Get $50 for every friend you refer

Refer. Get $50. Repeat! For a limited time, you can invite your friends to get Cash Back at their favorite stores, and you’ll score $50 for every referral. Here’s how it works:

1. Send your referral link to friends.
2. They join and spend $50 within 90 days of joining Rakuten.
3. You both get $50!

There’s no limit to how much you can earn. With Rakuten, you can even stack Cash Back on top of sales for more savings. So refer everyone you know and give friends the hookup on savings and Cash Back.   

Top FAQs for Rakuten’s Refer-A-Friend Program

1. What is the Refer-A-Friend program?
   Rakuten lets existing members share a unique referral link with friends. If a friend signs up using your link and makes a qualifying purchase, both you (the referrer) and your friend (the referee) can earn a bonus. (Rakuten)
2. How does it work (step by step)?
   • Log in to your Rakuten account and go to the Refer-A-Friend or “Refer & Earn” page to get your unique link. (Rakuten)
   • Share that link (via email, text, social, etc.). (Rakuten)
   • The referred friend must sign up via your link (or provide your email at sign-up, depending on how Rakuten tracks referrals) (Rakuten)
   • The friend must then make one or more qualifying purchases (through Rakuten, its app, or browser extension) within a set timeframe. (Rakuten)
   • Once the purchase(s) is confirmed, the referral bonus is awarded. (Rakuten)
3. What counts as a “qualifying purchase”?
   A “qualifying purchase” is a purchase made via Rakuten (or its app/extension) from an affiliate merchant, such that Cash Back is earned, within the referral’s eligible window. (Rakuten)
   Important exceptions:
   • Purchases on Amazon.com (except via music.amazon.com) generally don’t qualify under referral rules. (Rakuten)
   • Returns, exchanges, or other changes can void or reduce Cash Back, which may affect whether the referral bonus is confirmed. (Rakuten)
4. How much do I (and my friend) earn?
   The bonus amounts vary depending on the current promotion or offer. (Rakuten)
   For example, one current offer lets you and your friend each earn $50 if the friend spends at least $50 in qualifying purchases. (Rakuten)
   Keep in mind that the bonus for the referred person is based on what was offered on the day they sign up. (Rakuten)
5. How long does my friend have to make the purchase(s)?
   The referred friend must make qualifying purchases within 90 days of sign-up in many cases to count as a valid referral. (Rakuten)
   If they don’t meet that deadline, the referral may expire. (Rakuten)
6. When will I receive my referral bonus?
   The bonus is confirmed once the friend’s purchases are confirmed (after the return/exchange risk period). (Rakuten)
   Rakuten’s FAQ says that it generally takes 3 to 14 weeks for Cash Back to be confirmed. (Rakuten)
   In some cases, the referral bonus is delivered within 60 days of the qualifying purchase. (Rakuten)
7. What do the terms “pending,” “earned,” “expired” referrals mean?
   • Pending referral: Your friend has signed up, but hasn’t made a qualifying purchase yet. (Rakuten)
   • Earned / Confirmed referral: Your friend has made a qualifying purchase, and your bonus is confirmed (or “paid”). (Rakuten)
   • Expired referral: The referred friend did not complete a qualifying purchase in the required timeframe. (Rakuten)
8. Are there limits to how many friends I can refer?
   There is no strict cap listed; you can invite as many people as you want. (Rakuten)
   But only new members (people who have never been Rakuten members before) are eligible for referral bonuses. (Rakuten)
9. Are there any restrictions or disqualifications I should know?
   Yes. Some important restrictions include:
   • Self-referrals (referring yourself) or creating multiple accounts to game the system is disallowed. (Rakuten)
   • Bulk, unsolicited promotional or “spam” methods are prohibited. (Rakuten)
   • Posting your referral link on sites not owned by you (merchants, forums, etc.) may violate rules. (Rakuten)
   • If Rakuten suspects fraudulent or abusive behavior, they can withhold, deny, or cancel bonuses, or even terminate accounts. (Rakuten)
   • Bonus offers may change or be canceled at any time. (Rakuten)
   • Referral program is available only to members in the 50 U.S. states, D.C., and Canada (for both referrers and referees). (Rakuten)
10. Where can I see my referral activity and bonus status?
    On the Refer-A-Friend page (or “My Referral Activity”) in your Rakuten account, you can track which friends have joined, whether their purchases qualified, and your bonus status (pending, earned, etc.). (Rakuten)