How would you feel if I told you that you could getting up to 20% cash back on things you’re going to be buying anyway? And yes, that includes equipment upgrades for you blog and Instagram props!
And what if it was easy? Like, your cash back is just an extra click away easy?
Welcome to the wonderful world of Rakuten!
Continue reading to see my honest review of Rakuten and learn why I’ve been using both Rakuten Canada and USA for over four years.
How to Use Rakuten: Cash Back Rewards in App & In Store
Learn how to get cash back on all of your online purchases and explore a list of stores you could be earning cash back at – I’ve even broken it down into Rakuten Canada and USA for my friends on both sides of the border 🙂
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and should you choose to make a purchase using one of them, I could earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
What is Rakuten?
Rakuten is a cash back rewards company that offers customers cash back for shopping through their affiliated stores.
As in affiliate marketing, when you make a purchase through an Rakuten link, they make a percentage off of that sale. However, a part of those earnings is also shared with you, the consumer!
Is Rakuten the same as Ebates?
Yes, it is!
The name changed from Ebates to Rakuten officially took place in the US in 2018 and followed in Canada in 2019.
Ebates was acquired by Japanese e-commerce company Rakuten in 2014 and began rebranding the cashback rewards program’s site and app shortly after.
All perks of the program remain the same but the website’s appearance, name, and logo have changed.
For more details, see Rakuten’s official announcement.
Is Rakuten Legit?
You might be wondering is Rakuten safe? Or is Rakuten real?
As a member of both the Canadian and US versions since 2015, I can assure you that no Rakuten scam exists.
I’m always shocked when I learn that more people aren’t taking advantage of this money-saving opportunity – and learning how to use Ebates is so easy!
I literally don’t make a purchase online unless I check to see if they’re an Ebates partner! And, if there’s an alternate store that offers the same price and shipping cost on a product I’m buying, I’ll buy through the one that offers Ebates cash back instead.
I remember my grandma once saying, “when you spend that dollar, you’ll never see it again”. Quite a powerful idea when you really think about it, right?
At the time of writing this post, I’ve earned $240.89 in cash back and have a cheque for $23.53 being mailed to my house in May for my most recent purchases.
Combined with mobile banking, it’s also super convenient – just take a picture of that cheque and, boom! Your cash back is officially in your account.
One need not look far for outstanding Ebates reviews! This app is one of the easiest ways to save extra pennies every single day!
How Does Rakuten Work
So, imagine this.
You’re doing your regular day to day shopping and then, before checking out, you realize, oh hey! I could getting cash back on this.
That’s exactly how to use Rakuten! Easy peasy!
Open a new tab, type in Rakuten.com or Rakuten.ca (depending on whether you’re in the United States or Canada) and hit enter.
Run a quick search for the store you’re purchasing goods from and simply hit Shop Now to continue where you left off! You’ll wind up on the store’s homepage and can just click on your cart to finish your transaction.
Keep in mind, purchases must be made using the newly opened window in order to receive cash back on that purchase – alternatively, you can use Ebates mobile to make your purchases in app.
Even easier, there’s also an app for your mobile devices and a browser extension that you can download after signing up!
When you install the browser extension, you’ll simply see a little box with a red x in it that indicates you need to click it in order to receive cash back on your purchase.
What Stores are on Rakuten?
I personally shop online for all kinds of things including:
- Groceries
- Cosmetics
- Clothing
- Special Occassion Decor
- Home Improvement
- Tools
- Books
- Electronics
- Travel
- Accommodations
As far as actual stores, I’m going to split this part into two different sections – US and Canadian – as I actively make purchases on both.
Rakuten – List of Stores
US shoppers can earn cash back at over 2,500 stores when they shop. Some of the most popular are:
Amazon
eBay
Macy’s
Walmart
Groupon
Kohl’s
Target
Expedia
Old Navy
Sephora
JCPenney
Lyft
QVC
Ulta Beauty
AliExpress
Bed Bath and Beyond
Neiman Marcus
Best Buy
Zulily
Carter’s
Overstock.com
Dick’s Sporting Goods
hotels.com
Priceline
Gap
Sam’s Club
Walgreens
Finish Line
HSN
Nordstrom Rack
Lowe’s
Saks Fifth Avenue
American Eagle Outfitters
Forever 21
Nike
Bloomingdale’s
Bath and Body Works
Staples
Marriot.com
Shoes.com
Hilton
The Children’s Place
H&R Block Tax Prep
New Your & Company
LOFT
H&M
Neiman Marcus Last Call
Office Depot and OfficeMax
ASO
EXPRESS
Petco
belk.com
Pier 1 Imports
Ralph Lauren
Banana Republic
Michael Kors
Rakuten.com
J.Crew
CVS
UGG
Canadian shoppers can choose from 750 different online retailers including these popular choices:
Amazon.ca
Sephora
Hudson’s Bay
ebay
TSC
Dell
Expedia.ca
Old Navy
Staples
The Home Depot
Gap
Lowe’s
Best Buy
Indigo
Newegg
Well.ca
Lululemon
Etsy
Groupon
Banana Republic
SportChek
Ticketmaster
Microsoft
Dyson
Lenovo
AliExpress
Flighthub
Carter’s OshKosh B’gosh
For a full list of shops, visit the US version or Canadian version to see how many more of your favourite online retailers are already ready to give you cash back on your purchases.
What’s The Catch?
It sounds too good to be true, right?
Well, as crazy as this may sound, it’s not!
Rakuten makes a commission when users purchase items at a retailer using one of their links.
And since they make a commission, they share the love with the consumer!
How Can I Get Paid?
There are three different ways you can get paid by Rakuten:
- A Mailed Cheque
- PayPal
- Donate Your Payment to a Charity, Organization, or Family Member
Is Rakuten Free?
Heck, yes!
You don’t pay a cent.
Just sign up for Rakuten.com or Rakuten.ca with your email address, choose a password, and start exploring the endless opportunities for cash back on all of your purchases.
When you signup for the US version using this link, you’ll get a $10 Ebates Welcome bonus on your first purchase of $25 or more!
And if you signup with the Canadian version using the link here, you’ll get a $5 Canadian Ebates signup bonus on your first purchase of $25 or more.
To save even more, be sure to check out deals and promo codes to explore coupons and more!
I hope you enjoyed this mini lesson on how to use Rakuten!
What will your first adventure in cash back look like? Which stores are you most excited to start shopping at? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
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