---
title: "What is Shopping portal? | Benefit Systems"
description: "A shopping portal is a programme-run page used to start an online purchase so that points are credited on top of what the card itself earns."
source: "aus dem gebauten HTML abgeleitet"
---
# What is Shopping portal?

A shopping portal is a programme-run page used to start an online purchase so that points are credited on top of what the card itself earns.

Also called: Cashback portal, Online mall.

## How it works #

Tracking depends on a referral link and therefore on technology that breaks easily: ad blockers, coupon extensions or a second click on another link can all stop the purchase being recognised. Portals credit late, often only after the return window closes. A claim needs the order date, amount and order number, and stands no chance without them.

## Not to be confused with #

A shopping portal is not the same as a card bonus: portal points come from the retailer as a marketing payment, while card points come from the payment transaction itself.

## In German #

The German term is Einkaufsportal. [German version of this term](/de/glossar/einkaufsportal)

## Related terms #

- [Bonus category](/en/glossary/bonus-category): A bonus category is an area of spending where a card credits more points per unit of spend than its base rate, such as travel or restaurants.
- [Merchant category code](/en/glossary/merchant-category-code): A merchant category code is the four-digit code a card network uses to classify a business, and it decides which bonus points a purchase earns.
- [Retroactive credit](/en/glossary/retroactive-credit): A retroactive credit is the later posting of points or miles for a stay or flight that did not appear in the account in the first place.

## Articles that use this term #

- [How do shopping portals work?](/en/knowledge/shopping-portals)
- [How do bonus categories work?](/en/knowledge/bonus-categories)
- [Why your purchase didn’t earn the points you expected](/en/knowledge/missing-points)