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The Everyday Online Shopping Struggle
If your family is anything like mine, you shop online constantly: groceries, kids’ clothes, school supplies. I used to click “buy” without thinking twice, until I realized how many points I was leaving on the table.
Two of my favorite fixes are Rakuten and Capital One Offers. They both reward you for things you’re already buying, but they work differently. (New to points? Start with my Beginner’s Guide to Points and Miles.)
At a glance
Rakuten vs. Capital One Offers
Both pay you extra for shopping you’re already doing. The difference is who can use them and what you earn.
Shopping portal
Anyone can join for free.
- Earn cash back, Amex Membership Rewards points or Bilt points
- Thousands of stores
- Pays out every three months
Card shopping portal
Only for Capital One cardholders.
- Earn miles or cash back, matching your card
- Offers vary by card and change often
- Rewards post to your Capital One account
Helpful hint: Rove Miles is a shopping portal that earns airline miles instead of cash. Sign up with my link and you get 1,500 bonus miles (it’s only 500 if you sign up on your own). (Affiliate link.)
Capital One Shopping and Capital One Offers are two different things. Capital One Shopping is a free browser tool that finds coupon codes and lower prices. Capital One Offers is the one inside your Capital One account that earns miles (or cash back, depending on your card).
How Rakuten Works
Step by step
How Rakuten Works
Rakuten partners with thousands of stores. Most of the stores families shop are on there, though not every one, so check before you buy.
Sign up free
Join Rakuten (new members get $50 after spending $50 in their first 90 days).
Pick your reward
Choose cash back, Amex points or Bilt points in your account settings.
Click through first
Start every order from Rakuten’s site, app or browser extension.
Get paid
Your earnings pay out every three months.
Best for families who shop online a lotBest Cards to Use with Rakuten
Pay with a card that earns points, and you earn twice: once from your card and once from Rakuten. Here are my favorite cards for shopping portals. If you have an Amex card that earns Membership Rewards, you can turn your Rakuten earnings into Amex points (or Bilt points).
Watch for boosted rates. Rakuten sometimes runs extra-high rates at travel sites like Viator (we’ve booked tours through them on several trips), so check Rakuten before you book activities.
How Capital One Offers Works
Step by step
How Capital One Offers Works
If you have a Capital One card, you already have access.
Log in
Open your Capital One account or app and find Capital One Offers.
Pick a store
Browse the offers. They change often and can be different for each card.
Shop through the link
Click through to the store from Capital One Offers and pay with that card.
Earn automatically
Miles cards earn miles, cash back cards earn cash back. Rewards usually post within about 45 days.
Best for families who already have a Capital One cardBest Cards to Use with Capital One Offers
Not every Capital One card earns miles (some earn cash back), so check my favorite Capital One credit cards if you want miles. The Venture X is my favorite card, and I’ll probably never get rid of it. If you’re choosing, I’d apply for it first, since Capital One can be picky about approvals when you already have a lot of cards.
Other Shopping Portals Worth Knowing
- Airline portals: Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping, United MileagePlus Shopping and Atmos Rewards Shopping earn miles with your favorite airline.
- Cash back portals: TopCashback and RebatesMe if you’d rather have plain cash.
They all work the same way: click through the portal before you check out. Just remember you can only use one portal per purchase. I break them all down in All About Shopping Portals for Families.
Rakuten vs. Capital One Offers: Which Wins for Families?
Side by side
The Quick Comparison
- You earn: cash, Amex points or Bilt points
- Who can use it: anyone
- Payout: every three months
- Stacks with: your card’s points and card offers
- You earn: Capital One miles or cash back
- Who can use it: Capital One cardholders
- Payout: usually within about 45 days, to your Capital One rewards
- Stacks with: your card’s points
Final Thoughts
If you only use one, you’re leaving rewards behind. Use Rakuten when you want flexible points like Amex or Bilt, and Capital One Offers when you want more Capital One miles.
Want to see how I pair portals with cards? Read How to Choose the Best Travel Credit Card for Your Family, or grab my free Beginner’s Guide to Points and Miles.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
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