About Rakuten

Rakuten Group, Inc. is a Japanese technology conglomerate founded in 1997. It is often referred to as the “Amazon of Japan.” The company started with its online retail marketplace, Rakuten Ichiba, and has since expanded into a global powerhouse with a vast ecosystem spanning diverse sectors.

Its core businesses include:

  • E-commerce: Rakuten Ichiba, Rakuten.co.uk, etc.
  • Fintech: Rakuten Card, Rakuten Bank, and securities.
  • Digital Content & Communications: Viber (messaging app), Kobo (e-book distributor), Rakuten TV, and Viki.
  • Affiliate Marketing/Cashback: Rakuten Advertising (the affiliate network) and Rakuten Rewards (cashback platform).

Rakuten operates in over 30 countries and is focused on connecting consumers, merchants, and affiliates through its technology and services.

Rakuten Affiliate Program Overview

The Rakuten Affiliate Program is managed by Rakuten Advertising (formerly Rakuten Marketing/LinkShare), which is one of the world’s leading global performance marketing networks. It connects publishers (affiliates) with thousands of advertisers, ranging from major global brands like Walmart and Best Buy to niche businesses.

Category Details
Industry E-commerce, Financial Technology (Fintech), Retail, Travel, Digital Services, and more (due to the large number of advertisers).
Product Type Physical Goods, Digital Products, and Services (depending on the specific advertiser/merchant program).
Affiliate Program Type Cost Per Sale (CPS) / Pay-Per-Sale, with some advertisers offering Cost Per Lead (CPL) or other models.

Rakuten Affiliate Program Offers

The program’s offerings can vary significantly as Rakuten Advertising is an affiliate network, meaning the specific terms are set by the individual advertisers (merchants) you apply to within the network. The information below reflects general network standards or common practices.

Feature Details
Promotional Materials Text links, banner ads, deep links, product data feeds, and exclusive promotions/deals, all provided by the individual advertisers.
Affiliate Cookie Duration Varies by advertiser. Common durations are 7 days to 30 days, though some programs may offer longer or shorter terms.
Accepted Traffic Source Diverse sources are generally accepted, including blogs, social media (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, etc.), email lists, coupon/deal sites, and paid advertising (subject to advertiser-specific terms).
Accepted Countries Worldwide due to Rakuten Advertising’s global network, but the available advertisers and programs will vary by region. Affiliates are generally welcome globally.
Explicit Content Generally Not Accepted. The network and its advertisers have policies against promoting explicit content.
Religious or Political Content Varies by advertiser. Content must generally be brand-safe and not violate the network’s or advertiser’s terms. Explicitly controversial content is typically prohibited.

Rakuten Affiliate Commissions & Payments

The payout specifics are determined by each merchant’s program within the Rakuten Advertising network.

Feature Details
MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) No. Rakuten Advertising is a standard single-tier affiliate network. Affiliates earn commission only on sales/leads they directly generate.
Commission Rate Varies widely by advertiser/merchant. Can range from a low single-digit percentage (e.g., 2%) for high-volume physical goods to higher percentages or flat-rate amounts for specific services/referrals.
Commission Structure Cost Per Sale (CPS) is most common. Advertisers can set flexible/dynamic structures, including multi-touch, tiered commissions (higher rates for more sales), and seasonal promotions.
Payout Frequency Monthly. Payments are consolidated and issued approximately four times per month, generally about 30 days after the advertiser has paid Rakuten for the commissions earned in the previous month.
Payout Methods Direct Deposit (ACH/Wire) and PayPal (availability of options may depend on country). Checks may also be an option in some regions.
Minimum Payout The minimum payment threshold is generally $50 USD. You must reach this amount before a payment is issued.

Suitable Affiliates for Rakuten Affiliate

The Rakuten Affiliate Program, as a major global network, is suitable for a wide variety of content creators and publishers due to its vast selection of brands across different niches (retail, finance, travel, etc.).

Affiliate Type Suitability Notes
Bloggers Highly Suitable Excellent for product reviews, comparison articles, “best of” lists, and niche content, especially in personal finance (cashback focus), lifestyle, and shopping.
TikTokers Suitable Can leverage “link in bio” for quick-hit product recommendations, hauls, or unboxing videos for brands on the network.
KOC/KOL/Influencers Highly Suitable The network has specific tools and programs for influencer discovery and management, making it an ideal platform for all levels of influencers to partner with major brands.
YouTubers Highly Suitable Perfect for product tutorials, reviews, shopping guides, and “what I bought” videos with links placed in the video description.
Video Editors Less Suitable Not a direct fit for promoting products, but may be hired by other affiliates or brands on the network to create affiliate-driven video content.
Livestreamers Suitable Can promote products in real-time during streams, often linking to brands for limited-time deals and sales.

Rakuten Affiliate Software

Rakuten does not use third-party affiliate management software.

The Rakuten Affiliate Program is run on Rakuten Advertising’s proprietary platform (the technology formerly known as LinkShare). They manage their entire network, tracking, reporting, commissioning tools, and payments internally. They have developed their own advanced suite of tools, branded as Affiliate Intelligence, which uses AI and data science for partner discovery, commissioning, and analytics.

3 Alternatives for Rakuten Affiliate Program

Here are three major alternatives to the Rakuten Affiliate Program, followed by a comparative table:

  1. CJ Affiliate (formerly Commission Junction): One of the largest and oldest global affiliate networks, hosting thousands of advertisers across nearly every industry. Known for its robust tracking and high-quality partner base.
  2. Awin: A major global network, particularly strong in Europe, offering connections to over 16,500 merchants. It is known for its wide international reach and diverse array of programs.
  3. Amazon Associates: The massive, ubiquitous affiliate program for the Amazon e-commerce platform. It offers unparalleled product depth and high conversion rates due to Amazon’s brand trust, though its commission rates and cookie duration are typically lower than network programs.
Comparison Factor Rakuten Advertising CJ Affiliate Awin Amazon Associates
Average Bill Varies widely by merchant (Retail, Travel, Finance) Varies widely by merchant (Retail, Software, Services) Varies widely by merchant (Global focus, strong in Europe) Varies widely (from low-cost books to high-end electronics)
Entry Fees $0 (for publishers/affiliates) $0 (for publishers/affiliates) ~$5 (a deposit/fee credited back upon approval) $0 (for publishers/affiliates)
Withdrawal Threshold $50 USD (General network minimum) $50 (Direct Deposit) / $100 (Check) $20 USD/EUR/GBP (Typically lower) $10 (Direct Deposit/Gift Card)
Payment Frequency Monthly (4 times/month depending on advertiser payment) Monthly (Net 20 or Net 30 terms) Monthly (Faster for top-tier affiliates) Monthly (Approx. 60 days after month end)
Commission Varies Widely (Set by individual advertiser) Varies Widely (Set by individual advertiser) Varies Widely (Set by individual advertiser) Fixed % based on product category (typically 1-10%)
Conversion Good (High-quality brands) Good (Diverse, mature marketplace) Good (International focus) Excellent (High brand trust/convenience)
Marketing Materials Deep Links, Banners, Data Feeds Deep Links, Banners, Widgets, Data Feeds Deep Links, Banners, Product Feeds, Voucher Codes Text Links, Banners, SiteStripe Tools