How to Earn Extra Amex Points with Rakuten

Rakuten is the easiest way to earn extra points on shopping you were already doing. Here is exactly how it works, how to stack it for double points, and the free-points plays most people miss.

How to Earn Extra Amex Points with Rakuten

by Julia Portela

August 12, 2026 Reading Time: 8 min read

If you shop online at all, Rakuten is one of the simplest ways to earn extra points without changing what you buy or what you pay. Below I break down what it is, how to get paid in Amex points instead of cash, how to stack it for double points, and the bank and subscription plays that can add thousands of points at once.

What Is Rakuten?

Rakuten is a free shopping portal with more than 3,500 stores. When you start your shopping trip at Rakuten and then click through to a store, Rakuten earns a commission on your purchase and pays part of it back to you. It does not cost anything and it does not change your price.

The one rule beginners miss: you have to start at Rakuten every time (through the website, the app, or the browser extension) or the purchase will not track. No click through, no points.

Cash Back or Points?

In your Account Settings you choose how you get paid: cash back, American Express Membership Rewards points, or Bilt points. Whichever you pick, your cash-back percentage becomes a points rate.

So a store showing 10% back means 10x points per dollar, and a $100 purchase earns 1,000 points instead of $10.

To earn Amex points you need an eligible Membership Rewards card, like the Amex Platinum or Amex Gold. Co-branded Amex cards (Delta, Hilton, Marriott) do not qualify.

Good to know: you do not have to pay with your Amex to earn the points. You can pay with any card, even a Chase card, and still earn Amex points through Rakuten. That opens up a nice stacking trick I explain below.

I personally set my Rakuten to earn Bilt points, because I have Bilt status. If you do not have Bilt status, Amex is usually the better choice (more on why in the next section).

Want Bilt Points Instead?

You cannot switch your Rakuten payout to Bilt from inside Rakuten's settings. You have to link the accounts from the Bilt app. As long as your Bilt and Rakuten accounts use the same email, you are just linking, not opening anything new.

Link accounts here.

Here is the catch that decides whether Bilt is worth it for you. Blue members (no status) now earn only 50 Bilt points per $1 of cash back, while Silver, Gold, and Platinum members earn 100 per $1. Amex earns the equivalent of 100 per $1 for everyone. So Bilt only comes out ahead if you have status.

That is why, if you really want to earn Bilt, it can be worth getting the Bilt Palladium Card. Its welcome bonus includes Gold status (plus 50,000 Bilt points and $300 Bilt Cash) after you spend $4,000 in the first 90 days, and Gold status is what keeps you at the full 100 points per $1. More info on the Bilt Palladium.

How to Stack for Double Points

This is where Rakuten goes from nice to powerful. On the same purchase you can earn three ways at once: the Rakuten portal points, your credit card's normal points, and a card-linked offer (like an Amex Offer or a Chase Offer) if one is available.

Here is a real example. Amex has run an offer on Dior Beauty where spending a set amount earns around 4,000 Membership Rewards points. Start that same Dior Beauty purchase through Rakuten, pay with your Amex card that has the offer added, and you get paid twice: once from Rakuten and once from the Amex Offer. That is double the points on one order.

I post double-dip offers like this on my Instagram, @journeyonpoints, so keep an eye out.

Do Not Forget the Browser Extension

Install the Rakuten browser extension. It pops up to remind you to activate cash back before you check out, so you never forget to start at Rakuten.

One important tip: turn off other coupon extensions like Honey, because they can override Rakuten's tracking and cost you your points.

Deals Change Daily

Rakuten rates move all the time. A store might be 3% today and 10% during a Double Cash Back Day or a big sale event. If you have a large purchase coming (travel, electronics, furniture), it pays to wait for a higher rate. Checking Rakuten before any online order becomes a quick habit.

One thing that does not earn: gift cards. Rakuten generally does not pay cash back on gift card purchases, and some stores also will not pay on the part of an order you cover with a gift card. Always read the store's terms on the Rakuten page before you buy.

Free Points from Bank Bonuses

Rakuten also partners with some banks where you earn a bonus for opening a new account through their link. This is some of the easiest points out there. The offers rotate constantly, so it is worth checking back and knowing what a strong deal looks like.

Here are the highest amounts I have seen each one pay, so you know a good one when it comes around:

• Alliant: Best offer is up to 20,000 points ($200)

• SoFi: up to 37,500 points ($375), and 40,000 ($400) in rare promotions
• Mercury: up to 15,000 points ($150)
• Chime: up to 10,000 points ($100), and 25,000 ($250) in rare promotions

Each offer has its own requirement, usually a direct deposit within a set number of days, so read the terms first.

Big Points from Subscriptions

Some of the largest single hauls come from software and subscription services. Rakuten regularly runs very high rates on these, sometimes up to 100% back.

Recent examples include NordVPN, NordPass, NordProtect, Surfshark, Incogni, and LifeLock. NordPass and Surfshark have hit 100%, while LifeLock tops out around 90%.

Here is why that is such a big deal. That percentage is also your points multiplier: 90% back means 90x points, and 100% back means 100x points. So if a subscription costs around $100 at 100% back, you earn 100x, which is 10,000 points from one $100 purchase (and you still get the subscription).

Two things to know before you sign up. First, these are one time per customer only, so you cannot earn the points again on the same service. Second, always read the terms and conditions, because Rakuten will not pay on certain membership plans. Read the T&C before you commit.

When You Get Paid

Rakuten does not pay instantly. Cash back and points are confirmed and then paid out on a quarterly schedule. If you return or cancel an order, the cash back is taken back. So think of this as points that show up a little later, not right away.

Get 5,000 Bonus Points to Start

If you are new to Rakuten, you can start with a bonus. Right now new members get 5,000 Amex points (or 5,000 Bilt points, or $50) after spending $50 within 90 days of signing up. It is one of the best sign-up offers Rakuten has run, and it is live through September 30, 2026.

Use my link to get it: www.rakuten.com/r/JULIAD2054?eeid=28187.

This is a referral link, so we both get a bonus.

Want to Earn on Restaurants Too?

Rakuten also pays you for eating out through a separate program called Rakuten Dining, which is worth setting up once and forgetting. I wrote a full guide on how it works and which card to link so you earn the most: link to article.

Bottom Line

Rakuten is close to free points for shopping you were doing anyway. Set your payout to Amex (or Bilt if you have status), install the extension, check the rate before you buy, and let the bank and subscription bonuses add big chunks when the timing is right. Just keep it to purchases you actually want, since chasing points on things you would not buy defeats the purpose.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.