Rakuten for Beginners: How to Start Earning Cash Back (or Amex Points!)
If you’ve ever wondered how people earn cash back on everyday shopping — or how travel hackers turn simple purchases into Amex Membership Rewards points — Rakuten is one of the easiest ways to start.
It’s beginner‑friendly, totally free, and works at thousands of stores you already shop at. And if you’re brand new to points and miles, Rakuten is one of the simplest ways to dip your toes in without needing a credit card strategy yet.
This guide walks you through exactly how Rakuten works, how to set it up, and how to start earning cash back (or points!) today. It’s one of those rare tools that bridges everyday spending and travel hacking — no spreadsheets required.
This post contains affiliate links. If you click through a link and make a purchase, I get a small commission at no cost to you. (PS: I only recommend things I really use)
Screenshot from my personal Rakuten Account
Note from Julie: I’ve been using Rakuten — formerly known as Ebates — since 2003, and it’s legit. Over the years, I’ve earned more than 360,000 miles just by buying the things I was already buying. It’s why Rakuten is my favorite program to recommend — it truly helps you reach your travel goals. Not into travel? That’s still a lot of extra cash back in your pocket. 💸
👉Ready to start earning cash back? Sign up for Rakuten — my personal referral link gets you a bonus on your first purchase!
⭐ What Is Rakuten?
Rakuten is a cash‑back shopping portal. Think of it like a middleman between you and the store you’re already planning to shop at.
When you click through Rakuten first, the store pays Rakuten a commission — and Rakuten shares that commission with you as cash back or Amex Membership Rewards points (and now Bilt).
You don’t pay anything. You don’t change how you shop. You just earn money (or points) for doing what you were already going to do.
⭐ How Rakuten Works (Super Simple Version)
Go to Rakuten (website or app)
Search for the store you want to shop at
Click the “Shop Now” button
Rakuten tracks your purchase
You earn cash back or Amex points
Rakuten pays you every quarter
That’s it.
⭐ Why Beginners Love Rakuten
Rakuten is perfect for people who are just starting out because:
You don’t need a special credit card
You don’t need to understand points yet
You earn money on things you already buy
It works at thousands of stores
You can switch to Amex points later when you’re ready
It’s the easiest “first step” into the world of rewards.
⭐ Cash Back vs Amex Points: Which Should You Choose?
Rakuten gives you two earning options:
1. Cash Back
This is the default. Rakuten pays you real money every quarter.
Great for beginners who want something simple.
2. Amex Membership Rewards Points
This is the travel hacker option.
Instead of cash back, you earn Amex points — which can be worth far more when used for flights.
Example: If Rakuten is offering 10% cash back, you can choose instead to earn 10X Amex points.
That’s huge.
If you redeem Amex points at 1.5–2.0¢ value (very doable), that 10X becomes:
15%–20% return on your purchase
on things you were already buying
This is why travel hackers love Rakuten.
⭐ How to Set Up Rakuten (Step‑by‑Step)
1. Create a free account
Takes 30 seconds.
2. Install the browser extension
This is the magic. The extension pops up when a store offers cash back so you never miss an opportunity.
3. Choose your earning style
Cash back or Amex points.
4. Start shopping like normal
Rakuten will alert you when cash back is available.
⭐ Where Can You Use Rakuten?
Pretty much everywhere.
Popular stores include:
Sephora
Ulta
Walmart
Target
Best Buy
Macy’s
Nike
Expedia
Booking.com
Sam’s Club
Kohl’s
And thousands more.
Rakuten also runs Double Cash Back events where stores jump to 10%, 15%, even 20% back.
Don’t miss a bonus again — I track all my offers with TrackRak.
⭐ How Much Can You Earn?
It depends on:
the store
the category
seasonal promos
whether you choose cash back or Amex points
But here’s a real example:
If Sephora is offering 8% cash back, you can earn:
$8 back on a $100 purchase or
800 Amex points (worth ~$12–$16 in travel)
It adds up fast.
Want to automate your bonus tracking? Read my Lazy Girl’s Guide to TrackRak
⭐ Pro Tips for Beginners
1. Always activate the browser extension
It’s the easiest way to earn without thinking.
2. Check Rakuten before big purchases
Electronics, appliances, travel — these earn huge cash back.
3. Watch for Double Cash Back events
This is where the real magic happens.
4. Stack Rakuten with credit card offers
If your card has an Amex Offer or Chase Offer, you can double‑dip.
5. Switch to Amex points when you’re ready
Cash back is great, but Amex points unlock travel redemptions worth far more.
⭐ Is Rakuten Legit?
Yes — Rakuten is one of the largest cashback portals in the world. They’ve paid out over $2 billion to members.
You get paid every quarter via:
PayPal
Check
Amex points (if you choose that option)
Bilt rewards
Looking to earn even more miles? I also collect Rove Miles, which is my backup portal when Rakuten isn’t offering a strong rate. You can’t use both at the same time — you have to pick one per purchase — but checking both takes about five seconds and helps me squeeze out every possible mile. If you want to see exactly how I use it, here’s my Rove Miles guide.
⭐ Final Thoughts: Rakuten Is the Easiest Way to Start Earning Rewards
If you’re new to points and miles, Rakuten is the perfect first step. It’s simple, free, beginner‑friendly, and works at stores you already shop at.
And when you’re ready to level up, switching to Amex points turns everyday purchases into real travel rewards.
Rakuten is one of those rare tools that works for every level — from beginners to full‑blown travel hackers.
Heads up — around the holidays and big sale seasons, I notice way more missing cash back. Stores are slammed, tracking gets messy, and sometimes your rewards don’t show up automatically. Since I never want you to lose the points you earned, I wrote a simple guide that walks you through exactly how to request missing cash back from Rakuten. You can find it here: Rakuten Missing Cash Back Guide. It’s quick, easy, and helps make sure every mile (or dollar!) you earned actually hits your account.
My Stack & Save Hub shows you exactly how to combine portals, offers, and points for maximum return.
✍️ About the Author — Julie Davis
Julie Davis is the creator of No Point Left Behind, a travel‑hacking blog dedicated to helping everyday travelers earn more rewards with less overwhelm. She’s been using Rakuten — back when it was still Ebates — since 2003 and has earned over 360,000 miles just from shopping for things she was already buying.
Julie specializes in beginner‑friendly strategies that make earning points feel simple, fun, and totally doable — even for people who don’t want a complicated credit card setup. She’s also the creator of the Lazy Girl series, including guides for stacking rewards, tracking bonuses, and maximizing everyday purchases.
When she’s not teaching travelers how to earn smarter, Julie is cruising with her family, testing new loyalty programs, or building pastel‑editorial guides for her readers.
Explore more of Julie’s beginner resources:
