Want to turn your everyday online shopping into a treasure trove of American Express Membership Rewards points? You've come to the right place! Linking your American Express account to Rakuten is a game-changer for anyone looking to maximize their points earnings. Instead of getting cash back, you'll be earning valuable Amex Membership Rewards points that can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, or even statement credits, often at a much better value than cash.
Let's dive into the simple, step-by-step process of connecting these two powerful platforms and unlocking a world of rewards. Are you ready to start earning more from your shopping? Let's get started!
Step 1: Set Up Your Rakuten Account (If You Haven't Already!)
First things first, if you're not already a Rakuten member, you'll need to create a free account. This is your gateway to earning fantastic rewards.
Sub-heading: Joining Rakuten
Visit the Rakuten Website: Head over to
Rakuten.com Sign Up: You can sign up using your email address, or even faster, with your Google, Facebook, or Apple account.
New Member Bonus: Keep an eye out for new member bonuses! Rakuten often offers a welcome bonus (e.g., $30 cash back or 3,000 Amex points) after your first qualifying purchase. This is a great way to kickstart your earnings.
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| How To Link American Express To Rakuten |
Step 2: Navigate to Your Account Settings on Rakuten
Once you're logged into your Rakuten account, you'll need to access your account settings to change your earning preference from cash back to American Express Membership Rewards points.
Sub-heading: Finding the Payment Settings
Log In: Make sure you're logged into your Rakuten account on a desktop or mobile browser. This option is generally not available within the Rakuten mobile app for initial setup.
Access "My Account": In the upper right-hand corner of the Rakuten website, you'll typically see your name. Click on it to reveal a dropdown menu.
Select "Account Settings": From the dropdown, choose "Account Settings."
Step 3: Change Your Earning Preference to American Express Membership Rewards Points
QuickTip: The more attention, the more retention.
This is the crucial step where you tell Rakuten you want points, not cash!
Sub-heading: Switching from Cash Back to Points
Locate "How You Get Paid": Within your Account Settings, look for a section titled "How You Get Paid" or similar.
Initial Payout Method (Important!): Before you can select American Express Membership Rewards, Rakuten often requires you to first set up a cash payment method, like "Big Fat Check" or "PayPal." This might seem counterintuitive, but it's a common hurdle. If you haven't already, temporarily select one of these options and ensure your address or PayPal details are entered.
Select "Membership Rewards® Points": Once a cash payout method is configured (even if you never intend to use it), you should now see the option to "Switch to Membership Rewards® points" or similar, usually located near the American Express section.
Click to Switch: Click on this option to initiate the linking process.
Step 4: Link Your American Express Account
You'll now be redirected to the American Express website to securely link your accounts.
Sub-heading: Secure Authentication
Redirect to American Express: A new window or tab will open, taking you to the American Express login page.
Enter Your Amex Credentials: Enter your American Express username and password. This is a secure portal, so you can log in with confidence.
Confirm Linking: Follow any on-screen prompts from American Express to authorize the connection between your Rakuten and Amex Membership Rewards accounts. This typically involves confirming your eligible card.
Sub-heading: Eligible Amex Cards
Not all American Express cards are eligible to earn Membership Rewards points through Rakuten. You must have an eligible American Express Card enrolled in the U.S. Membership Rewards® program.
Corporate Card Accounts are generally not eligible.
Ensure your Amex account is active and in good standing (not canceled or past due).
Step 5: Confirm Your Successful Link!
After successfully logging into American Express and authorizing the link, you'll be redirected back to Rakuten.
QuickTip: Scroll back if you lose track.
Sub-heading: Verification and Future Earnings
Rakuten Confirmation: Rakuten will usually display a confirmation message indicating that your American Express Membership Rewards account is now linked.
Earning Preference Update: Your "How You Get Paid" section in Rakuten's Account Settings should now show "Membership Rewards Points" as your chosen payout method.
What About Past Earnings?: Any cash back you earned before switching to Membership Rewards points will generally be converted to points and transferred on the next scheduled payment date.
Point Conversion: Going forward, your cash back earnings will automatically convert to Membership Rewards points at a rate of $1 Cash Back = 100 Membership Rewards points. So, if a store offers 5% cash back, you'll earn 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent.
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Step 6: Start Shopping and Earning Amex Points!
Now that your accounts are linked, you're all set to earn American Express Membership Rewards points on your Rakuten purchases!
Sub-heading: How to Earn Points
Always Start at Rakuten: To earn points, you must start your shopping journey at Rakuten.com, through their mobile app, or by using their browser extension.
Choose a Store: Search for your desired store on Rakuten and click on the "Shop Now" button. This will redirect you to the retailer's website.
Activate Points (Browser Extension): If you use the Rakuten browser extension, make sure to click the "Activate Points" button when prompted on a retailer's website.
Shop as Usual: Complete your purchase on the retailer's website as you normally would. Rakuten will track your eligible purchase.
Points Accrual: You'll see your pending Membership Rewards points appear in your Rakuten account (under "Points Activity") usually within a day or two.
Quarterly Payouts: Rakuten transfers your confirmed Membership Rewards points to your American Express account every three months, according to their payment schedule (typically around February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15). It can then take a few weeks for the points to fully post to your Amex account.
Sub-heading: Important Considerations
Minimum Payout Threshold: Ensure you meet Rakuten's minimum earning threshold for payout (usually $5.00 cash back equivalent, which would be 500 Membership Rewards points). If your balance is below this, it will carry over to the next quarter.
Cookies and Ad Blockers: Ensure your browser's cookies are enabled and that any ad blockers or privacy extensions are temporarily disabled or configured to allow Rakuten to track your purchases. This is a common reason for missing points.
Empty Your Cart: Always clear your shopping cart on the retailer's site before clicking through Rakuten. Sometimes, items already in your cart won't be eligible for rewards.
Don't Navigate Away: Once you've clicked through Rakuten to a store, try not to navigate away to other sites before completing your purchase. This can break the tracking.
By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to accumulating a significant number of American Express Membership Rewards points, turning your everyday spending into exciting travel opportunities, valuable gift cards, and more! Happy shopping!
10 Related FAQ Questions
QuickTip: Slow scrolling helps comprehension.
How to check if my American Express card is eligible for Rakuten points?
You must have an American Express Card enrolled in the U.S. Membership Rewards® program that is not canceled or past due. Corporate Card Accounts are generally not eligible. You can check the Rakuten website's FAQ or your Amex account terms for a definitive list of eligible cards.
How to track the Membership Rewards points I've earned through Rakuten?
You can view your current earnings (pending and confirmed) anytime in the "Points Activity" section of your Rakuten account.
How to switch back to earning cash back instead of American Express points on Rakuten?
You can switch back to cash back, but be aware that this selection is often irreversible, meaning you might lose the option to switch back to Membership Rewards points in the future. If you're sure, go to your Rakuten Account Settings, "How You Get Paid" section, and select your preferred cash back method (e.g., PayPal or Big Fat Check).
How to ensure my Rakuten purchase tracks correctly for Amex points?
Always start your shopping trip from Rakuten.com, the Rakuten app, or by activating the browser extension. Ensure cookies are enabled, clear your cart on the retailer's site before clicking through, and disable any ad blockers.
How to get my Membership Rewards points faster from Rakuten?
QuickTip: Stop scrolling fast, start reading slow.
Rakuten transfers confirmed points to your American Express account on a quarterly schedule (typically Feb 15, May 15, Aug 15, Nov 15). There's no way to speed up this transfer schedule.
How to resolve issues if my Amex account isn't linking to Rakuten?
First, ensure you're trying to link on a desktop or mobile browser (not the app). Confirm your Amex card is eligible and in good standing. Some users have reported success by first setting a cash payout method (like PayPal or check) before attempting to switch to Membership Rewards. If problems persist, contact Rakuten customer support.
How to know when my Membership Rewards points will appear in my Amex account?
After Rakuten transfers the points on their quarterly payment dates, it can take an additional 8 to 12 weeks for the points to fully post to your American Express Membership Rewards account.
How to earn a sign-up bonus with Rakuten when linking to Amex?
New Rakuten members often qualify for a sign-up bonus (e.g., $30 or 3,000 Amex points) after making a qualifying purchase within a specified timeframe. Ensure you sign up through a referral link or a promotional offer to get the bonus, and select Amex points as your earning preference before making the qualifying purchase for the bonus to be paid in points.
How to determine if earning Amex points through Rakuten is better than cash back?
Generally, if you value American Express Membership Rewards points at more than 1 cent per point (which is often the case when redeeming for travel), then earning points through Rakuten is more valuable than cash back. Advanced users can often get 1.5 cents to 2 cents or more per point.
How to troubleshoot if my Rakuten earnings are still showing as cash back after linking to Amex?
Don't worry! Even after linking to Amex Membership Rewards, your Rakuten account will often continue to display earnings as "Cash Back" percentages or dollar amounts. However, when the quarterly payout occurs, these "cash back" amounts will automatically be converted to American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of $1 Cash Back = 100 Membership Rewards points. Check your "Points Activity" for confirmation of pending points.
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