Rakuten

The original cashback app—earn cash on online and in-store purchases

Verified & Reviewed by WalletGrower

WalletGrower Score

4.3/5 Rating

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Earning Potential

$100-$400/mo

Difficulty

Easy

Time to First Payout

1-2 days

Overview

Rakuten is one of the oldest and most reliable cashback platforms, offering rewards across online shopping, in-store purchases, dining, and travel. The platform operates by negotiating commissions from merchants and passing a portion to users. Rakuten's browser extension automatically activates the highest cash back rate when you visit supported retailers, eliminating the need to manually activate offers. For online shoppers, Rakuten typically pays 2-8% cash back depending on the retailer. The Rakuten Visa debit card extends in-store rewards at partner retailers (currently about 25% of major brands). Annual bonuses and rotating promotions keep the platform competitive, and the 'Big Fat Check' incentive rewards loyal users who accumulate significant cash back annually.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Widest merchant network with 3,500+ stores and brands globally
Handles both online and in-store shopping via Rakuten Visa debit card
Rotating bonuses for popular categories (e.g., 15% back on dining, 10% on groceries)
Easy integration with browser extension for automatic coupon application
Annual Big Fat Check bonus of 40% extra if you accumulate $1,000+ annually

Cons

Base rates are lower than specialized platforms for specific categories (e.g., 2-4% average on groceries)
Requires meeting $1 minimum before first payout; subsequent payouts typically require $5+
In-store rewards via their debit card only work at partner locations

How It Works

Sign Up

Install Extension

Install the Rakuten browser extension (optional but highly recommended for online shopping)

Find Retailers

Search for retailers you want to shop at, or let the extension activate cash back automatically

Shop

Complete your purchase through Rakuten's link or with the extension active

Get Cash Back

Cash back is credited to your account within 1-5 business days (pending period)

Earning Breakdown

Method	Monthly Earnings	Difficulty	Time Required
Online shopping (average)	2-8% cash back	Easy	0 hrs/week (passive)
Dining reservations (through Rakuten)	5-20% cash back	Easy	0 hrs/week (passive)
In-store via Rakuten debit card	1-3% at partner stores	Easy	0 hrs/week (passive)
Rotating quarterly bonuses	2-15% in featured categories	Easy	0 hrs/week (passive)
Referral bonuses (when friend signs up)	$10-$25 per referral	Easy	0 hrs/week (passive)

Start Earning with Rakuten

Join thousands of users earning $100-$400/mo per month. the original cashback app—earn cash on online and in-store purchases

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Tips to Maximize Earnings

Install the browser extension to automatically capture the best available rate—you'll earn 15-30% more without manually searching for coupons
Use Rakuten for big purchases (electronics, furniture, clothing) where you can earn 4-10% back
Plan major shopping around rotating bonuses to stack extra cash (e.g., 15% dining in Q3)
Accumulate $1,000+ annually to trigger the Big Fat Check 40% bonus—this is a significant hidden perk if you shop regularly

How Rakuten Compares

Attribute	Rakuten	Copper
Earning Potential	$100-$400/mo	$200-$600/mo
Difficulty	Easy	Easy

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict

Rakuten is the most versatile cashback platform with the widest merchant coverage, making it essential for regular online shoppers. While category-specific rates are modest (2-8% compared to Copper's 10%), Rakuten's universal applicability across 3,500+ stores means you'll find cashback opportunities others miss. Realistic monthly earnings range from $100-$400 depending on spending, with significant upside if you're a heavy online shopper or accumulate enough annual spending to unlock the Big Fat Check bonus. The browser extension is game-changing—it eliminates friction and captures rates automatically. For balanced cashback across multiple categories and merchants, Rakuten is hard to beat.

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