Rakuten

What is Rakuten

Rakuten is a leading cash back and shopping rewards company. Its main purpose is to help consumers save money on their online purchases. The platform partners with thousands of retailers to offer users a percentage of their spending back in the form of cash. When a user makes a purchase through a Rakuten link, the retailer pays Rakuten a commission, and Rakuten shares a portion of that commission with the user. The company was originally founded as Ebates in 1997 in Menlo Park, California. In 2014, it was acquired by the Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten, Inc., and later rebranded to Rakuten. Its headquarters are in San Mateo, California.

Rakuten Features

• Cash Back Shopping: The core feature allows users to earn a percentage of their purchase amount back when they shop at over 3,500 partner stores. You start your shopping on the Rakuten website or app and click through to the retailer's site.
• Browser Extension: The Rakuten Cash Back Button is a browser extension that automatically notifies you of cash back opportunities when you visit a partner store's website. It also finds and applies coupons at checkout.
• In-Store Cash Back: Users can link their credit or debit cards to their Rakuten account and activate offers to earn cash back on purchases made in physical stores.
• Mobile App: A fully functional mobile app for iOS and Android allows users to shop and earn cash back from their smartphones.
• Refer-a-Friend Program: Users can earn a bonus for each friend they refer who signs up and makes a qualifying purchase.
• Welcome Bonus: New members often receive a cash bonus after making their first qualifying purchase within a specific timeframe.
• Travel and Vacations: Rakuten offers cash back on travel bookings, including hotels, flights, and rental cars, through its 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 cash back. The company makes money through affiliate commissions paid by its partner retailers, a portion of which is shared with the user. Therefore, there are no different pricing tiers or plans for shoppers.

Rakuten Free Plan

Rakuten operates on a single, completely free model. All features, including cash back from all partner stores, the browser extension, the mobile app, and in-store offers, are available to every member at no cost. There is no premium or paid version of the service for consumers.

How to use Rakuten

Getting started with Rakuten is a simple process. Here is a typical workflow:

1. Create an Account: Go to the Rakuten website and sign up for a free account using your email address or by connecting a Google, Facebook, or Apple account.
2. Find a Store: Before you shop online, visit Rakuten first. Search for the store you want to buy from.
3. Activate Cash Back: Click the link on the Rakuten site that directs you to the retailer's website. This activates a shopping trip, allowing Rakuten to track your purchase.
4. Shop as Usual: Once on the retailer's site, shop and complete your purchase as you normally would. Make sure to complete the purchase in the same session.
5. Earn Cash Back: After the purchase is confirmed by the retailer, the cash back amount will be added to your Rakuten account. This can take from a few hours to several days.
6. Get Paid: Rakuten sends out payments every three months. You can choose to receive your accumulated cash back via PayPal or a physical check, which they call a "Big Fat Check".

Alternatively, you can install the Rakuten browser extension, which will automatically alert you to activate cash back when you visit a partner store directly.

Pros and Cons of Rakuten

Pros:

• Completely free to use: There are no fees for members.
• Wide range of stores: Partners with thousands of retailers across many categories.
• Easy to use: The website, app, and browser extension are user-friendly.
• Multiple payout options: Users can receive money via PayPal or a check.
• Generous bonuses: Offers a welcome bonus for new members and a referral program.

Cons:

• Quarterly payments: You have to wait up to three months to receive your earnings.
• Variable cash back rates: The percentage offered for a store can change frequently.
• Tracking can sometimes fail: Users must ensure they start their shopping trip through Rakuten and do not have conflicting browser extensions.
• Minimum payout threshold: A minimum balance is required to receive a payment.

Rakuten integrations

Rakuten's primary integration is with web browsers through its official Cash Back Button extension. This extension works with popular browsers to make earning cash back seamless.

• Google Chrome integration: The extension notifies users of cash back opportunities and applies coupons directly in the Chrome browser.
• Mozilla Firefox integration: Provides the same automatic notifications and coupon features for Firefox users.
• Microsoft Edge integration: Fully compatible with the Edge browser to help users save money.
• Safari integration: Offers a version of the extension for Apple's Safari browser.

These integrations ensure users do not have to remember to visit the Rakuten website before shopping.

Rakuten Alternatives

• Honey: A browser extension that primarily focuses on finding and applying coupon codes automatically at checkout. It also offers a rewards program called Honey Gold, which is similar to cash back.
• TopCashback: A direct competitor that often claims to offer the highest cash back rates because it gives its entire commission back to the user. It has a large network of partner stores.
• Ibotta: While it started with a focus on grocery rebates, Ibotta has expanded to offer cash back for online shopping at many retailers, similar to Rakuten. It is particularly strong for in-store purchases.
• Capital One Shopping: A free tool (you don't need to be a Capital One customer) that works as a browser extension. It automatically applies coupons, compares prices across different retailers, and offers rewards on purchases.

Rakuten API

Yes, Rakuten provides APIs for developers, primarily through its Rakuten Advertising division. These APIs are intended for merchants, advertisers, and publishers (affiliates) to programmatically access data and integrate Rakuten's services into their own applications. For example, publishers can use APIs to retrieve product links, promotional offers, and reporting data.

To get API access, you typically need to be a registered partner with Rakuten Advertising. You can find documentation and access credentials in their developer portal after signing up. The API is not intended for individual shoppers.

Here is a conceptual example of how a publisher might use a link locator API call with Python:

import requests

api_url = "https://api.rakutenadvertising.com/linklocator/1.0/"
headers = {
    "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN"
}
params = {
    "mid": "12345", # Merchant ID
    "id": "67890", # Your Publisher ID
    "murl": "https://examplemerchant.com/product/page"
}

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

if response.status_code == 200:
    # The response body will contain the affiliate tracking link
    tracking_link = response.text
    print(f"Generated Link: {tracking_link}")
else:
    print(f"Error: {response.status_code}")

Rakuten Affiliate program

Rakuten operates one of the largest affiliate marketing networks in the world, known as Rakuten Advertising (formerly Rakuten LinkShare). This is a platform for publishers, bloggers, and influencers to partner with thousands of brands (advertisers).

• How it works: As a publisher, you join the network and apply to individual advertiser programs. Once approved, you get access to unique tracking links and promotional materials. You place these links on your website, blog, or social media. When a visitor clicks your link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission.
• Commission Rates: Commission rates vary widely depending on the advertiser and product category. They can range from a small percentage to a significant portion of the sale price, or sometimes a flat fee per lead or sale.
• How to Join: You can sign up as a publisher on the Rakuten Advertising website. The application process requires you to provide details about your website or promotional methods. Once your account is approved, you can start applying to advertiser programs.
• Getting Paid: Payments are processed by Rakuten Advertising based on the commissions you have earned. Payment schedules and methods can be configured within your publisher dashboard.

For individual users who just want to refer friends, Rakuten has a separate Refer-a-Friend program, which is not a traditional affiliate program but rewards users with a cash bonus for each new member they bring in.