Rakuten Review [2024] Is It Worth It, Is It Safe? Legit Reviews

So you’d love to get cash-back on your purchases, but you don’t want to abandon your favorite stores.

I get it. You’re a creature of habit, like most people.

A recent survey showed that only 37% of people branch out to shop with different stores. 

So how can you stick with your favorite retailers and still earn cashback?

One option is Rakuten, which sets you up with cash-back deals from over 3,500 retailers.

In this Rakuten review, I’ll explain how the platform works and help you decide if it’s worth your time. 

What is Rakuten?

Rakuten is a cash-back platform. This means that when you make purchases through the Rakuten website, browser extension, app, or with a linked card, they’ll send you back a percentage of what you spend.

It’s kind of like using a cash-back credit card, except there’s no annual fee, and you have to go through the Rakuten portal to get the deals.

But don’t worry. You won’t be limited to a few measly products. Just the opposite, actually. You can use Rakuten to access over 3,500 retailers, including big-name stores like Walmart and Target.

So you might not even have to change your shopping habits. Just make sure you go through Rakuten to reach your favorite brands and then shop away!

How Does Rakuten Work?

Rakuten’s basic premise is simple. You shop using their online portal, and they give you cash back.

But there’s a little more to it. This Rakuten review will break it down for you. 

Your first step is to sign up for the platform. According to Rakuten, it only takes 30 seconds, so there are no complicated forms involved!

Once you’re all set up, you can go through the Rakuten website, browser extension, or app to access online retailers. From there, just shop as you normally would, taking advantage of cash-back offers as you go.

There’s no single cash-back percentage with Rakuten. Different retailers – and even different products – all have their own rates. Some are just 1%, but you can also score big with offers of almost 20%. 

Pro tip: Check the Rakuten homepage often for “Hot Deals” to earn even more money back!

And while Rakuten is an obvious choice for online shopping, you can use it for in-store purchases, too. All you have to do is link a credit card to your account, then use that same card at a partner retailer.

You’ll also earn a $10 welcome bonus when you spend $25. And then there’s the referral bonus, which gives you money for recommending Rakuten to friends.

So there are lots of ways to earn money on Rakuten, but how will you actually receive it?

There are two methods for collecting your Rakuten earnings:

• Method #1: A check is sent to your mailing address. 
• Method #2: Money delivered via PayPal. 

One downside to Rakuten is that you can’t request payouts whenever you want. 

Instead, Rakuten has a set payment schedule:

Dates you made purchase(s):	Date cashback will be sent:
Jan 1 – Mar 31	May 15
Apr 1 – June 30	Aug 15
July 1 – Sept 30	Nov 15
Oct 1 – Dec 31	Feb 15

And to receive your payment, you’ll need a minimum balance of $5. Otherwise, the balance will carry over into the next payment period.

Is Rakuten Legit? 

Rakuten is a legitimate company with a strong reputation around the world. 

Based in Tokyo, Rakuten is a truly global enterprise with about 1.7 billion members worldwide. 

Let that sink in. 

Around 1.7 billion people use this service! That’s more than the (current) entire population of China. 

Rakuten also has a major presence in the world of sports. The company currently sponsors the Golden State Warriors in the NBA, and soccer fans might recognize the brand name from the front of FC Barcelona’s former jerseys.

So yeah. This isn’t some sketchy online business. It’s a massive company with serious credibility.

Is Rakuten Safe?

Rakuten is completely safe. It’s a legitimate platform, and users receive their cash back as promised.

Still, here are a few things you should know about how Rakuten operates:

• Rakuten uses cookies to track your online activity – that’s how they know if you’ve made eligible purchases.

• To use Rakuten effectively, you might have to disable ad blockers or content blockers.

• Rakuten collects personal information, including personal characteristics and your shopping behavior, and it shares that information with the retailers on the platform. 

It’s always weird to know your data is being collected. But let’s be real. Plenty of digital services do it nowadays. At least Rakuten is upfront about it. 

Pros and Cons of Rakuten

So Rakuten has a lot to offer. But it can’t all be positive, right? 

Of course not. Fortunately, this Rakuten review gives it to you straight.

Here are the Rakuten pros and cons to consider.

Pros

• Receive earnings via check or Paypal. Having that flexibility can be nice. 

• Over 3,500 retailers to choose from. This means many of your favorite retailers are most likely on the list.

• Super easy to use. You can access deals through the Rakuten website, app, or browser extension, and it’s simple no matter which method you choose.

• Totally free. Lots of cash-back credit cards have an annual fee, but Rakuten costs consumers nothing.

Cons 

• Only four cashouts per year with a preset schedule. That means you can’t request the money in your balance any time you’d like. 

• You might have to disable ad blockers or content blockers. This is sometimes necessary for Rakuten’s cookies to track your spending and verify purchases.

• Cashback isn’t available on every product, even from partnering retailers. Take Walmart, for example. Some product categories offer 1% cash back, but others offer nothing at all.

Rakuten Reviews

With about 1.7 billion users, it’s no wonder Rakuten gets lots of attention from online reviewers. 

A quick survey of those reviews is enough to learn that people generally like the platform. That’s why Rakuten has an excellent 4.5-star rating on Trustpilot. 

But what are individual users saying? 

Take a look at this Rakuten review, where someone says Rakuten is “top-notch” and “true to their word.”

Another user says they love the Rakuten site but sometimes encounter “navigation problems.” Still, they left a 4-star Rakuten review, so I guess they like the platform overall!

Of course, not everyone comes away from the platform with a positive experience. Here’s a negative Rakuten review that calls the referral bonus “a joke.” 

Apparently, the bonus never showed up. This may be because Rakuten’s system doubted the legitimacy of the “new user.”

And I also found a 1-star Rakuten review that focuses on “terrible customer service.” This actually isn’t a very common complaint with Rakuten, but it goes to show that a negative experience is always possible – even with the very best platforms. 

Rakuten Reviews Reddit

Reddit is always a great place to find inside knowledge on platforms like Rakuten. 

I found one thread where someone asked the most important question of all: “Is Rakuten legit?”

The answer was practically unanimous. Yes, Rakuten is legit. 

A few users also slipped in some warnings and insider tips.

For example, one person shared their theory that prices can be higher when you go through Rakuten.

And another user reminded everyone to turn off their ad blockers so Rakuten can work properly. 

They also pointed out that Rakuten used to go by another name: Ebates. 

The good people of Reddit to the rescue, again!

Is It Worth It to Use Rakuten?

Rakuten allows you to earn cash back while shopping with a wide variety of retailers, so I’d say it’s definitely worth it. 

In fact, The Money Manual’s founder, Todd, and his wife love using Rakuten to shop online!

I’ve read about people receiving thousands of dollars from the platform. That’s pretty awesome, especially if you only use it to buy things you were planning on buying anyway!

Of course, there is a version of the Rakuten story that’s a bit of a nightmare. You know, the one where you spend yourself into debt while telling yourself it’s “financially responsible” because you’re chasing cash-back deals.

Yeah. I don’t recommend doing that.

But as long as you’re using Rakuten to make responsible purchases, it’s 100% worth the effort of signing up.

I mean, why not? It’s completely free!

Commonly Asked Questions About Rakuten

What are Alternatives to Rakuten?

Rakuten is definitely one of the most popular cash-back platforms, but there are other options available. I’d recommend:

• Fetch
• Upside
• Swagbucks
• InboxDollars

And if you’d like to boost your bank balance fast, check out these banks with immediate sign-up bonus.

Is Rakuten a Scam?

Rakuten truly is not a scam. It’s a legit cash-back platform where you can shop with lots of retailers, then get a percentage of what you spent returned to you. Want proof that Rakuten is legit? It has a 4.5-star rating on Trustpilot, a popular user review site.

What is the Catch With Rakuten?

There is no “catch” with Rakuten. It’s completely free, and it pays out as promised. I guess one downside is that Rakuten collects and shares your data, but that’s almost inevitable when you use the internet these days.

Can You Really Make Money With Rakuten? 

You can absolutely get money from Rakuten. Basically, all you have to do is go through the Rakuten platform when you shop at certain retailers, then receive cash back via check or Paypal. 

If you’d like to learn which budgeting app could best help you manage your finances and boost your savings, check out these comparisons:

• Rocket Money vs YNAB
• Rocket Money vs Simplifi
• Rocket Money vs Copilot

Then use a net worth tracker to see how your new financial strategies are paying off. 

What is The Downside of Rakuten?

One downside of Rakuten is that it uses cookies to track your online shopping behavior, and it shares the information it collects with its partnering businesses. 

How Does Rakuten Make Money? 

Rakuten makes money through “affiliate marketing.” So when someone clicks through Rakuten to buy a product from another company, that company gives Rakuten a portion of the earnings. 

Is Rakuten Cash Back Legit?

Rakuten cashback is a totally legitimate platform. It has around 1.7  billion members, and most of them seem to be happy with the site. That’s why Rakuten has a 4.5-star rating on Trustpilot and thousands of positive reviews online.