You may immediately consider famous credit card rewards programs for getting cash back on your shopping sprees. However, shopping portals may be equally efficient in taking advantage of cashback offers for products you must buy.
Plus, with a shopping portal such as Rakuten, there are no fees or interest charges associated with receiving cashback and other benefits. Let’s discover more about Rakuten in today’s review.
What is Rakuten?
Rakuten is a company that specializes in online shopping and affiliate marketing. Members of Rakuten have access to a link that will take them directly to their online store or marketplace whenever they use the Rakuten website or mobile application.
As a result, the merchants pay Rakuten a commission for referring you, and Rakuten, in exchange, pays you a percentage of this commission. As a result, you get rewarded with cash back on every transaction.
When you buy via Rakuten’s cutting-edge affiliate marketing network and site, you may receive money back as a consumer on any purchases you make. When you become a member of Rakuten, you are eligible to get compensation for various purchases, ranging from everyday goods to seasonal presents.
How to start using Rakuten?
To start using it, you need to visit Rakuten’s website and look for the option labeled “Join Now” to begin the process of creating an account. It’s a breeze to get started.
You may log in using your already established email address and password. You may also join the service by logging in using your Google or Facebook profile. After that, all that remains is for you to accept their Terms of Service, and then you’ll officially be a team member.
The nicest part about signing up for a Rakuten account is that you’ll earn a $10 bonus.
To get a welcome bonus, you must make a $25 transaction within the first 90 days of signing up.
How does Rakuten work?
Rakuten is a fantastic shopping platform since it offers competitive prices and is very easy to navigate. You don’t need to do anything more than go to Rakuten.com and click on the link for the retailer you want to buy from. Rakuten cashback will not be awarded if you return to the shopping site straight after leaving Rakuten without clicking the link.
When you click on a shop link, a portion of your purchase price will be deducted from the reward you get. If you purchase anything from a certain retailer, the proportion of your Rakuten cashback will vary.
As an illustration, one retailer may provide customers with a 3% cash back on everyday purchases and a 20% cash back on household goods.
Variations in the store’s specials and offers might affect the cashback %. Occasionally, the business will even quadruple the amount of cash back you get! Choose the “Double Cashback Stores” option from the main navigation bar to take advantage of these incredible offers.
Finally, if you’re curious about how Rakuten gets compensated for providing you with cashback, go no further. When you purchase anything from one of their partners, they get a cut of the profit. The firm, the retailer, and you benefit from this approach. Several well-known brands find working with Rakuten to be a fantastic experience.
Some of their clients include airlines like Qatar Airways and Expedia; hotels like Marriott Resorts and Hotels and TripAdvisor Hotels; and online travel agencies like Air France and British Airways. When booking a trip via Rakuten, you must go to one of the travel websites and finalize your reservation there.
How much can you save using Rakuten?
When you are online shopping with Rakuten, everything narrows down to how much money you spend, where you browse, and what you buy. You may also utilize the program’s “refer a friend” option to increase your earnings.
Pros and Cons
Here are some Pros and Cons of Rakuten
Pros
- Using Rakuten, you may collect cashback on purchases you make from your chosen retailers.
- Using the Rakuten website is simple, allowing you to start buying more effectively and quickly as you earn money.
- For all of your purchasing requirements, Rakuten offers over 2,500 various quality retailer partners that give their members cash to acquire things. Instant payback is a huge selling point for most modern consumers nowadays.
- The Rakuten browser plugin is fantastic and very easy to use.
Cons
- Having so many options might be a little overwhelming when shopping for things.
- The Rakuten app has been criticized by some customers for allowing them to make purchase decisions too rapidly when they are shopping “on the move.”
- Cash Back from shop transactions is sent to Rakuten customers every three months through PayPal. It’s a common sentiment among some customers that this is too long of a delay to be compensated for their purchases.
- Coupon-only or discount-free store listings are a red flag for Rakuten customers who want to earn cash back on their purchases.
Final Review of Rakuten
Rakuten is a real opportunity to get cash back on purchases of the items you already buy regularly. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t doing a lot of retail buying; you could still save and make money.
A free account (with a welcome bonus!) makes it an excellent place to start. Several pros and downsides come with using Rakuten, as with any other platform. The greatest feature, in our opinion, is that it allows you to earn back money on the things you purchase daily. If you’re not a fan of buying online, you may also shop in-store.
Over 2,500 retailers and enterprises work with the corporation, which offers a wide variety of items in various forms and sizes. As a result, chances are good that you’ll come across the products you often purchase.
It is important to remember that Rakuten may send you alerts about special discounts even if you have not subscribed to receive them or turned them off.
FAQ
Is Rakuten Trustable?
Rakuten is, in fact, a legitimate business, as shown by its extensive history; it holds a B rating from the Better Business Bureau and a 4.3 out of 5 Trustpilot score.
Does Rakuten Only Work Online, Or Can It Also Be Used In Stores?
Depending on your preference, Rakuten may be used to purchase online or in-store items.
Is Rakuten free?
Rakuten does not charge any fees whatsoever. You will not be required to spend even a single penny to use it.