Rakuten deal alert: Enjoy up to 15% cash back when shopping online at major retailers

Looking to make some holiday purchases? This week’s October Prime Day is a great chance to maximize your spending. Use these promotions to grab deals and boost your savings.

Rakuten is among the top online shopping platforms offering cash back, and this week they’ve boosted earning rates at popular retailers. Eligible shoppers can save up to 15% through their Savvy Shopper Rewards event.

This promotion is aimed at regular Rakuten users, so be sure to log into your account for details. New users can enjoy a $30 bonus with a qualifying purchase of at least $30 within the first 90 days.

You can enhance a good deal into an amazing one by adding a generous amount of cash back to already reduced prices.

With Rakuten, you have the option to earn American Express Membership Rewards points instead of cash back. This means that rather than receiving up to 15% cash back as shown below, you could accumulate 15 Membership Rewards points for every dollar spent, potentially offering much greater value if you maximize those points through travel partners.

Here’s what you need to know about enhanced cash-back options available with Rakuten.

Boosted cash back opportunities with Rakuten

To earn cash-back rewards or Membership Rewards while shopping online, start your shopping journey on the Rakuten website. From there, find your preferred store and click to be redirected to the retailer's site. After completing a qualifying purchase, Rakuten will track your transaction and typically credit bonus rewards to your account within a day or two.

Here are some retailers currently offering enhanced cash back. Each of these stores provides 10-15% cash back through Rakuten:

• Lululemon
• Disney Store
• Macy's
• IHG Hotels & Resorts
• Adidas
• Neiman Marcus
• Nike
• Dermstore
• CVS
• PetSmart

The top credit cards for Rakuten purchases

Rakuten users will receive cash back in addition to any rewards from the credit card they use. At most participating retailers, it’s best to pay with a credit card that earns bonus points and miles on everyday purchases, such as:

• Chase Freedom Flex®: Earn 5% back on up to $1,500 in quarterly rotating categories (activation required), including Amazon this quarter.
• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Earn 3% cash back on online purchases from U.S. retailers (on the first $6,000 spent in each category per calendar year, then 1% cash back until the next year). Cash back can be redeemed as reward dollars for statement credits or Amazon.com checkout.
• Citi Double Cash® Card: Earn 2% cash back on all purchases — 1% when you buy and an additional 1% as you pay off those purchases (see rates and fees).

For more options, check out our top cards for online shopping.

Alternatively, use a card where you’ve added a Chase or Amex Offer for that retailer to maximize your savings.

In conclusion

Believe it or not, the holiday shopping season is here. Even if you only use this time to snag better deals on items you’d buy anyway, the cash-back offers are in full swing. To make sure you select the best option with the highest rewards for your intended purchase, compare all the various cash-back sites before finalizing your buy.

Keep in mind that new Rakuten users can earn a $30 cash bonus when they spend a minimum of $30 on a qualifying purchase within the first 90 days.

Many eligible retailers for these promotions also take part in credit card merchant offers. Therefore, it’s wise to check if a merchant has an offer through Amex Offers, Chase Offers, Citi Merchant Offers, or the American Airlines AAdvantage's SimplyMiles program before you make your purchase.