Is Rakuten legit and one of the best on-line buying device on the market? Is it a rip-off or a legit method to receives a commission to buy on-line? How does Rakuten work? Rakuten was known as Ebates till a current rebranding, however it’s nonetheless the identical cash-back web site that hundreds of individuals know and love.
Rakuten Overview: Is Rakuten Legit?
On this full Rakuten overview, I’ll go over what Rakuten is, the way it works, and my expertise with getting Rakuten money again for dwelling on-line buying, journey, and extra, full with walkthrough screenshots from my private account.
What Is Rakuten? How Does Rakuten Work?

Step one, after all, is explaining what this device truly is. Rakuten (previously Ebates) will not be an Web store or common coupon web site. As an alternative, it’s an internet buying portal (and it’s 100% free to make use of).
What’s an internet buying portal? Primarily, it’s a “gateway” by means of to different dwelling on-line buying web sites.
Similar to how in fiction or video video games, characters enter portals to be transported to a different place, you undergo Rakuten’s on-line buying portal to be transported to different Web outlets.
These websites pay Rakuten a share for the site visitors, and in flip, Rakuten pays you.
Tips on how to Get Rakuten Money Again
You will get your first $10 in money again simply by signing up for Rakuten and making one buy by means of the web buying portal, so that you’re already popping out forward. You don’t should put in bank card data or pay something to make use of it, ever, so there’s zero danger.
Then, you make more cash again by buying at hundreds of Rakuten accomplice shops. You’ll be able to both manually go to your Rakuten profile and click on their hyperlinks to the shops, or just use the simple browser button (extra on this under).
Every web site presents a special amount of money again. If I made a $100 buy on a web site providing 10% Rakuten money again, I’d get $10 free only for accessing the location by means of Rakuten.
After you make a purchase order, the Rakuten money again quantity will get calculated and robotically added to your account.
From there, you possibly can select to be paid on-line through PayPal, or obtain a paper verify. Rakuten distributes payouts 4 instances a 12 months.
That is my PayPal transaction historical past for the 4 quarterly funds in 2017. (In fact, it’s highest in February, after the vacations!) I don’t do a ton of dwelling on-line buying, besides, it actually provides up. Keep in mind, Rakuten was known as Ebates, in order that’s why it funds are coming from Ebates.com.
That’s an additional $100 I can put money into the inventory market so it could develop.

Rakuten Money Again Browser Button
By far the best approach to make use of Rakuten is with their handy browser button. It’s obtainable for 3 main internet browsers: Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. When you join Rakuten, it ought to provide the choice to put in it.
While you set up the Rakuten browser button, you’ll be alerted any time you’re on a web site providing money again. Then, you possibly can merely click on the button to be redirected again by means of the Rakuten buying portal, thus activating your money again eligibility.
As a check, I’ll go to The North Face web site to point out you the way the button works. I’m not clicking by means of any hyperlinks on this case–simply typing the location identify into my tackle bar. Instantly, you possibly can see the button pop up within the prime proper nook of the web page:

After I click on the button, I get redirected again to the identical North Face homepage by means of the Rakuten buying portal, and earn money again as soon as I make the acquisition:

Utilizing Rakuten this fashion principally requires zero further steps on my finish aside from clicking the button. I can do common internet purchasing for the issues I would like, and if further money again is on the market, it’s simply free cash for an internet buy I’d should make anyway.
Getting Rakuten Money Again With out the Browser Button
Even for those who don’t use one of many eligible browsers or don’t need the button, you possibly can nonetheless do your internet buying by means of Rakuten. Right here’s an instance of doing it the guide approach.
Let’s say I wish to purchase one thing on Footwear.com (which I simply did this spring, so I can suggest them too).
So, I’d go to Rakuten.com and check in. The Footwear provide is correct on the house web page, but when it wasn’t, I may discover it utilizing the search bar on the prime.

Clicking that homepage field brings me to the location’s particular person Rakuten web page. On the best, the web page additionally lists coupons or particular offers you should utilize for much more financial savings.

From right here, all I’ve to do is click on “Store Now” within the field on the left, and it opens up a brand new tab taking me to the Footwear web site by means of the web buying portal (similar to the button):

As soon as I’m on the location, I simply discover what I need, take a look at, and sit again to attend for the money!
What Shops Are on Rakuten?
So, the place to buy on-line in an effort to get these further rewards? Actually, nearly anyplace. Rakuten companions with hundreds of one of the best on-line buying retailers throughout a wide range of industries.
Right here’s only a tiny pattern of the largest names on the Rakuten on-line buying record proper now:
Electronics
- Finest Purchase

 
Clothes
- Macy’s

 
Journey
- Expedia

 
Residence/Backyard/Instruments
- Ace {Hardware}

 
Footwear
- ASICS

 
Outdoor
- L.L.Bean

 
Like I stated, that’s only a small fraction; they actually do cowl a lot of the greatest on-line buying choices. I’ve gotten Rakuten money again on all the things from backpacks to weekend getaway bookings to new tires for my automobile.
Generally I wouldn’t even have thought to verify if a retailer was on the Rakuten on-line buying record, which is why putting in the button is so wonderful–I might be looking shops and it’ll simply pop up within the nook to let me know if they’ve a money again deal.
Particular Rakuten Money Again Days

All year long, Rakuten presents particular money again days the place you possibly can earn much more than regular. This typically coincides with holidays.
For example, on the time of writing, they’re having a Double Money Again week for Father’s Day, so a variety of shops are providing between 8-12% further money again. On Black Friday week, I’ve seen percentages go as excessive as 20%.
You probably have an enormous buy in thoughts however don’t want the merchandise instantly, take into account ready for one in all lately, as a result of the financial savings might be actually important.
What if I Don’t Get My Rakuten Money Again?
I’ve had a number of instances the place I used to be optimistic that I’d gone by means of the Rakuten on-line buying portal, however my on-line buy didn’t register for some purpose, so I didn’t see the Rakuten money again added to my account.
Fortuitously, there’s a straightforward method to repair this. First, generally it simply takes time, so give it a couple of week. If the money again nonetheless hasn’t been added after that, take these steps:
- Log into Rakuten and click on Assist within the higher proper nook on the house web page.
 - Choose Monitor My Money Again.
 - It is going to ask for particulars of your buy–the shop, date of buy, order quantity, and subtotal. To get these, search your electronic mail for the order affirmation.
 - Click on the Discover My Money Again button to submit the request. Often, the funds can be added to your account instantly.
 
Rakuten has all the time resolved these points rapidly for me, which makes me like them much more as an organization. They’re user-friendly and don’t wish to put their customers by means of pointless trouble.
Rakuten Overview Conclusion: Finest On-line Procuring Software
Given how simple and efficient it’s, I can’t actually consider a purpose not to enroll in the Rakuten on-line buying portal. Once more, it’s actually free cash for stuff you’d be shopping for anyway. My Rakuten overview is unquestionably a optimistic one primarily based on my expertise, and I’ve loads of family and friends who adore it too.
Join Rakuten without spending a dime right here and get a $10 bonus after your first buy!
Utilizing Rakuten together with different methods, it can save you a variety of $$$ by being a savvy on-line shopper. Take a look at my full information for saving cash whereas buying on-line right here.
Additional studying: 72 Easy Methods to Save Cash

Kate is a author and editor who runs her content material and editorial companies remotely whereas globetrotting as a digital nomad. Up to now, her laptop computer has accompanied her to New Zealand, Asia, and across the U.S. (principally because of bank card factors). Years of analysis and ghostwriting on private finance led her to the FI group and co-founding DollarSanity. Along with touring and outside journey, Kate is obsessed with monetary literacy, compound curiosity, and pristine grammar.
