Samsung Wallet now offers Rakuten-powered cash back on shopping for eligible Galaxy owners in the U.S., paid into a virtual card inside the app.
Samsung is adding a cash-back service to Samsung Wallet, the app Galaxy phone owners already use to pay. It is called Samsung Wallet Perks and is powered by Rakuten. As it rolls out, eligible Galaxy users in the U.S. can earn money back on purchases without installing a separate shopping app.
Wallet Perks offers cash-back deals from more than 3,500 brands, including Sephora, Expedia and LEGO. It also covers more than 25,000 in-store and dining partners. A new Nearby feature points you to participating restaurants and brands close to you. To earn, pay with a card linked to Wallet. Personalized offers may also show up based on your shopping activity.
Your rewards land in the Samsung Cash Card, a virtual card inside Wallet. You can spend the balance online or in stores, add funds to it, or send money to eligible Samsung Wallet users in the U.S. An instant transfer can also start by tapping your Galaxy phone against the recipient's compatible device.
One warning: the Samsung Cash Card is not the Galaxy Card. That is the credit card Samsung launched this summer with Barclays. They are two different products.
New Rakuten members get an extra 10% cash back on qualifying purchases, capped at $50. To earn the full bonus, you would need to spend about $500 on eligible items. Samsung also says boosted Rakuten rates are coming for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It has not said what those rates will be.
Participating brands, offers and eligibility vary, so what you see may differ from what another Galaxy owner sees. There is also a trade-off. Every dollar you route through Wallet gives you one more reason to stay in Samsung's ecosystem, meaning its phones and services. If the savings add up on things you already buy, that may be a fair deal.
The service is rolling out, so it may not appear on every eligible phone yet. The Black Friday and Cyber Monday rates are the next detail to watch for.
If you own a Galaxy phone, check Samsung Wallet for Perks, pay with a Wallet-linked card, and compare each offer before you buy.
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