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When you think of ways to earn rewards, credit cards are usually top of mind. But shopping portals can be an equally effective way to stack rewards. You simply create an account, click through the portal to the site where you want to make a purchase and earn rewards on top of your credit card offers.
Typically, a shopping portal allows you to earn either cash back, miles or points, but Rakuten stands out because you choose the type of rewards you earn. This flexibility makes it a great option for anyone who wants to maximize the value of every purchase.
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about Rakuten.
Rakuten
Information about Rakuten has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the company prior to publication.
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Cost
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Cash back
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Coupon codes
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Mobile app
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Works with in-store purchases
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Welcome bonus
New users can earn a $10 bonus after spending $25 on purchases made in your first 90 days. You also may be able to earn an even larger bonus if you’re referred by a friend.
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How to redeem your savings
Rewards are issued quarterly.
Pros
- You can earn American Express Membership Rewards Points or Bilt Rewards instead of cash back
- New users can earn a welcome bonus or referral bonus
- Offers at over 3,500 online stores
- You can activate savings, then shop and save on in-store purchases
Cons
- Cash back is awarded quarterly
- Typically not valid with Amazon purchases
How to get started
To sign up for Rakuten, simply create an account on the website using an email address and password. Once you do that, you can download the Rakuten browser extension — this will come in handy for quick activation when you’re about to check out online.
Keep in mind that the brand must be part of Rakuten’s network for you to receive cash back, and you must also activate the browser extension every time you place an online order. Alternatively, you can search for your preferred store on Rakuten’s website and then click through to the retailer’s website. This activates tracking to ensure you get cash back once you make an eligible purchase.
You can also download the Rakuten app for your phone and add your rewards credit cards and debit cards to your Rakuten wallet. That way, eligible in-store purchases you make with those cards will earn additional rewards.
Rewards
You can browse various offers on the Rakuten homepage. For the most part, the amount you receive depends on the brand you’re ordering from; rewards can range from 1% to 20% or more — and there’s no limit to how much you can earn.
For example, when clicking through Rakuten, you might earn 3% cash back from purchases made at Ulta Beauty, 2.5% cash back from GameStop, 3% from JCPenney or 1.5% from Nike. If you spend $100 at Ulta Beauty, for example, you’ll earn $3 or 300 points for that purchase.
What’s more, you can earn a large lump sum by opening a bank account or brokerage account through Rakuten. Certain popular retailers, like Walmart and Amazon, don’t offer rewards through Rakuten. So this shopping portal isn’t great for every purchase.
When it comes to actually receiving your earnings, you’re paid quarterly and need to choose how you want to be paid. You can get cash back through a PayPal payment or a mailed check. You can also choose to earn flexible travel rewards instead of cash back.
If you have an American Express card that earns Amex Membership Rewards® Points, you can choose to earn Amex points instead of cash back for purchases you make through Rakuten. Further, Bilt Rewards members can link their account to Rakuten and receive 0.5 to 1 Bilt Points per penny in Rakuten rewards. (It varies depending on your Bilt elite status, but the loyalty program is free to join.)
You can only earn one type of reward through Rakuten, and if you choose a travel rewards option, the cash back you earn from Rakuten will be converted to points and transferred to your Amex or Bilt account quarterly.
Amex cards that earn Membership Rewards® Points include the American Express® Gold Card and the American Express Platinum Card®.
The American Express Gold Card is great for earning valuable Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets.
- You can earn $400+ in dining and rideshare credits every year (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Exceptionally rewarding for eligible restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Larger annual fee
- Credits are more complicated, you earn them monthly or semi-annually
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin’ Credit: With the $84 Dunkin’ Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Foreign transaction fee
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges – more than any other credit card company on the market* – enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
- More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
- More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
- More Value! $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
- Whenever you need us, we’re here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
Foreign transaction fee
If you notice you’re missing cash back from a recent shopping trip or online order, it’s easy to submit a support ticket to make sure you receive those earnings. You’ll need to log in to Rakuten, navigate to the Help page and click on the “Missing Cash Back” option. Then, fill out the details of your order, including the date you placed it and the amount you paid.
Perks
Rakuten usually offers a $10 welcome bonus for new sign-ups. However, you may be able to find an even bigger $40 or $50 registration bonus if you’re referred by a friend, so keep an eye out for that.
Occasionally, some stores and brands on Rakuten’s network will offer double or triple cash back. Let’s say H&M usually offers 2% cash back on orders through Rakuten — you could be targeted to receive 4% to 6% back on your order.
To help put even more money back in your wallet, Rakuten even offers a credit card: The Rakuten American Express® Card. This card lets you earn additional Rakuten cash back on all purchases and an elevated return at grocery stores, restaurants and with Rakuten. To top it all off, the card doesn’t have an annual fee.
The Rakuten Amex Card is an OK cash-back card, but its value dramatically increases when you pair it with an Amex card that earns Membership® Rewards points.
- No annual fee
- No currency conversion fees
- Can earn flexible Amex points, if you have another card that earns Membership Rewards® points
- Small welcome offer
- Quarterly payment for rewards, not monthly
For a credit card option with slightly higher cash back potential on everyday purchases, consider the Citi Double Cash® Card. It earns 2% cash back on all purchases; 1% when you buy and 1% after you pay your bill. It’s most beneficial to pay for purchases using a rewards credit card while simultaneously clicking through a shopping portal. This way, you can earn double the rewards: cash back from the credit card and cash back from the shopping portal.
The Citi Double Cash® Card is one of the best no-annual-fee cash-back cards thanks to its straightforward rewards structure.
- Long intro-APR for balance transfers
- High flat-rate cash-back rewards structure
- No annual fee
- Has a foreign transaction fee
- Intro APR doesn’t apply to purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.74% – 27.74%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Balance transfer fee
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
Foreign transaction fee
Fees
Rakuten is completely free to use, and there are no fees or hidden costs. Just keep in mind that using a promo code at checkout could invalidate your rewards. Be sure to read the terms of any Rakuten offers you’re using.
Bottom line
Rakuten is a great way to earn rewards for purchases you need or want to make anyway. It’s very simple to get set up and earn, as long as the brand you’re purchasing from is part of Rakuten’s network.
Ordering from a brand that’s offering double cash back is also a great way to boost your earnings. And you have options for the type of rewards you receive, including travel rewards that transfer to hotel and airline loyalty programs.
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For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
