Rakuten (previously known as Ebates) is one of the absolute best shopping portals out there – an easy way to earn extra cashback (or valuable Amex Membership Rewards points!) on your online shopping. And now it's better than ever.
Rakuten is currently offering cashback rates of up to 15% at hundreds of stores like Aveda, Dell, and countless more. Even some travel companies like VRBO and Expedia will get you 15% back. See the full list – almost every retailer you can think of will get you at least 15% cashback. But first-time users can get an even bigger Rakuten bonus.
Rakuten is 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.
It's all part of Rakuten's weeklong “Big Give Week” of bonuses – but it's ending Monday, May 17.
Want points to fund your future travels instead? Rakuten also now allows you to convert your cashback to American Express Membership Rewards points. That means a $40 cashback 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 cashback bonuses can add up quick.
Let's say you're planning to order $150 worth of contacts through Contacts Direct, where Rakuten is offering up to a 15% cashback bonus online. First, sign up for Rakuten to make sure you're eligible for that $40 signup bonus. Then just click through Rakuten to Contacts Direct and make your purchase as normal. You'll earn another $22.50 back on the purchase itself, adding up to $62.50 total – or 6,250 Amex points.
If you haven't already, sign up for Rakuten to be eligible for this sign-up bonus and start shopping. There's no need to rush to make your first purchase: You've got 90 days from the date you sign up to make a purchase and still earn the bonus. But with these huge bonuses available, it may be worth pulling the trigger on your first purchase today.
From there, you may be able to refer friends and earn another $40 bonus for each referral that spends $40, too! Not every account will be eligible to refer friends and family for a bonus, but many will.
How Rakuten Works
Getting in on these cashback bonuses is simple. First, sign up for Rakuten if you haven’t already. As a bonus, you’ll receive an extra $40 reward after your first purchase of $40 or more through Rakuten by signing up through our link.
Just be sure to make your first purchase of $30 through Rakuten within 90 days of signing up. That's the key for getting that $40 bonus. Full disclosure: We also get a bonus, so we appreciate it if you use our link!
Whether you’re shopping at Amazon and Target 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 you can even set up your account to earn American Express points rather than cashback.
Bottom Line
Rakuten is one of the best online shopping portals out there – and the easiest to use, too. With these massive cashback 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 this initial bonus is one of the best we've ever seen.
Sign up for Rakuten today and start earning something back on your online shopping before this bonus ends!