Rakuten Card vs au PAY Card
A side-by-side comparison of the standard Rakuten Card and au PAY Card on network, fixed cost, points, expiry, add-on cards and payment settings.
For: People deciding specifically between the Rakuten Card and the au PAY Card. · Verified: 2026-07-30
Official-fact comparison
| Criterion | Rakuten Card | au PAY Card |
|---|---|---|
| Network | Visa, Mastercard, JCB, or American Express; available designs and combinations vary. | Visa or Mastercard. |
| Primary-card fee | No annual fee for the standard primary card. | No annual fee for the standard card. |
| Points program | Earns Rakuten Points. | Earns Ponta Points. |
| Base earning rule | Generally 1 point per ¥100 of eligible card use; exclusions and different rates apply. | Ponta Points accrue on eligible card use; exclusions and calculation rules apply. |
| Point expiry | Regular points expire one year after the last point was earned; earning a regular point extends the date. Limited-time points follow their stated date. | Point validity follows current Ponta program terms and activity treatment. |
| Family card | Family cards are offered subject to issuer conditions. | Family cards are available under current issuer conditions. |
| ETC card | ETC cards are available; annual-fee conditions may depend on membership status. | An ETC card is available; verify current issuance and annual-fee conditions. |
| Revolving-payment warning | Revolving payment incurs the fee/rate in the member terms; automatic revolving settings should be checked before and after application. | Revolving payment incurs the issuer-disclosed fee. Confirm automatic-revolving enrollment and later-payment changes. |
Methodology and limitations
We compare only current, official-issuer facts stored in each card record. Campaign awards are excluded from base rewards, and an unverified feature is shown as not confirmed rather than inferred.
This is a feature comparison, not a ranking of approval likelihood. Issuers make their own screening decisions. Fees, rewards and terms can change, so check the linked official sources before applying.
Safety check before applying
Does “first card” mean easier approval?
No. Inclusion is based on features and issuer-stated eligibility; we do not assess approval likelihood.
Are campaign rewards included in the base reward?
No. Awards with a period, enrollment or spending condition are kept separate from enduring terms.