Honest Comparison

ggbucks vs Rakuten

Rakuten (formerly Ebates) offers shopping cashback. The major downside is quarterly payouts - you might wait months to get paid.

Min Cashout
New accounts: $20 first cashout, then $5
ggbucks
vs
$5
Rakuten
Payout Speed
Instant
ggbucks
vs
Quarterly (every 3 months)
Rakuten
iOS App
ggbucks
vs
Rakuten
Android App
ggbucks
vs
Rakuten

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

See how ggbucks stacks up against Rakuten on the features that matter.

Feature
ggbucks
Rakuten
Payout Speed
Instant
Every 3 months
Minimum Cashout
New accounts: $20 first cashout, then $5. Existing accounts: $5.
$5
Earning Method
Play games anytime
Shop to earn
Wait Time
Minutes
Up to 90 days
Free to Earn
Yes
No (requires purchases)

Rakuten Pros & Cons

Rakuten Pros

  • High cashback rates
  • Works with major retailers
  • Browser extension available

Rakuten Cons

  • Quarterly payouts only
  • Must wait up to 3 months
  • Shopping-only earning
  • No gaming or surveys

When Rakuten is the better fit

Rakuten makes sense if these matter more to you:

  • High cashback rates
  • Works with major retailers
  • Browser extension available

When ggbucks is the better fit

ggbucks is the stronger choice when you want:

  • Payout Speed: Instant
  • Minimum Cashout: New accounts: $20 first cashout, then $5. Existing accounts: $5.
  • Earning Method: Play games anytime
  • Wait Time: Minutes
  • Free to Earn: Yes

Switching from Rakuten to ggbucks

  1. 1

    Download ggbucks free on iOS or Android and create an account in under a minute.

  2. 2

    Install games from the ggbucks Arcade, not from the store directly, so your play is tracked. Complete the onboarding quest by earning from 2 different games; your first 4 days pay 3X on game rewards.

  3. 3

    Cash out to PayPal, a bank transfer, or a gift card, plus Venmo and Cash App in the US. New accounts need $20 for their first cashout, then $5 after a fulfilled cashout. Existing accounts keep $5. You can keep using Rakuten alongside ggbucks; just start each game from one app only.

ggbucks vs Rakuten: common questions

How we compared

This page is maintained by the ggbucks team. ggbucks figures come from the app and its terms. Rakuten figures come from its public store listing and website and can change without notice; if you spot something out of date, tell us through the contact page and we will fix it.

Comparison last updated September 25, 2026

Why ggbucks is the Better Choice

Instant Payouts

Get your gift cards delivered to your email within minutes, not days or weeks.

New accounts: $20 first cashout, then $5

New accounts need $20 for their first cashout, then $5 after a fulfilled cashout. Existing accounts keep $5. The Shop shows your exact minimum.

iOS & Android

Full support for both iPhone and Android with all features available on both platforms.

Try ggbucks Instead

See why players are switching from Rakuten to ggbucks for faster payouts.

Free to download · No credit card · New accounts: $20 first cashout, then $5. Existing accounts keep $5.