In 2026, cashback portals like Rakuten and Honey continue to be essential tools for savvy shoppers looking to turn everyday purchases into gift card rewards. By acting as intermediaries between consumers and thousands of retailers, these platforms share a portion of their affiliate commissions directly with users.
How Cashback Portals Work
To earn rewards, users must activate a “shopping session” before checking out at an online store. This is typically done through:
- Browser Extensions: Tools that automatically alert you to available cashback when you visit a retailer’s site.
- Mobile Apps: Shopping directly through a dedicated app to track the purchase.
- Portals: Navigating to a specific store link from the cashback site’s homepage.
Rakuten: Quarterly Cash or Membership Rewards
Rakuten is a major player in the rewards space, partnering with over 3,500 stores, including Walmart, Nike, and Sephora.
- Earning Potential: Typical rewards range from 1% to 20%, with occasional “Double Cash Back” events reaching up to 40%.
- Redemption Options: While many choose a physical check or PayPal deposit, Rakuten also allows users to redeem their confirmed balance for gift cards at top stores through its “Your Cash Back, When You Want It” feature. Additionally, users can opt to earn American Express Membership Rewards points instead of cash.
- Payment Schedule: Standard cash payments are issued quarterly (February, May, August, and November), provided you have a balance above $5.00.
Honey (PayPal Honey): Automatic Savings and Gold
Owned by PayPal, Honey is best known for its automatic coupon-applying feature but also offers a robust rewards program called Honey Gold.
- Honey Gold Points: Users earn points (Gold) on eligible purchases, which can be redeemed for gift cards once a minimum of 1,000 points (equivalent to $10) is reached.
- Gift Card Rewards: Accumulated points can be exchanged for digital gift cards for popular retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart.
- PayPal Integration: In 2026, Honey continues to integrate deeply with PayPal, often allowing users to redeem their rewards directly into their PayPal balance as cash or use them toward future PayPal-linked purchases.
Tips for Maximizing Rewards
- Stack Your Savings: Use a rewards credit card for the actual purchase to earn credit card points on top of the portal’s cashback.
- Watch for Sign-up Bonuses: Both platforms frequently offer new member bonuses ranging from $10 to $40 after your first qualifying purchase.
- Check In-Store Offers: Rakuten offers “In-Store Cash Back” by linking a credit card to your account and activating offers before shopping at physical retail locations.