Rakuten Amex Points: How to Earn Membership Rewards on Every Purchase
Updated for 2026 — and yes, this is one of my favorite easy wins.
This post contains a mix of affiliate links and personal referral links. Affiliate links may earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. Personal referral links (like my Rakuten link) may earn me a bonus — usually points or store credit — if you choose to use them. I only recommend tools and programs I personally use and love.
💡 What Are Rakuten Amex Points?
Rakuten is a free shopping portal that partners with thousands of retailers — Target, Sephora, Walmart, Booking.com, Expedia, and more. When you start your shopping trip at Rakuten, you earn rewards just for clicking through before you buy.
Most people choose cash back, but travel hackers know the real magic happens when you link Rakuten to your American Express Membership Rewards account and earn points instead. If you’re brand new to points, start with my Beginner Points Guide.
Last quarter alone, I earned over 10,000 Membership Rewards points from Rakuten. If I had taken cash back, that would’ve been about $100. In travel hacking world, those same points can easily be worth $150–$300+ toward flights.
👉 If you’re not on Rakuten yet, here’s my personal referral link: Join Rakuten and start earning Membership Rewards You’ll get the same new‑member bonus I did, and I may earn a small reward too. I only recommend tools I personally use and love.
Looking for other easy points wins? Check out my guides for Rove Miles and Fetch Rewards — I have a whole system for earning points without opening new credit cards.
⭐ How to Set Up Rakuten for Amex Points
Create a Rakuten account
In your account settings, switch your payout method to Membership Rewards
Link your Amex account
Shop through Rakuten and earn Amex points instead of cash
If you’re wondering which Amex card I personally use, here’s my Amex Platinum review.
⭐ How Rakuten Works (Simple Example)
My May 2026 Rakuten Pay Out
Let’s say you’re booking a hotel through Expedia:
Start at Rakuten
Search for Expedia
Click through to activate the reward (e.g., 4% back or 4x points)
Pay with your Amex card
Earn Amex points from Rakuten and points from your card
Whether you’re booking a hotel for a national park trip or shopping for cruise outfits, Rakuten gives you extra points for things you’re already buying.
It’s one extra click that can add thousands of points to your stash over time.
⭐ Travel Hacker Tips (Beginner‑Friendly)
Use the Rakuten browser extension so you never miss rewards
Watch for bonus days — 10x, 15x, even 20x at major stores
Stack with Amex/Chase/Citi Offers for triple rewards
Track all your stacking inside my Stack & Save Hub
Here’s my full guide to Chase Offers
Refer friends — Rakuten often pays $30–$50 per referral
Use it for travel — hotels, rental cars, cruises, and activities
👉 If you want to support No Point Left Behind, here’s my referral link: Join Rakuten
🚀 Ready to level up your Rakuten game? My TrackRak review shows how I use it to catch the best cash‑back jumps, stack offers, and earn more points with zero effort.
💛 If you’ve ever wanted to earn points but felt overwhelmed… this is for you. My No New Cards Strategy Chat is the exact guide I share with friends whose spouse isn’t on board yet. It’s simple, non‑intimidating, and shows how to earn real points with Rakuten, Rove Miles, Fetch, Chime, and more — no new cards required.
⭐ Why Rakuten Is a Must for Travel Hackers
No credit card required to earn
Flexible rewards when linked to Amex
Works for everyday purchases
Perfect for beginners and families
Helps you earn Membership Rewards without premium cards
If you’re just getting started, here are my Best Beginner Credit Cards
⭐ Final Thoughts
Rakuten is one of the easiest ways to earn travel rewards passively. Whether you’re shopping for cruise outfits, booking hotels, or grabbing last‑minute travel gear, Rakuten helps you leave no point left behind.
It’s one of the tools that helped us book our Norway Fjords cruise flights and even our Yosemite trip.
Set it up once. Use it often. Watch your Membership Rewards pile up.
👉 Join Rakuten and start earning Amex points
About the Author
Julie Davis is the founder of No Point Left Behind, where she teaches families how to travel smarter using points, miles, and simple stacking strategies. She specializes in beginner‑friendly Membership Rewards strategies, Rakuten stacking, and real‑life examples that make travel hacking feel easy.
