Plus: the best credit cards to use at Rakuten for maximum rewards in 2026.
By PointsPick Team, Credit Card Research Team · Updated April 2026
Rakuten uses MCC code 5999 (Miscellaneous and Specialty Retail Stores). The best credit card is the Shopper Cash Rewards, earning 6x rewards on this category.
Rakuten transactions are processed under MCC 5999 (Miscellaneous and Specialty Retail Stores, category: retail). These cards earn the highest rewards:
| Card | Earning Rate | Annual Fee | Issuer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopper Cash Rewards | 6x | $95/yr | U.S. Bank | Apply Now |
| Amazon Business | 5x | No annual fee | American Express | Apply Now |
| Altitude Reserve | 5x | No annual fee | U.S. Bank | Apply Now |
| Amazon Prime Store Card | 5x | No annual fee | Synchrony | Apply Now |
| Amazon Prime | 5x | No annual fee | Chase | Apply Now |
Rates and fees as of April 2026. Verify with issuer before applying.
Many shoppers assume grocery credit cards earn bonus rewards at stores like Rakuten, but this is not the case. Rakuten processes transactions under MCC 5999 (Miscellaneous and Specialty Retail Stores), not the grocery MCC code 5411.
Cards that advertise "grocery bonuses" typically earn them only at traditional supermarkets coded MCC 5411. Always check the MCC code before assuming bonus rates apply.
Rakuten uses MCC code 5999, which is classified as "Miscellaneous and Specialty Retail Stores". This determines which credit card bonus categories apply to purchases at Rakuten.
The best credit card at Rakuten is the Shopper Cash Rewards, which earns 6x points/miles on purchases coded as MCC 5999 (Miscellaneous and Specialty Retail Stores).
Rakuten uses MCC 5999 (Miscellaneous and Specialty Retail Stores). This means purchases at Rakuten do NOT qualify for grocery credit card bonuses, which require MCC 5411 (Grocery Stores and Supermarkets).