Rakuten Canada Review: Is It Worth It?

Rakuten is one of Canada’s most popular cashback platforms, partnering with hundreds of retailers across categories like fashion, electronics, travel and beauty. I tested out the platform myself to see whether it’s worth it, and I think it is. You won’t get rich, but you can still earn a little extra back on your everyday purchases.

What is Rakuten?

Rakuten started in 1998 under the name Ebates, a cashback platform designed to help shoppers earn rewards on their purchases. In 2014, it was acquired by Rakuten Group, a Japanese e-commerce company, and officially rebranded as Rakuten in 2019.

Today, Rakuten partners with over 750 retailers in Canada across a range of categories, including hardware, sports, entertainment and travel. When you click a retailer link on Rakuten or activate it through the browser extension, Rakuten receives a commission from the retailer and shares part of it with you as cashback.

Is Rakuten Canada legit?

Yes, Rakuten Canada is a legitimate cashback platform that has helped over 7 million customers earn more than $140 million in cashback. Rakuten is a subsidiary of Rakuten Group, a multinational corporation publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange with businesses in 30 countries. I also found the company on the Ontario Business Registry, registered under Rakuten Rewards Canada.

How much can you earn on Rakuten?

Your earnings on Rakuten depend on how often you shop and which retailers you use, but cashback rates typically range from 1% – 10%. People on Reddit say they’ve made anywhere from $25 to $250 on average each year.

What I like about Rakuten

• Earn cashback on purchases. The main benefit of Rakuten is that you can earn cashback on purchases you were already making, simply by clicking through the platform or activating the browser extension before you shop. You may not get a ton back for each purchase, but these rewards can add up.
• Rakuten’s browser extension. I prefer using Rakuten’s browser extension over its website or mobile app because it automatically notifies me of available offers, so I don’t have to worry about missing rewards, like additional cashback or store promotions.
• Mobile app. When I was shopping on my phone, Rakuten’s mobile app was more convenient. I also set up push notifications to alert me of special promotions, like additional cashback from certain retailers.
• Free to use. There’s no cost to sign up for Rakuten, earn cashback or withdraw your earnings.
• Wide range of retailers. Rakuten partners with over 750 stores in Canada, including popular brands like Sephora, Amazon, Temu, Samsung and Dyson. And it’s not just product purchases that qualify for cashback; you can also earn rewards on subscriptions such as Disney+ and QuickBooks or when opening accounts with financial institutions like KOHO.
• Gift card availability. Rakuten also offers cashback on digital and physical gift cards from over 40 major retailers. In some cases, you can even stack cashback rewards by using the gift card for a purchase through Rakuten, though not all retailers offer cashback on gift card purchases, so be sure to read the terms and conditions first.
• Additional ways to earn. You don’t have to shop to earn rewards. Rakuten also offers a refer-a-friend program and often a welcome bonus after you complete your first qualifying purchase.

The downsides of using Rakuten

• Gift cards aren’t delivered immediately. When I purchased a digital gift card from Rakuten, it said delivery would take one to two business days. I did receive it within three hours, but it’s a bit inconvenient if you want to use the gift card right away. Physical gift cards take even longer, with delivery times of up to two weeks.
• Cashback can take time to appear. After making a purchase through Rakuten, the cashback doesn’t usually show up in your account immediately. It typically takes 3–14 weeks for online and in-store purchases, 6–17 weeks for travel bookings and 3–5 days for dining cashback. However, Rakuten stated I would receive my cashback within seven days, but I got it in eight hours.
• Maintenance fees. If your account is inactive for 12 consecutive months, Rakuten will start charging you a $5 monthly maintenance fee, which can gradually eat into any accumulated cashback if you don’t log in and shop.
• Not all purchases are eligible for cashback. Each merchant has different rules about what qualifies for cashback, so I found myself having to read the terms and conditions before every purchase. In some cases, certain products, promo codes, payment methods or even already having items in your basket can invalidate the cashback, which can make the process a bit confusing.
• Rewards are only paid out quarterly. Rakuten only issues payments every three months, so you’ll have to wait a while to actually receive your cashback.

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My experience with Rakuten

To test the platform, I purchased a $25 gift card from Uber Eats through Rakuten and received 2.0% cashback, which worked out to $0.50. Here’s what the process was like:

My experience with Rakuten’s browser extension

I’ve also used the Rakuten browser extension when shopping online. When you visit partner websites, Rakuten automatically notifies you of available cashback offers or store promotions, applies coupon codes, and ensures your purchases are tracked so you earn rewards without having to manually visit the Rakuten website. Here’s what the extension looks like on different websites:

With the extension, you can also see cashback offers available before you even click on a retailer’s website.

Overall, I had a positive experience with Rakuten. The website and browser extension were easy to use, signing up was simple and free, and I received my $0.50 cashback within eight hours, even though Rakuten said it could take up to seven days to see it in my account. However, I won’t be able to withdraw this cashback until Rakuten’s next quarterly payout period in May.

What are the ways to earn on Rakuten?

There are several ways to earn cashback through Rakuten:

• Shopping through Rakuten’s website. The main way to earn cashback is by starting your shopping trip on Rakuten and clicking through to a partner retailer from its website or app. Rakuten will show the current cashback rate for each store, and once you complete your purchase, the retailer will confirm it with Rakuten, and you’ll receive cashback.
• Activating the browser extension. If you install the Rakuten browser extension, it will automatically prompt you to activate cashback when you visit a participating store. It also notifies you of any store promotions so you don’t miss out.
• Referral bonuses. Rakuten offers referral bonuses of $30 for you and $30 for your friend when you invite them to join the platform and they complete their first qualifying purchase.
• Special promotions. Rakuten occasionally runs limited-time bonus events where you can earn additional cashback. For example, at the time of writing, Columbia Sportswear is temporarily offering 18% cashback through Rakuten when its original rate is 2%.
• Sign-up bonus. Rakuten typically offers a sign-up bonus to attract new users. When I signed up, I received a $5 bonus after completing my first qualifying purchase.
• Link a card. You can even earn cashback in-store at participating retailers if you link an eligible Visa card to your account. After linking your card, browse the current in-store offers and attach the one you want to your card before making a purchase.

How do I get paid?

Rakuten pays out cashback rewards four times a year in February, May, August and December. You can receive your payment via Interac e-Transfer, physical cheque or PayPal direct deposit as long as you meet the minimum withdrawal requirement of $5.01. If you don’t, your money will be carried over to the next payment. Bonus rewards like sign-up rewards or the refer-a-friend bonus don’t count towards the minimum.

Rakuten reviews

Overall, feedback about Rakuten is positive. Many people praise its easy-to-use platform and browser extension, noting that it has saved them hundreds of dollars on purchases they were already planning to make. Users also report receiving prompt customer service when dealing with issues like missing cashback rewards.

That said, there are some negative reviews and complaints about Rakuten, especially on the Better Business Bureau. Some users report not receiving the cashback they were owed, or that it was delayed, and that their accounts were unfairly closed. However, Rakuten responds to many complaints and negative reviews, offering customers a solution or a Valued Member Bonus if they can’t come to a resolution. In many cases, users just didn’t fully review the terms and conditions, so they weren’t eligible for cashback.

As of March 10, 2026

What does Reddit say about Rakuten?

There’s a whole Rakuten Reddit subreddit with 30,000 weekly visitors where users discuss their experiences with the platform, ask questions about it or share current promotions. There are many positive threads from long-time Rakuten users, saying they’ve easily saved hundreds of dollars.

However, there are also numerous complaints on the subreddit about missing or delayed cashback credit or purchases being marked ineligible even when users followed the steps. Other Reddit users often reply with solutions or share similar stories.

How does Rakuten make money?

Rakuten makes money through affiliate marketing. When you click a retailer link through Rakuten and make a purchase, the retailer pays Rakuten a commission for referring the sale. Rakuten then shares a portion of that commission with you as cashback and keeps the rest as revenue.

Verdict: Is Rakuten worth it?

I definitely think Rakuten is worth it. It’s free to join, easy to use, and it provides cashback on purchases you’re probably already making. You don’t even need to use Rakuten’s website or app; just install the browser extension, and you’ll receive prompts to activate cashback or promotions automatically while shopping online.

While the earnings won’t replace a full-time income, and you have to spend money to earn money, it can add up to a decent amount over time.

Bottom line

Rakuten is one of the simplest ways to earn cashback on everyday purchases. By starting your shopping through the platform or activating its browser extension, you can earn a percentage of your purchases back from over 750 retailers in Canada. The payouts may not be huge, but Rakuten is free to use, so I’ll definitely be adding it to my online shopping routine.

Frequently asked questions about Rakuten

• Are there any fees for receiving cashback from Rakuten?

  No, no matter what withdrawal method you use to receive your cashback, Rakuten covers the fees.

• How long does it take to receive cashback rewards?

  How long it takes cashback rewards to appear in your account depends on the purchase.

  • Online and in-store cash back: 3 to 14 weeks after your purchase
  • Travel cash back: 6 to 17 weeks after your booking is complete
  • Dining: 3 to 5 days after you dine
  • Refer-a-friend bonus: Depends on the order, but your friend needs to make a purchase and have their cashback confirmed first.

• Can I earn cashback in store?

  Yes, if you link an eligible Visa card to your account and an available in-store offer, you can earn cashback in store.

• Are all purchases eligible for cashback?

  No. Each retailer sets rules about what purchases qualify. Some items, promo codes, payment methods or already having items in your cart may disqualify a purchase.

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

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