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Comparison

Rakuten vs American Express Credit Cards, Rewards & Banking

Rakuten and American Express Credit Cards, Rewards & Banking both land on Depends.

Rakuten versus American Express Credit Cards, Rewards & Banking
CompareRakutenAmerican Express Credit Cards, Rewards & Banking
VerdictDependsDepends
Best forFrequent online shoppers at big chainsFrequent travelers who use perks
Who it's not forAnyone who needs cash back to reliably track . it often doesn'tAnyone carrying a month-to-month balance
Privacy2021 US breach notice on file; recent CVEs hit sibling products (Viber, Kobo, Send Anywhere), not the cash-back portal itself.⁹Mature security program with a public HackerOne response policy; one disclosed breach in March 2024.
Support qualityMultiple complaints about disputes and slow resolution.US News praises service; Trustpilot reviewers disagree.
Public sentimentLongtime users report reliable payouts, but a loud minority complains about slow, missed, or disputed cash back.Editorial reviewers rate Amex cards among the best for rewards and service, but Trustpilot users were mostly disappointed.15
Biggest gotchaCash back can take months to pay and sometimes never tracks; the top complaint across review sites.⁴466 Trustpilot reviewers report disappointment despite strong editorial ratings . a service gap15

Pick Rakuten when

  • Frequent online shoppers at big chains
  • Coupon stackers
  • Patient savers okay with slow payouts

When Rakuten is not a fit

  • Anyone who needs cash back to reliably track . it often doesn't
  • Privacy-sensitive users wary of granting email access
  • Buyers expecting instant rebates at checkout
  • People unwilling to chase missing cash back with support

Pick American Express Credit Cards, Rewards & Banking when

  • Frequent travelers who use perks
  • Households with heavy supermarket spend
  • Small business owners
  • People who pay balances in full monthly

When American Express Credit Cards, Rewards & Banking is not a fit

  • Anyone carrying a month-to-month balance
  • People wanting a simple no-fee card
  • Applicants below good credit . approval bars vary by card
  • Travelers needing near-universal acceptance abroad

Sources

  1. Rakuten: Coupons, Promo Codes & Cash Backrakuten.com
    official
  2. Get 10% Cash Back, every day, with Rakuten+rakuten.com
    official
  3. Rakuten (USA) Reviews . Trustpilottrustpilot.com
    review
  4. Rakuten.com Reviews & Complaints . ConsumerAffairsconsumeraffairs.com
    review
  5. Rakuten has been consistently good for me . Redditreddit.com
    review
  6. Rakuten is becoming increasingly unreliable . Redditreddit.com
    review
  7. Is it just me or is Rakuten pretty much a scam lately? . Redditreddit.com
    review
  8. Rakuten alternatives? . Redditreddit.com
    review
  9. Rakuten USA, Inc. . Notice of Data Event (CA AG)oag.ca.gov
    security
  10. Rakuten Data Breach: What & How It Happened . Twingatetwingate.com
    security
  11. 7 of the Best Cash-Back Apps . NerdWalletnerdwallet.com
    review
  12. Best American Express Cards . NerdWalletnerdwallet.com
    review
  13. 12 Best American Express Credit Cards . The Points Guythepointsguy.com
    review
  14. American Express Credit Card Reviews . WalletHubwallethub.com
    review
  15. American Express Global Reviews . Trustpilottrustpilot.com
    review
  16. Best American Express Credit Cards . U.S. Newsmoney.usnews.com
    review