Rakuten (formerly known as Ebates) is one of the first cashback services, founded back in 1999, and today its services are used by more than 20 million users. To understand the scale of Rakuten, since 1999 they have paid out more than $3.6 billion in cashback to users — a huge amount. The main advantage of Rakuten is its large list of partners where you can earn cashback.
Is it Free?
Yes, it's completely free. Registration and use of Rakuten are free, and the cashback you receive comes from the store's affiliate payments, which are allocated for marketing promotion.
In this case, everyone wins: the store earns money from your purchase, you receive cashback from your purchase, and Rakuten keeps a portion of the commission that the store pays for your purchase.
Is Cashback Real Money?
Yes, cashback is real money, as you can withdraw it to PayPal or Bank Transfer. It's not some kind of points or discounts on future purchases at the store, but real money that you can receive.
How Rakuten Works
The process is simple:
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Register an account: Sign up on the Rakuten website — it's free.
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Browse stores: You can use the search function or browse categories to find the store you want. Please note that different stores offer different cashback rates, and there may be additional conditions for receiving cashback, so be sure to read them carefully.
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Activate cashback and make a purchase: Once you have decided on a store, activate the cashback and make your purchase as usual.
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Receive cashback: Rakuten sends monthly payments via PayPal as soon as the user's cashback balance reaches the minimum threshold.
Key Features of Rakuten
A Large List of Partners
Rakuten partners with a vast number of stores, and many of these partnerships are exclusive — meaning you won’t find them on other cashback services. The more partners there are, the more opportunities you have to earn cashback.
Browser Extension and Mobile App
To help you remember cashback, Rakuten has created browser extensions that will remind you about it when you visit a store where cashback is available. There is also a mobile app from Rakuten so you can earn cashback when shopping via your smartphone.
Special Deals and Double Cashback Offers
Rakuten frequently offers special promotions, such as “double cashback” days, where users can earn twice the usual cashback rate at certain stores. It also runs seasonal events and bonus offers, providing additional ways for users to increase their earnings.
