Rakuten, the cash back shopping portal that allows Amex cardholders to earn Membership Rewards points instead of cash, is offering elevated rates of up to one hundred times the standard earning on NordVPN and related cybersecurity products in July 2026. For frequent flyers who use Rakuten to accumulate Amex points on everyday purchases, these temporarily elevated rates represent a rare opportunity to earn tens of thousands of points on a single purchase while acquiring a product that many travelers use anyway. Here is how to evaluate the offer and maximize the earning.
When you shop through Rakuten and have an American Express card linked to your account, you earn Membership Rewards points instead of cash back at a conversion rate of one Amex point per cent of cash back. A merchant offering ten percent cash back through Rakuten, for example, earns you ten Membership Rewards points per dollar spent. A purchase of one hundred dollars at a ten percent rate earns one thousand Amex points through Rakuten, on top of the points earned on the credit card used for the purchase.
The current NordVPN offer on Rakuten provides cash back at roughly ninety-seven to one hundred percent on eligible NordVPN subscription purchases. At ninety-seven percent cash back, a two-year NordVPN plan priced at roughly one hundred dollars earns ninety-seven hundred Membership Rewards points through Rakuten, plus the credit card points earned on the purchase itself. At a conservative Membership Rewards valuation of 1.5 cents per point, the ninety-seven hundred points are worth roughly one hundred and forty-five dollars, exceeding the subscription cost and effectively making the VPN service free plus generating a net points profit.
NordVPN is one of the largest VPN providers globally, offering encrypted tunnels for secure internet browsing, particularly useful for travelers connecting to hotel, airport, and coffee shop Wi-Fi networks. NordPass is the company’s password manager, NordProtect offers identity theft protection and credit monitoring, Incogni automates data removal requests from data broker sites, and Surfshark is a sister VPN brand that shares Nord’s infrastructure at a lower price point. The Rakuten elevated rates apply to most Nord product subscriptions, though the exact rates vary by product and subscription length.
For a frequent flyer, a VPN addresses a specific travel security need: public Wi-Fi networks at airports, lounges, hotels, and cafes are notoriously insecure, and a VPN encrypts your browsing data so that malicious actors on the same network cannot intercept sensitive information such as login credentials, credit card numbers, or personal messages. Many frequent flyers already pay for a VPN service, and the Rakuten offer effectively reimburses the cost through points.
The elevated Rakuten rates on NordVPN products are not permanent fixtures. Rakuten adjusts cash back rates frequently, and these elevated rates typically appear during promotional windows that last days or weeks. The peak-season availability check means confirming that the elevated rate is active at the moment of purchase, as rates can change mid-day during high-volume periods. Always check the Rakuten rate immediately before clicking through to the merchant. If the rate has dropped significantly, wait for the next promotional window rather than accepting a lower earning rate.
Also note that Rakuten pays out on a quarterly schedule, with earnings from each calendar quarter distributed roughly six weeks after the quarter ends. The points from a July purchase will not appear in your Membership Rewards account until mid-November. Plan redemptions accordingly and do not rely on Rakuten-earned points for a booking that requires immediate points availability.
The Rakuten earning stacks with credit card points earned on the purchase. Using an Amex Platinum or Amex Gold card on the Rakuten NordVPN purchase adds one Membership Rewards point per dollar from the card itself, bringing the total earning to roughly ninety-eight to one hundred and one points per dollar. Amex occasionally runs targeted offers for additional points or statement credits at Rakuten or at specific merchants, which can stack further with the Rakuten portal earning. Check your Amex Offers before making the purchase.
This article is based on publicly available Rakuten cash back rates for NordVPN and related products, Amex Membership Rewards earning through Rakuten, and Rakuten payout schedules as of July 2026. Cash back rates are subject to change on short notice. Confirm current rates on the Rakuten website before making any purchase.
Q: How does Rakuten cash back convert to Amex points? A: When you link an American Express card to your Rakuten account, cash back is converted to Membership Rewards points at a rate of one point per cent of cash back.
Q: When will the points post to my Amex account? A: Rakuten pays out quarterly. Points earned in July, August, and September will post to your Membership Rewards account approximately in mid-November.
Q: Can I stack multiple Rakuten offers? A: No, you can only earn cash back from one shopping portal per purchase. However, Rakuten earning stacks with credit card rewards and Amex Offers on the same transaction.