How to Earn Amex or Bilt Points Every Time You Shop Online with Rakuten
Ever hit “place order” and instantly wonder what you could have earned in points? If you’re shopping online anyway, it’s time to let Rakuten turn those Target runs and Amazon hauls into Amex or Bilt points. In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how to set it up so every cart gets you closer to your next trip.
Sign-up for a FREE Rakuten account and start earning extra points (or cash) on all your online shopping!
How to Earn Amex or Bilt Points Every Time You Shop Online with Rakuten
Online cart totals have a special way of jumping from “Oh, that’s not bad” to “Wait…how did we get here?”
If you’re going to spend the money anyway—on kids’ clothes, Target runs, beauty, travel gear—you might as well earn travel points or cash back every single time you click “Place Order.”
That’s where Rakuten comes in. And the best part? You can turn that “cash back” into Amex Membership Rewards® points or Bilt points instead of just getting a cash payout, but if you prefer the cash then take that!
Let’s walk through how it works and how to set it up so you’re not leaving easy points on the table.
What Is Rakuten?
Rakuten is an online shopping portal that partners with thousands of stores—think Target, Sephora, Nike, Apple, Home Depot and tons more. When you click from Rakuten over to a store and make a purchase, Rakuten earns a commission and shares a piece of that back with you.
Normally that comes as cash back, but if you set things up the right way, you can choose to earn Amex Membership Rewards or Bilt Rewards points instead.
And yes, this is all for shopping you were probably doing anyway. No weird tricks, no fake “deals,” just one extra step before checkout.
If you haven’t joined yet, you can sign up for Rakuten using our referral link and you’ll receive an additional bonus after your first qualifying purchase made within the first 90 days of signing up!
Quick start:
- Create a free Rakuten account.
- Click through Rakuten before you shop or use their browser extension.
- Choose how you want to be paid: cash back, Amex points, or Bilt points.
How Rakuten Works With Your Online Shopping
Here’s what a typical Rakuten purchase looks like:
- Log in to Rakuten (or open the app / have the browser extension installed).
- Search for the store where you’re planning to shop—like Target, Lululemon, Macy’s, etc.
- Click the “Shop” button from Rakuten to be sent to that store’s website.
- Check out like normal.
- Within a day or two, you’ll see cash back or points pending in your Rakuten account.
Rakuten totals everything you’ve earned and then pays out on a quarterly schedule—either in cash (like a “Big Fat Check”) or in points if you’ve linked Amex or Bilt as your payout option.
It really is that simple, which is why once you get in the habit, it’s painful to think about all the orders you placed without it.
Make Rakuten Automatic: Use the Browser Extension
If you’re anything like me, you don’t always remember to go to a portal before you start shopping. This is where the Rakuten browser extension is a life saver.
Once you install it on Chrome, Safari, or Firefox:
- When you land on a site that partners with Rakuten, a little pop-up will appear.
- It might say something like “Activate 10% Cash Back” or “Activate 8X Points.”
- Click the button once, then shop like normal.
That’s it. No extra logins or hoops. The extension tracks your purchase and sends the rewards to your Rakuten account behind the scenes.
If you’ve ever placed a big order and then remembered after checkout that you forgot to use a portal (been there), the extension will save you from that feeling.
Choosing Points Instead of Cash Back
Now for the fun part: instead of taking your rewards as cash, you can have Rakuten send them as Amex Membership Rewards points or Bilt Rewards points.
You’ll do this inside your Rakuten account under your payout settings.
Option 1: Earn Amex Membership Rewards Points
To use Rakuten for Amex points, you’ll need a card that earns Membership Rewards (like the Amex Gold, Platinum, or Green).
Once you link your Amex account in Rakuten:
- Your cash-back rate turns into a 1:1 points rate.
- Example: 10% cash back becomes 10 Membership Rewards points per dollar.
- Those points then land directly in your Amex Membership Rewards balance.
From there, you can:
- Book flights or hotels through the Amex travel portal.
- Transfer points to airline and hotel partners for even higher value redemptions (this is where the real magic happens).
So that big back-to-school clothing order or those new AirPods might be quietly earning you a chunk of your next family trip.
Option 2: Earn Bilt Rewards Points
Rakuten also lets you choose Bilt as your payout option, which is a huge win if you’re already building up Bilt points for rent payments or travel.
To set this up:
- Open your Rakuten account settings.
- Scroll to the section where you choose how you get paid.
- Select Bilt as your payout partner and link your Bilt Rewards account.
Once it’s linked, all the rewards from your Rakuten shopping go straight into your Bilt balance instead of as cash back.
- Your cash-back rate turns into a 1:1 points rate.
- As of right now this 1:1 transfer is good through the May 15th, 2026 pay out. After that if you don't have an elevated status through Bilt will be less than a 1:1 transfer, so we are doing this through this payout after that we will reassess and maybe go back to Amex points
- Example: 10% cash back becomes 10 Bilt Rewards points per dollar.
- Those points then land directly in your Bilt Rewards balance.
Why this is exciting for travelers:
- Bilt transfers to several strong travel partners, including World of Hyatt, which is a favorite for getting amazing value out of points for family-friendly hotels.
- Suddenly that “boring” stuff you buy online—kitchen towels, jeans, kids’ basics—can help cover nights at some really nice properties.
Tips to Maximize Your Rakuten Earnings
Rakuten is great at a basic level, but a few tweaks can help you earn a lot more.
1. Stack With a Rewards Credit Card (“Double Dip”)
Always try to use a rewards credit card that earns bonus points in whatever category you’re shopping.
Examples:
- Buying travel gear from an online travel store? Use a card that earns extra on travel.
- Ordering from a department store? Use a card with a general bonus on online shopping or everyday purchases.
This lets you earn:
- Points or cash back from your credit card, plus
- Points from Rakuten on the same purchase.
Two streams of rewards for one order.
2. Watch for Big Promotions
Rakuten regularly runs limited-time promos like:
- Double cash back
- “Extra” days with higher rates
- “Up to 15X” or “Big bonus” events around holidays and major sales.
These are perfect times for:
- Holiday gift shopping
- Large electronics purchases
- Back-to-school or seasonal wardrobe refreshes
If you know a big spend is coming up, it may be worth waiting for one of these promos to pop.
3. Use the Rakuten App for In-Store Offers
Rakuten isn’t just for online shopping—you can also earn rewards in-store at certain retailers.
How it works:
- In the Rakuten app or website, look for the In-Store section.
- Link your credit card to your Rakuten account.
- Activate eligible in-store offers before you shop.
- Use that linked card at checkout, and you’ll earn rewards automatically.
So if you’re already running into a store with kids in tow, you might as well let those swipes work toward your next vacation.
4. Don’t Skip the Browser Extension
I know I already mentioned it, but it’s worth repeating: install the browser extension.
It solves the biggest problem most people have with portals—forgetting to use them.
Instead of relying on memory before every online order, let the extension tap you on the shoulder and say, “Hey, activate 8X before you check out at Target.”
One short setup, and then it runs in the background.
5. Refer Friends and Family
Rakuten has a referral program, which means when you share your link and a friend signs up and completes their first qualifying purchase, you both can earn a bonus.
This can add up quickly if:
- Your family members are all doing their own online shopping.
- Friends are constantly texting you for travel/points advice already (hi, it me).
Send them your link, help them set up their account with Amex or Bilt, and everyone walks away with more rewards.
The Wrap Up
If you’re trying to travel more on points and miles, Rakuten is one of those “why wouldn’t you?” tools.
- You’re already shopping online.
- Adding Rakuten (and the browser extension) is one tiny step.
- Turning that cash back into Amex Membership Rewards or Bilt points makes everyday spending actually move the needle toward real trips.
From everyday Target hauls to bigger purchases, those points can turn into flights, hotel nights, and family memories you didn’t have to pay full price for.
Set it up once, choose Amex or Bilt as your payout option, and let your regular shopping help fund future adventures.
Sign up for Rakuten today to start earning rewards on your next purchase.
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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