Zarfo vs Microsoft Rewards vs Rakuten — Which Free Reward Platform Pays Best?
Why Compare These Three?
Zarfo, Microsoft Rewards, and Rakuten represent three fundamentally different approaches to "earning for free":
- Zarfo — Earn by being entertained (videos, games, raffles)
- Microsoft Rewards — Earn by using Microsoft products (Bing, Edge, Xbox)
- Rakuten — Earn by shopping (cashback on purchases)
They're not competitors — they're complements. The smartest earners stack all three. But understanding each one's strengths helps you know where to spend your limited time. See our broader reward platform comparison for even more options.
The Quick Comparison
| | Zarfo | Microsoft Rewards | Rakuten | |---|-----------|----------------------|-------------| | How you earn | Videos, games, daily spin, missions, referrals | Bing searches, daily quizzes, Xbox achievements | Shopping cashback (1–40%) | | Time per day | 5–15 min | 3–5 min | 0 min (passive) | | Monthly earning | $15–$40 | $3–$10 | $15–$50 (depends on spending) | | Minimum payout | $5 | $5 | $5 (via PayPal) | | Payout options | Gift cards, crypto, electronics | Gift cards, Xbox Game Pass, donations | PayPal check, gift cards | | Requires purchase | ❌ No | ❌ No | You earn cashback ON purchases | | Mobile app | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | | Daily guarantee | ✅ Spin wheel + missions | ✅ Daily point goal | ❌ Only earn when you shop | | Survey screen-outs | ❌ None | ❌ None | ❌ N/A (cashback) | | Works outside US | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Limited | ⚠️ US, Canada, UK, France |
Zarfo — The Daily Earner
Core loop: Watch a 15-60 second video → earn 5–15 credits → spin the wheel → earn 10–500 credits → complete daily missions → earn 30–60 more. Repeat daily.
What earns best on Zarfo
| Activity | Time | Credits | Est. $ Value | |----------|------|---------|-------------| | Daily check-in streak | 10 sec | 10–30 (streak bonus scales) | $0.10–$0.30 | | Spin the Wheel | 10 sec | 10–500 | $0.10–$5.00 | | Watch 3 videos | 2 min | 45–75 | $0.45–$0.75 | | Daily missions | 3–5 min | 30–60 | $0.30–$0.60 | | Scratch card | 30 sec | 5–200 | $0.05–$2.00 | | Referral | 0 sec (just share link) | 50 each | $0.50 |
Time: 8–10 min/day → 100–165 credits/day → $1.00–$1.65/day → $30–$50/month
Strengths
- Fastest time-to-first-payout of any platform
- No surveys, no screen-outs, no wasted time
- Daily guaranteed earning (spin wheel + check-in streak)
- Crypto redemption option (rare among free platforms)
- Fun, game-like experience — doesn't feel like work
Weaknesses
- No shopping cashback (you can't earn passively from purchases)
- No search-based earning
- Catalog is gift-card focused (limited direct cash option)
Start daily earning on Zarfo →
Microsoft Rewards — The Passive Search Earner
Core loop: Search with Bing → earn points → complete daily quiz → earn more points → redeem for gift cards or Xbox Game Pass.
What earns best on Microsoft Rewards
| Activity | Time | Points | Est. $ Value | |----------|------|--------|-------------| | Daily Bing searches (30) | 3 min | 150 | ~$0.15 | | Daily quiz | 1 min | 30–50 | ~$0.05 | | Streak bonus (7+ days) | 0 min | 30–100 | ~$0.10 | | Xbox Game Pass quests | 15–30 min | 100–500 | ~$0.50 |
Time: 5 min/day → 200–300 points/day → $3–$7/month
Strengths
- Nearly zero effort (just use Bing instead of Google)
- Xbox Game Pass as a redemption option is excellent value for gamers
- Daily streaks reward consistency
- Desktop + mobile apps
Weaknesses
- You have to use Bing (significantly worse search quality than Google)
- Low earning rate per minute of active effort
- Many activities only work on desktop (Edge browser required for full points)
- Limited to US, UK, and a few other countries
- Redemption catalog is narrow (mostly Microsoft and major retailer gift cards)
Rakuten — The Shopping Cashback Earner
Core loop: Install browser extension → shop normally → Rakuten detects eligible stores → automatically applies cashback → quarterly payout via PayPal or check.
What earns best on Rakuten
| Activity | Cashback Rate | Est. Monthly Value | |----------|-------------|-------------------| | Amazon (select categories) | 1–5% | $2–$15 | | Target | 1–2% | $1–$10 | | Uber Eats | 2–5% | $2–$5 | | Walmart | 1–3% | $1–$10 | | Macy's, Nordstrom | 3–10% | $5–$30 (occasional) | | Special seasonal promos | Up to 40% | Varies |
Time: 0 min/day (passive) → $15–$50/month (depends on spending)
Strengths
- Zero daily time commitment — it's passive
- Cashback on purchases you'd make anyway
- Massive store network (3,500+ retailers)
- Double-dip with credit card rewards
- Chrome extension makes it automatic
Weaknesses
- You only earn when you spend (no earning without shopping)
- Quarterly payout Schedule (not instant)
- Some stores track poorly or miss cashback
- Doesn't work with all coupon codes simultaneously
The Optimal Stack
Here's how all three work together in a daily routine:
| Time | Platform | Activity | Est. Value | |------|----------|----------|-----------| | 7:00 AM | Zarfo | Check in + spin + 2 videos (3 min) | $0.40–$0.80 | | 7:05 AM | MS Rewards | Daily searches + quiz (3 min) | $0.15–$0.25 | | Throughout | Rakuten | Automatic on purchases (0 min) | $0.50–$2.00 | | 12:30 PM | Zarfo | 3 more videos + missions (5 min) | $0.50–$1.00 | | Total time | | ~11 min/day active | $1.55–$4.05/day | | Monthly | | | $47–$120/month |
Total time: ~11 minutes per day. Total value: $47–$120/month.
That's a streaming subscription, a weekly coffee habit, or meaningful savings — just by shifting 11 minutes of phone scrolling to structured reward activities.
Which One Should You Start With?
Start with Zarfo if:
- ✅ You have 5–15 spare minutes per day
- ✅ You want guaranteed daily progress
- ✅ You hate survey screen-outs
- ✅ You want to cash out quickly ($5 minimum)
- ✅ You're outside the US (works globally)
Start with Microsoft Rewards if:
- ✅ You're okay using Bing as your search engine
- ✅ You play Xbox (Game Pass value is tremendous)
- ✅ You want zero-friction daily earning (search normally)
- ✅ You're in a supported country (US, UK, etc.)
Start with Rakuten if:
- ✅ You shop online regularly (amazon, target, etc.)
- ✅ You want completely passive earning
- ✅ You don't want to change any habits (just install extension)
- ✅ You have regular monthly purchases
Stack all three if:
- ✅ You want maximum monthly value
- ✅ You can spare 10–15 min/day for active earning
- ✅ You shop online at least 2–3 times per month
- ✅ You want both active and passive income streams
FAQ
Can I really earn $100+/month for free? Yes, with a 3-platform stack and consistent daily use. Zarfo gives you $15–$40 of active earning. Rakuten gives you $15–$50 of passive cashback. Microsoft Rewards adds $3–$10. Total: $33–$100/month for 10–15 min/day.
Which platform pays out fastest? Zarfo — you can earn enough for a $5 gift card in 3–7 days. Microsoft Rewards takes 2–3 weeks for a $5 card. Rakuten pays quarterly.
Does Rakuten work internationally? Rakuten works in the US, Canada, UK, and France (via separate sites). If you're in other countries, check local cashback platforms.
Can I use all three without them conflicting? Absolutely. They're completely independent. Use Bing for searches (MS Rewards), install the Rakuten extension for shopping, and spend 10 min on Zarfo for daily entertainment rewards.