Sorting out our finances by savings and budgeting is an excellent way to improve our financial situations, but that’s just one way to go about it. Another way of getting control of our finance and cutting costs is by saving money from our purchases. But, again, it is a proven way to cut costs and save more money either for those struggling to live on their paycheck or just being outright frugal; sales and coupons offer a great way to save money. This article is a Rakuten review and attempts to answer the question, “does Rakuten work?”
What is Rakuten?
Rakuten, previously known as Ebates, is a free app and browser extension that gives money or helps you discover coupons and earn cashback when you make purchases via their browsers. Consumers aged 18 or older can earn between 1% to 40% cashback on whatever items are purchased at over 2500 different stores and websites via Rakuten. Cashbacks offers often vary from 1% to 40% based on the product’s retailer.
Rakuten reviews online show that it is easy to use, and users can freely create an account to earn cashback. You can install the browser extension called the Rakuten cashback button. After the installation, a notification would always appear whenever you are browsing a website that gives Cashback through Rakuten. The company gets a commission when you buy an item via the website.
Accumulated earnings from cash backs are stored in your Rakuten account, and you can make quarterly withdrawals via PayPal.
In addition, cashback stores, holiday deals featured daily deals, and electronic gift cards are all offers available to users on the Rakuten home page. Daily hot deals include store sales, coupons, promo codes, and additional cashback offers.
To maximize your earnings and cashback, planning and strategy. It is important to check out what you are shopping for and the cashback options available when shopping online. It is also good to compare shops and prices to ensure you are getting the overall best deal. Knowing the details of a cashback offer is also necessary to get optimum results.
How does Rakuten make money?
Rakuten runs an affiliate marketing scheme that earns referral commissions from partnering stores when items or services are bought. When purchases are made, part of the money goes back to the consumer in the form of a cashback. In addition, Customers who are referred to other sites and websites help Rakuten bring in money. Once an account has been created with Rakuten, you can browse various stores online through Rakuten’s website or browser extension. Your credit or debit card can also be linked to earning cashback one purchase at a time. Many brands and stores offer to pay referral fees to Rakuten to reduce advertising costs by focusing on tipping consumers, giving them an incentive to purchase items.
Ways you can save money using Rakuten.
Online shopping
Money can be saved on purchases made from shops and brands partnering with Rakuten. With more than 2500 partners, there are a lot of shops to make purchases from and earn cashback from your purchases. Earnings from cash backs can be stacked up with other rewards-if you have a 2% cashback credit card, you are eligible for an additional 5% cashback through Rakuten, making a total of 7%. As time goes on or over the year, your earnings would have compounded.
Browser extension
While the browser extension may not be compulsory to install, it enables ease. It also allows you to save a lot more money by notifying you of stores with cashback offers. It is useful for navigating the site to make your online purchase. Rakuten’s tracking of your shopping history and when you are on a retailer site helps them to inform you when you are qualified for a cashback reward.
Mobile app
Rakuten provides their app in Android and IOS format for users. They can shop online using the app to earn cashback and get exclusive offers like in-store coupons only available on the app.
Coupon codes
Users’ favorites when it comes to the browser extension feature is the ability for it to find coupon codes that helps you to cut cost.
In-store shopping
Cash backs are also earned on purchases made in-store. To use this feature, you have to link your credit card to the website and activate the in-store offer on the site or app. This also enables you to track your purchases. Once you make your purchase, the retailer confirms your purchase and sends it to Rakuten. Hours or a few days after your cashback balance should appear. I must mention that these in-store offers are valid for only one purchase, which means you will need to reactive the option again if you want to make another in-store purchase.
Cashback visa credit card.
A cashback credit card is available to users on request. It allows you to earn an additional 3% cashback on purchases that qualify on the app and an extra 1% on all other purchases. No annual fee is required, and there is no limit to the amount of cashback you able to earn
Referrals
Referrals are additional ways for users to gain extra money aside from saving money on a purchase. A generous referral program that offers you 25 dollars per referral is a good way to earn money. To make money from referrals, the person being referred has to purchase before you can redeem your money.
SECURITY
One important feature of a site to users is security. Rakuten offers. It’s a very secure site that does not require payment information to make use of their sites. You only need an active email address. Rakuten is also certified compliant by the payment card industry security Standards Council (PCI). They govern sites and ensure that websites sufficiently encrypt sensitive data like credit card information. In addition, Rakuten informs users of its use of location tracking to gather marketing data that they sell to a third party. Users can opt out of using the location tracking feature, but it limits other features available to you.
CUSTOMER SUPPORT.
Although Rakuten’s customer support is not as solid as seen in Rakuten’s reviews online, they try to assist by having a help session that is found by scrolling down to the bottom. The help section takes you to a frequently asked question page where some of your questions might already be answered. But most of the time, Rakuten is objectively easy to use, and little assistance is needed in navigating the websites.
Pros
Rakuten enables you to continuously earn cashback on every purchase you make via their website. In addition, the various stores partnering with them offers users opportunities to make a variety of purchase from the app.
Rakuten offers you cash. Bonuses or any extra money earned on this app is paid in cash, not gift cards or points.
Rakuten also helps you to find coupon codes. Once the browser extension is installed, Rakuten finds coupon codes that give discounts on purchases. Discounts add up, and you have saved a lot of money.
Rakuten is free and easy to use. In addition, the browser extension offers users convenience in navigating the website.
Your money from various deals like cash back credit cards, travel rewards credit cards, coupons, etc., can all be stacked together to save even more.
Cons
Rakuten pays quarterly. This could be slow for most users who might want to use the earnings more urgently.
Although the online shopping option is in abundance, the in-store options are not as great, and consumers cannot shop for varieties as they would. This calls for improvement from the Rakuten team.
Not all purchases are qualified for a cashback. Therefore, it is imperative to read the fine print to avoid getting disappointed.
For people trying to be frugal or get control of their financial situations, Rakuten could do some harm by encouraging impulse shopping. Users have to be disciplined and make sure they are not overspending their budget.
Alternatives to Rakuten
Other sites or services that offer a cashback or discount code program include;
Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a cashback site that offers customers points that can be redeemed for gift cards. It differs from Rakuten in this area since Rakuten offers cash directly.
Capital one
Capital one is a browser extension that helps customers or willing buyers find retailers with better cost-effective options and applies discount codes that help you cut costs and save more.
Conclusions
Rakuten is worth the effort- and that effort is installing a free Rakuten browser extension that offers ease and convenience for you. According to Rakuten reviews online, it has held up to its promise of being the go-to app for consumers who want to cut down costs and earn on their purchases. In addition to the cashback components, the coupon codes have also been an efficient way for users to save costs. The browser extension helps users to find coupon codes and automatically apply them. You can see how this setup enables you to save a significant amount of money. Rakuten is legit, and I recommend it to all consumers 18 and above who frequently shop online.
