Rakuten

What is Rakuten

Rakuten is a leading platform for cashback and shopping rewards. Its main purpose is to help consumers save money on their online and in-store purchases. The company was originally founded as Ebates in 1998 and was later acquired by the Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten, Inc. in 2014. The service is headquartered in San Mateo, California. The business model is simple: retail stores pay Rakuten a commission for sending customers to their websites, and Rakuten shares a portion of that commission with the customer in the form of Cash Back. This creates a win-win situation for both the shopper and the retailer.

Rakuten Features

• Online Cash Back: The core feature of Rakuten. Users can browse thousands of partner stores on the Rakuten website or app. By clicking a link from Rakuten before shopping, their purchase is tracked, and a percentage of the total sale is credited to their account.
• Browser Extension: The Rakuten Cash Back Button is a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. It automatically notifies you if a site you are visiting offers cashback, finds and applies coupon codes at checkout, and allows you to activate cashback with one click.
• In-Store Cash Back: Users can link their credit or debit cards to their Rakuten account. They can then activate offers for specific physical stores and earn cashback automatically when they use the linked card for in-person purchases.
• Mobile App: A fully functional app for iOS and Android devices that allows users to shop, earn cashback, and manage their account on the go.
• Refer-a-Friend Program: Users receive a cash bonus for each new member they refer who signs up and makes a qualifying purchase. The new member also typically receives a welcome bonus.
• Welcome Bonus: New members are often offered a cash bonus after they make their first purchase of a certain amount within a specific timeframe.
• Travel and Vacations: Rakuten offers cashback on travel bookings, including hotels, flights, car rentals, and vacation packages through partnerships with major travel websites.

Rakuten Pricing Plans

Rakuten is a completely free service for consumers. There are no membership fees, subscription costs, or hidden charges to use the platform and earn cashback. The company earns its revenue from commissions paid by its partner merchants, and it shares that revenue with its users. Therefore, there are no different pricing plans or tiers for shoppers.

Rakuten Free Plan

The entire Rakuten service operates as a free plan. Every feature, from online cashback and the browser extension to in-store offers and the mobile app, is available to all members at no cost. You simply need to create a free account to start earning cashback on your purchases.

How to use Rakuten

Getting started with Rakuten is a straightforward process:

1. Create an Account: Go to the Rakuten website and sign up for a free account using your email address or a social media account.
2. Find a Store: Before you shop online, visit Rakuten first. Search for the store you want to buy from among its list of over 3,500 partners.
3. Start Shopping: Click the link provided by Rakuten for that store. This will redirect you to the store's official website and activate a tracking cookie.
4. Complete Your Purchase: Add items to your cart and check out as you normally would. Make sure to complete the purchase in the same session.
5. Earn Cash Back: After the store confirms your purchase with Rakuten, the cashback amount will be added to your Rakuten account. This can take a few hours to a few days.
6. Get Paid: Rakuten sends out payments every three months. You can choose to receive your accumulated cashback via PayPal or a physical check, which they call a "Big Fat Check".

For an easier experience, you can install the Rakuten browser extension, which will automatically remind you to activate cashback when you visit a partner store's site directly.

Pros and Cons of Rakuten

Pros:

• Completely Free: There is no cost to join or use the service.
• Extensive Store Network: Partners with thousands of popular retailers, covering almost every category.
• Easy to Use: The website, app, and browser extension are user-friendly and simple to navigate.
• Multiple Earning Options: Earn cashback online, in-store, and on travel.
• Reliable Payments: Consistent quarterly payment schedule via PayPal or check.

Cons:

• Quarterly Payouts: You have to wait up to three months to receive your money.
• Tracking Can Fail: You must click through the Rakuten link for every shopping session; otherwise, the purchase will not be tracked.
• Variable Rates: Cashback percentages can change often and may vary by product category within a single store.
• Exclusions Apply: Not all items from a partner store may be eligible for cashback.

Rakuten integrations

Rakuten does not offer integrations in the way a typical B2B SaaS tool does. Its primary integration is its browser extension, the Rakuten Cash Back Button, which works with major web browsers:

• Google Chrome integration: The extension integrates directly into the Chrome browser to provide automatic cashback alerts and coupon applications.
• Mozilla Firefox integration: Similar functionality is available for Firefox users, making it easy to activate offers without visiting the Rakuten website first.
• Safari and Microsoft Edge integrations: The extension is also available for Apple's Safari and Microsoft's Edge browsers, ensuring wide compatibility for most users.

These browser integrations are the main way Rakuten connects its service with your everyday online shopping workflow.

Rakuten Alternatives

• Honey: A browser extension that primarily focuses on finding and applying the best coupon codes at checkout. It also has a rewards program called Honey Gold, which is similar to cashback.
• TopCashback: A direct competitor that often claims to offer the highest cashback rates because it gives 100% of the store's commission back to the user. Its interface is less modern than Rakuten's.
• Ibotta: While it started with a focus on grocery receipt scanning, Ibotta now offers cashback for online shopping as well. It is particularly strong for in-store purchases and everyday essentials.
• Capital One Shopping: A free browser extension (available to anyone, not just Capital One customers) that automatically applies coupons, compares prices across different retailers, and offers rewards on purchases.

Rakuten API

Yes, Rakuten provides APIs, primarily through its Rakuten Advertising division (formerly Rakuten Marketing). These APIs are not for individual shoppers but are designed for publishers, developers, and advertisers who are part of its affiliate network. The APIs allow developers to programmatically access product links, promotional offers, and reporting data.

To get access, you must first be approved as a publisher in the Rakuten Advertising network. Once approved, you can generate API keys from your publisher dashboard. More information can be found on the Rakuten Advertising developer portal.

Here is a conceptual example of what an API call might look like to search for advertisers:

import requests

# This is a conceptual example. Actual endpoint and parameters will vary.
api_url = "https://api.rakutenadvertising.com/v1/advertisers"
api_key = "YOUR_API_ACCESS_TOKEN"

headers = {
    "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
    "Content-Type": "application/json"
}

params = {
    "category": "apparel",
    "country": "US"
}

response = requests.get(api_url, headers=headers, params=params)

if response.status_code == 200:
    advertisers = response.json()
    print(advertisers)
else:
    print(f"Error: {response.status_code}")

Rakuten Affiliate program

Rakuten has two main programs that can be considered affiliate or referral programs:

1. Refer-a-Friend Program: This is for regular users. You get a unique referral link to share with friends and family. When someone signs up using your link and makes a qualifying purchase (e.g., spends $30 within 90 days), both you and your friend receive a cash bonus, which is often $30 each. You can find your referral link in your Rakuten account dashboard.

2. Rakuten Advertising Affiliate Network: This is a large-scale affiliate marketing network for businesses, bloggers, and content creators (publishers). It was formerly known as LinkShare. Publishers can join this network to partner with thousands of brands (advertisers). They earn a commission on sales generated through their unique affiliate links. Commission rates vary widely by advertiser and product category. To join, you must apply through the Rakuten Advertising website and be approved as a publisher.