If you shop online in Canada, there’s a name you need to know: Rakuten. Imagine getting paid for purchases you were already going to make at your favourite stores like Hudson’s Bay, Sephora, or Canadian Tire. It sounds too good to be true, but it’s the real deal. This platform has revolutionized how Canadians save money, turning every online shopping trip into an opportunity to earn.
Formerly known as the beloved Ebates Canada, Rakuten has become the country’s leading destination for cash back rewards and deals. This comprehensive rakuten guide will walk you through everything you need to know to maximize your savings. We’ll cover what is rakuten canada, how it works, and how you can start earning real money today.
Table of Contents
- What Is Rakuten Canada and How Does It Work?
- Is Rakuten Canada Legit, Safe, and Worth It?
- Getting Started: Your Step-by-Step Rakuten Guide
- Maximizing Your Earnings with Rakuten
- The Payout Process: Getting Your Cash Back
- Rakuten and Amazon: What You Need to Know
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Rakuten Canada and How Does It Work?
So, what is rakuten? Simply put, Rakuten Canada is a free-to-use platform that gives you rakuten cash back when you shop at hundreds of online stores. It’s the Canadian arm of a global e-commerce giant that originated in Japan. While many people ask, “is rakuten canadian?”, the service is tailored specifically for the Canadian market, featuring Canadian retailers and paying out in Canadian dollars.
Many users remember the platform by a different name, which often leads to questions like “what was rakuten before?” or “what was rakuten called before?”. The answer is that ebates is now rakuten. The company acquired Ebates in 2014 and officially rebranded it in 2019 to unify its global presence.
But the core question remains: how rakuten works is surprisingly simple. Here’s a breakdown of what is rakuten and how does it work:
- Stores Pay Rakuten: Retailers partner with Rakuten and pay them a commission for sending customers to their websites.
- Rakuten Shares the Commission: Instead of keeping the entire commission, Rakuten shares a portion of it with you. This is how rakuten makes money while still giving you cash back.
- You Get Paid: That shared commission is the rakuten rewards you see in your account, which you receive as real cash.
Essentially, by starting your rakuten shopping journey on their site or app first, you activate a link that tracks your purchase, ensuring you get a piece of the pie. It’s a win-win-win for you, the store, and Rakuten.
Is Rakuten Canada Legit, Safe, and Worth It?
When a service offers free money, skepticism is natural. Let’s address the big questions: is rakuten canada legit, safe, and ultimately, is it worth your time?
The short answer is a resounding yes. Is rakuten legit? Absolutely. Rakuten is a publicly-traded, multi-billion dollar company with a long history of reliable payouts. The platform formerly known as Ebates Canada has been paying members for years. So, is rakuten cash back legit? Yes, millions of users can attest to receiving their “Big Fat Cheque” or PayPal payment.
In terms of security, is rakuten canada safe? Yes. When you click through to a retailer’s site from Rakuten, your transaction happens directly with that retailer. Rakuten doesn’t see or store your credit card information or payment details. It simply acts as a referral gateway.
Now, the most important question: is rakuten canada worth it? Considering it’s completely free to use and partners with stores you already shop at, the answer is yes. Earning even 1-2% back on purchases you were making anyway adds up significantly over time. When you factor in special promotions and bonuses, the value becomes undeniable.
To give you a balanced view, here are the main rakuten pros and cons:
- Pros:
- Completely free to join and use.
- Partners with over 750 stores in Canada.
- Easy to use via website, app, or browser extension.
- Pays out real cash, not points.
- Often features rakuten deals and coupon codes for extra savings.
- Cons:
- Payouts are quarterly, so you have to wait for your money.
- You must remember to start your shopping trip through Rakuten to earn cash back.
- Cash back is not available for every single product at a store (e.g., gift cards are often excluded).
Getting Started: Your Step-by-Step Rakuten Guide
Ready to start earning? The process is incredibly straightforward. Here’s how to use rakuten canada to begin collecting cash back.
Step 1: Sign Up and Get Your Bonus
First, you need to sign up for rakuten. The rakuten sign up process is quick and easy, typically requiring just an email address and a password. New members are almost always greeted with a rakuten welcome bonus—usually around $5 to $30—which you receive after making your first qualifying purchase.
Step 2: Find Your Favourite Stores
Once you’re in, you can explore the vast list of rakuten stores. The answer to “what stores are on rakuten canada?” is extensive, including major retailers like Indigo, The Source, Sport Chek, Sephora, and hundreds more. You can browse by category or search directly for the store you want.
Step 3: Activate Cash Back and Shop
This is the most crucial step. You must activate your cash back offer before you start shopping. There are three primary ways to do this:
- The Rakuten Website: The simplest method is to log in to the rakuten website, search for your store, and click the “Shop Now” button. This will redirect you to the retailer’s site with tracking activated.
- The Rakuten Canada App: For mobile shopping, the rakuten canada app is essential. It functions just like the website, allowing you to activate offers on the go.
- The rakuten cash back button: This is the easiest method. The rakuten cash back button is a browser extension (often called rakuten for chrome or the rakuten chrome extension) that automatically alerts you if a site you’re visiting offers cash back. You just click one button to activate the offer without ever having to visit the Rakuten site first.
Following these steps is the core of how to use rakuten for all your online purchases.
Maximizing Your Earnings with Rakuten
Getting basic cash back is great, but true Rakuten pros know how to stack their savings. Here’s how to get the most out of your account.
- Look for Double Cash Back: Rakuten frequently features stores offering rakuten double cash back or more. Keep an eye on the homepage for these limited-time offers to earn 2x, 3x, or even 10x the normal rate. Savvy shoppers often consult the rakuten double cash back schedule to plan major purchases around these events.
- Shop During Major Events: Holidays and major shopping days are prime time for elevated offers. For example, the rakuten cyber monday event will undoubtedly feature some of the highest cash back rates of the year.
- Stack with Coupons and Promos: Rakuten isn’t just for cash back; it’s also a hub for rakuten coupons and promo codes. You can often find a rakuten promo code listed on the store’s page within Rakuten. You can apply the coupon at checkout and earn cash back on the subtotal.
- Use In-Store Cash Back: The savings aren’t limited to online shopping. The rakuten in store cash back program lets you earn rewards on physical purchases. To learn how to use rakuten in store, you simply link your credit card to your Rakuten account, activate the in-store offer for a specific retailer, and pay with that linked card.
- Refer Your Friends: The rakuten canada referral program is one of the most generous perks. When a friend signs up using your unique link and makes a qualifying purchase, you both get a cash bonus.
The Payout Process: Getting Your Cash Back
Understanding how does rakuten cash back work when it’s time to get paid is key. Rakuten consolidates all the rakuten cashback you’ve earned and pays you out on a quarterly schedule.
This answers the common question, “when does rakuten canada pay out?”. The payment schedule is as follows:
| Purchases Posted Between | Payment Sent By |
|---|---|
| Jan 1 – Mar 31 | May 15 |
| Apr 1 – Jun 30 | August 15 |
| Jul 1 – Sep 30 | November 15 |
| Oct 1 – Dec 31 | February 15 |
To receive a payment, your rakuten rewards canada balance must be at least $5.01. You can choose to receive your money in one of three ways:
- A physical “Big Fat Cheque” mailed to you.
- A direct deposit to your PayPal account.
- An Amazon.ca e-gift card.
The process of how to get rakuten cash back is fully automated. Just set your preferred payment method in your account settings and wait for the scheduled payout date.
Rakuten and Amazon: What You Need to Know
One of the most frequent questions from users is, “does rakuten work with amazon?” The relationship between rakuten amazon is a bit complex and changes often.
Historically, Amazon has not been a consistent partner on Rakuten. However, from time to time, cash back becomes available for select Amazon departments or product categories. These offers are usually for a limited time and may exclude many popular categories like electronics.
The best advice is to always check the Rakuten website or app before making an Amazon purchase. If there is an active offer, it will be listed there. Do not assume cash back is available for all Amazon purchases, as it is the exception rather than the rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rakuten?
Rakuten is a free service that gives you cash back when you shop at your favourite online and in-store retailers. It’s an easy way to save money on purchases you were already planning to make.
Does Rakuten work in Canada?
Yes, absolutely. Is rakuten available in canada? Yes, the platform has a dedicated Canadian site (rakuten.ca) that features Canadian stores and pays out in Canadian dollars, confirming that rakuten is fully functional for Canadian shoppers. Many people wonder if can rakuten be used in canada and the answer is a definitive yes.
How does Rakuten Canada work?
The process of how does rakuten canada work is simple: 1) Sign up for a free account. 2) Click through to a partner store from the Rakuten website, app, or browser extension. 3) The store pays Rakuten a commission for your purchase, and Rakuten shares that commission with you as cash back.
How do you use Rakuten?
How do you use rakuten effectively involves starting every shopping trip through one of their portals. You can use the main website, the mobile app for shopping on your phone, or install the “Cash Back Button” browser extension, which automatically notifies you of available cash back.
What was Rakuten called before?
Before its rebranding, Rakuten was widely known as Ebates. So if you’re wondering, what was rakuten called before? The answer is Ebates.
Can you get Rakuten cash back after purchase?
Generally, you must activate your offer before you buy. However, if you forgot and believe you should have earned cash back, you can submit a “Missing Cash Back” claim through their help center. They will investigate with the store, but it is not guaranteed.
What stores use Rakuten?
Hundreds of popular Canadian retailers what stores use rakuten. This includes major department stores, fashion brands, travel sites, and specialty shops like Indigo, Sephora, The Bay, Old Navy, Canadian Tire, and many more.
Are there sites like rakuten or apps like rakuten?
Yes, there are other cash back and reward platforms in Canada. Some sites like rakuten or apps like rakuten include Great Canadian Rebates, Ampli, and Checkout 51, though Rakuten remains one of the largest and most popular.
Where is my Rakuten Canada login?
You can find the rakuten canada login button in the top-right corner of the Rakuten.ca homepage.
Is Rakuten in Canada?
Yes, is rakuten in canada is a common question, and the answer is yes. It operates as Rakuten.ca, serving the Canadian market specifically. So, whether you’re searching for rakitan online or the correct spelling, be sure to head to the Canadian site for the best experience.
