MoneyInJapan

Rakuten Card vs PayPay Card

A side-by-side comparison of the standard Rakuten Card and PayPay Card on network, fixed cost, points, expiry, add-on cards and payment settings.

For: People deciding specifically between the Rakuten Card and the PayPay Card. · Verified: 2026-07-30

Official-fact comparison

CriterionRakuten CardPayPay Card
NetworkVisa, Mastercard, JCB, or American Express; available designs and combinations vary.Visa, Mastercard, or JCB.
Primary-card feeNo annual fee for the standard primary card.No annual fee for the standard card.
Points programEarns Rakuten Points.Earns PayPay Points.
Base earning ruleGenerally 1 point per ¥100 of eligible card use; exclusions and different rates apply.PayPay Points accrue on eligible card purchases; exclusions and calculation rules apply.
Point expiryRegular points expire one year after the last point was earned; earning a regular point extends the date. Limited-time points follow their stated date.PayPay Points are governed by current PayPay terms; limited/campaign awards may have separate conditions.
Family cardFamily cards are offered subject to issuer conditions.Family cards are offered under issuer conditions.
ETC cardETC cards are available; annual-fee conditions may depend on membership status.ETC cards are offered; check the current per-card fee.
Revolving-payment warningRevolving 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.

Sources