If you’ve been putting off trying Rakuten, the time to jump in is now. Rakuten (formerly known as Ebates) is offering an enhanced sign-up bonus of USD 40 or 4,000 Membership Rewards points for new members who make a qualifying purchase through the platform.
What is Rakuten?
Rakuten is a cashback shopping portal that partners with thousands of online retailers — including Apple, Macy’s, Nike, and even travel booking platforms like Booking.com and Expedia — to offer you a percentage of your spend back in the form of cashback. But here’s the kicker: if you opt in to earn American Express Membership Rewards instead of cashback, you can supercharge your loyalty strategy (only for American members).
That means instead of earning USD 10 cashback on a USD 100 purchase, you could earn 1,000 Amex Membership Rewards points. For those who understand the power of transferable points (and if you’re reading LiveFromALounge, you probably do), that’s a no-brainer.
The current offer: USD 40 cash back or 4,000 Amex points
Through this limited-time promotion, new Rakuten users in the US who sign up using a referral link and spend at least USD 40 at any participating store within 90 days of joining will receive USD 40 back, or 4,000 Membership Rewards points if you’ve linked your Amex account. This is among the highest sign-up bonuses Rakuten has offered in recent times. Normally, the bonus hovers between USD 10 and USD 30. Even an international audience can sign up if they have a US Address. Sign up here.
For the person being referred, you are getting a USD 40 extra credit on a USD 40 purchase, which makes it worth USD 80. For the USD 40 bonus, you can buy a USD 40 gift card from many vendors, which is transferred to your PayPal account, or you can get it as an Amex MR credit. Paypal can further transfer this to your INR account after applying a charge for its services, though.
The promotion is on till May 12, 2025.
Why this matters for Indian travellers
Even though Rakuten is a US-based portal, Indians who hold an Amex US credit card (perhaps via a Global Transfer or US residency) can fully participate in this offer. If you’re part of the global-earning, India-spending crowd, Rakuten is a must-have tool in your miles & points arsenal.
Every purchase you make via Rakuten is essentially a discounted one. And if you’re earning Membership Rewards, you’re effectively turning online shopping into first-class flights or luxury hotel stays — something you can’t say about ordinary cashback.
Bottomline
Rakuten is my favourite US online shopping portal. The company is currently offering its best-ever new member bonus of USD 40. Through May 12, 2025, there’s a USD 40 referral bonus to both the referring person and those signing up for being referred, exclusively via referral, not a direct signup. Here is a referral link. Whether it’s your next gadget, some new gear from Nike, or even your next hotel stay, why not get paid (or earn points) for it?
As always, shop smart — and let your loyalty work for you. Will you sign up for Rakuten?
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