Rakuten is a website that offers cashback rewards to its users for shopping online. Our review covers the features of the Rakuten app, website, and browser extension.
In this Rakuten Review, we will be going into detail about what the app is while also providing both the pros and cons. Let’s dive deep together and see if this app is for you.
Going out shopping can, a lot of times, end up being a hassle. It seems that I’m not the only one who feels this way. According to a recent study, about 60% of millennials prefer online shopping because it allows them to avoid the hassle of going to a physical store and shopping at their convenience.
Furthermore, since most stores have a generous return policy, I can easily send back any items that don’t fit or look different. Additionally, online shopping provides numerous ways to save money, making it an even more attractive option. Therefore, staying home saves me both time and money, making it an actual win-win situation.
What is Rakuten?
Rakuten is an online and app-based service that allows people to earn cash back when they make a purchase using a Rakuten link. It was formerly known as Ebates and aims to help consumers save money on things they are already buying. Additionally, Rakuten provides a list of stores that offer special deals like free shipping, buy one get one free, or gifts with purchase.
As a new user of Rakuten, you can earn $10 just by signing up, and if you refer someone who signs up for and uses Rakuten, you can earn $25. The service has an A- rating with the Better Business Bureau and a 4 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot. According to user reports, Rakuten provides numerous options for receiving cash back, along with excellent customer service. Additionally, the app and extension are user-friendly. However, some people have reported that their accounts have not been credited with cash back and that Rakuten has blocked access to individual accounts.
How Does Rakuten Work?
Rakuten has gained immense popularity not just because of its fantastic deals but also because it’s user-friendly and accessible to almost anyone.
The best way to maximize your cashback earnings with Rakuten is by linking it to a credit card that offers cashback or rewards when you shop at your preferred stores. Cash back Rakuten is the biggest feature. For instance, if you own a credit card that rewards 1% cashback on all Amazon purchases, you can pair it with Rakuten to earn even more cashback.
However, if you don’t own a credit card, you can still earn cashback from Rakuten. You can even take advantage of Rakuten’s in-store offers. These offers can be found on the website or through the app under “In-Store Cashback.”
The Rakuten Button is a simple and valuable tool that you can use to avail yourself of cashback offers while shopping online. To use it, you need to install the Rakuten browser extension on Google Chrome. Once installed, the extension will notify you with a pop-up in the right-hand corner of your screen when you visit a store that has a cashback offer available. For instance, if you visit Kogan.com/au, the Rakuten browser extension will immediately pop up with a message that says, “Activate 5% Cash Back.” This feature makes it effortless for you to find stores that have cashback offers.
Moreover, if you visit a store that doesn’t have a cashback offer at the moment, Rakuten will try to redirect you to a similar store that does. For example, when you visit K-mart, and they have no offers, the extension will show you other stores that are similar to Coles.
Rakuten Mobile App
The Rakuten app is accessible on both iPhone and Android devices. If you frequently shop in physical stores, it is advisable to download the app to check for offers on the go. This is more convenient than using coupons since you always have your phone with you.
After downloading the app, you can view the available offers by clicking on a retailer. These offers may include cash-back deals, sales, and other discounts both online and in-store. You can either search for a specific store or view the best available offers currently on the app, just like on the website.
Is Rakuten safe?
Rakuten is a safe platform to use. However, it’s important to note that Rakuten uses cookies on your website to track your decisions and habits. These cookies are essential to earn cash-back rewards from Rakuten since the companies you shop at use them to track that you are using Rakuten.
Although Rakuten tracks your online shopping habits and may share them with partners, this is similar to grocery store rewards programs and apps that also track your spending habits.
When linking a credit card to Rakuten, your information is encrypted and secured.
Additional Ways to Earn with Rakuten
Rakuten is not only for online shoppers. If your mom prefers shopping at physical stores, she can still use Rakuten to save money.
How reliable is Rakuten? Rakuten provides the option to earn cashback when making purchases at in-store locations. To do this, download the Rakuten app on your iPhone or Android phone or log in to your Rakuten account on a browser. Click on the “In-Store Cash Back Offers” section, where you’ll find various offers available. Choose as many offers as you like, then link your credit card to the offer. This should be the credit card you use when shopping in-store.
For instance, Rakuten currently offers a 1% cashback when you shop at Macy’s. If you link this offer to your credit card and shop at Macy’s, you’ll earn 1% cashback on your purchases, except for any exceptions Rakuten may have. It may take a few hours or days to confirm the order, so don’t be surprised if your Rakuten cashback balance doesn’t change right away. You can easily earn cash with Rakuten.
Events and Double Cash Back
Double Cash Back is a promotion where the amount of cash back you can earn at stores is doubled. If you click on the designated tab, you’ll find a list of stores offering more than double their regular amount of cash back. This feature is helpful if you don’t have a specific store in mind and want to get the best deal possible.
Referrals
If you have friends who love shopping or saving money, you can refer them to Rakuten and earn $25 once they make their first purchase. Moreover, upon signing up, they will receive $10. You can share the referral link through email, social media, or any online platform. This is an effortless way to earn Rakuten rewards without having to go shopping.
Travelling
Rakuten not only offers cashback on essential purchases but also on travel-related purchases such as hotel reservations at Holiday Inn, IHG, and Choice Hotels. They also provide discounts on tourist attractions such as Busch Gardens and travel sites like Booking.com and Expedia. If you’re using a travel rewards credit card, pairing it with Rakuten can help maximize your potential cashback.
Pros of Rakuten
- Simple to use
Rakuten is incredibly user-friendly, with a seamless experience across the website, app, and browser extension. The browser extension is the most straightforward option as it eliminates the need for manual deal searching.
- Cashback for stuff you already purchase
One of the significant benefits of using Rakuten is that it enables you to save money at the stores you frequently visit. You don’t have to alter your shopping habits to take advantage of Rakuten’s cash-back offers. With a wide range of deals available at various stores, Rakuten makes it easier for users to find a deal without having to put in much effort.
- Wide range of stores to choose from
Rakuten offers cash-back deals at over 2,500 stores, including popular retailers like Target, Kohl’s, and Amazon. This means you are more likely to discover an offer at a store you already shop at. Additionally, they provide cash-back deals for both everyday shopping and luxury brands such as Rebecca Minkoff, Harvey Nichols, and Bumble and Bumble.
Cons of Rakuten
Although Rakuten is a helpful plugin, some users may be sceptical of its drawbacks.
- Checks are paid only quarterly
Rakuten rewards its users with cash-back rewards, but its payout system is different from that of credit cards. Instead of a monthly payout, Rakuten pays rewards on a quarterly basis. This means that if you purchase in January, you may have to wait for a few months before receiving a check in the mail or seeing the money appear in your PayPal account.
It’s important to note that Rakuten isn’t slow at processing rewards. Instead, the delay is caused by the companies that pay Rakuten an affiliate fee. These companies may take some time to send their payments to Rakuten because they need to verify the purchase and ensure that it was made legitimately. For instance, if you buy something from a store, that store may take up to two months to send the affiliate fee to Rakuten.
The current quarterly schedule is as follows:
- Jan 1- March 31: Payment sent May 15
- April 1 – June 30: Payment sent on August 15
- July 1 – September 30: Payment sent November 15
- October 1 – December 31: Payment February 15
It can be a source of frustration for customers who are accustomed to receiving rewards instantly.
- Have to spend money to earn rewards
Rakuten provides cashback rewards only when you make purchases. Unlike survey sites such as Swagbucks, you need to spend money to receive rewards from Rakuten. This may tempt people who tend to overspend to spend even more because they are earning rewards.
- May encourage impulse spending
Some studies suggest that credit card usage can lead to increased spending. However, some experts argue that rewards programs may incentivize people to spend more because they believe that they are getting a good deal. If you are struggling with credit card debt, overspending, or impulse buying, be mindful of whether the Rakuten browser extension is encouraging any of these behaviours. If you find that the extension is causing you to make impulsive purchases, consider turning it off.
Final Verdict of Rakuten Review 2024
Using Rakuten is a no-brainer, especially if you have the app or browser extension. Unless you disable the extension, there’s little chance you’ll forget to check if there’s a cash-back offer.
Rakuten connects with your PayPal account, so you don’t have to deposit a physical check. The only downside to Rakuten is that it can take months to get a check and be paid for shopping you’ve already forgotten about.
If you’re a frequent online shopper, using Rakuten is a seamless process. If you prefer to shop in person, you can activate Rakuten’s in-store offers before heading out, and you can even do this standing in line if you have the Rakuten app.
Be mindful of your shopping when you’re using Rakuten. Remember, just because you’re earning 5% cash back doesn’t mean you’re saving money if you weren’t going to buy that item in the first place.