamiliar with Rakuten, it's a similar system to the cash back offered on many credit cards. But instead of getting 2% cash back on gas or groceries, you can save with varying percentage amounts at over 3,500 stores, restaurants, and travel bookings, even in-store. The percentage amounts change frequently.
Rakuten might look too good to be true, but it's pretty simple. Cash back accumulates in a Rakuten account as customers shop through Rakuten. Then, customers get paid out on what they've earned. How? Retail stores pay Rakuten to send them shoppers, and Rakuten shares a cut of that revenue with its customers.
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My lifetime Rakuten earnings, so you know I'm telling the truth.
It's primarily used for online shopping via a browser extension or the Rakuten app (or directly on Rakuten via desktop). It's an easy way to save on large and small purchases, and in this economy, every penny helps.
Here are the six ways I used Rakuten to earn over $700 in the last two years.
It's easy to chalk up a service like Rakuten as not worth your time when often the cash back you earn from each purchase is under a few dollars, or even cents. But here's the thing -- every purchase made counts toward a larger cash back return.
The best way to maximize what Rakuten offers is to shop using the service whenever possible. I primarily shop through the Rakuten app. It took time to form that habit, but now it's second nature.
As a Gen-Z shopping editor, I spend most of my dollars online, and using Rakuten is a low-effort way to earn small cash back on products I was already going to purchase.
While 2% cash back on a $50 purchase isn't a lot, 2% cash back on a purchase that's several hundred dollars (think laptops, earbuds, tablets, and more) can quickly add up.
Since some of my favorite retailers, like Target, Best Buy, Ulta Beauty, Nordstrom, and more, partner with Rakuten, most of my online purchases qualify for some percentage of cash back. Plus, if you're not a fan of online shopping, many retailers offer buy online, pick up in store, making it even easier to take advantage of the cash back without dealing with extra hassle.
As a shopping editor, I always recommend researching a product extensively and planning for the ideal time to buy, unless an immediate purchase is unavoidable. In most cases, self-discipline, budgeting, and planning go a long way toward helping you save money and maximize your cash.
For example, let's say you're in the market for a new laptop in the next few months. Retailers like HP, Lenovo, Best Buy, and Dell are on Rakuten. Cash back rates change frequently and vary widely. If you know the model you're looking to purchase, I like to wait a few weeks to try to snag a higher cashback rate or see if a sale pops up.
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For products that don't see frequent sales, waiting for a higher cashback rate may be your best shot at getting any money back.
Here's an example. Last year, I broke a pair of my favorite Ray-Ban sunglasses. While they weren't essential, I eventually wanted to replace the glasses when the time was right. So, I waited and kept checking cashback rates, and in the meantime, I saved enough to cover the cost of the new sunglasses.
In October, I finally got lucky. Ray-Ban was offering 15% cash back on Rakuten, so I could earn $23 back on a $152 purchase, essentially bringing the cost of the replacement sunglasses to $129.
Since cash back rates constantly change and Rakuten doesn't always advertise higher cash back percentages, the best way to save more is to regularly check in via desktop or app to see the retailer's rates.
This is easier said than done, but I find the best way to do this is to take a quick daily scan of the stores you're particularly interested in. It's certainly not practical to wait for the highest cash back offer every time, so I try to just use Rakuten as much as I can when I'm regularly online shopping and then hold out for a higher cash back rate on products that have the potential to make a larger return -- i.e. tech products, purses, luxury or designer items, and more (and in my case, Ray-Ban sunglasses).
My Rakuten quickly racked up over $700, not solely because of my love of a good deal. I've been strategically purchasing online via Rakuten when cashback rates are near their highest, and doing so for planned purchases for birthdays, holidays, and more.
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Ensuring Rakuten was activated during Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping was a huge plus, especially with retailer discounts and promotions. Plus, since I start my holiday shopping several months in advance for most major celebrations, I was able to maximize early holiday offers.
If you don't think you can stay committed to shopping via Rakuten during the year (although I highly recommend forming the habit), at the very least, try to do so while you're shopping for holiday gifts.
Rakuten changes cash back rates frequently, and the key to success is recognizing them. You can expect to see significantly amplified cash back rates, over 10% or higher, a few times per year. During major holidays like Black Friday or Cyber Monday, cash back can sometimes reach over 15%.
Rakuten also has flash sales and daily deals, as well as "For You" offers, which are usually slightly higher cashback rates at stores you frequent, at least in my experience. There's also Rakuten Give Big Week, where you can get 15% cash back at many stores. This year, Give Big Week is from May 4-11. Shopping during these cash back periods is the best time to maximize your spending and comes in handy when you're likely to be doing more shopping, like during the holidays.
There are a few more ways to save even more with Rakuten:
Promo codes: Don't check out anywhere without checking for one. It's as easy as typing the retailer and "promo codes" into Google. You may have to test a few to get one that works, but chances are there's some kind of savings floating around on the web. Sometimes, you won't be able to find one, but it's always worth a shot.
Remember that discounts reduce your cash back amount, as cash back is calculated based on your actual purchase amount. If you will use promo codes, though, it's best to use promo codes provided by Rakuten and avoid using codes found elsewhere, to avoid issues with your cash back, according to Rakuten. Remember that sometimes, savings offered via a discount code or promotional sale outweigh the cash back provided by Rakuten, so it's best to double-check before checking out.
Also: Does Amazon price match other retailers? What to know
Credit cards: Certain cash-back cards can be paired with Rakuten for even more savings. If you pay with a card that offers 2% back, you get the credit to your card, along with any cash back Rakuten offers. Essentially, you're getting more savings on the same purchase.
Other cards offer points programs that can be linked with Rakuten. For example, if you're an American Express cardholder with a card that earns Amex Membership Rewards Points, you can earn Amex rewards points instead of cash back for purchases you make through Rakuten. The cash back you earn from Rakuten gets converted to rewards points and transferred to your Amex account.
Do remember that if you choose to do this, your Rakuten account will only earn rewards points, not cash back. While I don't personally convert my savings to points via a card program, it's an excellent option for those interested.
Yes, Rakuten is a legitimate cash back program for savvy shoppers. It claims to have over 20 million members (including me). Rakuten says paid its customers over $3.6 billion since 1999.
Yes, Rakuten is free, with no hidden fees or charges.
Your cash back is sent via PayPal or check within 15 days of your first purchase. After that, you get paid quarterly. I opt for a paper check. You can also opt for a gift card and receive benefits early.
Cash back essentially operates as a rebate. You can browse cash back offers on the Rakuten homepage or app. Generally, the amount of money you receive back depends on the brand you're ordering from, and there's no limit to how much you can cash out. Rates change frequently and sometimes suddenly.
For example, say Ulta Beauty has a 2% cash back rate, and you spend $100. You'd earn $2 for that purchase. But if the rate were 15%, for example, you'd earn $15.
Certain retailers have restrictions on what you can earn cash back for, though in my experience, I've encountered minimal cash back limitations for places I shop. It depends on where you're individually shopping, but remember that Amazon and Walmart purchases are not eligible for cash back.
It's easy to join Rakuten, and it's free. You can join online or via the app. All you need to do is create an account with an email address and a password.
Plus, it has a referral program. You can invite friends and family (or be invited by) using your unique Rakuten referral link. Once a referral customer joins and shops, the referrer and the referred customer each earn $50 in cash back before Give Big Week. Normally, it's around $30 each.
To sign up for Rakuten, you only need to create an account with an email address and a password on their website. Once you do that, you can log in via app or desktop (or download the Rakuten browser extension).
Remember that the retailer you're shopping at must be part of Rakuten's network for you to receive cash back, and you must activate the browser extension each time you place an online order to receive it. If you don't prefer the browser extension (like me), you can shop retailers on their websites through the Rakuten app or website, which activates tracking to ensure you get cash back on eligible purchases.
Since I primarily shop on my phone, the app is my way. The app also allows you to add your credit and debit cards to your Rakuten wallet, so any eligible in-store purchases you make will be tracked for cash back.
Like other major retailers, Rakuten has its credit card. The Rakuten American Express Card lets you earn an extra 4% cash back when you shop with Rakuten and 1% everywhere else. Plus, there's no annual fee.
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