Honey vs Rakuten

If you’ve been online at all in the past few years, you’ve probably heard of Honey and Rakuten. Maybe you’ve even installed one (or both) and totally forgot they exist. Here's the a breakdown of how they work, what they’re good at, and which one actually pays off.

Honey: The Coupon Code Hunter

What it does:
Honey automatically tries a bunch of coupon codes when you're at checkout. You don’t have to Google “Forever 21 coupon April 2025” and hope for the best — it does all that for you.

Good stuff:

• Pops up at checkout and tests every code it can find in like 10 seconds.
• Works with tons of stores — clothes, tech, beauty, Amazon (kinda — more on that below).
• Has a “Droplist” feature where you can save items and get notified if the price drops.
• Gives you “Honey Gold” for certain purchases, which can eventually be turned into gift cards.

Rakuten: The Cashback OG

What it does:
If you shop through Rakuten — either by going through their site or clicking their browser extension — you’ll get a % of your purchase back in actual money. Like, real dollars.

Good stuff:

• Offers 1% to 15% (sometimes even more) back on tons of stores — from Sephora and Ulta to Nike and Expedia.
• Sends you a payout every few months via PayPal or check. Yes, real money.
• Their extension gives you a heads-up when you’re on a site that has cash back.
• Sometimes stacks with store sales for even bigger savings.

If you're looking to make money while you shop, give Rakuten a try! Sign up now and get a free $30 sign up bonus!