Swagbucks vs Rakuten: My Personal Review

"A penny saved is a penny earned," or so the old saying goes. Today, though, we’re not just talking about pennies—we’re talking about real cash back every time you shop online.

I have spent countless hours using the top two giants in the rewards space: Swagbucks vs Rakuten. These platforms promise to put money back in your wallet, but their methods are dramatically different. If you’re trying to decide which one is truly worth your time, you've come to the right place. I’ve put them head-to-head to break down their earning potential, payout speeds, and overall value. My goal is to tell you exactly which one will give you the biggest return.

If you’re already tired of missing out on easy rewards, take a moment now to secure your sign-up bonus with both platforms to see which one you prefer!

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Swagbucks vs Rakuten Key Takeaways: My Quick Verdict

Swagbucks vs Rakuten: How the Earning Methods Compare

The single biggest difference between these two platforms lies in how you earn rewards. This determines whether you’ll be a good fit for one or the other.

When I talk about Rakuten, I’m talking about pure, streamlined cash back. It is a shopping portal, meaning its only focus is to get you a percentage of your purchase price back when you shop at one of their partner stores. It's incredibly passive. You click a link or activate the browser extension, shop as usual, and they credit your account. Simple.

Swagbucks, on the other hand, is a multifaceted rewards platform. While it does offer cash back shopping, its real strength is its sheer variety of income streams. I can earn points (called SB) by doing a ton of things that aren't shopping, like:

• Taking paid online surveys.
• Playing video games.
• Watching short video clips.
• Using their search engine.
• Signing up for trial offers.

If you are looking for a side hustle to make a few extra dollars during your downtime, my experience shows Swagbucks is the clear winner because it offers more ways to earn rewards.

Cash Back Rates & Store Selection: Who Pays More?

If you only plan to earn rewards through shopping, the cash back percentage and store variety are what truly matter.

In my testing, Rakuten often offers a slightly higher cash back percentage at specific popular stores. For instance, I've seen Rakuten offer 15% cash back at a major department store while Swagbucks might only offer 10%. Rakuten specializes in securing these high-rate, headline-grabbing deals, especially around holidays.

However, Swagbucks has the advantage in terms of sheer numbers. They claim a larger network of retailers (often over 7,000) compared to Rakuten's base of over 3,500. More importantly, Swagbucks offers options for in-store cash back on groceries and other essential items by linking a card and scanning receipts, a major advantage for my everyday shopping.

The ultimate SEO-friendly tip here is: for any major purchase, I always check both sites using a comparison tool to ensure I'm getting the absolute highest rate.

The Payout Factor: Cash, Gift Cards, and Payment Speed

This is the most critical difference for me—how quickly I get paid.

If you like instant gratification, Swagbucks is your answer. I can cash out for a $5 Amazon gift card as soon as I earn enough SB, often in just a day or two. This is fantastic for my budgeting because the money is available almost immediately.

Rakuten operates on a quarterly schedule. They mail out what they call the "Big Fat Check" every three months (February, May, August, and November). While I find these large checks satisfying, the wait time is a massive drawback. If you earned $50 in April, you won't see that money until August 15th! For my money, the flexible and quick cash-out system of Swagbucks is far superior.

Quick Tip: If you're consistently using both services for your online purchases, don't miss out on those easy sign-up bonuses. By starting with a free account on both, you can quickly double your bonus potential and lock in rewards instantly.

Swagbucks: Join for Free & Get $10 Bonus

Rakuten: Get your $40 Bonus Today!

Beyond Cash Back: Swagbucks' Other Ways to Earn (Surveys, Games, & More)

As a proficient SEO copywriter focused on maximizing returns, I know that time spent on the computer can be profitable. This is where Swagbucks shines, turning passive screen time into money.

Swagbucks functions as an all-in-one rewards hub. I don't just shop; I can also earn small, consistent amounts of money by completing micro-tasks. For example:

• Paid Surveys: While some surveys are a waste of time, I often find ones that pay 50 SB to 300 SB ($0.50 to $3.00) for about 10-20 minutes of my time.
• Mobile Game Offers: Some of the highest-paying rewards are for downloading and playing new mobile games. I’ve personally earned $50 or more for reaching a certain level within a set time frame.
• Swagbucks Search: I use the Swagbucks search engine instead of Google, and occasionally I get awarded a random amount of SB just for searching the web.

The sheer volume of earning opportunities means that even on a day when I don’t buy anything, I can still easily earn enough for a gift card. This flexibility is the main reason I keep Swagbucks running in the background.

How Rakuten Simplifies Shopping: The Browser Extension Advantage

While Swagbucks excels at variety, Rakuten is the king of simplicity and ease for dedicated online shopping.

Rakuten's strength lies in its browser extension. I installed it once, and now I never have to remember to check for cash back again.

1. I navigate to a shopping site (like Macy's or Adidas).
2. A small pop-up appears automatically in the top corner of my browser, telling me the current cash back rate (e.g., "Activate 8% Cash Back").
3. I click one button, and the cash back is activated.

This is the definition of passive cash back. I don't need to hunt for links or navigate a complex portal. For users who value friction-free shopping and want to make sure they never miss out on rewards, my vote goes to Rakuten. It's truly a "set it and forget it" system for your online purchases.

Mobile App Experience: Which is Easier to Use on the Go?

Both companies offer reliable mobile apps, but my personal experience and the public reviews show a slight advantage for Rakuten.

The Rakuten app is incredibly clean and streamlined, focusing purely on shopping. It’s essentially a mobile shopping portal that’s easy to navigate, and my cash back tracking is typically flawless.

The Swagbucks app is functional but feels much more cluttered because it has to contain all those extra earning features (surveys, games, videos). While it’s the only way I can complete some of the tasks, the user experience can feel less intuitive than Rakuten’s dedicated shopping interface. If your main goal is shopping, you'll likely find the Rakuten app superior.

Welcome Bonuses & Referral Programs: Maximize Your Sign-Up

Both services offer lucrative sign-up deals designed to entice new users, and it’s a great way to kickstart your earnings.

• Rakuten Bonus: Their standard offer is typically a generous bonus (often $30 or more) after you sign up and make your first qualifying purchase of $30-$40 within a specific time frame. Their referral program also pays out high flat-rate bonuses when you refer a friend who qualifies.
• Swagbucks Bonus: Swagbucks usually offers a smaller cash bonus (typically $5 or $10) for new members who complete an earning activity. However, its referral program is a major differentiator: I earn 10% of my referred friend's earnings for life. That passive income stream from Swagbucks referrals is one of my favorite features.

Can You Use Both Swagbucks and Rakuten?

Yes, absolutely! As a seasoned rewards user, I recommend it.

However, you cannot use them on the same purchase. You must choose which platform you want to credit the cash back to for a single transaction.

The best strategy I employ is:

1. Check both sites for the store I'm buying from.
2. Choose the one with the higher cash back rate for that specific purchase.
3. Activate the offer on that platform (e.g., turn on the Rakuten browser button and turn off the Swagbucks one, or vice-versa).

Swagbucks vs Rakuten: Which is Best for the Casual Shopper?

For the user who only wants to save money on their online orders with the least amount of fuss, Rakuten wins.

The combination of the easy-to-use browser extension, the generally high cash back rates, and the simple focus on shopping makes it the most frictionless option for a casual user. They don't have to worry about surveys or games; they just shop and wait for the "Big Fat Check."

Who Should Use Swagbucks (And Who Should Choose Rakuten)?

After testing and comparing every feature of both platforms, here is my final recommendation on which option is right for you:

Choose Swagbucks If...

• You want daily earning potential.
• You prefer gift cards and fast payouts.
• You enjoy taking surveys or playing games.
• You want to earn cash back for in-store groceries.

Choose Rakuten If...

• You want the highest cash back rates.
• You value simplicity and ease of use.
• You are comfortable waiting for a quarterly payout.
• You shop mostly at large, well-known online retailers.

Swagbucks vs Rakuten Conclusion: Making the Final Choice

When it comes to the Swagbucks vs Rakuten comparison, there is no single best answer; there is only the best answer for you.

If you are a serious online shopper who spends hundreds of dollars a month and values high percentages and ease of use, I would choose Rakuten for my primary cash back needs. However, if you are looking for a side hustle to make a few dollars a day—a way to turn spare time into money for surveys, videos, and search—then Swagbucks is the superior choice because of its amazing variety of rewarding tasks.

I highly recommend signing up for both to grab the welcome bonuses and test the waters for yourself. It’s free to join, and that’s the fastest way to maximize your rewards potential!

FAQ About Swagbucks vs Rakuten

1. Is Swagbucks or Rakuten safer to use?

Both companies are widely considered safe and legitimate. They are free to join and do not require your bank information unless you choose PayPal as a payout method. Rakuten, being primarily focused on shopping, is backed by a large Japanese e-commerce conglomerate, adding to its credibility in the finance space.

2. Is it possible to double-dip and use both Swagbucks and Rakuten cash back on the same purchase?

No. You can only use one shopping portal per transaction. Using both (or two different cash back extensions) will likely void the cash back from both sites. Always choose the platform offering the highest rate for that specific purchase.

3. Does one platform offer a better selection of gift cards?

Yes. Swagbucks is the clear winner here, offering a much wider variety of gift cards from over 140 popular retailers and restaurants, often at a slight discount (meaning you need fewer SB points to redeem them). Rakuten's gift card options are much more limited, as their main payment methods are PayPal and paper checks.