Rakuten’s New Referral Bonus: Best One Yet
If you like cashback or getting rewards simply by sharing apps you already use, Rakuten just dropped what may be their most generous referral offer ever. It’s simple, low risk, and perfect as we head into the holiday shopping season. Here’s what you need to know — and whether it makes sense for you.
What’s the Deal
- Join Rakuten via a referral link, spend $50 in qualifying shopping through the portal within 90 days, and you’ll get $50 back.
- The person who refers you also gets $50 when you complete the new-member action.
- This “refer & earn” reward is higher than usual, making it especially compelling.
What Makes It Stand Out
- It’s rare to see a referral bonus this large, especially for a shopping portal. Often these bonuses are much smaller, or tied to very specific stores.
- Since both the new member and referrer get $50, the upside is double. If you have friends or family who would actually use the portal anyway, it’s a win-win.
- The spend requirement is modest — $50 in 90 days via Rakuten is pretty easy if you plan to make even a couple of purchases.
- You can satisfy the spend requirement through many merchants, particularly gift cards or everyday stores. So it’s accessible even if you don’t plan big purchases.
Things to Consider / Small Caveats
- “Qualifying purchases” is the key phrase — not all stores or items may count. Make sure your purchases are eligible via the portal.
- The referral bonus usually has to be claimed via a specific link and sometimes registered appropriately. If you don’t use the referral link or miss registration steps, you might be disqualified.
- Watch the timeline: you need to hit the $50 spend in 90 days — it’s long enough to use, but not infinite.
- Sometimes cashback gets delayed or has conditions (returns, canceled orders, minimums) that may affect whether qualifying spend sticks.
How You Could Use It Smartly
Here are a few ideas if you want to make the most of this:
- Plan some small purchases through Rakuten that you were going to make anyway (gift cards, everyday items). That helps you reach the $50 spend without extra cost.
- Use the offer for things you need over the next few months, especially with holiday shopping approaching. You can kill two birds: buy what you need, and trigger the bonus.
- Refer friends/family who also shop online. Since they get value and you get value, it’s a friendly recommendation.
- Stack with other deals: If stores on the portal are running discounts or bonuses, use Rakuten when they’re active to double up savings.
Is It Worth Doing?
For most people, yes — this is a worthwhile little side hustle in your rewards strategy. Since the upside is relatively high for low effort, and there’s minimal downside (you’re probably going to be shopping anyway), it looks like a solid “why not” move. Just don’t force purchases you don’t need just to hit the requirement.
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