{{Short description|Shopping rewards company}}{{Redirect-distinguish|Ebates|EBay}}{{Advert|date=July 2021}} {{use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Infobox company | name = Rakuten Rewards | logo = Rakuten Global Brand Logo.svg | image = | founded = {{start date|1998|5|3|df=y}} in Menlo Park, California, United States | founders = Alessandro Isolani and Paul Wasserman | area_served = United States, Canada, China, South Korea, Singapore, Japan | key_people = Amit Patel (CEO) | industry = Cashback website | num_employees = 760 (worldwide, 2019) | parent = Rakuten | location = San Mateo, California | homepage = {{URL|https://www.rakuten.com}} }} '''Rakuten Rewards''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|æ|k|ə|t|ɪ|n}} {{respell|RAK|ə|tin}}),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rakuten.ca/new-brand|title=Ebates is now Rakuten|publisher=Rakuten Rewards}}</ref> formerly known as '''Ebates''',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://travelwithgrant.com/2019/02/04/ebates-is-becoming-rakuten-super-bowl-ad-how-to-pronounce-rakuten/|title=Ebates is Becoming Rakuten & Super Bowl Ad (How to Pronounce Rakuten)|website=Travel with Grant|access-date=2 May 2019}}</ref> is a cash-back and shopping rewards company.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Suknanan |first=Jasmin |title=The Rakuten shopping portal gives you cash back for purchases you were already planning to make |url=https://www.cnbc.com/select/rakuten-review-2022-cash-back-earnings-perks-and-more/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=CNBC |date=16 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Its revenue comes from affiliate network links.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Rakuten to Acquire Ebates for $1 Billion|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140909005396/en/Rakuten-Acquire-Ebates-1-Billion#.VR0HLUJgvdk|website=Business Wire|accessdate=2 April 2015|date=9 September 2014}}</ref> Members of the site click through affiliate links before shopping at a retailer's site.
==History== Rakuten Rewards was founded as Ebates in 1998 in Menlo Park, California, by two former deputy district attorneys, Alessandro Isolani and Paul Wasserman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Capital |first=Foundation |date=2014-09-11 |title=Remembering a Scrappy Little Startup Called Ebates |url=https://foundationcapital.com/remembering-a-scrappy-little-startup-called-ebates/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Foundation Capital |language=en-US}}</ref> Funded by the venture capital firm Foundation Capital,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kemp|first1=Ted|title=ebates.com Pays Cash to Net Shoppers, Hopes to Lure Advertisers|url=http://www.dmnews.com/ebatescom-pays-cash-to-net-shoppers-hopes-to-lure-advertisers/article/61906/|website=Direct Marketing News|accessdate=25 March 2015|date=17 May 1999|archive-date=6 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121206012926/http://www.dmnews.com/ebatescom-pays-cash-to-net-shoppers-hopes-to-lure-advertisers/article/61906/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ebates.com was launched on 3 May 1999, offering up to 25% cash back from about 40 online retailers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ebates.com launches discount rebate site|url=http://adage.com/article/news/ebates-launches-discount-rebate-site/6965|website=Advertising Age|publisher=Crain Communications Inc.|accessdate=25 March 2015|date=3 May 1999}}</ref>
In September 2014, Ebates was acquired by the Japanese e-commerce company Rakuten for US$1 billion.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Perez|first1=Sarah|title=Rakuten Buys Ebates For $1 Billion|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/09/09/rakuten-buys-ebates-for-1-billion/|website=TechCrunch|accessdate=2 April 2015|date=9 September 2014}}</ref> In 2019, the Ebates brand was phased out and replaced with Rakuten Rewards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dyernews.com/rakuten-vs-ebates-whats-changing-with-the-cashback-tool/|title=Rakuten Review: Rakuten vs. Ebates - What is Changing|date=8 March 2019|website=Dyer News|access-date=2 May 2019}}</ref>
== Acquisitions == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Date !Company !Business !Country !References |- |8 September 2011 |FatWallet |Comparison shopping site |United States |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/09/09/backed-by-vcs-ebates-buys-fatwallet-com-and-anycoupons-com-starts-new-company/|title=Backed By VCs, Ebates Buys FatWallet.com And AnyCoupons.com, Starts New Company|website=TechCrunch|date=9 September 2011|access-date=6 March 2019}}</ref> |- |9 August 2012 |BFAds |Coupons site |United States |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.startupranking.com/acquisition/ebates-acquires-bfads-5257|title=Ebates acquires BFAds|website=StartupRanking|access-date=6 March 2019}}</ref> |- |8 September 2012 |AnyCoupons |Coupons site |United States |{{cn|date=July 2021}} |- |22 June 2012 |OneReceipt |Receipt digitization service |United States |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120906005645/en/Performance-Marketing-Brands-Announces-Acquisition-OneReceipt|title=Performance Marketing Brands Announces Acquisition of OneReceipt|date=6 September 2012|website=Businesswire|access-date=6 March 2019}}</ref> |- |10/12/2012 |PushPins |Coupons mobile site |United States |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130122005627/en/Performance-Marketing-Brands-Expands-Grocery-Retail-Market|title=Performance Marketing Brands Expands Into Grocery Retail Market with Acquisition of Pushpins|date=22 January 2013|website=Businesswire|access-date=6 March 2019}}</ref> |- |25 June 2013<br>sold 6 December 2017 |Extrabux |Comparison shopping site |United States |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140317005209/en/Ebates-Acquires-Extrabux%C2%AE|title=Ebates Inc. Acquires Extrabux®|date=17 March 2014|website=Businesswire|access-date=6 March 2019}}</ref> |- |7 March 2016 |Shopular |Product discovery mobile app |United States |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160324005136/en/Ebates-Acquires-Shopular|title=Ebates Acquires Shopular|date=24 March 2016|website=Businesswire|access-date=6 March 2019}}</ref> |- |23 January 2017 |Cartera Commerce |Rewards program provider |United States |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170127005099/en/Ebates-Acquires-Cartera-Commerce|title=Ebates Acquires Cartera Commerce|date=27 January 2017|website=Businesswire|access-date=6 March 2019}}</ref> |- |3 April 2017 |ShopStyle (and Cosmic Cart) |Fashion discovery site |United States |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170223006470/en/Ebates-Acquires-ShopStyle-PopSugar|title=Ebates Acquires ShopStyle From PopSugar Inc.|date=24 February 2017|website=Businesswire|access-date=6 March 2019}}</ref> |}
== Services/tools == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Name !Description !References |- |Mobile app |Free application for Android and iOS allows users to shop and earn cash back on mobile devices. |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dyernews.com/rakuten-vs-ebates-whats-changing-with-the-cashback-tool/|title=Rakuten Review: Rakuten vs. Ebates - What is Changing|date=8 March 2019|website=Dyer News|access-date=25 April 2019}}</ref> |- |Hotels |Users can book hotels to earn cash back. |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hustlermoneyblog.com/ebates-hotels-review/|title=Ebates Hotels Review: Earn 10% Cash Back|date=22 August 2018|website=Hustler Money Blog|access-date=25 April 2019}}</ref> |- |Cash Back Button |Browser extension for Google Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari. Alerts users to cash-back possibilities on store sites and highlights offers in ''Google'' and ''Bing'' search results. |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dyernews.com/rakuten-vs-ebates-whats-changing-with-the-cashback-tool/|title=Rakuten Review: Rakuten vs. Ebates - What is Changing|date=8 March 2019|website=Dyer News|access-date=25 April 2019}}</ref> |- |Marketplace |Formerly located at Rakuten.com, the marketplace is an e-commerce site where users can buy goods from third-party sellers. | |- |In-Store Cash Back |Users can earn cash back in stores by adding a credit or debit card to their accounts and using that card to pay in stores. | |}
== Logos == <gallery class="center"> File:Ebates Logo 2017.svg|2017 File:Ebates Logo 2018.svg|2018 File:Ebates Logo 2019.svg|2019 (US, before renaming) File:Ebates.ca Logo 2019.svg|2019 (Canada, before renaming) File:Rakuten Global Brand Logo.svg|2019 (US and Canada, after renaming) </gallery>
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
{{Rakuten}} {{Customer loyalty programs}}
Category:American companies established in 1998 Category:Internet properties established in 1998 Category:1998 establishments in California Category:Companies based in San Mateo, California Category:Rakuten Category:2014 mergers and acquisitions Category:American subsidiaries of foreign companies Category:Cashback and rebate Category:Reward, cashback and comparison-shopping digital platforms Category:E-commerce websites