What Rakuten is - and why you might see charges
Rakuten is a free cash back browser extension and app. They earn a commission from retailers and share it with you. There are no fees or subscriptions. If you're seeing charges labeled "Rakuten" on your card, it may be Rakuten Viber, Rakuten Kobo (ebook store), or a different Rakuten-branded international service - these are separate companies.
Removing the Rakuten browser extension
To fully remove Rakuten from your browser: in Chrome, go to chrome://extensions and click Remove next to Rakuten. In Firefox or Safari, find it in your extensions/add-ons menu. Removing the extension doesn't close your account - do that separately if desired.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Rakuten charging me a subscription fee?
- No. Rakuten the cash back service is completely free. If you see a charge with "Rakuten" in the name, it is likely Rakuten Kobo (digital books), Rakuten Viber, or another international Rakuten subsidiary - these are separate businesses.
- What happens to my cash back when I close my Rakuten account?
- Unpaid cash back that hasn't reached the quarterly payout threshold may be forfeited. Check your account balance and wait for the next payout (February, May, August, November) before closing.
- Can I rejoin Rakuten after closing my account?
- Yes - you can create a new Rakuten account with the same email at any time after closing. Your old cash back history won't be restored.