Rakuten Sign Up Bonus: Up To $40 Welcome Offer & Referral Deal

Looking for a way to make your online shopping even more rewarding? Rakuten, formerly known as Ebates, offers a fantastic $40 sign-up bonus that’s too good to pass up.

Imagine getting paid to shop at your favorite stores. With Rakuten, you can earn up to 40% cash back at over 3,500 retailers without any complex points system or hidden fees.

By signing up through a referral link, not only do you have a great opportunity to unlock a generous welcome bonus, but you also gain access to a world of savings and cash-back opportunities.

Let’s explore how Rakuten can put money back into your pocket and make your online shopping experience infinitely more rewarding.

You can find other referral offers here.

As a Rakuten member, you also have the option to earn Amex points, adding even more value to your shopping rewards.

Rakuten Sign Up Bonus: $40 Welcome Offer

Sign up today to get a $40 bonus (sometimes it is $30) for new users who join through a referral link (link below, thank you ahead of time!). Furthermore, once your account is active, you and a referred friend can participate in their Refer-A-Friend program and earn an additional bonus for each friend who signs up for the cash back shopping site.

Additionally, the welcome offer can also include earning Amex Membership Rewards points, enhancing your online shopping by converting rewards into points for first & business class international travel.

Everyone is welcome to leave their referral details in the comments section below.

How To Earn The Bonus with a Qualifying Purchase

• Use our referral link above to go to the Rakuten site where you will see a pop up box to register for a new account.
• Choose how you want your bonus, as a Walmart gift card, Rakuten credit, or Amex Membership Rewards points.
• Fill out the rest of the form and click “Join Now.”
• Make at least $30 in purchases within the first 90 days of joining.
• Receive your bonus.

Rakuten Referral Bonus Offer: Earn $40 Per Referral

Earn a $40 bonus credit for every person that signs up for a new Rakuten account using your referral link and spends at least $40 within their first 90 days as a member. Each of your referrals will also be eligible to receive a bonus for joining and making the spending requirement.

There’s no limit to how many referral bonuses you can earn, but you must have a Rakuten account in order to qualify and participate. Rakuten routinely updates with new special referral promotions throughout the year where you can get even more value.

Additionally, Rakuten rewards can also be converted into Amex Membership Rewards points, enhancing the value of online shopping through this portal.

How To Earn The Rakuten Referral Bonus

• Sign into your Rakuten account and visit the Refer-A-Friend page.
• Send your unique referral link to everyone you know by email, text or social media.
• Receive a bonus for each person that:
  • Registers for a new Rakuten account using your referral link, and
  • Makes at least $30 in purchases within their first 90 days as a member.

Fine Print

• You must be a member to participate in the referral program.
• Your referrals must be new to Rakuten.
• Your referral bonus may take up to 60 days after your referral’s qualifying purchase.
• There is no limit to how many referral bonuses you can earn.
• Rakuten reserves the right to withhold, deny or cancel any bonuses and/or rewards and/or terminate your account if the company deems any bonus and/or reward as fraudulent, abusive, unethical, suspicious or otherwise inconsistent with the referral program terms.
• Rakuten reserves the right to suspend or terminate the referral program or to change referral program terms at any time and for any reason in our sole discretion.

How Does Rakuten Work?

As I mentioned before, Rakuten lets you earn 1% to 40% cash back from shopping online at a wide range of retailers. Your reward points, known as Big Fat Payments, are paid out quarterly by check or PayPal.

Additionally, Rakuten offers membership rewards, which can be converted into various forms of savings, including Amex Membership Rewards points.

Here’s How You Can Start Earning Cash Back with Rakuten:

Shop Directly on Rakuten’s Website

Simply sign into your Rakuten account and navigate through the retailer links on their site. Clicking on any of these links will open the retailer’s website in a new window, ensuring your shopping session is tracked so you can earn cash back on every purchase.

Use the Rakuten Browser Extension

For an even smoother experience, install the Rakuten Cash Back Button on your browser (available for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari). Upon your first login, you’ll be prompted to add this extension. It’s a breeze to set up and acts as your personal shopping assistant, reminding you to activate cash back every time you shop online at participating retailers—no need to visit the Rakuten website first.

Shop on the Go with the Rakuten App

Prefer shopping on your mobile? Download the Rakuten app and start browsing through the listed retailers. You’ll receive notifications about the cash back percentages available, and with a simple tap, you’re directed to the retailer’s site to shop as usual.

How Does Rakuten Offer These Benefits?

You might be thinking this sounds too good to be true. Here’s the scoop: Rakuten partners with retailers to direct traffic to their online stores. In return, Rakuten earns a commission on purchases made through their referral links. They then share a portion of this commission with you as cash back. It’s a win-win-win scenario for you, Rakuten, and the retailers.

By leveraging Rakuten’s site, browser plugin, or mobile app, you’re not just shopping; you’re earning money back on purchases you would make anyway. It’s a smart, effortless way to save on your online shopping. Ready to get started? Join Rakuten today and turn your shopping into earning.

Rakuten Versus TopCashback

So, Rakuten and TopCashback are both cashback websites that reward you with bonus points for shopping at certain retailers. They’re both pretty similar in terms of how they work, but there are a few key differences between the two.

One of the main differences is the selection of retailers. TopCashback has a pretty wide variety of retailers on their platform, with over 7,000 to choose from. Rakuten also has a good selection of retailers, but it’s slightly more limited at around 3,500.

Both TopCashback and Rakuten have competitive cashback rates, but they can vary depending on the retailer and the time of year. So, it’s always a good idea to compare the rates before making a purchase.

One thing that Rakuten has that TopCashback doesn’t is the option to earn cashback through in-store purchases. Rakuten partners with certain retailers to offer cashback when you shop in-store and link your purchase to your Rakuten account. With TopCashback you can make qualifying purchases online and pick up in-store where available.

Both services have a great referral program for existing and new members to earn extra rewards.

Additionally, Rakuten offers the unique benefit of earning Amex Membership Rewards points, adding significant value to the Rakuten membership and providing flexibility in redeeming rewards for travel.

>>Sign up for TopCashback with a bonus

Rakuten Versus RebatesMe

Rakuten and RebatesMe are also going to have more similarities than differences.

Again, Rakuten has around 3,500 partnered retailers. RebatesMe will have slightly more – around 4,000+.

Both Rakuten and RebatesMe have similar cashback rates, so you’ll want to compare them for your favorite retailers.

RebatesMe has a feature that allows you to see the cashback rates of different online retailers at a glance, which makes it easy to compare and find the best deals.

Similar to TopCashback, RebatesMe doesn’t have the ability to earn cash back with in-store purchases.

RebatesMe also has a good referral program where users with a big network can earn bonus points.

Additionally, Rakuten sets itself apart by allowing members to earn Amex Membership Rewards points, which can significantly enhance the value of rewards, especially for those interested in first & business class international travel.

>>Sign up for RebatesMe with a bonus

My Take on the Rakuten Sign Up Bonus

My thoughts on Rakuten are that it’s a pretty solid choice if you’re looking for a cashback website. The concept is simple and straightforward, and it can definitely help you save some cash on things you were already planning on buying.

Plus, they have a wide variety of 3,5000+ retailers on the platform, so you’re bound to find something that you’re interested in.

One unique thing about Rakuten is the option to earn cashback through in-store purchases. Rakuten partners with certain retailers to offer cashback when you shop in-store and link your purchase to your Rakuten account. This is a pretty cool feature that not many other cashback sites have.

Another thing that sets Rakuten apart from other cashback sites is their referral program, which rewards you with cashback when you refer friends to the platform. This can help you accumulate cashback even faster. Click here for your Rakuten sign-up bonus.

Do you have your own thoughts about Rakuten or other cash back shopping portals? Please share them in the comments section.

Tip: It may be best to just sign up for all the cash back portals, since they’re all free to use and come with bonuses. Then you can get a feel for each one first-hand.

One of the unique benefits of Rakuten is the ability to earn Amex Membership Rewards points, which can significantly enhance the value of your online shopping by converting your rewards into points that are highly valuable for first & business class international travel.

Deals Post History for Rakuten:

• TopCashback vs. Rakuten: Which Cashback Site Pays More in 2025? (Real Data)
• Alliant Credit Union CD Bonus: Earn Up to $150 with Rakuten
• BeFrugal vs. Rakuten: Which Cash Back Site is Better for You?
• SoFi Checking & Savings Sign Up Bonus: Earn Up to $650 Via Referral, Swagbucks/Rakuten
• Rakuten Promotion: Earn $50 Cash Back with Raisin Account Signup and Deposit
• Rakuten Promotion: Exclusive $400 Bonus for Yieldstreet Sign-Up
• Rakuten: Up To 10% Cashback Rewards At Walmart Stores
• Rakuten Triple Cash Back: Macy’s, Adidas, Dell, Petsmart, Under Armour, Shein, Lego, Dyson, and More
• Free AARP Membership Plus $4 Profit Via Chase Offers & Rakuten – Ends 5/29/31
• Rakuten Double Cash Back: Get 90% Back Lifelock Subscription
• Rakuten: In-Store 1% Cashback Rewards At Walmart Stores
• Rakuten 10% Cash Back List: Maximize Savings With Rewards Program
• Rakuten Triple Cash Back: Get $37.50 Back With Daily Harvest Purchase
• Rakuten Triple Cash Back: Get $45 Back With Gobble Meal Subscription

READ MORE: FIND THE BEST CASHBACK SHOPPING APPS HERE

READ MORE: SEE THE BEST BANK BONUSES HERE AND THE BEST INVESTING BONUSES HERE.

By Tony Jay, a seasoned finance blogger and executive editor, who boasts over two decades of experience in the banking sector, with a specialization in online banking and savings strategies. Tony holds a doctoral degree from Tulane University. Edited by John Huynh, who brings more than two decades of experience in finance and investing, including as a senior finance and operations manager at a renowned research institute and degrees in economics and international studies from UC Irvine.