A two‑day portal surge you can actually use
PetSmart at 10%. Gap at 10%. And a slew of other brands spiking to double‑digit rewards for just two days. Rakuten’s Big Stack Event (Oct. 6–7) is back, and it’s the rare “sale on rewards” that’s straightforward, widely available, and stackable.
What changed—and why it matters today
For Tuesday–Wednesday only (Oct. 6–7, 2026), Rakuten has boosted cash‑back rates to around 10% at many retailers, with some stores jumping to 15%–20%, per The Points Guy’s news desk. That includes easy, everyday merchants like PetSmart and Gap—places you might already be shopping this week. Crucially, Rakuten lets you choose your payout in cash or in points: American Express Membership Rewards or Bilt points. That flexibility turns a “10% rebate” into a potential 10x transferable‑points haul on every dollar you send through the portal. ([home.turangga.workers.dev](https://home.turangga.workers.dev/read-https-thepointsguy.com/news/bonus-rakuten-rewards/?utm_source=openai))
This is also one of the cleaner stacks in the game: you click through Rakuten, place your normal order, and still pay with the credit card that earns best on the purchase. If you carry the no‑annual‑fee Rakuten American Express Card, you can layer extra rewards on top of the portal rate during the event—TPG notes participating partners can net an additional 14% via the card’s event boost, turning 10% into 24% in select cases. ([home.turangga.workers.dev](https://home.turangga.workers.dev/read-https-thepointsguy.com/news/bonus-rakuten-rewards/?utm_source=openai))
Turn 10% into real travel: simple math that works
Here’s the play. Set your Rakuten payment preference to “Amex Membership Rewards.” A 10% portal rate becomes 10x Membership Rewards per dollar (Rakuten converts 1% cash back to 1 MR point). That $120 PetSmart order? It’s 1,200 Amex points—before your card’s own points. If you’re targeted by a 15% or 20% store, you’re at 1,500–2,000 points on the same $120. Then pay with a card that earns strong base rewards on online shopping or the category of the merchant to add even more. ([frequentmiler.com](https://frequentmiler.com/rakutens-big-stack-many-merchants-with-boosted-rewards/?utm_source=openai))
Prefer Bilt? Link your Bilt and Rakuten accounts and elect “Bilt Points” as your payout. Current terms indicate Bilt Silver, Gold, and Platinum members receive 100 Bilt points per $1 of Rakuten cash back (i.e., 10% = 10 Bilt points per dollar), while Blue members receive 50:1. That same $120 at a 10% store would post as 1,200 Bilt points at Silver+ or 600 at Blue. If you’re pushing toward a specific Bilt transfer partner or Rent Day promotion, this is an efficient way to feed that goal with everyday purchases. ([rakuten.com](https://www.rakuten.com/help/category/getting-paid-26579048142483?utm_source=openai))
The stack: make the math painless—and bigger
- Start in Rakuten: Confirm the merchant shows 10%+ during the Big Stack (Oct. 6–7). PetSmart and Gap are among the stores at 10% as of this morning; some brands are higher. ([home.turangga.workers.dev](https://home.turangga.workers.dev/read-https-thepointsguy.com/news/bonus-rakuten-rewards/?utm_source=openai))
- Choose your currency: Cash, Amex Membership Rewards, or Bilt points. Think of 10% as either $0.10 back or 10 transferable points per dollar. ([rakuten.com](https://www.rakuten.com/help/category/getting-paid-26579048142483?utm_source=openai))
- Add the right card: The Rakuten American Express Card can tack on significant extra rewards at participating partners during the event. In TPG’s example, that tops up an additional 14%—so a 10% portal rate can effectively become 24% at select merchants. If you don’t have the Rakuten Amex, still pay with your best‑earning card (Amex Gold for U.S. supermarkets, Citi Custom Cash for 5% online shopping if it’s your top category, etc.). ([home.turangga.workers.dev](https://home.turangga.workers.dev/read-https-thepointsguy.com/news/bonus-rakuten-rewards/?utm_source=openai))
Real‑world cart example: Buy $200 in pet supplies at PetSmart on Oct. 7. Through Rakuten at 10% you earn either $20 cash back, 2,000 Amex points, or (with Bilt Silver+) 2,000 Bilt points. If you’re using the Rakuten Amex during a participating‑partner window with the +14% event boost, that same purchase can get to the equivalent of 24% total rewards. That’s before any store promo codes or gift‑with‑purchase offers you layer on. ([home.turangga.workers.dev](https://home.turangga.workers.dev/read-https-thepointsguy.com/news/bonus-rakuten-rewards/?utm_source=openai))
Should you consider a new card for this?
- Rakuten American Express Card (no annual fee). If you plan to use shopping portals often—or you’re leaning into Rakuten’s Amex or Bilt payout options—this card’s event‑period boosts and everyday extras are tailor‑made for portal shoppers. TPG highlights that it adds rewards on top of portal earnings and can jump participating partners by an extra 14% during Big Stack windows—exactly what’s live right now. Check your Rakuten app for current welcome offers and verify terms. ([home.turangga.workers.dev](https://home.turangga.workers.dev/read-https-thepointsguy.com/news/bonus-rakuten-rewards/?utm_source=openai))
- A strong everyday earner. If you’d rather keep your wallet simple, pair Rakuten with a flat‑rate card like Citi Double Cash or a category winner like Amex Gold (4x at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants, caps apply). You won’t get the Rakuten‑specific boost, but you will compound the 10%–20% portal rates with robust card earnings. (Compare current public offers before you apply.)
Make the stack effortless with SuperPay
Two days isn’t long. SuperPay removes the guesswork in the moment:
- Smart Card Picker: When you hit PetSmart, Gap, or any participating store, SuperPay tells you which card to pull—Rakuten Amex for the event boost or your best general earner—based on your exact wallet.
- Receipt Scanner: Snap your order confirmation and see, line by line, how many cash‑back dollars or points you earned—and how many you could have earned by choosing Amex Membership Rewards vs. Bilt points. That feedback loop turns “one‑off wins” into a sustainable habit.
If you’re on SuperPay PRO+, the Rewards Roadmap will also map whether adding the Rakuten American Express Card makes sense for your spend mix, or if your existing cards already cover this play well enough.
Your next move
Shop through Rakuten before 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7, set your payout to Amex or Bilt if you value points, and let your card do the compounding. Then let SuperPay keep you on the optimal track, store by store and receipt by receipt.
Download SuperPay on the App Store and start optimizing your rewards today.