Rakuten Rewards: Your Guide to Earning 5,000 Bonus Points

January 4, 2026

Rakuten is a leading shopping platform that provides cash back or credit card points on purchases from thousands of online retailers.

This guide outlines the simple steps to create your account, select your preferred reward currency, and secure a valuable 5,000-point welcome bonus.

Step 1: Activate Your 5,000-Point Welcome Bonus To qualify for the 5,000 bonus points, you must first create a new Rakuten account using a valid referral link. This bonus is equivalent to $50 in cash back or 5,000 points in your chosen reward currency. To begin your enrollment and activate this offer, please use the following link: Rakuten Enrollment Link

Once your account is created, you have a 90-day window to complete a qualifying purchase of $50 or more to receive the bonus.

Step 2: Choose Your Reward Currency: Amex or Bilt. Rakuten offers the unique flexibility to convert your earned cash back into high-value credit card points. You can choose to receive your rewards as either American Express Membership Rewards (MR) points or Bilt Rewards points. The method for selecting your reward currency differs based on your choice, as detailed in the table below:

Option A: Earning American Express Membership Rewards Points 

If you possess a qualifying American Express card, you can easily switch your Rakuten earnings from cash back to MR points:

1. Log in to your newly created Rakuten account on the website.

2. Navigate to your Account Settings.

3. Look for the section titled “How would you like to get paid?”

4. Select the option to “Switch to Membership Rewards® points” and follow the on-screen prompts to securely link your American Express account.

Option B: Earning Bilt Rewards Points

Earning Bilt Rewards points through Rakuten is an excellent strategy, as it does not require you to hold the Bilt credit card. The linking process is initiated through the Bilt platform. 

To ensure your accounts are properly connected and to support the continued availability of this valuable points-earning tool, please use the official Bilt-Rakuten partnership link below: Bilt-Rakuten Linking Portal

Don't have a Bilt account yet? Sign up for free

Step-by-Step Linking Process:

1. Click the Bilt-Rakuten Linking Portal above.

2. You will be directed to the Bilt website or prompted to open the Bilt App.

3. Log in to your Bilt account.

4. Navigate to the Rewards or Partnerships section and find the Rakuten option.

5. Follow the instructions to sign in to your Rakuten account and confirm the link.

6. Once linked, your Rakuten earnings will automatically be converted to Bilt Rewards points and deposited into your Bilt account quarterly.

Step 3: Make Your Qualifying Purchase

To successfully earn the 5,000-point welcome bonus, you must make a total of $50 or more in qualifying purchases through the Rakuten portal within 90 days of signing up.

A highly recommended strategy for meeting this requirement is to purchase a gift card through Giftcards.com via the Rakuten portal.

Why Giftcards.com is the Best Choice:

- Triple Dip Rewards: You earn rewards from three sources:

1. Rakuten Points: Earn points on the gift card purchase itself.

2. Credit Card Points: Earn points on the transaction using your credit card.

3. 5,000 Bonus Points: The purchase counts toward the $50 minimum to unlock your welcome bonus.

- Flexibility: You can purchase a gift card for a retailer you already plan to shop at, effectively turning a planned expense into a triple-reward opportunity.

Simply search for Giftcards.com on the Rakuten website or app, click through to the retailer, and complete a purchase of $50 or more. Your 5,000 bonus points will be credited to your account after the purchase is confirmed.