Augusta Stone Augusta Stone Credit cards writer Augusta Stone is a credit cards writer for TPG. She joined the TPG team in 2023 and is excited to take points and miles beginners with her on a journey toward maximizing rewards. also contributed to this story Aug. 23, 2026 • 12 min read Jump to section Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Copy URL Email The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Editor's Note This is a recurring post that is regularly updated with new information and offers. Many of us regularly shop at retail stores and sites for pet supplies, home decor, clothing and gifts. In the face of rising costs, we also look for every possible way to save money.
Unfortunately, these types of purchases rarely fall into the bonus categories on rewards credit cards , making it harder to earn extra points, miles or cash back when you shop online.
That's where online shopping portals come in.
Online shopping portals offer an easy way to earn bonus points, miles or cash back on purchases you're already making. For instance, Rakuten is currently offering a one-time $50 bonus to new members who join with a referral link (and make qualifying purchases) and to the person who referred them.
In this guide, we'll explore some of the top online shopping portals and how you can maximize your rewards when shopping.
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At the most basic level, shopping portals allow you to earn bonus points, miles or cash back at hundreds of online retailers.
You can either log in to your online shopping portal of choice, click the store where you want to shop and be redirected to the store's website to shop as normal, or you can download the portal's browser extension. Browser extensions make it even easier to receive rewards for online shopping because they will automatically display the earning rate and any available discount codes when you visit an eligible shopping site. Some portals, including Rakuten, also have an app you can use when shopping on a mobile device.
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You're still purchasing the same items directly from the merchant, but because you started at the shopping portal, you'll earn bonus points, miles or cash back. However, this generally only applies to the subtotal of your purchase (excluding taxes and shipping fees). Additionally, you'll still earn points or miles on the rewards credit card you use, making this an easy way to double-dip .
Here's an example using Rakuten: Let's say you plan on buying $100 worth of school clothing for your children from Macy's.
Before going straight to the store's web…