3 Reasons Why Rakuten Might be the Best Cashback App

If you enjoy saving money while you shop, you’ve probably come across a range of cashback apps and websites. But one name that keeps popping up is Rakuten. So, is Rakuten worth it? In this post I explain why I think it’s now the best cashback App in the UK.

Rakuten has become one of the most popular cashback platforms, partnering with thousands of retailers worldwide. Whether you’re buying clothes, booking travel, or just doing your weekly online shopping, Rakuten makes it easy to earn money back on your purchases – and offers a generous welcome bonus of £25 when you use a refer a friend link.

So, what makes Rakuten stand out from the competition? Based on my experience, here are three reasons why Rakuten might just be the best cashback app around.

1. Rakuten Cashback Payments Are Processed Quickly

One of my biggest frustrations with other cashback platforms has been the painfully slow payment process. Sometimes it takes months before you see a penny of the cashback you’ve earned. With Rakuten, I’ve noticed that payments are processed much faster and more reliably.

Personally, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how quickly cashback tracked and cleared in my account. I didn’t have to chase down missing payments or wait an eternity for payouts—it just worked smoothly. Payments are made once a month (usually around the 15th) and often I’ve received payments the following month after they’ve tracked. For comparison, I have a tracked payment with another cashback App which has been pending for almost a year! This efficiency really builds trust, and it’s one of the main reasons I continue to use Rakuten.

Rakuten dashboard showing confirmed payments

2. There’s a Generous £25 Refer a Friend Bonus

Another standout feature of Rakuten is its generous referral program. If you invite a friend and they spend £50 through Rakuten, you both get a £25 bonus. That’s not small change—it’s basically free money for doing something you were going to do anyway: shop online.

If you’d like to give it a try, you can sign up through my referral link here:


👉 Rakuten Referral Link

Or, if you prefer, you can share the love by sending the same link to your friends and family once you’re signed up. It’s a simple, win-win way to maximise your savings.

Rakuten dashboard showing refer a friend offer

3. Rakuten Have a Huge Range of Retail Partners

Rakuten partners with thousands of online stores, from household names to niche retailers. That means whether you’re booking a holiday, upgrading your tech, or buying essentials, chances are you can earn cashback on it. The variety is one of the biggest selling points—no matter your shopping habits, Rakuten fits seamlessly into them.  From Argos to Zavvi, with hundreds in between. We even get 3% back on our Sainsbury’s weekly shop.

Instead of searching for discount codes that may or may not work, you can reliably earn cashback just by starting your shop through Rakuten’s website or app. Over time, those savings really add up.

Final Thoughts on Rakuten

Cashback apps can sometimes feel like more hassle than they’re worth—but Rakuten is different. From fast payment processing to the lucrative £25 referral bonus and its wide network of retail partners, Rakuten makes it easy to save money while shopping online.

If you’re not already using it, I highly recommend signing up and giving it a try. Don’t forget—you can grab your £25 welcome bonus here:

👉 Join Rakuten and Claim £25

Happy saving!

Rakuten screenshot showing cashback options for gifts

Thank You

Thank you for reading this article.

You will also find all of our other recent posts via the homepage.

To get bonus points when you apply for an American Express card, use our referral links:

Amex Referral Link

BA Amex Refer-a-Friend 

Amex Nectar Credit Card Refer a Friend

You can also find our referral codes including Booking.com, Costa, Coffee, American Express, SkyTV, Caffe Nero, Attraction Tickets, and JustPark HERE

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