How can we help?

To get paid, make sure you:

1. Add your address. We use your mailing address to verify your identity (even if you’re getting paid via PayPal or American Express Membership Rewards® Points). On our website, you can add your address in Account Settings. If you’re using the App, go to Account then Choose How to Get Paid.

2. Earn at least $5.01. You need minimum confirmed earnings of $5.01 Cash Back before the next payment date to get paid. Cash Back must be confirmed by the store before the payment date to be included in your check or PayPal payment. If your Cash Back Balance is $5.00 or less, it will carry over to the next payment date.

Getting Paid

You’ll be paid for any confirmed Cash Back, bonuses and other rewards via the payment method you selected (check or PayPal) every three months. The time it takes for Cash Back to be confirmed depends on several factors, including the store, store policy, reporting schedule, exclusions and returns.

Rakuten Payment Dates:

• February 15
• May 15
• August 15
• November 15

Cash Back Balance

Your Cash Back Balance reflects your current earnings, including both pending and confirmed Cash Back. The time it takes for Cash Back to be confirmed depends on several factors, including the store, store policy, reporting schedule, exclusions and returns. For more details, go to Cash Back Balance.

Remember, your Cash Back, bonuses and other rewards need to be confirmed before the payment date to be included.

Want to track your Cash Back payment? Track My Big Fat Check

Cash Back for Change

Your Big Fat Check can make a big impact! With our Cash Back for Change program, you can donate the change from your quarterly Cash Back payment to our partner nonprofits. All you need to do is opt in to start giving back.

Learn more about Cash Back for Change

There are two ways to receive your Cash Back payments:

• Big Fat Check
• PayPal payment

Either method you choose is completely free. Payments are sent every three months on our payment schedule. 

Big Fat Check

If you opt for a Big Fat Check, you will receive a check issued to the name and address in your Account Settings (or “Choose How to Get Paid” in the App).

PayPal

Payments can be sent to the PayPal account of your choice. You’ll be asked for verification when you select this method or update your PayPal email address. For more information about PayPal verification, please visit PayPal.

If you choose to receive a PayPal payment, your payment will be issued to the account associated with the PayPal email address in your Account Settings (or “Choose How to Get Paid” in the App).

Track My Payment

Cash Back for Change

Your Big Fat Check can make a big impact! With our Cash Back for Change program, you can donate the change from your quarterly Cash Back payment to our partner nonprofits. Members who get paid via PayPal or check are eligible to participate. All you need to do is opt in to start giving back.

Learn more about Cash Back for Change

My Account has several features to help you track your Cash Back.

My Shopping Trips

Creating a Rakuten Shopping Trip qualifies your transaction for Cash Back offers. Shopping trips also allow us to track your Cash Back. When Cash Back has been added to your account, you will see a check mark in the Cash Back column on the Shopping Trips page.

Shopping Trips are separated by month. To view your Shopping Trips within the last 3 months, you can change the month on the dropdown menu in the upper right hand corner.

View My Shopping Trips 

Learn More About Shopping Trips 

My Cash Back Balance

Your Cash Back Balance is updated every time you earn Cash Back. It includes all recently added Cash Back from online orders, credit card purchases, In-Store Cash Back and other qualified offers.

When your payment is prepared, your Cash Back Balance will be cleared and moved over to your Big Fat Check History. This happens every three months, in accordance with our payment schedule.

There is a 45-day window between the end of the payment period and when payments are delivered. Any Cash Back that is earned after a Cash Back posting period has ended will be added to your next eligible Big Fat Check.

View My Cash Back Balance 

Missing Cash Back 

My Big Fat Check History

You can see all of the Cash Back you have been paid in your Big Fat Check History.

Your most recent Big Fat Check and transactions are displayed. To view all previous Big Fat Checks, change the date on the dropdown menu in the upper right hand corner.

Learn More About Payments 

Track My Payment 

If you’re a Canadian resident, we encourage you to join Rakuten.ca, our Canadian site dedicated to bringing you the best Cash Back shopping experience.

Benefits of becoming a Rakuten.ca member

• Big Fat Checks and PayPal payments are paid in Canadian dollars
• All stores on Rakuten.ca are either based in Canada or have been verified to have Canada-friendly shipping policies

Canadian shopping on Rakuten.com

While Rakuten.ca stores all ship to Canadian addresses, some stores on Rakuten.com may not. If you’re a Canadian resident and decide to shop with Rakuten.com instead of Rakuten.ca, you'll want to verify that the stores you shop at will ship to Canada.

In addition, please be aware of the following currency conversion details:

• Rakuten.com Cash Back Balances are displayed in U.S. dollars, not Canadian dollars
• Orders reported to Rakuten.com in Canadian dollars are converted to U.S. dollars
• Rakuten.com Big Fat Checks are paid in U.S. dollars, so check with your financial institution regarding policies, fees and currency conversion
• Rakuten.com PayPal payments are converted to Canadian dollars; please see PayPal’s User Agreement for more information

Visit the Rakuten.ca Help Center

You can update the email address and password you use to sign in to your account in your Account Settings.

Note: You must be signed in to your account with your current email address and password to make changes.

Adding your address

A mailing address is required for payments of all types, including PayPal. Please make sure to change or update your address when you move to ensure timely and accurate delivery of your payments.

Update My Name or Address  

Track My Payment 

Choosing how you get paid

There are two ways to receive your Cash Back payments:

1. Big Fat Check 
2. PayPal payment

View or Change My Payment Type 

Learn More About Choosing Your Rakuten Payment Method

Connected Accounts

You can connect your Google, Apple or Facebook accounts for easy sign-in.

View or Change Your Connected Accounts

Cash Back for Change

Your Big Fat Check can make a big impact! With our Cash Back for Change program, you can donate the change from your quarterly Cash Back payment to our partner nonprofits. All you need to do is opt in to start giving back. Be sure to opt in or out by the 1st of the next payment month. Learn more about Cash Back for Change

Your Big Fat Check can make a big impact! With our Cash Back for Change program, you can donate the change from your quarterly Cash Back payment to our partner nonprofits. All you need to do is opt in to start giving back.

How does it work?

To participate, you’ll need to opt in. You can also do this in your Account Settings. Then, when it’s time to get your Cash Back payment, we’ll automatically donate the change portion to our partner nonprofits and give you the rest. You’ll still get your remaining Cash Back amount via the method you’ve selected (PayPal or physical check). For example, if your next Big Fat Check is $50.85, you’ll get $50 and give $0.85 to nonprofits.

Who can participate?

If you get your Cash Back payment via PayPal or check, you’re eligible to participate! Members who get paid via American Express Membership Rewards® Points aren’t eligible to opt in to the program. You can still help by donating directly to our partner nonprofits.

What nonprofits does it benefit?

We’ve partnered with 3 nonprofits who are committed to making the world a better place. Your Cash Back for Change donations will be split between each of these organizations.

Direct Relief is a humanitarian organization active in all 50 states and more than 100 countries. The Direct Relief mission is to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies—without regard to politics, religion or ability to pay. In response to the many natural disasters occurring throughout the US and across the globe, Rakuten partners with Direct Relief to help improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergency situations by mobilizing and providing essential resources needed for their care and to help lift these communities up again.

Eat. Learn. Play. seeks to unlock the human potential of every child. Founded by three-time NBA champion Stephen Curry and entrepreneur, TV host and New York Times bestselling author Ayesha Curry, the program addresses the Currys’ passion for 3 core pillars vital to a successful childhood: nutrition, education and physical activity. Rakuten and Eat. Learn. Play. team up to prioritize underprivileged children, ensuring they have the necessary food and access to quality education to enable a healthy, active lifestyle that allows them to flourish.

Girls Inc. of Alameda County is a nonprofit organization that focuses on preparing young women ages 6 to 18 to excel in the classroom and in their careers. With activities spanning more than 1,400 sites in 400 cities in the US and Canada, their mission is to focus on the development of each girl as an individual by supporting, mentoring and guiding them. These girls learn to value their whole selves, discover and develop their inherent strengths and receive the support they need to navigate the challenges they face. Rakuten is partnered with Girls Inc. of Alameda to support quality education that positively impacts girls by equipping them with skills to navigate through economic, gender and social barriers in their school years.

Are my Cash Back for Change donations tax deductible?

We will not provide a tax receipt for your Cash Back for Change donations. You can talk to your tax advisor about deductions for any donations you make.

How do I opt out?

In your Account Settings, find Cash Back for Change, and switch the toggle off to opt out. If you change your mind and want to opt in again, simply switch the toggle back on to participate. Be sure to opt in or out before the 1st of the next payment month so your request is processed before we send your Cash Back.

Please carefully read these Rakuten Cash Back for Change Program Terms and Conditions before opting into or otherwise using Cash Back for Change (also referred to herein as the "program"). These Rakuten Cash Back for Change Program Terms and Conditions, together with the Rakuten.com Terms and Conditions incorporated herein by reference, form a legally binding agreement (collectively, the "Agreement") that governs your participation in the Cash Back for Change program provided by Ebates Performance Marketing, Inc. dba Rakuten Rewards ("Rakuten," "we," or "us"). By clicking the "Start Donating Now," "Donate my change," or similar button (as applicable) or by toggling to activate the Cash Back for Change donations in your Account Settings, you acknowledge and accept the disclosures herein and agree to be bound by the Agreement. If you do not wish to be bound by the Agreement, do not click "Start Donating Now," "Donate my change," or similar buttons or toggle to activate the Cash Back for Change donations in your Account Settings.

1. Participation in Cash Back for Change. Cash Back for Change is a program that allows Members who receive their Cash Back payments via PayPal or check to donate a portion of their Cash Back payments to charities that we select from time to time (the "Charities"). To participate in the program, you must receive your Cash Back payments via PayPal or check, and click the "Start Donating Now" or similar button on the Cash Back for Change landing page. You may also opt in through your Account Settings. Under "Cash Back for Change" under your Account Settings, toggle on "Donate my change" to opt in. Your Account Settings and the Cash Back for Change landing page will indicate whether you are currently participating in the program. You may opt in to participate in Cash Back for Change at any time. To donate a portion of your next Cash Back payment and subsequent Cash Back payments, opt in by the first day of the calendar month of your next Cash Back payment. Otherwise, Cash Back for Change may not collect your donation from your next Cash Back payment. See the Rakuten Payment Schedule for details.

2. Disabling Cash Back for Change. After you have opted in to participate in Cash Back for Change, you can choose to opt out by clicking "opt out here" on the Cash Back for Change landing page or toggling off "Donate my change" in your Account Settings. To opt out of donating a portion of your next Cash Back payment and subsequent Cash Back payments, opt out by the first day of the calendar month of your next Cash Back payment. Otherwise, Cash Back for Change may collect your donation from your next Cash Back payment. See the Rakuten Payment Schedule for details. You may opt in to Cash Back for Change again according to Section 1.

3. Donations. Cash Back for Change automatically rounds down your Cash Back payments to the nearest dollar and donates the change to the Charities. The Cash Back payments will be reduced by the Cash Back for Change amount before payments are issued under the Rakuten Payment Schedule. You will receive the balance of your Cash Back payments through the payment delivery method you have selected.

4. Charities. Our list of Charities that participate in Cash Back for Change is subject to change from time to time without notice to you. We have the sole discretion to add or delete Charities or otherwise change the list at any time without notice.

5. Disbursements to Charities. You will have no further rights to any Cash Back for Change amounts once your Cash Back payment is reduced by this sum. These donations will be disbursed to the Charities in a manner and on a schedule determined by us in our sole discretion.

6. Reporting for Charitable Tax Deduction. We are not required to provide (and you will not receive) any contemporaneous written acknowledgment of donations made through Cash Back for Change to support a charitable tax deduction on your personal income tax return. You may consult your tax advisor regarding the deductibility of any donation you make.

Updated: 12/09/2020

Earning Cash Back with Rakuten is simple.

1. Start at Rakuten and choose a store. You can use our website, mobile app, or browser extension.
2. Activate Cash Back to start shopping. Once you make an eligible purchase, we’ll add Cash Back to your account.
3. Get paid! Add your address and get paid via check or PayPal.

That’s all you have to do.

Once a store confirms your purchase with us, we add Cash Back to your account and notify you via email or push notification. The time it takes for Cash Back to be confirmed depends on several factors, including the store, store policy, reporting schedule, exclusions and returns.

We’ll send your first payment as soon as 15 days after your first purchase. After that, we’ll send your Cash Back payment every three months. If there’s any Cash Back pending, we’ll carry it over to your next payment.

Remember, you can only earn Cash Back if you start shopping at Rakuten. If you make a purchase without going through Rakuten, we won't be able to reward you with Cash Back. You can always try our browser extension which will notify you about Cash Back deals when you’re on a website. It’ll even find coupons for you!

How does Rakuten make money?

We know, it seems too good to be true. Here’s the deal: Stores pay us for sending them shoppers. Then we split that money with you as Cash Back. Everyone wins!

Welcome to Rakuten, the best way to earn Cash Back and find deep discounts when you shop. Since 1997, Rakuten has helped shape the way people shop online. We acquired Ebates in 2014 and have grown to over 12 million members to remain the largest, free member-based savings programs in the U.S. To date, our members have earned over $1 billion in Cash Back.

How does Rakuten work?

Rakuten saves you money by using a simple business model: Stores pay Rakuten a commission for sending our members to shop at their websites. Rakuten then splits that commission with you, in the form of Cash Back.

To earn Cash Back:

1. Join Rakuten: It’s free and only requires an email address and a password.
2. Start a shopping trip with Rakuten by clicking on one of our links (on our site, in an email or in our mobile app, for example).
3. You’ll be notified that Cash Back has been activated, and then just shop as you normally would.

And that’s it! Once the store notifies us of your order, Cash Back will be added to your account. Then, every quarter, we send you your Cash Back as a Big Fat Check or PayPal payment.

Learn More About How Rakuten Works

How is Rakuten different?

Whenever you click through a link to shop at a store (from social media or in promoted search results, for example), it’s likely that store is paying for your click. The difference in shopping with Rakuten is that when stores pay us, we pay you.

Even better:

• Membership is free.
• There’s no limit to how much Cash Back you can earn.
• There are no rebate forms to mail in or points to count—we just send you your Cash Back, no strings attached.

Learn More About How to Join

Love the Rakuten browser extension? Get it for your phone! With the Safari extension, you can activate Cash Back directly on store sites, right from your mobile device. We’ll also find and apply the best coupons and know when another store has a better price or Cash Back.

The Rakuten mobile extension is available for the latest version of iOS Safari.

How do I get the mobile extension?

To enable the mobile extension, follow these steps:

1. Make sure you have the latest version of the Rakuten iOS App installed (the Rakuten mobile extension comes bundled with the App).
2. Open the Safari app on your mobile device.
3. Tap the aA icon in the bottom left corner.
4. Tap Mange Extensions.
5. Turn on the toggle next to Rakuten. Tap Done.
6. Review permissions by tapping Review on the top right.
7. Tap Always Allow for the first permission that pops up.
8. Tap Always Allow on Every Website for the second permission.

That's it! You're ready to shop and earn Cash Back.

How does the Safari extension work?

1. Start your shopping on Safari.
2. Activate Cash Back directly on store sites. Once you make an eligible purchase, we’ll add Cash Back to your account.
3. Get paid! Make sure you add your address to get paid via check or PayPal.

Why do I need the Rakuten App to use the Safari extension?

Like other mobile extensions, the Safari extension is powered by the Rakuten App. They are bundled together in one download. So, if you already have the app, you’re a step ahead!

How do I turn off the mobile extension?

1. Open the Safari app on your mobile device.
2. Tap the aA icon in the bottom left corner.
3. Tap Mange Extensions.
4. Turn off the toggle next to Rakuten. Tap Done.

Is the mobile extension available for Android?

The mobile extension isn't available for Android yet. The best way to shop with Rakuten on your Android device is with the Rakuten App for Android. Get it in the Google Play Store now!

Still have questions? Contact us