{"id":2455,"date":"2018-08-13T09:17:56","date_gmt":"2018-08-13T14:17:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/?p=2455"},"modified":"2025-12-07T23:00:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T05:00:55","slug":"make-money-online-free-shopping-at-your-favorite-stores-using-ebates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/es\/make-money-online-free-shopping-at-your-favorite-stores-using-ebates\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Earn Cash Back With Rakuten: The Easiest Way to Save Money When You Shop"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><figure><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"1102\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2476\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/pictures\/Make-Money-Online-Free-Shopping-At-Your-Favorite-Stores-Using-Ebates.png\" alt=\"How to earn cash back with Rakuten when you shop online or in-store\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/pictures\/Make-Money-Online-Free-Shopping-At-Your-Favorite-Stores-Using-Ebates.png 735w, https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/pictures\/Make-Money-Online-Free-Shopping-At-Your-Favorite-Stores-Using-Ebates-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/pictures\/Make-Money-Online-Free-Shopping-At-Your-Favorite-Stores-Using-Ebates-683x1024.png 683w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\"><\/figure><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re trying to stretch your money a little further, <strong>Rakuten<\/strong> (formerly Ebates) is honestly one of the easiest tools you can use. I\u2019ve been using this cash back program for years, and I still tell people all the time that it\u2019s a legit way to earn real money back on things you were already planning to buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t have to clip a ton of coupons or chase every sale. You simply activate cash back, check out like normal, and Rakuten sends you money back on qualifying purchases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because this post was originally written back in the Ebates days, I\u2019m giving it a fresh update with how <strong>Rakuten works now<\/strong>, what\u2019s changed, and the easiest ways to use it to put more money back into your wallet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is Rakuten (Formerly Ebates)?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Rakuten is a free cash back program that partners with thousands of popular stores. When you click through Rakuten (or use their browser extension or app) before you shop, the store pays Rakuten a commission. Rakuten then shares part of that commission with you as <strong>cash back<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s the same company that used to be called Ebates they rebranded to Rakuten several years ago, but the idea is still the same:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Shop at stores you already love<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Activate cash back before you buy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Get money back four times a year<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re already shopping online (or even in-store), it\u2019s basically free money for taking one extra step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Get Started With Rakuten (Step by Step)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Getting started is very simple, and you can set everything up in a few minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Sign up for a free Rakuten account.<\/strong><br>Use my referral link here to create your account:<br><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rakuten.com\/r\/HARDYR40?eeid=28187\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"3513\">\ud83d\udc49 Click here to sign up for Rakuten<\/a><br>Rakuten often offers a welcome bonus (for example, $10\u2013$30) after you make your first qualifying purchase within a certain time period. The exact offer can change, so check the current bonus details on the signup page.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Install the Rakuten browser extension.<\/strong><br>If you shop on a laptop or desktop, the browser extension is your best friend. Once it\u2019s installed, it will pop up when you\u2019re on a site that offers cash back and remind you to activate it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Download the Rakuten mobile app (optional but helpful).<\/strong><br>If you do a lot of shopping on your phone, grab the app from your app store so you can activate cash back quickly on mobile too.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Once your account is set up, you\u2019re ready to start earning money back on everyday purchases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Does Rakuten Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Rakuten partners with thousands of stores across all kinds of categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Clothing &amp; shoes (for you and the kids)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Beauty &amp; skincare<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Home decor and furniture<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Toys, books, and baby items<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Electronics &amp; gadgets<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Travel, hotels, and car rentals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And a whole lot more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Each store has its own cash back percentage. Sometimes it\u2019s small, like 1\u20132%, and other times (especially during holidays and big sales), you\u2019ll see <strong>double cash back<\/strong> or higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your only job is to make sure cash back is activated before you complete your purchase. Rakuten tracks the order and adds the reward amount to your Rakuten account. You don\u2019t have to upload receipts or scan barcodes it\u2019s all done automatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Five Ways to Earn Cash Back With Rakuten<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are several different ways to use Rakuten. You can use whichever fits your shopping style best (or mix and match).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Shopping Through Rakuten.com<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The first way is to go straight to <strong>Rakuten.com<\/strong> whenever you plan to shop online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Log into your Rakuten account.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Search for the store you want to shop at (Target, Walmart, Sephora, etc.).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click the store name to see current cash back offers and promotions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click <strong>\u201cShop Now\u201d<\/strong> and complete your purchase on the store\u2019s website like normal.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>After your order is processed, you\u2019ll see the shopping trip show up in your Rakuten account and the estimated cash back earnings added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Rakuten Cash Back Button (Browser Extension)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This used to be called the \u201cEbates Cash Back Button,\u201d but now it\u2019s branded as Rakuten. It\u2019s still my favorite way to earn because it does the remembering for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you install the extension:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It will show a small <a href=\"http:\/\/www.rakuten.com\/r\/HARDYR40?eeid=28187\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"3514\">Rakuten popup<\/a> whenever you\u2019re on a site that offers cash back.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You\u2019ll see the current cash back percentage right on the screen.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can activate cash back with just one click before you check out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if you Google \u201ctoddler boy sandals\u201d and click a store like Stride Rite, the Rakuten button will slide down and ask if you want to activate cash back. All you have to do is click it and continue shopping. No extra logins or complicated steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. In-Store Cash Back<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Rakuten doesn\u2019t just work online. You can also earn cash back when you shop <strong>in person<\/strong> at select stores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how in-store cash back works:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open the Rakuten app and look for the \u201cIn-Store Cash Back\u201d section.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Browse the store list and find an offer you want to use.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Link your debit or credit card to that offer inside the app.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shop in-store and pay with the same linked card.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Once your purchase goes through, Rakuten tracks the transaction and adds the cash back to your account. Just double-check the offer details, because some stores have exclusions or only certain categories that qualify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. The Rakuten Mobile App<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you do most of your shopping on your phone, the app makes it simple to earn cash back on the go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Download the Rakuten app from your app store.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sign in with your account.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tap on the store you want to shop at.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tap \u201cShop Now\u201d and complete your order in the store\u2019s app or mobile site.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Rakuten will track the trip in the background, and your cash back will appear once the purchase is confirmed. Some stores may have limitations on mobile cash back, so always glance at the offer details if you\u2019re unsure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Rakuten Visa Credit Card (Optional)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This option is totally optional, but some people like it if they\u2019re already comfortable using credit cards responsibly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rakuten offers a Visa credit card that lets you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Earn <strong>extra cash back<\/strong> on purchases made through Rakuten<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Earn a small percentage on everyday spending as well<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You do <strong>not<\/strong> need this card to use Rakuten. You can absolutely stick with your regular debit or credit card and still earn cash back using the extension or app. But if you want to squeeze out a little more, it\u2019s an option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bonus: Earn Even More With Rakuten Referrals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On top of earning from your own shopping, Rakuten has a referral program that lets you earn bonuses when your friends and family sign up and start earning cash back too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how it usually works:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You share your referral link with a friend.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They sign up and make a qualifying purchase.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rakuten pays you a referral bonus (amount can change based on promotions).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re already using Rakuten regularly, this is one of the easiest ways to bump your cash back totals, especially around the holidays when everyone is shopping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When Does Rakuten Pay You?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Rakuten sends payments on a <strong>quarterly<\/strong> schedule. They call it your \u201cBig Fat Check.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can choose to get paid by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check in the mail, or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PayPal deposited into your account<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Your balance has to reach at least $5 before Rakuten will send a payment, so make sure your account information and mailing address or PayPal email are up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tips to Maximize Your Cash Back With Rakuten<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Install the browser extension<\/strong> so you don\u2019t forget to activate cash back.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use Rakuten during major sales<\/strong> (Black Friday, Cyber Monday, back-to-school, etc.) when cash back rates are higher.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Check restrictions<\/strong> for stores like Amazon and Target some departments and items don\u2019t qualify.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Stack savings<\/strong> when possible by using store sales, promo codes, and Rakuten cash back together.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Share your referral link<\/strong> with friends and family to earn bonuses on top of your own shopping.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Thoughts: Is Rakuten Worth It?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re already shopping online (or in-store at certain retailers), Rakuten is one of the simplest ways to earn extra money back without changing your entire routine. You don\u2019t have to become a coupon queen or track every sale. You just activate the offer, shop, and let Rakuten handle the tracking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you\u2019re saving for the holidays, trying to stretch your budget, or just want a little \u201cextra\u201d for fun money, using Rakuten can add up over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ready to earn cash back on your next purchase?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rakuten.com\/r\/HARDYR40?eeid=28187\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"3515\">\ud83d\udc49 Click here to sign up for Rakuten and grab your bonus<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Already a member? Let me know in the comments how much you\u2019ve earned so far and your favorite stores to use with Rakuten.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Pin For Later<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"1102\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/pictures\/Make-Money-Online-Free-Shopping-At-Your-Favorite-Stores-Using-Ebates.png\" alt=\"Rakuten cash back guide for saving money when you shop online and in-store\" class=\"wp-image-2476\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/pictures\/Make-Money-Online-Free-Shopping-At-Your-Favorite-Stores-Using-Ebates.png 735w, https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/pictures\/Make-Money-Online-Free-Shopping-At-Your-Favorite-Stores-Using-Ebates-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/pictures\/Make-Money-Online-Free-Shopping-At-Your-Favorite-Stores-Using-Ebates-683x1024.png 683w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/pictures\/How-I-Boost-My-Savings-Online-Every-time-I-Shop-Earn-Money-683x1024.png\" alt=\"How I boost my savings online every time I shop and earn money back with Rakuten\" class=\"wp-image-2705\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/pictures\/How-I-Boost-My-Savings-Online-Every-time-I-Shop-Earn-Money-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/pictures\/How-I-Boost-My-Savings-Online-Every-time-I-Shop-Earn-Money-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/pictures\/How-I-Boost-My-Savings-Online-Every-time-I-Shop-Earn-Money.png 735w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/pictures\/The-Top-CashBack-Website-To-Earn-You-More-Money-Everytime-You-Shop-Online-Or-Your-Local-Retailers.png\" alt=\"The top cash back website to earn you more money every time you shop online or at local retailers\" class=\"wp-image-2706\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/pictures\/The-Top-CashBack-Website-To-Earn-You-More-Money-Everytime-You-Shop-Online-Or-Your-Local-Retailers.png 600w, https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/pictures\/The-Top-CashBack-Website-To-Earn-You-More-Money-Everytime-You-Shop-Online-Or-Your-Local-Retailers-200x300.png 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/pictures\/The-Best-Shopping-App-That-Earns-You-More-Cash-Back.png\" alt=\"The best shopping app that earns you more cash back on your everyday purchases\" class=\"wp-image-2707\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/pictures\/The-Best-Shopping-App-That-Earns-You-More-Cash-Back.png 600w, https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/pictures\/The-Best-Shopping-App-That-Earns-You-More-Cash-Back-200x300.png 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"display: none;\"><br><br><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re trying to stretch your money a little further, Rakuten (formerly Ebates) is honestly one of the easiest tools you can use. I\u2019ve been using this cash back program for years, and I still tell people all the time that it\u2019s a legit way to earn real money back on things you were already&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/es\/make-money-online-free-shopping-at-your-favorite-stores-using-ebates\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2476,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"content-sidebar","_wp_convertkit_post_meta":{"form":"-1","landing_page":"","tag":"0","restrict_content":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[149],"tags":[3048,2182,3049,2434,3050,2420,3045,3047,3046,3044,2436],"class_list":{"0":"post-2455","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-saving-money","8":"tag-budget-hacks","9":"tag-cash-back-apps","10":"tag-earn-cash-back","11":"tag-frugal-living","12":"tag-holiday-savings","13":"tag-money-saving-tips","14":"tag-online-shopping-tips","15":"tag-rakuten","16":"tag-rakuten-review","17":"tag-save-money-shopping","18":"tag-smart-shopping","19":"entry"},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/pictures\/Make-Money-Online-Free-Shopping-At-Your-Favorite-Stores-Using-Ebates.png","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/pictures\/Make-Money-Online-Free-Shopping-At-Your-Favorite-Stores-Using-Ebates.png","author_info":{"display_name":"Roni","author_link":"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/es\/author\/ronnieh\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2455","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2455"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2455\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8565,"href":"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2455\/revisions\/8565"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2455"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2455"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mamaswallet.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2455"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}