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Home » Credit Cards » Everything you need to know about earning Amex points via Rakuten
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Everything you need to know about earning Amex points via Rakuten

Miles May 11, 2022 19 Comments

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Rakuten, formerly Ebates, created a new program in 2019 whereby you can choose to earn American Express Membership Rewards in lieu of Cash Back. This was exclusively reserved for new Rakuten members up until 11/19. Since then, the program has evolved, and you’ll be able to change your account settings to Membership Rewards. The earn rate would be 1% cash back = 1 Membership Reward point. I’ve earned a couple 100k Amex Points since the program started!

Personally, Rakuten is now my go-to portal since I value Membership Rewards over 1% meaning that for every 1% you see in cashback I apply a 2x multiple.  One way to think about this mentally is if you see 10% Cash Back listed you’ll be earning 10x Membership Rewards. Spend $100 get 1000 Amex points which I value at roughly $20

Now is a great time to join Rakuten – free $40

For a limited time, New Members will get $40 cash back, or 34k Amex points, after they spend $40 via the portal. You can use our referral link here

Rakuten is a shopping portal and this is how shopping portals work:

When you login to your portal you’ll see something like this below…

When you click on any of those offers, you’ll be directed to the site you wish to buy from. If that were Finish Line, you’d arrive at the very same Finish Line that you’d see if you didn’t first go to Rakuten. The only thing the portal does is code your purchase as being routed via Rakuten, and as a result you earn the cashback advertised in the Rakuten portal.

This cashback, or Amex Points, is then paid to you every 3 months on the 15th.

  • Feb
  • May
  • August
  • November

Why should you select Amex Points instead of Cashback

The main reason I do it is because I love travel, and value Amex points at roughly 2 cents. This means instead of earning 8% cashback on every dollar I spend via the portal, I’d be earning 8x Amex Points.  If I spend a $100 and earn 800 Amex Points, I’m earning points worth $16 or double the cashback rate.

Not everyone values points like I do, but I almost always redeem my points for a higher than 2 cent valuation. On the low side, I can redeem my points for flights in Amex Travel for 1.55 cents ( I have an Amex Biz Plat ) – so regardless, I feel comfortable I will extract value in excess of a penny.

I use Amex points to fly in Lufthansa First Class. This was an easy, and instantaneous, transfer of 70k Amex points to Aeroplan. Took all of 15 mins to execute and will ultimately be less than 50% of the points I earn from Rakuten this year.

Here’s a step by step guide to Earning Amex Points  First go to My Account

Then account settings where you’ll find this:

If you don’t have a Rakuten account, you’ll need to select either PayPal or Big Fat Check

Then select Membership Rewards

And Voila…you’ll be earning Amex vs Cash Back

Once you start earning Membership Rewards, how quickly do they populate?

Long and short of it….you accumulate points over a 3 month period, and then 6 weeks after the close of that period, on the 15th of month, you’ll be credited. My period from January to March closed, and I was due to be credited May 15th, roughly 6 weeks later, and as you can see below….it hit same day. That is fantastic.

Don’t have a Rakuten account? You can use our referral

Rakuten compared to other shopping portals

This is a big consideration. I have almost exclusively used Rakuten because I factor in the underlying value of Amex Points into the equation. However…if you’re looking for cashback I’d recommend that you check out cashbackmonitor which gives you the best rates across all of the shopping portals.

Overall

Rakuten has captured my business and will continue to do so as long as it offers Amex points as an earn option. Rarely do I see another portal offering double the cashback which is about the only circumstance I’d consider another portal based on value.

Hope this helps and as always, please ask any questions you may have.

Affiliate Disclosure

Monkey Miles has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Monkey Miles and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.


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About Author

Miles

This Monkey didn't get the name Miles for nothing. I might look like an innocent little furball, but I am a Points and Awards BEAST!! Follow me around the world to see how I fly in lie flat seats and sleep in 5* suites for pennies on the dollar.

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19 Comments

  1. Justin Reply
    May 18, 2022 at 4:00 pm

    Hey everybody. I have been using Rakuten for a little over a year now. I wish I would have found it sooner. I would be very grateful for any of you to use my free referral link. No pressure. I have used other people’s links and hope we all share the wealth.

    https://www.rakuten.com/r/JW4468?eeid=28187

  2. pravin dwivedi Reply
    November 26, 2021 at 4:29 am

    Aah! Nice! It’s an awesome opportunity to earn grand points and deals. This blog was quite interesting and helpful.

  3. Home Builders Elsternwick Reply
    November 25, 2021 at 2:59 am

    Awesome…. Your article gives very clear data

  4. Home Builders Hampton Reply
    November 25, 2021 at 2:58 am

    I really like this post…. Well done

  5. beachmouse Reply
    November 24, 2021 at 8:13 pm

    The somewhat regular transfer bonuses AmEx has for Flying Blue and the Avios family of brands and the like make the Rakuten MR partnership an even better deal if those are your loyalty programs of choice.

  6. Chris jensen Reply
    October 13, 2020 at 11:03 am

    Thanks so much for the Lifelock deal!!!!!

  7. Fathiss Reply
    June 14, 2020 at 10:34 am

    Everything I need to know? Really? You gave us nothing!

  8. R Reply
    June 13, 2020 at 6:44 pm

    What happens if I cancel the card it is linked to in my Amex account? I will still have another MR earning card. Or is still simply linked to your MR account and the specific card doesn’t matter? Thanks!

    • Miles Reply
      June 14, 2020 at 11:00 am

      If you’re thinking of canceling the card linked, I would swap in your other existing account just to be safe

  9. Alyssa T. Reply
    December 15, 2019 at 1:57 pm

    I just linked my account! Thanks so much for showing us this option was available and the steps to link it! Another way to earn points, love it!

    Thanks,

    Alyssa

    • Miles Reply
      December 15, 2019 at 2:26 pm

      Awesome! Enjoy and earn loads of points + great deals!

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