How to Make Money with Rakuten (Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners)
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Welcome to your complete beginner's guide to Rakuten! If you’ve ever wondered how people are earning money back on things they were going to buy anyway—this post is for you.
Rakuten (formerly Ebates) is one of the most trusted and widely used cash back platforms in the world. This post will walk you through exactly what Rakuten is, how it works, how they make money, and how you can start earning real cash back today.
Rakuten is a free online platform that gives you cash back when you shop through their partner stores. It was originally founded as Ebates in 1998 and was acquired by Rakuten Inc., a Japanese e-commerce giant, in 2014. The brand officially rebranded to Rakuten in 2019.
As of today, Rakuten partners with 3,500+ online retailers including popular names like:
-Walmart
-Sephora
-Nike
-Macy’s
-Expedia
Is Rakuten legit? Yes. Rakuten has paid out over $2 billion in cash back to users. It’s not a scam, a pyramid scheme, or a coupon site—Rakuten earns a commission when you make a purchase through their link, and they give you a cut of that commission. That’s it!
Rakuten partners with major retailers as an affiliate. When you shop through Rakuten’s link, Rakuten earns a commission from the store for referring you. They then pass a portion of that commission on to you as cash back.
Example:
-Macy’s pays Rakuten 10% for referring a sale
-Rakuten gives you 5% back
-Rakuten keeps the other 5% as profit
It’s a win-win: you save money, and Rakuten makes money from the retailer.
Getting started is free and easy:
1. Go to Rakuten.com
2. Click Join Now (you can sign up with email, Google, or Facebook)
3. Claim your $30 Welcome Bonus when you make your first qualifying purchase
4. Start browsing stores or install the browser extension for automatic alerts
Pro Tip: Use a referral link (like mine!) to get a bonus cash incentive.
Once you’ve signed up, here’s how to start earning:
1. Log in to Rakuten
2. Click through to the retailer you want to shop at
3. Complete your purchase as normal
4. Rakuten tracks the sale and confirms it with the retailer
5. Get paid every quarter via PayPal or check
-Minimum payout: $5.01
-Payouts occur 4x/year: February, May, August, and November
Returns or cancellations can void cash back, so make sure you complete the sale and keep the items.
Let’s say Macy’s is offering 10% cash back through Rakuten:
-You spend $200 on clothes
-You clicked through Rakuten before shopping
-You earn $20 back
-Rakuten pays you in the next quarterly payout
That’s $20 back just for clicking one extra button. Multiply that by every online purchase you make—it adds up fast!
Rakuten offers both a mobile app and a browser extension:
| Feature | Mobile App | Browser Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Shop on the go | ✅ | ❌ |
| Cash back alerts | ✅ | ✅ |
| Automatically activates cash back | ❌ | ✅ |
| Works on desktop | ❌ | ✅ |
Best Practice:
-Install both for maximum flexibility
-Use the browser extension on desktop to never miss cash back
-Use the mobile app for in-store offers or shopping on the go
Rakuten is a simple but powerful tool to save money on everyday purchases. Whether you're shopping for groceries, tech gadgets, or vacation deals—cash back is just a click away.
Start using Rakuten today!
Want a step-by-step Rakuten checklist? Grab my free download: "Beginner’s Checklist to Using Rakuten Effectively" and make sure you never miss a chance to earn cash back.