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The Everyday Online Shopping Struggle
If your family is anything like mine, you probably shop online constantly: groceries, clothes for the kids, school supplies, even the occasional splurge on a family vacation item. For the longest time, I used to just click “buy” on Amazon or Target without thinking twice. But once I realized how many points I was missing out on, I felt like I was leaving free family trips on the table.
If you’re just getting started with points, my Beginner’s Guide to Points and Miles is a great place to start. It’ll help you understand the basics before diving into shopping portals like these.
Two of my favorite tools for turning everyday shopping into family travel are Rakuten and Capital One Offers. They both reward you for purchases you’re already making, but they work differently. Here’s how to make the most of them.
What Are Rakuten and Capital One Shopping?
Both Rakuten and Capital One Offers are shopping portals that give you points or cash back for purchases you’re already making.
- Rakuten: Once you sign up, you get to choose what kind of benefit you earn. The shopping portal gives you points (or cash back) when shopping through its portal. Keep in mind the only points you can earn are Amex Membership Rewards points.
- Capital One Offers: Lets eligible cardholders earn Capital One Miles or cash back when shopping at select retailers. You also get to choose points or cash back, similar to Rakuten.
⚠️ Important: Don’t confuse Capital One Shopping (a coupon tool) with Capital One Offers. Only Offers earns you Capital One Miles. This is a very important distinction, so if you pay attention to anything, pay attention to this!
How Rakuten Works
Rakuten partners with thousands of retailers. I really don’t think there’s one you can think of that’s not on there. Here’s the process:
- Sign up for free on Rakuten.
- Choose how you want to be rewarded: points or cash back.
- Click through Rakuten before making your purchase.
- Get rewarded quarterly with your earnings.
Best Cards to Use with Rakuten
Remember, you can only get certain kinds of points with Rakuten, so you need certain types of cards to shop with. Pair Rakuten with one of my favorite shopping portal credit cards so you’re stacking rewards: once from your card, and once from the portal.
Rakuten is best for families who:
- Love cash back to offset everyday expenses
- Prefer earning those extra points that can be redeemed for flights, hotels, and more
- Shop online frequently for household essentials
Rakuten also offers deals on certain retailers. For example, when you travel, you will likely want to book some kind of activity or tour. These can be booked through a company called Viator, who we have used to book things for multiple vacations. The other day Rakuten was offering 20x the points earned when you book something with Viator from their site. Win-win if you ask me.
If you want to dive deeper on making those Rakuten points work for you, read How to Earn Points With Rakuten.
How Capital One Offers Works
If you have an eligible Capital One card, you can use Capital One Offers. Here’s how to use the Capital One Offers:
- Log in to your Capital One account.
- Check your “Shopping Offers.”
- Activate the offer before you shop.
- Earn Capital One Miles or cash back automatically.
These offers can be more targeted than broad like Rakuten. And keep in mind with Capital One Offers, your earnings follow the card: miles cards earn miles, cash-back cards earn cash back.
Best Cards to Use with Capital One Offers
Not every Capital One card earns miles, some are cash back cards. I recommend looking at my favorite Capital One credit cards and apply for the cards that earn miles if you want to maximize this perk.
Capital One Offers is best for families who:
- Already have a Capital One card
- Prefer earning miles for future flights and hotels
- Like stacking extra rewards on purchases they’re already making
Read Why the Capital One Venture X Is My Favorite Card, and I’ll probably never get rid of it. This card has so many benefits, so I would recommend applying for this one first because Capital One can be picky about approvals if you already have a bunch of cards.
Rakuten vs. Capital One Shopping: Which Wins for Families?
| Feature | Rakuten | Capital One Offers |
|---|---|---|
| Points Earned | Points or cash back | Capital One Miles or cash back |
| Best For | Families who want flexible points | Families who want Capital One Miles |
| Who Can Use It? | Anyone | Capital One cardholders only |
| Payout Timing | Quarterly | Automatic |
| Bonus Stacking | Yes | Yes |
Final Thoughts
Both Rakuten and Capital One Offers are powerful tools for families looking to stretch their travel rewards further. If you only use one, you’re leaving value behind. Use Rakuten when you want to seriously add to your Amex Membership Rewards, and Capital One Offers when you want more Capital One Miles.
Want to see how I layer strategies like this with credit cards? Check out my post on How to Choose the Best Travel Credit Card for Your Family.
And if you’re ready to start stacking travel rewards, don’t miss my free Beginner’s Guide to Points and Miles.
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