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I used to think the only way to grow my balance of Membership Rewards points was through everyday spending and new card welcome offers. But once I learned how to pair Rakuten with the right rewards card, I started earning points on things I was already buying, without applying for anything new.

If you’re just getting started with points, my Beginner’s Guide is a great place to start.

STOP: before you sign up for Rakuten, use a referral link like this one. You’ll get $50 (or 5,000 Amex points) once you spend $50 through Rakuten in your first 90 days.

What Is Rakuten?

Rakuten is an online shopping portal that gives you cash back when you shop through their site or browser extension. But if you have a card that earns Amex Membership Rewards points, you can switch your payout method from cash back to Amex points.

Every 1¢ of cash back becomes 1 Membership Rewards point, so a store paying 10% back earns you 10 points per dollar, without changing how you shop.

For a deeper comparison of portals, I also break this down in my post on Rakuten vs. Capital One.

Why Use Rakuten to Earn Membership Rewards?

Growing your points balance through Rakuten lets you keep earning, without opening a new card.

Here’s why it works so well:

Bypass Card Restrictions

Some banks limit how frequently you can apply for new cards or earn welcome offers. Rakuten gives you another way to earn points that doesn’t depend on approvals or new accounts.

Earn on Purchases You’re Already Making

If you’re shopping online anyway, you might as well get points for it. Think of the things you buy all the time: groceries, travel bookings, clothes for kids, gifts; they all earn points.

You also don’t have to use your American Express card to pay for the purchase to earn the points. When I first signed up, I thought I had to use my AMEX card for every purchase to earn the points. However, you can pay with whatever card you like and still earn American Express Membership Rewards in addition to points you are earning on the card you pay with. That is why this program is so cool; it’s considered a true double dip!

How to Use Rakuten with Membership Rewards

Here’s how to set it up in just a few minutes:

1. Join Rakuten with my referral link. New members get $50 (or 5,000 Amex points) after spending $50 through Rakuten in the first 90 days.
2. Switch your payout to Amex points. In your Rakuten Account Settings, choose American Express Membership Rewards and sign in with your Amex username and password. You’re linking your Membership Rewards account, not a specific card. Corporate cards and the Rakuten American Express card don’t qualify.
3. Add the browser extension (or start every order from the Rakuten app or site). It reminds you to activate cash back so you don’t miss anything.
4. Activate and shop. Stay in the same tab all the way through checkout, and turn off ad blockers and other coupon extensions so your purchase tracks.
5. Pay with any card. The Rakuten click is what earns the Amex points, so you still earn your card’s normal rewards on top.
6. Check that it’s pending. It usually shows up in your Rakuten account right away and confirms in 3 to 14 weeks. If it never shows up, file a missing cash back claim with your order number.
7. Watch for boosted rates around Black Friday, Cyber Monday and back-to-school. When rates are close, compare portals: Rakuten vs. Capital One.
8. Get your points quarterly: Feb. 15, May 15, Aug. 15 and Nov. 15, once at least 501 points have confirmed. Track what they’re worth with my cents-per-point guide.
9. Put them to work for family travel. New to transfers? Start here.

Why Rakuten Points Add Up Quickly

High Cash Back Rates

If a store is offering 10% back, that’s 10 Membership Rewards points per dollar.

Seasonal Promotions

Rakuten frequently bumps offers to 15%, 20%, or more during sales events.

Quarterly Payouts

Your points transfer to your Membership Rewards account every three months, which makes it feel like a bonus you didn’t have to work for.

Here’s the simple math: a 90,000-point welcome offer that requires $6,000 of spending works out to 15 points per dollar. Rakuten’s boosted rates add up the same way:

During big sales, a store that usually pays 3x can jump to 10x or more for a day (30x is rare). Boosts are temporary and vary by store, so check the rate before you buy.

Cards That Pair Well with Rakuten

If you’re curious which cards pair well with Rakuten, you’ll need to choose a card that earns American Express Membership Rewards points. Not all of the cards do, so make sure that the kind of points it earns are specifically the Amex points. For the full rules, see Rakuten’s Amex FAQ.

Earn Even More

Rakuten is one of the easiest ways to grow your Membership Rewards balance without signing up for anything new or changing your spending habits. By turning cash back into points, you’re making everyday shopping work harder for future travel.

Prefer Bilt? Rakuten can pay you in Bilt points instead. At Bilt Silver status or higher, you get the same 100 points per $1. Blue members get 50, so Amex points are the better deal unless you need a Bilt transfer partner. Here’s how to earn Bilt points with Rakuten.

If you’re comparing different ways to earn, you might also like this post: Cash Back vs. Flexible Points Credit Cards.

FAQ: Maximizing Membership Rewards with Rakuten

Do I have to pay with my rewards card to earn Membership Rewards points through Rakuten?
No. As long as your Membership Rewards account is linked in Rakuten, you’ll earn points no matter which card you pay with.

Can I switch back to cash back later?
Yes. You can change your payout preference in your Rakuten settings at any time.

Are there any fees to use Rakuten?
No, it’s completely free to use.

Is the $50 sign-up bonus real?
Yes. Join through my referral link, spend $50 through Rakuten in your first 90 days, and you’ll get $50 (or 5,000 Amex points).

When do the points show up?
Purchases usually confirm in 3 to 14 weeks. Then Rakuten sends your points on Feb. 15, May 15, Aug. 15 and Nov. 15, once you have at least 501 points confirmed.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.