If you have been thinking about getting a VPN, there is a promotion worth checking right now.
Rakuten Canada is currently showing 100% Cash Back on eligible NordVPN purchases. That means you pay for the NordVPN subscription upfront, but you can potentially receive the eligible purchase amount back through Rakuten Cash Back.
Even better, Rakuten is also showing a 75% off NordVPN promotion plus 3 extra months on its current NordVPN offer page.
So, if you were already planning to use a VPN, this could be a good time to sign up.
But there are some important conditions you should understand before purchasing.
Is NordVPN Actually Free?
Yes, but No.
The promotion works differently from a traditional free trial.
You first purchase an eligible NordVPN subscription through Rakuten. Rakuten then tracks the transaction and credits the eligible Cash Back to your Rakuten account.
With a 100% Cash Back offer, the goal is that the eligible amount you paid is returned to you as Cash Back.
For example:
| Example | Amount |
|---|---|
| Eligible NordVPN purchase | $100 |
| Rakuten Cash Back | 100% |
| Cash Back earned | $100 |
| Effective cost | $0 |
The actual amount you receive depends on the eligible purchase amount and the specific terms shown by Rakuten when you make the purchase.
So it is more accurate to think of this as “buy first, get the eligible amount back later” rather than an instant free NordVPN subscription.
How to Get NordVPN with 100% Cash Back
The process is relatively simple.
Step 1. Create or Log In to Your Rakuten Canada Account
Start with Rakuten Canada.
If you already have an account, simply log in.
Rakuten is an online shopping portal that earns commissions from participating retailers and shares part of those commissions with members as Cash Back.
Step 2. Search for NordVPN
Search for NordVPN inside Rakuten.
You should see the current Cash Back rate on the NordVPN store page.
At the time of writing, Rakuten Canada is displaying:
100% Cash Back
The offer page also currently shows 75% off NordVPN + 3 months extra.
Because Cash Back promotions can change quickly, always check the rate immediately before clicking the purchase button.
Step 3. Click “Shop Now”
This step is important.
Don't simply open NordVPN separately in another browser tab and purchase directly.
You need to start your shopping session through Rakuten so that Rakuten can track the transaction.
Rakuten's basic system is:
Rakuten → NordVPN → Purchase → Cash Back tracked → Cash Back confirmed
Rakuten explains that members start their shopping through Rakuten, complete the purchase normally, and then receive Cash Back from the participating merchant's commission.
Step 4. Choose an Eligible NordVPN Plan
This is where you need to pay attention to the fine print.
According to Rakuten Canada's current NordVPN terms, the Cash Back offer is:
Available only to new NordVPN customers
Limited to the initial sign-up
Limited to one Cash Back reward per Rakuten member
Available only on the NordVPN Basic portion of bundled Plus, Complete or Prime plans
Not available on NordPass
Not available on NordLocker
Not available on Incogni
Not available on Dedicated IP subscriptions
Not available on NordLayer
Not available on B2B orders
Refunded orders are not eligible
This is probably the most important section of the entire promotion.
Don't assume that every NordVPN product or every dollar you spend will automatically receive 100% Cash Back.
Step 5. Complete the Purchase Without Interrupting the Shopping Session
After clicking through Rakuten, complete your NordVPN purchase normally.
For the best chance of tracking correctly:
Start from Rakuten
Use the same browser session
Don't switch between browsers
Don't use another cashback site at the same time
Avoid unnecessary coupon extensions or outside promotional links
Check that Rakuten indicates the shopping trip has been activated
If the purchase does not track, Rakuten provides a “Where's My Cash Back?” process through its Help Centre.
When Will the Cash Back Appear?
This is another important point.
Cash Back is not necessarily available immediately after you pay.
Rakuten says that most Cash Back rewards are credited within 48 hours, although some merchants may take up to 30 days to confirm a purchase because of return periods.
So don't expect the money to appear instantly.
You may initially see the transaction as pending before it becomes confirmed.
When Do You Actually Get Paid?
Rakuten Canada currently offers several ways to receive Cash Back, including:
Interac e-Transfer
PayPal
Physical cheque
Rakuten's standard payment schedule is quarterly. Purchases posted between July 1 and September 30, for example, are scheduled for payment around November 15.
This means the promotion is not the same as getting a refund immediately after buying NordVPN.
You pay first and receive the Cash Back later.
What About NordVPN's 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee?
This is where you should be careful.
NordVPN itself offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for new subscriptions.
However, Rakuten's NordVPN terms specifically say that refunded orders are not eligible for Cash Back.
So don't think of the promotion as:
Buy NordVPN → receive 100% Cash Back → request a NordVPN refund → get paid twice.
That's not how it works.
If you request a refund, the Rakuten Cash Back can become ineligible.
The safer way to approach this promotion is to purchase NordVPN only if you actually intend to use the service.
Can You Use NordVPN for Free Without Paying?
If what you're really looking for is a completely free VPN, that's a different question.
NordVPN does not offer a standard free trial for purchases made directly through its website.
NordVPN currently offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, while a limited free trial is available for Android users through Google Play under Google's terms.
NordVPN also warns against websites offering supposedly free NordVPN accounts or account generators because they can create security and privacy risks.
So I would avoid searching for “free NordVPN accounts” or using shared/generated accounts.
If you want the paid NordVPN service at the lowest effective cost, the Rakuten 100% Cash Back promotion is a much more legitimate option.
How Rakuten Cash Back Works
If you've never used Rakuten before, the concept is actually very simple.
Think of Rakuten as a middleman between you and an online store.
Instead of:
Google → NordVPN → Purchase
you do:
Rakuten → NordVPN → Purchase
The merchant pays Rakuten a commission for sending a customer.
Rakuten then shares part of that commission with you as Cash Back.
That's why Rakuten can sometimes offer surprisingly high Cash Back rates.
And NordVPN isn't the only company available through Rakuten.
Rakuten Canada currently lists hundreds of participating stores and offers Cash Back across categories including shopping, travel, electronics, beauty, groceries and more.
How to Use Rakuten to Save Money on Everyday Shopping
Once you understand how Rakuten works, the biggest opportunity isn't necessarily one big promotion.
It's making Rakuten a habit before you shop online.
Before buying something, try this routine:
1. Search Rakuten First
Before opening the retailer's website, search the store on Rakuten.
For example:
“Best Buy Rakuten”
“Walmart Rakuten”
“Hotels.com Rakuten”
“NordVPN Rakuten”
2. Check the Cash Back Rate
Cash Back rates change frequently.
A store that offers 2% today might offer 10%, 15% or more during a special promotion.
3. Check the Store's Restrictions
Don't assume that everything purchased from a retailer qualifies.
Some stores exclude certain products, gift cards, coupon codes or payment methods from Cash Back. Rakuten maintains store-specific exceptions and conditions.
4. Click Through Rakuten
Once you've confirmed the offer, click the shopping button through Rakuten.
5. Complete Your Purchase
Then shop normally on the retailer's website.
This small habit can add up over the course of a year.
A Simple Rakuten Shopping Strategy
You don't need to constantly hunt for promotions.
A simple system is enough:
Before buying anything online → Check Rakuten
For example:
| Purchase | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Electronics | Best Buy, Walmart and other retailers |
| Clothing | Current Cash Back rate |
| Hotel | Hotel/travel Cash Back |
| VPN | NordVPN or competing VPN offers |
| Beauty | Current promotional rate |
| Back-to-school shopping | Retailer + Cash Back |
| Gift cards | Rakuten Gift Card Shop |
| Online subscriptions | Eligible Cash Back offers |
The key is to check the Cash Back rate immediately before purchasing, because these rates can change.
Is the NordVPN 100% Cash Back Deal Worth It?
If you are already considering a VPN, yes, it is worth checking.
A 100% Cash Back promotion can dramatically reduce the effective cost of a subscription.
The combination currently displayed by Rakuten is particularly interesting because the NordVPN page shows both:
75% off + 3 extra months
and
100% Cash Back.
However, there is an important distinction.
This isn't necessarily a deal where every NordVPN plan and every dollar spent becomes free.
The offer is subject to Rakuten's eligibility rules, including the new-customer requirement and the restriction to eligible NordVPN Basic plan amounts.
So before purchasing, check the offer page one more time and read the conditions displayed at checkout.
The Most Important Things to Check Before You Buy
Before clicking “Subscribe,” go through this quick checklist:
Are you a new NordVPN customer?
Is Rakuten currently showing 100% Cash Back?
Is the Cash Back activated before you purchase?
Is the plan eligible?
Are you purchasing through Rakuten's NordVPN link?
Are you making your initial NordVPN purchase?
Have you checked the Cash Back exclusions?
Are you comfortable paying upfront and waiting for the Cash Back?
Are you planning to keep the subscription rather than request a refund?
If the answer is yes to all of these, the promotion can be very attractive.
Final Thoughts
The interesting thing about the current NordVPN promotion isn't simply the VPN itself.
It's the combination of a discounted NordVPN subscription and Rakuten Cash Back.
Instead of looking for a completely free VPN from an unknown provider, you can potentially use a legitimate paid VPN service and recover the eligible purchase amount through Rakuten.
Just remember that 100% Cash Back doesn't mean you pay nothing at checkout.
You pay first, Rakuten tracks and confirms the eligible purchase, and the Cash Back is paid later.
And because promotional rates can change, check the Rakuten NordVPN page immediately before purchasing.
Check the current NordVPN 100% Cash Back offer on Rakuten Canada
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is NordVPN free with Rakuten?
Not immediately. You purchase an eligible NordVPN subscription first and then receive eligible Cash Back through Rakuten. The current Rakuten Canada NordVPN page is displaying 100% Cash Back.
Can existing NordVPN customers get the 100% Cash Back?
According to Rakuten Canada, the current offer is available only to new NordVPN customers and only on the initial sign-up.
Can I get 100% Cash Back on any NordVPN plan?
Not necessarily. Rakuten specifically states that Cash Back is earned only on the NordVPN Basic portion of eligible bundled Plus, Complete or Prime plans. Other products and services are excluded.
How long does Rakuten Cash Back take?
Most Cash Back is credited within 48 hours, but some purchases can take up to 30 days to be confirmed.
Can I request a NordVPN refund and keep my Rakuten Cash Back?
You should not assume that. Rakuten's current NordVPN terms specifically exclude refunded orders from Cash Back eligibility.
How does Rakuten make money?
Participating retailers pay Rakuten commissions for referred purchases. Rakuten shares part of those commissions with members as Cash Back.
How do I receive my Rakuten Cash Back in Canada?
Rakuten Canada currently offers payment through Interac e-Transfer, PayPal or physical cheque.
* This article is for informational purposes. Rakuten Cash Back rates, NordVPN pricing, promotional terms and eligibility requirements can change at any time. Always verify the current offer and terms on Rakuten Canada before making a purchase.
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