Rakuten cash back review

I’ve Been Getting Cash Back on Everything I Buy — Here’s the App I Use

Did you know you can get paid to shop at stores you’re already shopping at? Not points. Not “rewards dollars.” Actual cash, deposited into your PayPal or mailed to you as a check.

I’ve been doing this since 2009, and I’ve earned over $900 in cash back through a free app called Rakuten. That’s not a typo. Nine hundred dollars. For shopping the way I already shop.

🛍️ So What Is Rakuten?

Rakuten (formerly Ebates) is a cash-back shopping platform that partners with thousands of retailers — we’re talking Target, Walmart, Macy’s, Sephora, Nike, Gap, Ulta, and hundreds more. When you shop through Rakuten instead of going directly to the store’s website, Rakuten gets a referral fee from the retailer and splits it with you as cash back.

You’re not paying more. The retailer pays Rakuten. Rakuten pays you. It costs you nothing.

💸 How Much Can You Actually Earn?

Here’s my real-life data after 16 years as a member:

Total earned: $900+ Average quarterly payment: $30–$40 Best months: Around the holidays, I’ve gotten checks over $150

Is it going to replace your income? No. But $30–$150 showing up in your mailbox every few months for doing nothing extra? That’s a free dinner out. A tank of gas. A Target run you don’t have to feel guilty about.

The more you shop — and the more strategically you shop — the more you earn. During big shopping events like Black Friday, Double Cash Back days, and holiday sales, the percentages go way up.

🖥️ How It Works (It’s Really Simple)

Step 1: Sign up for free Use my link and you’ll get a $50 Welcome Bonus after your first qualifying purchase of $50 or more. Join Rakuten here →

Step 2: Install the browser extension This is the move that changed everything for me. The Rakuten browser extension sits quietly in your browser and automatically pops up whenever you’re on a site that offers cash back. You don’t have to remember to go through Rakuten — it reminds you.

Step 3: Shop like normal Click “Activate Cash Back” when the extension pops up, then shop and check out exactly as you normally would.

Step 4: Get paid Rakuten pays out quarterly — in February, May, August, and November — via PayPal or check. The money just shows up.

🏪 Stores I Use It For Most

These are the ones where I consistently stack up cash back:

  • Sephora — cash back on top of Beauty Insider points? Yes please.
  • Walmart — for household staples and online grocery orders.
  • Macy’s — especially during sale events when the cash back percentage goes up.
  • Gap / Old Navy / Banana Republic — solid cash back rates and they go on sale constantly.
  • Ulta — stack with your Ulta points for maximum value.
  • Carter’s — because these kids don’t stop growing… they need new clothes!

💡 Tips I’ve Learned After 16 Years

Stack it with store sales. Cash back on a sale item is better than cash back on a full-price item. Wait for the sale, then activate Rakuten.

Watch for Double Cash Back events. Rakuten runs these regularly — sometimes announced via email, sometimes through the app. When a store’s cash back rate doubles, it’s worth timing a bigger purchase. And sometimes “Double” is more like “Quadruple!” I’ve caught Carters, Under Armour, and other stores offering 8-10% cash back instead of the usual 2%.

Use it for things you forget about. Hotel bookings, flowers, gifts — Rakuten has travel and gifting partners too. I’ve gotten cash back on hotel stays I was booking anyway.

Don’t skip the extension. Seriously, install it. The number of times it’s popped up on a site I didn’t realize was a partner is wild.

🙋‍♀️ Is It Legit?

Yes. I’ve been a member since 2009. I’ve received every payment. It’s owned by Rakuten, a major Japanese e-commerce company, and it’s been around since 1999 (originally as Ebates). Over $4 billion in cash back has been paid out to members.

The catch, if there is one: you have to remember to activate it, returns can reverse your cash back, and some exclusions apply (like gift cards or certain sale items). The browser extension handles the “remembering” part for you.

🎉 Ready to Start Earning?

If you’re not on Rakuten yet, there’s genuinely no reason not to sign up. It’s free, it takes five minutes, and you get a $50 Welcome Bonus after your first qualifying purchase of $50 or more — just for joining through my link.

👉 Join Rakuten and Get Your $50 Bonus →

I wish I’d found this sooner than I did — but hey, $900 later, I’m not complaining.

Disclosure: This post contains a Rakuten referral link. If you sign up through my link, you’ll receive a $50 Welcome Bonus (on a qualifying purchase of $50+) and I may receive a referral bonus. All opinions are my own — I’ve been a Rakuten member since 2009 and everything in this post reflects my real experience.

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