Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Rakuten vs Pogo

Rakuten 4.8★ · Free to download 75
Winner Rakuten
Pogo 4.8★ · Free to download 70

Choose Rakuten for a more established cash back experience, but Pogo offers a fun alternative.

Full reviews: Rakuten · Pogo

Rakuten has a strong reputation for cash back rewards, but recent reviews highlight issues with reliability and customer service. Pogo provides a more varied experience with games and surveys, but it has faced criticism for its cash out process and data privacy concerns.

Head to head

features edge: RakutenR2R11R62R67
Rakuten Rakuten offers cash back on purchases from many retailers and has a referral program.
Pogo Pogo allows users to scan receipts, play games, and take surveys for rewards.
ease of use edge: RakutenR8R12R66R78
Rakuten Users find Rakuten easy to use for online shopping but report issues with in-store tracking.
Pogo Pogo's receipt scanning and gameplay can be cumbersome, with frequent errors reported.
reliability tieR4R18R61R85
Rakuten Rakuten has received complaints about delayed cash back and missing transactions.
Pogo Pogo users report issues with receipt scanning and cash out processes, leading to frustration.
price/value edge: RakutenR2R39R67R78
Rakuten Rakuten is free to use and offers real cash back, making it a valuable tool for shoppers.
Pogo Pogo is also free but often criticized for low earnings and a complicated cash out process.
support tieR52R40R66R100
Rakuten Users have reported difficulty in reaching Rakuten's support for issues.
Pogo Pogo users also express dissatisfaction with customer support responses.
Pick Rakuten if

you prioritize cash back from a wider range of retailers and a more established platform.

Pick Pogo if

you enjoy gaming and surveys as a way to earn rewards.

Evidence note: Both apps have received mixed reviews, with Rakuten having a longer history but recent complaints about reliability. Pogo is newer and offers different features but has faced scrutiny over its cash out process and data requests.

Frequently asked

How do I earn cash back with Rakuten?
You earn cash back by shopping through the Rakuten app at participating retailers, with many users reporting earnings over $100 annually.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] Rakuten 5/5 · US Easy way to earn money: I have been using this app for a couple years now and I’ve made over $1000. It really is as easy as going through the app first before I make a purchase or book some travel.
  2. [R11] Rakuten 5/5 · US Cash back is real!: I’ve made hundreds of dollars back, just from shopping for the things that I need and want. It’s always deposited into my PayPal account, when it’s supposed to be. Great application/ and website. 🤩
  3. [R62] Pogo 5/5 · US Love Pogo: Pogo is a great app. I am able to scan receipts, take surveys and play games . I tell all my friends to download Pogo!
  4. [R67] Pogo 2/5 · US Real money but many issues: Sure you can make some real money but please be careful. First, surveys get you like no money at all, after doing one for up to 10 minutes you get 32 points which is 3 cents and that’s not worth it. If you play the games, the majority of them only have a few hundred downloads which is sketchy and if the reward is over $1 you have to contact customer service and show you
  5. [R8] Rakuten 4/5 · US Cash back is great WHEN ot works.: Shopping with the app is a breeze. Quick updates on cash back earned. However, shopping in-store with a linked card is another story, it never gives credit for in-store purchases at approved stores.
  6. [R12] Rakuten 3/5 · US Inconsistent: I used to love this app and earned so much cash back in the last 8 years or so, but now it is super inconsistent and half of the time, the stores I want to buy from don’t load when I click through and I can’t shop. Super frustrating.
  7. [R66] Pogo 3/5 · US Earning discrepancies: Would be a great app if the receipts would scan correctly and you wouldn’t get the error that they can’t find the vendor in the amount of the receipt all the time when you’re trying to scan in receipts. Then you send the receipts in to their help center and back an automated email saying to send in the receipt, would you have already done so you have to do again and still d
  8. [R78] Pogo 3/5 · US Takes too long to cashout just with receipts: Needs minimum of 3000 points for $3 cash out. One receipt gives 10 points. Basically needs 300 receipts just to get $3. And the time it takes to take pictures and upload and wait in between crashes. I dont think its worth it. Used to be a good app before.
  9. [R4] Rakuten 1/5 · US Money back: Seams that every time is a big purchase the money back is not added to the account and even when you follow up with them they will give you a bull… excuse
  10. [R18] Rakuten 3/5 · US Not what it used to be: I have been using this app for a long time, and always enjoyed receiving some big checks every quarter. But now it takes so long for the cash back to be verified. The cash back used to be verified within 24 hours, or at most within a week. Now you have to potentially wait 14 weeks for your cash back!
  11. [R61] Pogo 1/5 · US It changed: This app used to be pretty good but ever since it changed, in order to to cash out (which takes a long time to earn) you have to provide your address and photo ID. It wasn’t like that before and I’m not comfortable sharing that info. It wasn’t really only a fairly decent app to begin with but over the past year I have been able to cash out $11, but unfortunately I can’t cash out my $6
  12. [R85] Pogo 1/5 · US Cash out process sucks: Been using this app for a long time before I was able to get enough points to make it worthwhile to cash in. Then when I tried to do so it asks me for a bunch of information and a photo ID through a third-party. Seems awfully sketchy. I’ve used others of these apps and have been able to cash in without any problem whatsoever without providing anything more than an email add
  13. [R39] Rakuten 5/5 · US Real cash back!: I been using for years! I love it & I like how they added the option to cash out sooner for a gift card but they should give more options it’s very limited but most stores people use
  14. [R52] Rakuten 1/5 · US Missing my check: I have been reaching out to Rakuten about my missing check and there is no way to get in touch with anybody anymore.
  15. [R40] Rakuten 1/5 · US Have to contact support after every order: The percentage credited is incorrect every time. Frustrating.
  16. [R100] Pogo 2/5 · US Disappointed: As soon as I start getting higher points the games stop registering. Constantly having to reach out for support. Now most of the games won’t even download. Support can’t help with the issue. I believe they just don’t like paying the higher amounts. Lost lots of points due to the games not registering when I get to the higher amounts and their policy of only giving you the last level

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store