What is Rakuten? Big changes coming to your Ebates account

If you’re a member of the cash back and shopping rewards website Ebates, you’re going to notice a new name and logo the next time that you log in to your account.

In this article, we’ll explain why Ebates is changing its name to Rakuten and what it all means for you…

Ebates is changing its name to Rakuten: 5 things you need to know

Table of contents

1. What’s the difference between Ebates and Rakuten?
2. When did Rakuten buy Ebates?
3. Do I need to take any action?
4. Will I still get referral bonuses from people I referred to Ebates?
5. When will I receive my payments from Rakuten?

1. What’s the difference between Ebates and Rakuten?

Ebates is simply changing its name and logo to Rakuten. They will be one in the same company, though the Ebates name will be phased out.

You’ll still be able to shop your favorite online retailers to earn cash back, plus Rakuten is adding more in-store offers and categories (ride shares, food delivery) to the service.

Going forward, your quarterly payment via Paypal or physical check (Big Fat Check) will come from Rakuten.

2. When did Rakuten buy Ebates?

The name change may seem sudden, but it really isn’t. Ebates has been part of Rakuten for nearly five years now, according to this post.

We should note that the move over to the Rakuten logo and name has been happening in a piecemeal fashion. Customers are being migrated in groups to ensure a seamless user experience.

3. Do I need to take any action?

No action is necessary on your part as a user. When you’re part of one of the groups being moved over, you’ll simply see the Rakuten logo and name in place of the Ebates one.

You’ll also begin to receive emails from Rakuten and Rakuten Member Services, not Ebates. 

4. Will I still get referral bonuses from people I referred to Ebates?

Ebates members who referred their family and friends are still eligible for referral bonuses, according to Rakuten. In fact, the referral program is another thing that’s staying the same.

Users who refer new members can earn $25 and their friends and family members get $10. Terms and conditions apply.

5. When will I receive my payments from Rakuten?

Just like with Ebates, Rakuten will make payments on a quarterly basis. Cash back payments of $5 or more are paid out on the following schedule:

Rakuten Payment Schedule
If your purchase posted between…	You’ll get paid on…
January 1 – March 31	May 15
April 1 – June 30	August 15
July 1 – September 30	November 15
October 1 – December 31	February 15

One member of Team Clark has earned $220 from Ebates over the past eight years, but that was using Ebates as a secondary cash back portal. He has earned $735 from a similar site called TopCashback.

Final thought

Ebates is changing its name and logo to Rakuten, but pretty much everything else is staying the same. If you’ve loved the service before, you may love it even more now that in-store offers are becoming more of a focus.

And if you like deals, check out our sister site ClarkDeals.com. You’ll find the best Clark-approved deals every day!