Rakuten referral bonus Updated

Get a $50 Rakuten referral bonus with code JRDNBS3

The Rakuten referral bonus is $50 for new members who spend $50 at Rakuten stores within 90 days. Join through my Rakuten referral link and referral code JRDNBS3 is applied for you, so there's nothing to type at sign-up.

Disclosure: this is my personal Rakuten referral link. Rakuten pays me a bonus if you join with it and qualify. You get the same $50 either way. This site isn't run by or affiliated with Rakuten.

Rakuten referral bonus at a glance

Referral code
JRDNBS3
Referral link
rakuten.com/r/JRDNBS3
Your bonus
$50
To qualify
Spend $50 within 90 days of joining
Who's eligible
New members in the US & Canada
Doesn't count
Amazon.com purchases, returned orders
Paid out
With your quarterly Cash Back, by PayPal or check
Cost to join
Free

Referral link vs. signing up directly

Join with a referral link

$50

after $50 in qualifying purchases within 90 days.

Sign up on rakuten.com directly

Smaller

The standard welcome bonus on Rakuten's homepage is usually $10 to $20.

You can only get one sign-up bonus per member, and it has to come from the account you create. So the link has to be used the first time you join.

How to get the Rakuten referral bonus

  1. Open the Rakuten referral link. It already includes referral code JRDNBS3.
  2. Create your account on the page that opens, with an email you haven't used on Rakuten before.
  3. Shop at any store that shows Cash Back on Rakuten, through the site, the app or the browser extension. Skip Amazon.com for this part, since it doesn't count.
  4. Reach $50 in qualifying purchases within 90 days. It can be one order or several.
  5. Keep the order. Once it's confirmed, the $50 lands in your Cash Back balance and is paid with your next quarterly payment.

Rules that cancel the bonus

What is Rakuten?

Rakuten (called Ebates until 2019) is a free cash back site. Stores pay Rakuten a commission when you shop through its links, app or browser extension, and Rakuten gives part of that commission back to you.

Rakuten lists more than 3,500 stores and says it has paid members over $4.6 billion in Cash Back since 1999. Cash Back adds up in your account and is paid every quarter by PayPal or check. You can also choose American Express Membership Rewards points instead.

Get your $50 bonus. Use JRDNBS3

Claim your $50 Rakuten bonus

Rakuten referral bonus FAQ

What is the Rakuten referral bonus?

The Rakuten referral bonus is $50. New members who join through a referral link, such as rakuten.com/r/JRDNBS3, get $50 once their Cash Back purchases total at least $50 within 90 days of joining. Last checked October 2, 2026.

How do I get the Rakuten $50 referral bonus?

Open a Rakuten referral link, create a new account on the page it opens, then shop through Rakuten until your Cash Back purchases reach $50 within 90 days. Amazon.com orders don't count. Keep the order, and the $50 is added to your Cash Back balance.

What is the Rakuten referral code?

The Rakuten referral code is JRDNBS3. Rakuten referrals work through a link, so use the Rakuten referral link rakuten.com/r/JRDNBS3 and the code is attached for you.

Is the Rakuten referral bonus bigger than the welcome bonus?

Yes. The referral bonus is $50, while the welcome bonus Rakuten shows to people who sign up without a referral link is usually $10 to $20.

Where do I enter a Rakuten referral code?

Nowhere. Rakuten has no box for a referral code at sign-up. The referral only counts if you create your account from a referral link, so open rakuten.com/r/JRDNBS3 first and sign up on the page it opens.

Is there a Rakuten promo code for new members?

Rakuten itself has no sign-up promo code. The extra money for new members comes from joining with a referral link. Store coupon codes listed on Rakuten are a separate thing and can be used on top of Cash Back.

Do Amazon purchases count toward the Rakuten $50 bonus?

No. Purchases on Amazon.com don't count as qualifying purchases (music.amazon.com is the one exception). Use stores that show Cash Back on Rakuten, such as department stores, travel sites and big retailers.

Who can get the Rakuten referral bonus?

Rakuten's referral program is open to new members in the US and Canada. The current $50 sign-up bonus is for new members who live in and are located in the 50 US states or Washington, DC. Canadians usually join Rakuten.ca, which has its own offers.

When do I get the $50?

The bonus is added to your Cash Back balance once your qualifying purchases are confirmed. Rakuten pays Cash Back every quarter by PayPal or check. If you cancel or return the qualifying purchase, the bonus is removed.

Is Rakuten legit?

Yes. Rakuten, formerly Ebates, has run its Cash Back site since 1999. Stores pay Rakuten a commission when you shop through it, and Rakuten passes part of that back to you as Cash Back.

What does the person who referred me get?

Rakuten pays the referrer a bonus when you qualify. It costs you nothing, and you get the same $50 whichever referral link you use.