5 Rakuten Alternatives to Earn Cashback

Rakuten is a cashback and shopping rewards program that lets you earn money back when you shop through its affiliate links from over 750 partner retailers. It has helped more than 7 million customers earn over $140 million in cashback since 2012, but it’s not the only cashback platform available in Canada. Here are five Rakuten alternatives that offer similar or even higher cashback rates, along with different ways to earn rewards.

1. Swagbucks

Swagbucks offers more ways to earn than Rakuten, making it ideal if you want to earn extra cash without having to make a purchase first. Swagbucks lets you earn through shopping, surveys, games and tasks like product reviews, but it may take you longer to earn cashback.

• How much it pays: Cashback is 1% – 10%, but the overall earning potential with Swagbucks is $1 to $250 per offer.
• How to earn cash: Cashback from online shopping; scan receipts; play games; take surveys and more
• Payout time and method: Withdrawals take up to 10 business days to be processed. Get cash via PayPal or redeem your points for gift cards.

Go to site

• Pros

  • More earning options than Rakuten
  • Android and iOS mobile app
  • Free to join and use
  • Multiple cash-out options with a range of gift cards
  • Low minimum withdrawal for gift cards

• Cons

  • High minimum withdrawal for PayPal
  • Time-intensive compared to Rakuten’s passive cashback
  • Frequent survey disqualifications

Make money online

Play Games & Take Surveys

Freecash

Go to site

• Access a variety of tasks
• Earn up to $300 per offer
• $10 CAD sign-up bonus when you start your first offer

Best for Mobile

Testerup

Go to site

• Earn up to $800 through offers
• No limit on how much you play games or complete surveys
• Earn money while playing games

Paid Surveys

LEO (Leger Opinion)

Go to site

• Earn up to $100 per month in rewards
• Finder readers receive 2,000 LEO welcome bonus points
• Free, user-friendly, and secure app and website

2. Great Canadian Rebates

Great Canadian Rebates is similar to Rakuten, but it features Canada-specific deals and occasionally higher cashback rates for select retailers. However, you can only earn cashback on eligible online purchases, while Rakuten has in-person offers as well.

• How much it pays: 1% – 10% cashback bonus. Credit card rebates commonly range from $30 – $200.
• How to earn cash: Shop online through its website or Apple app
• Payout time and method: Payment options are e-gift cards, direct deposits and PayPal. Rewards are automatically paid each month if you have a balance of $10 or more for over 58 days for e-gift cards, or if you have a balance of $12 or more for over 58 days for direct deposits and PayPal. Cashback is paid on the business day nearest to the 28th of the month.

• Pros

  • Monthly promotions
  • Earn 25% of all cashback your referrals earn for 2 years
  • Free to sign up
  • Over 900 partner retailers
  • Monthly payouts
  • Fast cashback rebates

• Cons

  • No cashback on in-store purchases
  • No Android app
  • No browser extension
  • Payouts require holding the minimum balance for 58 days
  • Limited earning methods beyond shopping

3. Finder Rewards

Our own Finder Rewards is a free program that lets you earn digital Visa gift cards when you sign up for select accounts through Finder. Unlike Rakuten, which gives cashback on everyday shopping, Finder Rewards primarily offers one-time bonuses for signing up for financial products.

• How much it pays: $25 to $250+ per transaction.
• How to earn cash: Open an eligible account by using Finder’s link on the website
• Payout time and method: Several weeks, Visa digital gift card.

• Pros

  • Free to join and use
  • Email and app notifications
  • Designed for Canadian users
  • Generous one-off payouts
  • Easy to earn rewards

• Cons

  • Limited brand partnerships
  • Fewer earning opportunities
  • Not built for ongoing income
  • Payouts can take months

4. TopCashback

TopCashback is known for offering some of the highest cashback rates on eligible purchases among competitors, claiming you can earn up to $450 a year on the platform. It’s similar to Rakuten, but it has no minimum payout for PayPal, and you can withdraw your rewards as soon as they become payable.

• How much it pays: 1% – 10%. TopCashback says members earn an average of $450 a year.
• How to earn cash: Shop via affiliate links; use TopCashback’s browser extension; refer friends
• Payout time and method: Cashback is credited to your account within seven days, but it isn't available to withdraw until the retailer's return policy is over. Cash out via PayPal.

• Pros

  • Browser extension available
  • Transparent commission structure
  • High cashback rates
  • Wide retailer network
  • Android and iOS mobile app
  • Free to use
  • TopCashback beats any U.S.-based cashback offer by 10%

• Cons

  • Rewards can take 6–23 weeks to become payable
  • Tailored to Americans
  • Only accepts U.S. bank accounts
  • No sign-up bonus

5. BeFrugal

BeFrugal is a cashback platform that lets you earn money back when you shop online through its website, app or browser extension. It often offers higher cashback rates up to 40% and matches competitors up to 125%, which Rakuten doesn’t do.

• How much it pays: Up to 40% cashback.
• How to earn cash: Shop through cashback links; earn sign-up and referral bonuses
• Payout time and method: Cashback is added to your account within 15 to 90 days of purchase. BeFrugal says most payouts are processed on the next business day after your withdrawal request. In Canada, you can cash out via PayPal or e-gift cards.

• Pros

  • Over 5,000 partner retailers
  • Mobile app available
  • Browser extension
  • Matches cashback rates up to 125%
  • $10 welcome bonus
  • Multiple ways to cash out

• Cons

  • Cashback takes 15 to 90 days to become payable
  • No in-store cashback

How does Rakuten compare?

Check out our Rakuten review for a full breakdown, but here are the key takeaways:

What to expect from sites like Rakuten when earning cashback

• Passive earning: Most sites like Rakuten let you earn cashback on purchases you were probably already planning to make.
• Delayed rewards: Cashback typically takes weeks or months to become payable after your purchase, so don’t rely on that money.
• Tracking required: You need to shop through the platform’s links, app or browser extension for your purchase to count.
• Variable rates: Cashback percentages can change depending on the retailer and current promotions.
• Minimum payout: Most platforms require you to reach a set threshold before withdrawing your earnings.
• Best for regular shoppers: Earnings are highest if you frequently shop through the platform.
• Not a full-time income: Rakuten alternatives are a good way to earn extra money, but they won’t replace a steady paycheque.

Bottom line

Rakuten alternatives give you more flexibility in how you earn, whether that’s through cashback on everyday shopping, sign-up bonuses, surveys or referral rewards. While Rakuten is great for passive cashback on purchases, other options may offer higher rates, more earning methods or exclusive deals. You can sign up to multiple cashback sites to see which one has the best offer, but just don’t expect to earn a regular income.

Frequently asked questions

• Is Rakuten worth using?

  Yes, if you shop online regularly, Rakuten and its alternatives are worth it. They're free to use and let you earn extra cash on purchases you were probably already making. Just don't expect your cashback to replace a full-time or even part-time income.

• Can I use multiple cashback sites at once?

  Yes, but you can typically only activate cashback offers from one platform per purchase.

• How long does cashback take to pay out?

  It depends on the cashback platform and retailer, but it often takes weeks or months.

• Is it free to use a cashback site?

  Yes, most cashback platforms are free to join and use.

• How do cashback sites earn money?

  Cashback platforms typically earn a commission from their partner retailers when you shop through their links, then they share a portion of that commission with you as a reward and keep the rest as revenue.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Leanne Escobal as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Rebecca Low

Writer

Add to Preferred Sources

Rebecca Low is a writer for Finder. She has contributed to a range of digital publications, including Wise, income.ca and Indeed, writing on topics like personal finance, career development, and travel. See full bio