I've talked, and blogged, about Rakuten before, but if you're not familiar, it's an online shopping portal and it happens to be having enhanced sign up offer and rebates right now, with "Big Give Week"
Well, what's an online shopping portal??
Per Google AI, a shopping portal is a website or platform that acts as a gateway to online retailers, offering bonus rewards like cash back, airline miles or points, for purchases made through the shopping portal. Instead of going directly to a retailer's website, you visit the shopping portal first, search and click on a link to your retailer of choice, and then make your purchase from the retailers website. The portal tracks your purchase (but not your personal information like shipping address and/or credit card number), then credits your account with the bonus rewards offered.
Why use a shopping portal?
To earn extra points, miles, or cash back!
How do shopping portals make money?
Through affiliate links and commission paid by the retailers.
Tell Me More...
Nowadays there are a lot of options for shopping portals, most airlines and major banks have them, and the majority of those even having apps and/or web browser extensions that you can download. This way, when you go to any retailer website, you don't even have to think or remember about going to a shopping portal first, the browser extension will recognize you're shopping and pop up with the offer for that specific retailer.
For example, I have extensions downloaded for Rakuten, Capital One, Southwest, and United. I can simply look at all of the "offers" at once, and activate whichever is highest for the website I'm shopping:
Note, Chase doesn't have a browser extension, but they do offer a shopping portal. This can be accessed by logging on to your Chase Account and navigating to Chase Ultimate Rewards (CURs). One way to do this is to log in, click on any of your credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards, on the credit card page, click "Redeem".
Once CUR page, scroll down to the near bottom and click "Shop and earn bonus points"
This will take you to "Shop through Chase" which is their shopping portal. Definitely not as convenient as having a browser extension pop-up reminder, but a great way to earn more Chase points!
Back to Rakuten...
If you don't already have Rakuten, you can sign up now and earn $40 cash back OR American Express Rewards points. This is an elevated sign up offer, which ends 5/12/25. In order to qualify, you must use Rakuten to made a $40+ purchase in the first 90 days of opening your account. Cash back is paid out quarterly from Rakuten. Before I had an Amex card, I kept my Paypal tied to Rakuten, but you can also get a check in the mail if you prefer. Over the years I've earned hundreds of dollars back and since switching to points, I've earned thousands of MRs, simply for clicking a button and not spending anything more than I'd already planned (and also not by obscene amount of shopping :)
Linking your Amex
If you have an American Express card, any Amex card is eligible to be connected to your Rakuten account to earn points instead of cash back (note: co-branded cards like Amex Hilton are not eligible). To link an Amex for points:
- Log into your Rakuten account
- Find your name at the top right and click on "Account"
- Click on "Account Settings" on the left and scroll down to "How You're Getting Paid"
- Select "Membership Rewards points" and add your Amex details.
A common question: You do NOT have to use this linked Amex card to pay for your purchase in order to earn points!
And back to the Big Give
Now, on to some of the great Rakuten current offers! If you have been thinking about opening a new Chase card and you don't have a player 2 to refer you, you may want to consider using Rakuten links (as much as I would love for you to use my referral links!!)
Right now you can earn up to 30K MRs when opening a new Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Unlimited card, and yes, this is ON TOP of the Chase sign up bonuses!
If you prefer the cash back option, instead of getting 30k MRs, you'll get $300 back!
In addition, several stores have elevated offers if you have some shopping you need to do.
What do you think? Have you used shopping portals before or is now your time to start? Sign up for Rakuten here!
Looking for more information on points/miles? You can find all of my points talk posts linked here
Curious what cards I (and/or my husband) have, and why? Read here!
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