How to Use Rakuten to Maximize Your Cashback in 2025
Learn how to earn up to 10% cashback on your everyday purchases with Rakuten, plus get a $30 welcome bonus when you sign up using our link.
In 2025, if you're not earning cashback on your online purchases, you're essentially leaving money on the table. Rakuten (formerly known as Ebates) remains one of the most popular and reliable cashback platforms that pays you real money for shopping at your favorite stores.
EXCLUSIVE 2025 OFFER: Sign up for Rakuten using our referral link and get a $30 bonus after making your first qualifying purchase of $30 or more within 90 days. This is the only way to get the $30 bonus!
What is Rakuten and How Does It Work?
Rakuten is a free cashback platform that partners with over 3,500 stores including popular retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Macy's, and many more. When you shop through Rakuten, they earn a commission from the retailer, and they share a portion of that commission with you in the form of cashback.
The process is incredibly simple:
- Sign up for a free Rakuten account (use our link to get the $30 bonus)
- Before shopping online, visit Rakuten first or use their browser extension
- Click through to your desired retailer from Rakuten's platform
- Shop normally and complete your purchase
- Receive cashback in your Rakuten account (typically within a few days)
- Get paid every three months via PayPal or check
What makes Rakuten particularly attractive is that you're earning cashback on purchases you were already planning to make. It's not about spending more money to save money—it's about getting money back on your necessary or planned purchases.
Getting Started with Rakuten: Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Create Your Rakuten Account
To start earning cashback with Rakuten, you'll need to create a free account. Here's how:
- Visit Rakuten using our referral link: https://www.rakuten.com/r/FERNAN18436 (This is crucial to get your $30 bonus!)
- Click "Join Now" in the top right corner of the page
- Create your account using your email address or by connecting with Facebook or Google
- Complete your profile with your name and create a password
- Set up your payment preferences - choose between receiving a check or PayPal payment (PayPal is faster and more convenient)
IMPORTANT: To qualify for the $30 bonus, you must make qualifying purchases totaling at least $30 within 90 days of signing up. The bonus will be added to your account once the qualifying purchase is confirmed.
Step 2: Install the Rakuten Browser Extension
The Rakuten Browser Extension is a game-changer for maximizing your cashback. It automatically alerts you when you're shopping on a site that offers cashback through Rakuten, so you never miss an opportunity to earn.
To install the extension:
- Visit the Rakuten Browser Extension page
- Click the button to add the extension to your browser (available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari)
- Follow the prompts to complete the installation
- Log in to your Rakuten account through the extension
PRO TIP: With the browser extension installed, you'll see a pop-up notification whenever you visit a site that offers Rakuten cashback. Simply click "Activate" on this notification to ensure your purchase will earn cashback.
The browser extension also automatically applies the best available coupon codes at checkout, helping you save even more money on your purchases.
Step 3: Download the Rakuten Mobile App (Optional)
For shopping on the go, the Rakuten mobile app is a must-have. It allows you to earn cashback while shopping on your smartphone or tablet.
The mobile app offers several benefits:
- Browse cashback offers on the go
- Shop directly through the in-app browser to earn cashback
- Link your credit or debit cards for in-store cashback
- Track your cashback earnings and payment history
- Receive notifications about special cashback offers and promotions
7 Pro Tips to Maximize Your Rakuten Cashback
Now that you're set up with Rakuten, let's explore some strategies to maximize your cashback earnings. These tips will help you earn more money back on your purchases without spending extra.
1Look for Double Cashback Events
Rakuten regularly offers "Double Cashback" or even "Triple Cashback" events at various retailers. During these limited-time promotions, the cashback rates are multiplied, allowing you to earn significantly more.
How to take advantage:
- Check the Rakuten homepage regularly for featured Double Cashback stores
- Sign up for Rakuten's email newsletter to get notified about these events
- Plan major purchases around these promotions when possible
- Double Cashback events are common during holidays and shopping seasons like Black Friday
2Always Start Your Shopping at Rakuten
Make it a habit to start your online shopping journey at Rakuten.com or through the browser extension. This ensures you never miss a cashback opportunity.
Why this matters:
- If you go directly to a retailer's website without activating Rakuten first, you won't earn cashback
- The browser extension helps by automatically alerting you, but it's still good practice to check Rakuten first
- Search for stores directly on Rakuten to see current cashback rates before shopping
3Stack Cashback with Credit Card Rewards
One of the most powerful strategies is to "double-dip" by using a rewards credit card for your Rakuten purchases. This allows you to earn both Rakuten cashback and credit card points/cashback on the same purchase.
How to stack rewards:
- Use a credit card that offers bonus points/cashback in the shopping category
- For example, use a card that offers 5% back on Amazon purchases when shopping on Amazon through Rakuten
- Consider the Robinhood Gold Card which offers 3% cashback on all purchases
- This strategy can easily result in 5-10% total cashback on your purchases
4Refer Friends and Family
Rakuten's referral program is incredibly generous. You can earn $30 for each friend who signs up using your referral link and makes a qualifying purchase of $30 or more.
How to maximize referrals:
- Share your referral link with friends, family, and colleagues
- Post your link on social media (where appropriate)
- Explain the benefits of Rakuten to potential referrals - they get $30 too!
- There's no limit to how many people you can refer
5Use In-Store Cashback
Rakuten isn't just for online shopping. You can also earn cashback when shopping in physical stores by linking your credit or debit cards to your Rakuten account.
How to use in-store cashback:
- Link your credit/debit cards in the Rakuten app or website
- Browse in-store offers before shopping
- Add offers to your linked cards
- Pay with your linked card at the store to automatically earn cashback
- In-store cashback works at popular retailers like Macy's, Kohl's, and many restaurants
6Combine with Store Coupons and Sales
Rakuten cashback can be combined with store sales, promo codes, and coupons for maximum savings. This "stacking" strategy can lead to significant discounts.
Stacking strategies:
- Wait for store sales before making large purchases
- Use promo codes at checkout (Rakuten often displays available codes)
- Apply store rewards or loyalty points
- Example: 50% off sale + 10% coupon + 8% Rakuten cashback + 2% credit card rewards = massive savings
7Book Travel Through Rakuten
Travel purchases often offer some of the highest cashback rates on Rakuten. You can earn substantial cashback on hotels, flights, rental cars, and vacation packages.
Travel booking tips:
- Check Rakuten before booking travel on sites like Expedia, Booking.com, Hotels.com, or Priceline
- Travel cashback rates can range from 2% to 10% or more
- On expensive bookings like hotels and vacation packages, this can translate to significant earnings
- Example: A $2,000 hotel booking with 10% cashback would earn you $200 back
BONUS TIP: Consider choosing American Express Membership Rewards points instead of cash back if you have an eligible American Express card. This can be more valuable for travel redemptions.
Real-Life Example: Maximizing Savings on a Laptop Purchase in 2025
Let's see how these strategies work together with a real example from 2025:
Scenario: Purchasing a $1,200 Laptop in 2025
By combining a store sale with Rakuten cashback and credit card rewards in 2025, you've saved $336 on your laptop purchase without any extra effort!
Frequently Asked Questions About Rakuten
Is Rakuten legitimate? How do they make money?
Yes, Rakuten is 100% legitimate. Founded in 1997 (originally as Ebates), Rakuten is a well-established company that has paid out over $2 billion in cashback to its members.
Rakuten makes money through affiliate marketing. When you click through their platform to shop at a retailer, Rakuten earns a commission from that retailer for referring you. They then share a portion of that commission with you as cashback.
How and when do I get paid by Rakuten?
Rakuten pays members every three months, in what they call a "Big Fat Check" or payment. The payment schedule is:
- February 15 (for cashback earned October-December)
- May 15 (for cashback earned January-March)
- August 15 (for cashback earned April-June)
- November 15 (for cashback earned July-September)
You can choose to receive your payment via PayPal or a physical check mailed to your address. To receive a payment, you must have earned at least $5 in cashback during the quarter.
How do I ensure I get the $30 sign-up bonus?
To receive the $30 sign-up bonus, you must:
- Sign up using our referral link (this is the only way to get the $30 bonus)
- Make qualifying purchases totaling at least $30 within 90 days of creating your account
The bonus will be added to your account once your qualifying purchase is confirmed, and you'll receive it with your next quarterly payment.
IMPORTANT: If you don't sign up through a referral link, you'll only receive the standard welcome bonus (typically $10), not the special $30 bonus.
Why is my cashback showing as "Pending"?
When you make a purchase through Rakuten, your cashback will initially show as "Pending" in your account. This is normal and happens for several reasons:
- Retailers need to confirm that your purchase wasn't returned or canceled
- The retailer needs to pay Rakuten the commission first
- Some retailers have longer processing times than others
Most cashback becomes "Confirmed" within a few days to a few weeks, depending on the retailer. Once confirmed, it will be included in your next quarterly payment.
What should I do if my cashback doesn't track properly?
If you made a purchase through Rakuten but don't see the cashback in your account within 7 days, you can submit a "Missing Cashback" inquiry:
- Log in to your Rakuten account
- Go to "Help" at the bottom of the page
- Select "Where's My Cash Back?"
- Fill out the form with details about your purchase
Rakuten's customer service team will investigate and typically resolves these issues within a few business days.
Can I use Rakuten internationally?
Rakuten is primarily designed for shoppers in the United States and Canada. However, they do have separate platforms for other countries:
- Rakuten.ca for Canada
- Rakuten.co.jp for Japan
- Rakuten.co.uk for the United Kingdom
If you're shopping from another country, you may still be able to use Rakuten, but some retailers might have shipping restrictions or other limitations.
Start Earning Cashback Today
Rakuten offers one of the easiest ways to earn cashback on purchases you're already making. With over 3,500 participating stores, a user-friendly platform, and generous cashback rates, it's a no-brainer for anyone who shops online.
Remember these key points:
- Sign up using our referral link to get the exclusive $30 bonus
- Install the browser extension to never miss a cashback opportunity
- Stack cashback with credit card rewards, store sales, and coupons
- Look for Double Cashback events for maximum earnings
- Refer friends and family to earn even more ($30 per referral)
Remember, Rakuten is completely free to use, and with the $30 sign-up bonus, you're essentially getting paid to try it out. So why wait? Start earning cashback on purchases you're already making today!