Rakuten Review: Is the Rakuten Referral Code the Only Real Reason to Join?
Cashback sites are one of the easiest ways to save money online. Click a link, shop as normal, and get a bit of cash back for very little effort. Simple. But with heavyweights like TopCashback and Quidco already dominating the space, does Rakuten actually deserve your attention, or is the Rakuten referral code the only thing making it worth a look?
Let’s be blunt and take a proper look.
Rakuten review
Rakuten offers a good range of stores and is incredibly easy to use. While day-to-day cashback rates are often higher on TopCashback or Quidco, Rakuten’s **generous £25 sign-up bonus** and “Boost” events make it a must-have backup for any savvy shopper.
Pros
- Industry-leading £25 sign-up bonus
- User-friendly interface and app
- Regular “Boosted” rate events (up to 20%)
Cons
- Standard rates are often lower than competitors
- Fewer payout options than TopCashback
Reviewed by Household Money SavingWhat is Rakuten?
Rakuten is an online cashback site. When you click through to a retailer via Rakuten and make a purchase, the retailer pays Rakuten a commission. Rakuten then shares part of that commission with you as cashback.
There’s nothing clever or mysterious going on here. It’s the same model used by every major cashback site in the UK.
Is it safe?
Yes. Rakuten is a huge global company that started in Japan back in 1997. They’ve previously operated a marketplace in the UK and were even official sponsors of Barcelona Football Club for several years. This isn’t a fly-by-night operation.
From my experience, tracking works reliably and payouts arrive when they say they will.
Also worth reading
Not impressed with Rakuten? Why not check out the best cashback sites in the UK?
How does Rakuten work?
If you’ve ever used a cashback site before, you already know the drill.
You sign up with your email address, add your payment details (bank or PayPal), and optionally install the Rakuten browser extension so you don’t forget to activate cashback.
When you’re about to shop online, you check Rakuten first. If the retailer is listed, you click through from Rakuten and complete your purchase as normal. Cashback is then tracked and added to your account once the retailer confirms the sale.
Once it clears, Rakuten automatically pays you. You don’t need to request a withdrawal.
How long does it take for cashback to track?
Most cashback shows up within a few hours, although Rakuten says it can take up to three days. If it doesn’t appear, you can raise a missing cashback claim.
Cashback usually becomes payable after 60–90 days, depending on the retailer. However, cashback from places like Just Eat (you’re not going to return a takeaway after a week) is usually payable much sooner.
How much can you earn?
In most cases, cashback rates sit somewhere between 1% and 5%. Occasionally, Rakuten runs boosted or “hot” offers, but these are rarely market-leading.
For services like broadband or insurance, cashback is usually a fixed amount rather than a percentage.
This is where Rakuten starts to fall down.
How does Rakuten compare?
Now we know how it all works, let’s take a look at the cashback rates at several random stores and how it compares to one of the best cashback sites – TopCashback.
Rakuten | TopCashback | |
Boohoo | 0.75% | 4% |
Boots | 3% | 3% |
BT Broadband | £18.75 | £50-£90 |
Currys | 1.5% | 1% |
JD Sports | 4.5% | 6% |
Moonpig | 3.75% | 5.55% |
Sainsbury’s | 2.25% | £1 |
Viking | 4% | 5.25% |
Most of the time, TopCashback simply wins. Sometimes by a small margin, sometimes by a huge one. Taking £18.75 for a BT switch when £50+ is available elsewhere just doesn’t make sense.
Rakuten’s refer a friend
This is where Rakuten finally does something right.
Rakuten’s refer-a-friend scheme is genuinely strong. If you join using a Rakuten referral link and spend £50 or more within 90 days, you and the person who referred you both receive a £25 bonus.
That’s far more generous than most cashback sites and is, honestly, the main reason I’d suggest anyone signs up in the first place.
My Rakuten review conclusion
If Rakuten didn’t have a referral bonus, I wouldn’t bother recommending it.
The cashback rates are usually weaker than the competition, exclusive deals are thin on the ground, and there’s nothing here that makes it a must-use site. In a crowded cashback market, that’s a problem.
That said, I personally earn more cashback at Sainsbury’s using Rakuten than I do with TopCashback, so there are occasional exceptions. But they’re exactly that – exceptions.
Rakuten doesn’t do enough to be your main cashback site. It works best as a secondary option or as a quick win for the referral bonus.
Rakuten referral code
If you want to give Rakuten a try or just grab the sign-up bonus, use the button below. Spend £50 or more within your first 90 days and we’ll both receive £25 cashback.
