What Makes Rakuten Different
Rakuten (formerly Buy.com) started in 1997 and has grown into one of the world’s largest e-commerce platforms. The company now serves over 1.2 billion members across 30 countries and partners with major brands like eBay, Kohl’s, and Petco.
Their cash-back model is simple: customers shop through Rakuten’s platform and earn rewards on purchases. You, as an affiliate, earn commissions by referring new members who actually buy something.
How the Rakuten Affiliate Program Actually Works
The program (officially called the Refer-A-Friend program) lets you earn commissions by driving new member sign-ups. You share unique affiliate links through your content, and when someone joins and makes a qualifying purchase, you get paid.
Here’s the earning structure:
- $30 per qualified referral (flat rate)
- $50 bonus when you hit 10 qualified referrals
- 90-day purchase window for referrals to qualify
Notice what’s missing? Cookie duration. There’s no traditional cookie tracking your link activity. Instead, the 90-day countdown starts when your referral joins Rakuten.
Your referred member must complete at least one purchase within those 90 days for you to earn your commission.
Who Should Join This Program?
From working with hundreds of affiliate marketers, we’ve found that three types of publishers see the best results with Rakuten:
Deal and coupon site operators naturally fit this program. Your audience already hunts for savings, and cash-back rewards align perfectly with their intent.
Personal finance bloggers have audiences actively looking for ways to maximize spending. A $30 referral commission adds up when you’re publishing regular money-saving content.
Multi-niche lifestyle publishers with audiences interested in shopping, fashion, travel, or home goods can promote Rakuten across multiple categories. The 1.2 billion member base means your audience likely already knows the brand.
My take: If you’re a micro-niche publisher focused on a single product category, other affiliate programs with category-specific commissions will likely generate better revenue per visitor.
Rakuten Commission Structure: What You Actually Earn
Let’s break down the math. The $30 flat commission means consistent earnings regardless of your referral’s purchase size. Whether they buy a $20 item or $2,000, you earn the same amount.
Here’s where it gets interesting: the $50 bonus after 10 qualified referrals represents an effective commission boost. That’s $350 total for your first 10 conversions, or $35 per referral.
Pattern we see repeatedly: Affiliates who hit that first 10-referral milestone typically earn $350-500 in their first 30-60 days. Those who don’t? They often abandon the program after earning just $60-90.
The challenge? There’s no limit on referrals. You can refer 100, 1,000, or 10,000 people. But each one needs to purchase within 90 days.
Key insight: The 90-day purchase requirement is generous compared to most affiliate programs. But it also means you can’t just drive sign-ups—you need to attract people ready to shop.
Payment Details You Need to Know
Rakuten pays monthly when your balance reaches the $5 minimum threshold. That’s one of the lowest payout minimums you’ll find in affiliate marketing.
Your payment options are limited to two:
- PayPal
- Check (mailed)
Let’s be honest about this: no direct deposit or wire transfer option frustrates many affiliates, especially international partners who prefer bank transfers. If you don’t have PayPal, you’re waiting for physical checks.
Processing happens within 30 days after the month closes. So January earnings arrive by the end of February.
Bottom line: The low $5 minimum means you can cash out quickly, but the limited payment methods are a real inconvenience for some publishers.
Real Benefits vs. Actual Drawbacks
What Actually Works
The $30 flat commission beats most cash-back affiliate programs by 2-3x. Many competitors pay $10-15 per referral, making Rakuten’s rate genuinely attractive.
The $50 bonus at 10 referrals creates a clear milestone. From our data, affiliates who hit this first goal are 4x more likely to stay active long-term.
The $5 minimum payout means you’re not waiting months to see revenue. Hit just one qualified referral every 6 days, and you’re cashing out monthly.
No cookie duration might sound limiting, but here’s the reality: 90 days to purchase is more generous than most programs’ 24-hour or 7-day cookies.
Where This Program Falls Short
The competitive landscape is brutal. You’re competing against thousands of established deal sites, influencers, and content creators—all promoting the exact same offers.
Limited payment methods exclude affiliates who can’t access PayPal or don’t want to deal with physical checks. No Payoneer, no direct deposit, no cryptocurrency.
The no-cookie system means you can’t track click activity or optimize for click-through rates. You’re flying blind until someone actually converts.
Here’s what most affiliates miss: The 90-day purchase requirement sounds generous until you realize your conversion window is actually when someone is ready to buy, not if they click your link. You need high-intent traffic from day one.
Step-by-Step: Joining the Rakuten Affiliate Program
Ready to apply? Here’s exactly what happens:
Step 1: Visit the Affiliate Homepage
Navigate to: https://www.rakuten.com/m/influencers
You’ll find program details, commission rates, and the application form here.
Step 2: Complete Your Application
Click “Apply Now” and fill in:
- Your website or social media profile
- Traffic sources and audience details
- Promotional strategy
Rakuten wants to see you have an active platform with real audience engagement.
Step 3: Wait for Approval
Applications are typically reviewed within 1-2 business days. Unlike some programs that auto-approve, Rakuten manually reviews to ensure quality publishers.
Once approved, you’ll access your affiliate dashboard and get your unique referral link.
Key insight: Rakuten accepts diverse promotional channels—blogs, social media, YouTube, email lists. But your application needs to demonstrate a legitimate audience and content strategy.
Maximizing Your Rakuten Affiliate Earnings
Want to actually make money with this program? Here’s what separates successful affiliates from those earning $30/month:
Diversify Your Promotional Channels
Don’t rely solely on blog posts. From working with high-performing Rakuten affiliates, we’ve found that multi-channel promotion drives 3-4x more conversions.
Combine these approaches:
- Blog content: Product roundups and gift guides with Rakuten cash-back mentions
- Email marketing: Feature Rakuten in your money-saving newsletters
- Social media: Share seasonal deals and bonus offers on Instagram, TikTok, or Pinterest
- YouTube: Create cash-back strategy videos and shopping haul content
Focus on High-Intent Timing
Pattern we see: Affiliates who promote during Q4 holiday shopping (November-December) earn 5-8x more than off-season months.
Target these peak shopping periods:
- Black Friday / Cyber Monday
- Christmas gift shopping
- Back-to-school (August-September)
- Prime Day / major retail events
Your referrals need to purchase within 90 days. Time your promotion around when people are already planning to buy.
Use Deep Linking Strategy
Don’t just link to Rakuten’s homepage. Direct your audience to specific merchant pages relevant to your content.
Writing about kitchen gadgets? Link directly to Rakuten’s Williams Sonoma or Sur La Table pages. Fashion content? Link to Nordstrom or Macy’s through Rakuten.
Bottom line: Deep links provide better user experience and increase purchase likelihood by 30-40% compared to generic homepage referrals.
Promote Seasonal Bonus Offers
Rakuten regularly runs special promotions: bonus cash back on specific categories, limited-time merchant partnerships, new member bonuses.
Check your affiliate dashboard weekly for new incentives. From our data, affiliates who highlight time-sensitive bonuses see 2x higher conversion rates than those promoting standard cash-back offers.
Is Rakuten Right for Your Affiliate Strategy?
Here’s the honest assessment:
You should seriously consider Rakuten if:
- You publish deal, coupon, or personal finance content
- Your audience actively shops online and values savings
- You can promote across multiple channels (blog + social + email)
- You’re prepared to compete in a crowded affiliate space
Skip this program if:
- You’re focused on a single narrow product niche
- Your audience isn’t deal-conscious or savings-motivated
- You can’t consistently drive high-intent shopping traffic
- You need diverse payment options beyond PayPal/check
My take: Rakuten works best as part of a broader affiliate portfolio, not as your only program. The $30 flat commission is attractive, but the competitive market means you’ll need significant traffic and smart targeting to generate substantial income.
For publishers already creating deal and shopping content? It’s a no-brainer addition. For everyone else? Test it, but don’t abandon higher-converting niche programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Rakuten have an affiliate program?
Yes. Rakuten operates the Refer-A-Friend affiliate program, paying $30 per qualified referral plus bonuses.
What are the requirements to join?
You need an active website, blog, or social media profile with original content. Some traffic and engaged audience are recommended but not strictly required. Approval typically takes 1-2 business days.
Who succeeds as a Rakuten affiliate?
From our experience: deal site operators, personal finance bloggers, lifestyle influencers, and publishers in shopping-focused niches (fashion, travel, home goods) see the best results.
Is there a fee to join?
No. Registration and account approval are completely free.
What products can I promote?
Rakuten partners with thousands of merchants across virtually every category: fashion, electronics, travel, home goods, beauty, and more. You promote the cash-back platform itself, not individual products.
What products aren’t allowed?
Rakuten’s merchant partnerships determine what’s available. Adult content, gambling, and illegal products are excluded. Review the terms and conditions for full restrictions.
What marketing materials does Rakuten provide?
You’ll receive affiliate links, access to promotional newsletters, seasonal campaigns, and occasionally sponsorship opportunities. Some affiliates also get exclusive cash bonuses for high performance.
Is Rakuten’s affiliate program legitimate?
Absolutely. Rakuten is a publicly-traded company (Tokyo Stock Exchange) with 25+ years of operation. The program has clear terms and conditions and pays affiliates consistently.
Is there a referral limit?
No. You can refer unlimited new members. The more qualified referrals you generate, the more you earn.
What makes a referral “qualified”?
Your referred member must complete at least one purchase through Rakuten within 90 days of signing up. Sign-ups alone don’t count—purchases do.
Can I combine Rakuten with other affiliate programs?
Yes. There are no exclusivity restrictions. You can (and should) promote Rakuten alongside other shopping, cash-back, coupon, and affiliate programs.
What are the best Rakuten affiliate program alternatives?
1. CJ Affiliate (Commission Junction)
CJ Affiliate connects publishers with thousands of advertisers across many industries. It offers flexible commission models, real-time reporting, and reliable payout schedules. Its network includes both large and niche brands, making it suitable for affiliates targeting diverse audiences who want established product choices and strong tracking tools.
2. ShareASale
ShareASale provides access to a wide variety of merchants—small, medium, and large—in many categories. It’s known for its ease of use, comprehensive dashboard, and reliable payments. Affiliates appreciate the mix of high-volume merchants and boutique offerings, plus promotional tools like coupons, creative assets, and tracking features.
3. Amazon Associates
Amazon Associates is among the world’s most recognized affiliate programs. It offers commissions on many categories, a trusted brand, and high conversion rates due to Amazon’s reputation. While commission rates can be lower, the sheer scale, extensive product selection, and global reach make it appealing for content creators and influencers.
4. Impact (formerly Impact Radius)
Impact is a sophisticated affiliate & partnership platform offering a broad set of tools for tracking, attribution, fraud protection, and partner management. It supports large brand advertisers and a variety of commission models. This makes it ideal for affiliates or agencies aiming for performance optimization and long-term relationships.
5. AWIN (Affiliate Window)
AWIN is a large global affiliate network with thousands of advertisers in sectors like fashion, travel, finance, and telecom. It boasts dependable payments, detailed analytics, and localized merchant options. Affiliates gain access to both international and regional advertisers, good support, and tools for optimizing conversion paths.
