Rakuten is one of the absolute best shopping portals out there – an easy way to earn extra cash back (or valuable Amex Membership Rewards points!) on your online shopping. And that includes some record-setting bonuses this week.

Some Rakuten users are seeing 20% cashback rates (or a whopping 20x Amex points) at hundreds of stores for the company's annual “Big Give” promotion. But this seem to be a targeted special: Other users may see a maximum of 15% cash back via Rakuten today. 

A few retailers we're seeing that stand out include: 

  • 20% back at 1-800-FLOWERS, FTD Flowers, and other online flower delivery services – perfect for a last-minute gift for mom ahead of Mother's Day next Sunday.
  • Saks Fifth Avenue at 15%, which makes now the perfect time for travelers with *amex platinum* to use up one of those two annual $50 credits for Saks purchases
  • Dell at 15%, so same goes for anyone with the *biz platinum* – get 15% back (or 15x Amex points) by using up your final $200 credit for Dell purchases before that credit changes come July 1
  • 20% back at both Viator and Sixt, so now's a good time to book a tour or rental car for your next trip

 

list of rakuten retailers giving 20% back

 

Again, not everyone may see these elevated bonuses of 20% or more – check the full list of retailers and see what you can get back by clicking through Rakuten before any online shopping. 

But first-time users can get an even bigger bonus, making it a no-brainer to shop through Rakuten this week.

Rakuten is also currently offering a $40 referral bonus to new members who sign up and make their first purchase of $40 or more. That's right: Sign up, spend $40, and get at least $40 straight back. That's the biggest Rakuten bonus we've ever seen, and reason enough to start doing some online shopping through Rakuten.

 

rakuten banner get your $40 bonus today

 

Want points to fund your future travels instead? Rakuten also now allows you to convert your cash back to American Express Membership Rewards points. You get 1 point for every cent of cash back you earn, so a $40 cash back bonus could be 4,000 Amex points instead.

No matter which route you go, it's worth checking Rakuten before making any online purchase. Rakuten is perhaps the easiest online shopping portal out there. And this Rakuten bonus for signing up and making your first purchase combined with standard cash back bonuses can add up quickly.

Thrifty Tip: Add the Rakuten browser plugin to Google Chrome and Rakuten will alert you when you can earn cash back on your purchase through that retailer!

 

How Rakuten Works

Taking advantage of these huge bonuses is as simple as navigating to Rakuten.com, clicking through to the retailer, and making your purchase.

First things first, sign up for Rakuten if you haven’t already. First-time users will earn an additional $40 bonus after completing your first purchase of at least $40 in the first 90 days. Full disclosure: We also get a bonus, so we appreciate it if you use our link!

Whether you’re shopping at Walgreens and Chewy or buying a Blue Apron subscription, you’ll get a percentage of your purchase price back from hundreds of stores. You’ll get paid every three months, through either a paper check or a PayPal transfer (or a deposit of points in your Amex account).

Here's an example of just how powerful stacking these bonuses can be. Let's say you're planning a trip to Europe and want to book a $200 food tour for two in Amsterdam. Book through Viator, and you'll get 20% back via Rakuten.

  1. First things first, sign up for Rakuten
  2. Click through from Rakuten over to Viator, then make your purchase as normal
  3. You'll earn up to 20% cash back on that $2000 purchase: $40 – or 4,000 Amex Membership Rewards points
  4. You'll also earn $40 cash back (or 4,000 Amex points) for your first purchase of $40 or more

Add it up and that's $80 back in your pocket, reducing your net cost to roughly $120 – nearly cutting it in half! Or, you're earning 8,000 valuable Amex points on a purchase you were going to make anyhow.

Read more: No Bonus, No Problem: How to Keep Earning Points Without a Welcome Offer

 

Bottom Line

Rakuten is one of the best online shopping portals out there – and the easiest to use, too. With these massive cash back rates and a $40 Rakuten bonus after making your first purchase, it's a no-brainer way to do your online shopping. No shopping portal is easier to use, and these big bonuses are among the best we've ever seen.

Sign up for Rakuten today to to start earning rewards on your online shopping. And be sure to take advantage of the $40 referral bonus for new members.