Which Rakuten Card should you get? All 14 compared
A decision page for readers who have already settled on Rakuten Card and only need to pick the right card in the lineup. All 14 are compared here — 14 of them open to new applications, with annual fees of ¥0–¥33,000. The axis that actually decides it: annual fee against ordinary earning, plus any milestone bonus you would reach anyway.
Issued by Rakuten Card Co., Ltd. · 14 cards recorded, 14 open to new applications · verified 2026-08-13
Which one to get
If you want one answer, start with the Alpen Group Rakuten Card — no annual fee and a 1% published base rate. If you already know what you want the card for, take the matching row instead.
| Use case | Card | Annual fee | Fee condition | Base rate | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best no-fee starting point | Alpen Group Rakuten CardGeneral | Free | — | 1% | Sports retailer value |
| Best paid card with a fee-waiver path | Rakuten ANA Mileage Club CardGeneral | ¥550 | First year free · waiver available | 1% | Flexible Rakuten/ANA route |
| Best premium / travel tier | Rakuten Premium CardPremium | ¥11,000 | — | 1% | Travel benefits |
| Best specialist / co-brand | Hirogin Rakuten CardGeneral | Free | — | 1% | Regional bank integration |
Each row is selected from the recorded data by rule — cheapest fee, a stated waiver, the highest published rate within a grade — not by editorial preference. Nothing here reflects how likely you are to be approved.
How to decide inside this lineup
3 rules apply to this lineup. Work down them in order — the first one usually settles it.
- Start with the strongest no-fee card, and move up only when a paid tier has a waiver you will actually reach, a milestone bonus you would hit anyway, or a recurring benefit worth more than its fee.
- These cards do not all earn the same currency: the lineup spans Rakuten Points, Rakuten Points / Alpen points and Rakuten Points or ANA miles. A higher rate in a programme you cannot redeem well is worth less than a lower rate in one you can.
- This lineup has more than one grade, so an upgrade is an arithmetic question: divide the extra annual fee by the extra published rate to get the spend that repays it, then add only the benefits and milestones you expect to use.
Each rule is triggered by the recorded fees, grades, programmes and payment types rather than written per provider, so it changes when the lineup does.
Annual fees and what they really cost
10 of the 14 personal cards you can choose between here have no annual fee. The fee is the only cost you pay whether or not you use the card, so it is the first column to read.
| Card | Grade | Annual fee | Fee condition | Networks | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpen Group Rakuten Card | General | Free | — | Mastercard | Open to new applications |
| Hirogin Rakuten Card | General | Free | — | Visa | Open to new applications |
| Mizuho Rakuten Card | General | Free | — | Visa | Open to new applications |
| Rakuten Bank Card | General | Free | — | JCB | Open to new applications |
| Rakuten Card | General | Free | — | Visa · Mastercard · JCB · American Express | Open to new applications |
| Rakuten Card Academy | Student | Free | — | Visa · JCB | Open to new applications |
| Rakuten Card Disney Design | General | Free | — | JCB | Open to new applications |
| Rakuten Card My Color Selection | General | Free | — | Mastercard | Open to new applications |
| Rakuten Card Sanrio Designs | General | Free | — | Mastercard · JCB | Open to new applications |
| Rakuten Pink Card | General | Free | — | Visa · Mastercard · JCB · American Express | Open to new applications |
| Rakuten ANA Mileage Club Card | General | ¥550 | First year free · waiver available | Visa · Mastercard · JCB | Open to new applications |
| Rakuten Gold Card | Gold | ¥2,200 | — | Visa · Mastercard · JCB | Open to new applications |
| Rakuten Premium Card | Premium | ¥11,000 | — | Visa · Mastercard · JCB · American Express | Open to new applications |
| Rakuten Black Card | Black | ¥33,000 | Invitation only | Visa · Mastercard · JCB · American Express | Open to new applications |
A waiver or a free first year still means you pay the fee until the condition is met. Family cards, ETC cards and optional programmes can carry their own charges, which are not in this column — check the issuer page. All amounts include tax.
Earning rates and what they earn into
These cards earn into 3 different programmes. Rates in different currencies are not comparable until you fix what a point is worth to you.
| Card | Base rate | Earns | Comparison-site range | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpen Group Rakuten Card | 1% | Rakuten Points / Alpen points | — | Free |
| Hirogin Rakuten Card | 1% | Rakuten Points | — | Free |
| Mizuho Rakuten Card | 1% | Rakuten Points | — | Free |
| Rakuten Bank Card | 1% | Rakuten Points | — | Free |
| Rakuten Card | 1% | Rakuten Points | 1%–3% | Free |
| Rakuten Card Academy | 1% | Rakuten Points | — | Free |
| Rakuten Card Disney Design | 1% | Rakuten Points | — | Free |
| Rakuten Card My Color Selection | 1% | Rakuten Points | — | Free |
| Rakuten Card Sanrio Designs | 1% | Rakuten Points | — | Free |
| Rakuten Pink Card | 1% | Rakuten Points | — | Free |
| Rakuten ANA Mileage Club Card | 1% | Rakuten Points or ANA miles | — | ¥550 |
| Rakuten Gold Card | 1% | Rakuten Points | — | ¥2,200 |
| Rakuten Premium Card | 1% | Rakuten Points | — | ¥11,000 |
| Rakuten Black Card | 1% | Rakuten Points | — | ¥33,000 |
The base rate is the figure the issuer publishes; where none is published the cell is blank rather than estimated. The comparison-site range is calculated by Kakaku.com under its own assumptions about redemption value and bonus conditions — it is a secondary signal, not an issuer claim.
Every card compared
All 14 cards, ordered by grade and then by fee, with what each is for and what to watch on it.
| Card | Annual fee | Base rate | Best for | Main edge | Caution / status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpen Group Rakuten CardGeneral | Free | 1% | Sports retailer value | Alpen Group bonuses | Single-network/niche |
| Hirogin Rakuten CardGeneral | Free | 1% | Regional bank integration | Hiroshima Bank relationship benefits | Regional/account relevance |
| Mizuho Rakuten CardGeneral | Free | 1% | Mizuho plus Rakuten | Mizuho relationship benefits | Account/product combination rules |
| Rakuten Bank CardGeneral | Free | 1% | One-card bank integration | Rakuten Bank cash card integration | JCB only; cannot hold some combinations |
| Rakuten CardGeneral | Free | 1% | Simple 1% and broad ecosystem | Rakuten market/SPU bonuses subject to terms | Some payments earn lower/no points; SPU conditions change |
| Rakuten Card AcademyStudent | Free | 1% | Student card | Student-focused Rakuten benefits | Age/student and graduation transition |
| Rakuten Card Disney DesignGeneral | Free | 1% | Mickey/Minnie variants | Same core benefits | JCB and design combination limits |
| Rakuten Card My Color SelectionGeneral | Free | 1% | Large color selection | Same core Rakuten Card benefits; 27 colors advertised | Mastercard only for this design family |
| Rakuten Card Sanrio DesignsGeneral | Free | 1% | Kiki & Lala / Kogimyun and other current designs | Same core benefits | Design availability changes |
| Rakuten Pink CardGeneral | Free | 1% | Design and optional benefits | Optional lifestyle benefits | Paid add-ons |
| Rakuten ANA Mileage Club CardGeneral | ¥550 | 1% | Flexible Rakuten/ANA route | Choose points or miles course | Mileage conversion economics and annual-use waiver |
| Rakuten Gold CardGold | ¥2,200 | 1% | Low-fee gold | Limited domestic lounge visits and ecosystem benefits | Benefits are limited versus premium; SPU changes |
| Rakuten Premium CardPremium | ¥11,000 | 1% | Travel benefits | Premium travel/selected course benefits | Priority Pass rules changed over time |
| Rakuten Black CardBlack | ¥33,000 | 1% | Top Rakuten tier | Premium Rakuten/travel benefits | Eligibility and benefit caps |
The last three columns are the English research record for each card. Signup campaigns are deliberately excluded — they are not standing value.
How the points actually work
Most of this lineup earns under one rule — Rakuten Points. What you actually receive is decided less by the headline rate than by the excluded transactions and the expiry below.
- How it is earned
- Rakuten Card generally 1 point per ¥100 eligible card spend; some categories use different units/rates
- Bonus earning
- Rakuten Market SPU, Rakuten Pay, campaigns and card-tier benefits
- Eligible spend
- Eligible card and Rakuten ecosystem transactions
- Excluded or reduced spend
- Fees/cash advances and designated low/no-earn categories; tax/utility rules differ
- Caps
- SPU and campaigns have monthly caps and entry/service requirements
- Expiry
- Ordinary points expire 1 year after last qualifying point earning and extend with activity; limited points have fixed dates
- Best redemption route
- Rakuten Card bill/Rakuten Pay at ¥1; SPU points should be used before limited expiry
- What a point is worth
- 1 point=¥1 in eligible Rakuten uses
This block is shown only when most of the lineup really does earn under the same rule, so one card’s terms are never presented as the provider’s.
Benefits, and what switches them on
14 of these cards have a recorded insurance, lounge, family-card or eligibility term. What decides a benefit’s value is not whether it exists but what switches it on.
| Card | Insurance | Lounge | Family / ETC | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rakuten Card | Overseas travel insurance subject to use | — | Family/ETC available; ETC fee waiver conditions | 18+; high-school students excluded |
| Rakuten Pink Card | Travel insurance | — | Family/ETC available | 18+ |
| Rakuten Bank Card | Travel insurance | — | No family card; ETC terms | 18+; Rakuten Bank account |
| Rakuten Card Academy | Travel insurance | — | ETC available | 18–28 student |
| Alpen Group Rakuten Card | Travel insurance | — | Family/ETC available | 18+ |
| Mizuho Rakuten Card | Travel insurance | — | See official page | 18+; Mizuho account conditions |
| Hirogin Rakuten Card | Travel insurance | — | See official page | 18+; regional bank conditions |
| Rakuten Card My Color Selection | Travel insurance | — | Family/ETC available | 18+ |
| Rakuten Card Disney Design | Travel insurance | — | Family/ETC available | 18+ |
| Rakuten Card Sanrio Designs | Travel insurance | — | Family/ETC available | 18+ |
| Rakuten ANA Mileage Club Card | Travel insurance | — | Family/ETC available | 18+ |
| Rakuten Gold Card | Travel insurance | Limited domestic lounge visits | Family/ETC available | 20+ |
| Rakuten Premium Card | Travel insurance | Priority Pass subject to visit limits/current terms | Family/ETC available | 20+ |
| Rakuten Black Card | Premium travel insurance | Priority Pass/concierge | Family cards | Invitation or stated application eligibility |
A blank cell means nothing was recorded, not that the benefit is absent. Travel insurance in Japan is often conditional on paying for part of the trip with the card, and lounge access usually caps visits and charges for guests — the activation rule is on the issuer page.
Upgrade maths: what a higher tier has to return
The published base rate does not rise as the fee does, so no amount of ordinary spending repays the difference. Only a waiver, a milestone or a benefit you use can justify it.
| From | Up to | Extra fee | Extra rate | Break-even spend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpen Group Rakuten Card | Rakuten ANA Mileage Club Card | ¥550 | 0% | Rewards alone never repay it |
| Rakuten ANA Mileage Club Card | Rakuten Gold Card | ¥1,650 | 0% | Rewards alone never repay it |
| Rakuten Gold Card | Rakuten Premium Card | ¥8,800 | 0% | Rewards alone never repay it |
| Rakuten Premium Card | Rakuten Black Card | ¥22,000 | 0% | Rewards alone never repay it |
- Reward-only break-even spend
incremental annual fee ÷ incremental effective reward rateThe eligible spend at which the higher tier’s extra earning covers its extra fee, and nothing more.- Upgrade net value
incremental rewards + used credits + used benefits + family-card savings − incremental annual feeCount a credit or benefit only at the value you would actually redeem, not at its advertised value.- Milestone expected value
milestone benefit value × probability you reach the threshold without changing how you spendIf reaching the threshold requires new spending, the milestone is a cost, not a benefit.
These figures use the published base rate only — no merchant multipliers, milestones, insurance, lounge access or family-card savings. Adding spending you would not otherwise do always breaks the arithmetic.
Check these on the issuer page before applying
The tables above narrow the choice; only the issuer can settle it. Check these four things on the official page before you apply.
| What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Credit limit | Almost every issuer sets an individual limit after underwriting. Do not infer a usable limit from the card’s tier unless an official public range is stated. |
| Rewards limits | Check monthly and annual bonus caps, annual-spend thresholds, whether enrolment is required, and whether taxes, utilities, e-money charging, securities accumulation, fees or cash advances earn a reduced rate or nothing at all. |
| Benefit limits | Confirm what activates the insurance, who is covered, lounge visit and guest rules, reservation channels, blackout dates, and whether a benefit renews by calendar year, membership year or card anniversary. |
| Payment and overseas use | Verify the foreign transaction fee, cash-advance terms, installment and revolving settings, the accepted network, and mobile-wallet compatibility. |
Important cautions
This page is a comparison, not advice. These hold whichever card you pick.
- This is a comparison guide, not approval advice. Issuers decide eligibility and credit limits, and nothing here predicts either.
- Never increase spending to reach a points threshold or a fee waiver. Interest and unnecessary purchases overwhelm rewards quickly.
- Use a conservative point value. The same point is worth different amounts as a statement credit, as merchant spend, as miles or as a limited campaign reward.
- Invitation, campaign, insurance and lounge terms change. Re-check the official terms immediately before applying.
- If you are a foreign resident, confirm accepted identification, name and address matching, Japanese-language requirements and any bank-account condition directly with the issuer.
Common questions
Which Rakuten Card should I get?
For most people the starting point is the Alpen Group Rakuten Card — no annual fee and a 1% published base rate. Move up to the Rakuten Premium Card (¥11,000 a year and a 1% published base rate) only when the extra fee is repaid by earning and by benefits you will genuinely use. Rakuten Card decides eligibility and credit limits, so check the current terms on the issuer page before you apply.
Is a paid Rakuten Card worth the annual fee?
The published base rate does not rise with the fee here, so the extra fee cannot be earned back through ordinary spending. The only things that justify it are a waiver you will reach, a milestone you would hit anyway, and benefits you will genuinely use.
Do all Rakuten Cards earn the same points?
No. The lineup spans Rakuten Points, Rakuten Points / Alpen points and Rakuten Points or ANA miles. Rates in different currencies are not directly comparable, so decide how you would redeem before you compare them.
Sources and freshness
Everything on this page comes from the issuer’s own product and lineup pages, and from the points programme’s official pages, as checked on 2026-08-13.
- www.rakuten-card.co.jp
- www.rakuten-card.co.jp/card/rakuten-card
- www.rakuten-card.co.jp/card/rakuten-pink-card
- www.rakuten-card.co.jp/card/rakuten-gold-card
- www.rakuten-card.co.jp/card/rakuten-premium-card
- www.rakuten-card.co.jp/card/black_card
- www.rakuten-bank.co.jp/card/rc
- www.rakuten-card.co.jp/card/rakuten-amc-card
- www.rakuten-card.co.jp/card/rakuten-card-academy
- www.rakuten-card.co.jp/card/alpen-rakuten-card
- www.rakuten-card.co.jp/card/mizuho-rakuten-card
- www.rakuten-card.co.jp/card/hirogin-rakuten-card
- www.rakuten-card.co.jp/design-card
- point.rakuten.co.jp/guidance/rule
Card facts are from the research database as of 2026-08-16; the points and benefit records are from the 2026-08-17 pass. Fees, benefits, campaigns and application rules change without notice. If something here is wrong, tell us on the corrections page.