How to Earn Free Travel with Online Shopping Portals
If you shop online (and let’s be honest, most of us do), you’re probably leaving free travel on the table. Online shopping portals are one of the easiest ways to earn points, miles, or cash back on purchases you’re already making.
There’s no extra spending involved. No complicated strategy. Just one additional step before checkout.
When used consistently, shopping portals can help you earn travel through shopping portals without changing where or how you shop. Over time, those small rewards can turn into free flights, hotel nights, or meaningful savings on future trips.
In this post, I’ll explain how to use shopping portals, walk through the best shopping portals available today, and share practical strategies (including when and how to stack programs) so you can get the most value every time you shop online.
What Are Online Shopping Portals?
Online shopping portals are platforms that partner with retailers to reward you for shopping through their links. When you click through a portal and complete a purchase, the retailer pays the portal a commission—and the portal shares part of that commission with you.
You may earn:
- Cash back
- Airline miles
- Transferable credit card points
The key advantage of shopping portals is that they stack with credit card rewards. You still earn your normal credit card points and bonuses; portal rewards are simply an additional layer.
How to Use Shopping Portals (Step by Step)
If you’re new to this, here’s how to use shopping portals in practice:
- Choose a shopping portal (Rakuten, airline portal, etc.)
- Log in or install the browser extension
- Visit a participating retailer
- Activate the offer
- Shop and check out as normal
That’s it.
Once you install browser extensions, most portals will notify you automatically when you land on an eligible site—making it easy to earn rewards without thinking about it.
Rakuten: One of the Best Shopping Portals for Flexible Points
Rakuten is widely considered one of the best shopping portals, especially for travelers. I’ve used it for years, and it remains my default option for most online purchases.
Rakuten started as a cash-back portal but has evolved into a powerful tool for earning transferable points.
Rakuten Rewards Options
With Rakuten, you can earn:
- Cash back
- American Express Membership Rewards points
- Bilt Rewards points
Bilt points transfer to partners like Hyatt, United, and Marriott, making Rakuten useful even if you don’t have an Amex card.
Important Rakuten Nuance: Any Card Works
You do not need to pay with an American Express card to earn Amex points through Rakuten.
You can pay with any credit card—Visa, Mastercard, or Amex—and still earn Amex Membership Rewards or Bilt points. Your rewards currency is based on how your Rakuten account is set up, not the card you use.
This makes Rakuten especially powerful because you can:
- Pay with a Chase card for bonus categories
- Pay with a Capital One card
- Use whichever card earns the most points
…and still earn portal rewards on top.
How Rakuten Works
- Stores offer fixed earning rates (2%, 5%, 10%, or more)
- Activate the offer before checkout
- Rewards post automatically (quarterly)
Rakuten also runs frequent elevated earning events, often around holidays, making it easy to earn a large number of points quickly.
Airline Shopping Portals: Earn Miles Directly
Every major U.S. airline operates its own online shopping portal, including:
- American Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- United Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
Instead of cash back or bank points, these portals allow you to earn airline miles through shopping portals.
How Airline Shopping Portals Work
- Install the airline’s browser extension or shop through the portal
- Activate the offer at checkout
- Earn miles based on your purchase amount
We personally use the United MileagePlus Shopping Portal given our loyalty to United, but pick the one best suited to you and your travel preferences. Not loyal to one airline? These portals frequently offer similar amounts, so if you have specific travel destinations in mind, see who flies there the most.
Our Recommendation: Install Rakuten + Your Favorite Airline Portal
To maximize value, we recommend installing:
- Rakuten
- Your favorite airline shopping portal
When you visit a participating retailer, you’ll often see notifications from both portals, making it easy to compare and choose whichever option earns you more points or miles.
You can only use one shopping portal per purchase, so having both installed makes the decision quick and painless.
Shop Through Chase: High Value, Extra Step
Shop Through Chase is another strong option if Ultimate Rewards are your preferred currency.
How Shop Through Chase Works
- Log into your Chase Ultimate Rewards account
- Click Shop & Earn Bonus Points
- Search for the retailer and click through
Our Honest Take
My P2 really likes Shop Through Chase and checks it regularly. I use it less often because it requires an extra step—logging in before shopping—whereas Rakuten and airline portals notify you automatically.
That said, when Chase offers elevated rates, it can absolutely be worth the effort.
Capital One Offers vs. Capital One Shopping
Capital One has two programs that are often confused:
Capital One Shopping
- Open to anyone
- Earns rewards redeemable for gift cards
- Does not earn Capital One miles
Capital One Offers
- Tied to your Capital One card account
- Can earn Capital One miles if you have a mile-earning card (like Venture or Venture X)
- Requires activation before purchase
Capital One Offers can function as an online shopping portal that earns miles, depending on the offer.
Advanced Strategy: MileagePlus X + Shopping Portals
If you want to go a step further, United MileagePlus X (MPX) can sometimes be layered into your strategy.
MileagePlus X allows you to earn United miles by purchasing digital gift cards.
Gift Cards and Portal Terms Matter
Some shopping portals explicitly state you won’t earn rewards when paying with a gift card. Others don’t include that restriction.
If a retailer:
- Appears in MileagePlus X and
- Appears in an online shopping portal
I check the portal’s terms. If gift cards are excluded, I compare:
- Portal earnings vs.
- MileagePlus X earnings
Then I go with whichever option earns more miles or points.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting to activate the portal
- Using ad blockers that prevent tracking
- Switching tabs mid-purchase
- Returning items (which usually voids rewards)
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Shopping Portals
What are the best shopping portals?
The best shopping portals depend on your goals, but top options include Rakuten, airline shopping portals, Shop Through Chase, and Capital One Offers.
Can I use any credit card?
Yes—most portals allow any card. Rakuten, in particular, lets you earn Amex or Bilt points while paying with any card.
Can I stack shopping portals?
No, but you can stack a shopping portal with credit card rewards—and sometimes with programs like MileagePlus X.
Do online shopping portals really work?
Yes. When used consistently, shopping portals are one of the easiest ways to earn travel through shopping portals without changing your spending.
Final Thoughts: The Easiest Way to Earn Travel Through Shopping Portals
Online shopping portals are one of the simplest, lowest-effort ways to earn points and miles. You’re already shopping online—adding one extra step can turn everyday purchases into flights, hotel nights, and meaningful travel savings.
Start with Rakuten. Add your favorite airline portal. Compare rates when you shop. Layer in Chase, Capital One Offers, or MileagePlus X when it makes sense.
There’s no perfect setup—just the one you’ll actually use. Stay consistent, keep it simple, and let the points pile up in the background. Future you, booking a trip with points, will be glad you did