Rakuten is a free cash back site. You click through Rakuten to a store, buy what you planned to buy, and get a share of the store’s commission back as cash. It’s worth joining if you shop online in the US, as long as you’re fine waiting up to three months for each payment.
This review covers how Rakuten pays you, what it costs, where it falls short and how it compares with TopCashback. Details are as of October 2026, so check rakuten.com before you rely on a specific rate.
Rakuten at a Glance
| Cost | Free |
| Who can join | US residents on rakuten.com. Canadians use Rakuten.ca, which is a separate site. |
| Stores | 3,500+ online stores, plus In-Store Cash Back at some shops |
| Payment dates | February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 |
| Minimum payout | $5.01 in confirmed Cash Back |
| Ways to get paid | PayPal, check (the “Big Fat Check”), American Express Membership Rewards points or Bilt points |
| New member bonus | A welcome bonus after $25 in purchases within 90 days, or $50 when you join through a friend’s referral and spend $50 within 90 days (offer runs to December 31, 2026) |
How Rakuten Works
Stores pay Rakuten a commission when a shopper arrives from Rakuten and buys something. Rakuten keeps part of that commission and passes the rest to you as Cash Back. You pay the store’s normal price, so the Cash Back is extra money on a purchase you were making anyway.
Rakuten was called Ebates until 2019. It says it has paid members more than $4.6 billion since 1999.
There are three ways to earn:
- Online: start from rakuten.com or the Rakuten app, or use the browser extension, which pops up on store sites and activates Cash Back with one click.
- In stores: link an eligible Visa, Mastercard or American Express credit card to your account, add the store’s In-Store Cash Back offer, then pay with that card at the register. Some stores exclude items like gift cards and pharmacy purchases.
- Dining and travel: restaurant Cash Back usually confirms 3 to 5 days after you eat. Travel bookings take 45 to 120 days after the trip.
How You Get Paid
Cash Back shows as pending first. Online and in-store purchases usually take 3 to 14 weeks to confirm, because the store has to wait out its return window.
Once you have more than $5.00 confirmed, Rakuten pays it out on the next quarterly payment date. You choose the method in Account Settings: PayPal, a mailed check, Amex Membership Rewards points or Bilt points. If you pick PayPal or a check, Rakuten needs your mailing address on file before it can pay you.
If you don’t want to wait for the quarter, Rakuten also lets you redeem a confirmed balance of $5.00 or more for a gift card, which arrives within minutes.
The New Member Bonus
New members get a welcome bonus after spending at least $25 through Rakuten within 90 days of joining. The amount changes from time to time and is shown on the sign-up page.
Joining through a friend’s referral link pays more. From October 1 to December 31, 2026, a referred new member gets $50 after spending at least $50 within 90 days. Both people must live in the 50 US states or Washington, DC. Amazon.com orders don’t count toward it, and neither do orders you cancel, return or exchange. You can only get one sign-up bonus, so use the referral when you first create the account.
Disclosure: the referral link above is ours, and Rakuten pays us a bonus if you join with it and qualify. You get the same $50 whichever referral link you use.
What’s Good About Rakuten
- It’s free and simple. There’s no fee, and the browser extension does most of the work once it’s installed.
- The store list is large. Most major US retailers, travel sites and department stores are on it.
- It stacks. You still earn your credit card’s rewards, and you can use the store’s coupon codes on top of Cash Back.
- Points option. If you collect Amex Membership Rewards, you can take your Cash Back as points instead of cash.
The Downsides
- Slow payments. Between the confirmation wait and the quarterly schedule, a purchase can take five or six months to turn into cash.
- Rates move. A store’s Cash Back rate can change week to week. The rate that counts is the one shown when you click through.
- Tracking can fail. Ad blockers, other cash back or coupon extensions and coupon codes Rakuten doesn’t list can stop a purchase from tracking. You can file a missing Cash Back request from Rakuten’s Help Center, but it’s easier to avoid the problem by turning blockers off before you check out.
- US only. rakuten.com is for US residents. If you live in Canada, use Rakuten.ca instead, which has its own stores and pays in Canadian dollars.
Rakuten vs TopCashback
TopCashback is the other big cash back site in the US. It often lists higher rates at the same store, because it passes more of the commission on to members. Rakuten tends to be easier to use, with a more polished app and extension, and it offers Amex and Bilt points as payout options.
Many people join both and check which one pays more before a big purchase. Only one site can track a given order, so start from just one of them each time. Our TopCashback guide covers its sign-up bonus.
Is Rakuten Worth It?
Yes, for most US shoppers. It costs nothing, and a few minutes of setup gets you money back on purchases you were already making. It suits people who shop online often and don’t mind slow payouts. If you only buy from Amazon, or you need the money quickly, you’ll get less out of it.
To get the most from it, install the extension, turn off ad blockers when you check out, and compare the rate with TopCashback before larger orders.
Common Questions
Is Rakuten legit?
Yes. Rakuten, formerly Ebates, has run since 1999 and is owned by the Japanese company Rakuten Group. It earns money from store commissions, so membership is free.
When does Rakuten pay?
Four times a year, by February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, as long as you have more than $5.00 in confirmed Cash Back.
Can I use Rakuten in Canada?
Canadians should join Rakuten.ca, a separate site with Canadian stores that pays in Canadian dollars. Rakuten.com is built for US shoppers.
Does Rakuten work with Amazon?
Amazon.com orders don’t count toward the new member bonus. Check Rakuten’s Amazon store page for any current Cash Back before you count on it. If most of your shopping is on Amazon, other stores on Rakuten will earn you more.
Why didn’t my Cash Back show up?
The most common reasons are an ad blocker, another extension taking over the click, or a coupon code the store didn’t allow. Wait a few days, then file a missing Cash Back request in Rakuten’s Help Center.
