Every time I install a cash-back app, it ends up in the same graveyard as my gym membership and unused streaming trials. Samsung wants to spare Galaxy owners that fate by bringing cash-back rewards into the Samsung Wallet they already use every day.
The company has announced Samsung Wallet Perks, a shopping-rewards service powered by Rakuten. As it rolls out, eligible Galaxy users in the U.S. can earn cash back and spend it through the Samsung Cash Card inside Wallet (via Samsung).
How do Wallet Perks and the Samsung Cash Card work?
Wallet Perks offers cash-back deals from more than 3,500 brands, including Sephora, Expedia, and LEGO, along with more than 25,000 in-store and dining partners. The rewards you earn go straight into your Samsung Cash Card, a virtual card inside Wallet.
You can spend that balance online or in stores, add funds to the card, or send money to eligible Samsung Wallet users in the U.S. You can even initiate an instant transfer by tapping your Galaxy phone against a recipient’s compatible device.
Just don’t confuse the Samsung Cash Card with the Galaxy Card credit card Samsung launched this summer in collaboration with Barclays. They’re two different products.
Is it worth using, and what’s the catch?
New Rakuten members get an extra 10% cash back on qualifying purchases, capped at $50. In other words, you’d need to spend around $500 on eligible purchases to earn the full bonus.
Samsung also says users can expect boosted Rakuten cash-back rates during the upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, although it hasn’t disclosed the rates yet.
A new Nearby feature points you to participating restaurants and brands nearby, giving you more ways to earn rewards on everyday purchases, from coffee runs to dinner. Just make sure you pay with a Wallet-linked card. Personalized offers may also appear based on your shopping activity.
Here’s the catch: participating brands, offers, and eligibility vary, and every dollar you route through Wallet gives you another reason to stay in Samsung’s ecosystem. Still, if the savings add up, I’m not complaining.
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