Software · head to head
CJ Affiliate vs Rakuten Advertising
CJ Affiliate
Software
Global affiliate marketing platform by Publicis
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Rakuten Advertising
Software
Performance marketing solutions with global reach
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: CJ Affiliate complex pricing tiers without transparent public pricing; Rakuten Advertising account terminations without clear explanation
- They diverge on capability: CJ Affiliate covers Cross-device tracking, Rakuten Advertising covers Global publisher network.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CJ Affiliate and Rakuten Advertising actually diverge.
| Attribute | CJ Affiliate | Rakuten Advertising |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1998 | 1997 |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (transaction), free tier (No), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in CJ Affiliate
- Cross-device tracking
- Real-time analytics
- Publisher recruitment
- Commission automation
- Fraud protection
- Salesforce
Only in Rakuten Advertising
- Global publisher network
- Influencer marketplace
- Cross-device attribution
- AI-powered insights
- Brand protection
- Shopify
Both cover
- Adobe Analytics
- Google Analytics
- Web support
- Mobile support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
CJ Affiliate
- affiliate marketing management
- Workflow automation
- Reporting
Rakuten Advertising
- affiliate marketing management
- Workflow automation
- Reporting
Both are used for affiliate marketing management, workflow automation, reporting, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
CJ Affiliate
- Complex pricing tiers without transparent public pricing
- Limited integration capabilities with leading third-party HR point solutions compared to some competitors
Rakuten Advertising
- Account terminations without clear explanation
- Commission payment delays of 60-90 days before payment settlement
- Support response times are slow and often unhelpful
- Limited transparency on advertiser approval reasons when applications get rejected
- Less user-friendly interface compared to CJ Affiliate and ShareASale
Pricing, plan by plan
CJ Affiliate
On request- EnterpriseFree
- Custom pricing
- Dedicated support
- Advanced analytics
Rakuten Advertising
On request- NetworkFree
- Performance-based pricing
- Global publisher access
- Advanced reporting
Which should you pick?
Choose CJ Affiliate if
- You need cross-device tracking.
- You also want real-time analytics.
Choose Rakuten Advertising if
- You need global publisher network.
- You also want influencer marketplace.
Questions people ask
- Is CJ Affiliate or Rakuten Advertising better?
- Neither clearly leads. CJ Affiliate starts at On request and Rakuten Advertising at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CJ Affiliate or Rakuten Advertising?
- CJ Affiliate starts at On request and Rakuten Advertising at On request.
- Does CJ Affiliate or Rakuten Advertising run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- What is CJ Affiliate best used for?
- CJ Affiliate is most often used for affiliate marketing management, workflow automation, reporting.
- What can CJ Affiliate do that Rakuten Advertising cannot?
- CJ Affiliate covers Cross-device tracking, Real-time analytics, Publisher recruitment, Commission automation. Rakuten Advertising covers Global publisher network, Influencer marketplace, Cross-device attribution, AI-powered insights. Both handle Adobe Analytics, Google Analytics, Web support, Mobile support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
CJ Affiliate: How much does CJ Affiliate cost?
CJ Affiliate requires custom pricing based on business needs. Contact their sales team for a customized quote; pricing tiers vary by affiliate network size and commission models used.
SourceRakuten Advertising: How does Rakuten Advertising pay commissions?
Rakuten Advertising follows a 60-to-90 day commission payment cycle tied to advertiser invoice settlement, which is industry-standard but can result in delayed payments.
SourceCJ Affiliate: How many publishers and brands are on CJ Affiliate?
CJ is the platform of choice for over 3,800 global brands with over 167K publishers and brands engaging billions of consumers worldwide across all verticals.
SourceRakuten Advertising: What integrations does Rakuten Advertising support?
Rakuten Advertising integrates with third-party platforms including Improvado, Strackr, Wecantrack, and Kochava for data tracking and reporting across Google Ads, Microsoft Ads, and Meta Ads.
SourceCJ Affiliate: What integrations does CJ Affiliate support?
CJ Affiliate provides a comprehensive API supporting integrations with marketing automation platforms, analytics tools, and tracking systems through RESTful endpoints with OAuth 2.0 authentication.
SourceRakuten Advertising: How are commission rates determined on Rakuten Advertising?
Each advertiser sets its own commission rates, cookie durations, and approval requirements. Commission structures vary by individual brand and product category.
Source