What Is Rakuten? Earn $50 Cash Back + Transfer to Amex or Bilt Points
If you shop online — and who doesn’t? — you could be earning up to **hundreds or even thousands of dollars in rewards simply by clicking through Rakuten before you buy.
New users get a $50 welcome bonus, and you can choose to take that as cash back or transfer it into travel points like American Express Membership Rewards or Bilt Rewards.
This is one of the easiest ways to make your purchases work harder for you.
What Is Rakuten?
Rakuten is a free online shopping portal that partners with thousands of top retailers — like Walmart, Target, Macy’s, Best Buy, Nike, and many more. When you click to a store through Rakuten and make a purchase, Rakuten earns a referral commission. Then they share a big portion of that commission with you in the form of rewards.
You don’t pay more. You just shop through Rakuten instead of directly at a store site.
How Rakuten Works — Simple & Beginner-Friendly
- Create a free Rakuten account
- Log in and search for your store
- Click through Rakuten to the site
- Shop like normal
- Rakuten tracks your purchase & rewards you
You can shop via:
- Rakuten website
- Rakuten browser extension (auto-notices cash back opportunities)
- Rakuten app
$50 Welcome Bonus — How It Works
Right now (subject to change), Rakuten is offering new users a $50 cash bonus after you spend $50.
So you can potentially earn:
👉 $50 free just for signing up and shopping through Rakuten once.
That the esaisr free $50 you ever got
That is the easiest free $50 you ever got.
Cash Back vs Travel Points — Your Choice
After your $50 bonus and regular cash back have been credited, you can choose how you want to receive your rewards:
Option 1: Get Cash Back
Rakuten pays out cash back via:
- Check by mail
- PayPal
This is great if you just want actual money back — simple and straight forward. - Gift Cards
Option 2: Transfer Rewards to Travel Points
Rakuten lets you convert your cash back rewards into travel points — which might be worth more than straight cash, especially for frequent travelers.
Convert to American Express Membership Rewards
Instead of cash back, you can choose to turn your Rakuten earnings into Amex points.
- Typical transfer rate: 1% cash back = 1 Amex point
- So your $50 welcome bonus becomes 5,000 Amex Membership Rewards!
- Amex points are extremely flexible — usable for flights, hotels, upgrades, and more — often worth more than the cash equivalent.
Example: 5,000 Amex points can sometimes be worth $75–$100+ in travel value when redeemed strategically.
Convert to Bilt Rewards
Rakuten also allows transfers into Bilt Rewards points
- Bilt points can be used for travel, experiences, or even rent payments
- This opens up a powerful way to stack rewards:
- Earn Rakuten rewards on everyday online purchases
- Convert to Bilt points
- Redeem for flights, hotels, or reduce rent
This makes Rakuten even more valuable for renters and travelers.
How Much Can You Really Make on Rakuten?
If you shop regularly — especially during big sales like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or seasonal discounts — you could earn:
✔ $50 welcome bonus
✔ 5-20% cash back at top stores
✔ Extra bonuses during big sale events
✔ Hundreds or even thousands of dollars in rewards per year
By stacking Rakuten with:
- Credit card bonuses
- Rakuten browser extension alerts
- Seasonal promotions
…you’ll maximize your earnings automatically.
Best Tips to Earn More on Rakuten
Always click through Rakuten first
Direct shopping = no rewards.
Install the browser extension
That way you never miss a cash back opportunity.
Shop during promotions
Holiday sales often boost the cash back % dramatically.
Link Rakuten to Amex or Bilt
If your goal is travel points, this can multiply your value.
Is Rakuten Worth It?
Absolutely — especially with a $50 new user bonus and the ability to convert into travel points. Whether you value cash or points, Rakuten gives you flexibility and real value for shopping you were already planning to do.
Don’t shop online without Rakuten — you’re leaving free money (or points) on the table.
