Affiliate Marketing · head to head
Rakuten Advertising vs FlexOffers
Rakuten Advertising
Affiliate Marketing
Performance marketing solutions with global reach
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
FlexOffers
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate network with 12,000+ advertisers
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Rakuten Advertising account terminations without clear explanation; FlexOffers the Internet Archive's capture of FlexOffers' homepage on 14 January 2022 stated Net 7 payout terms for top-performing publishers, with commission rates negotiated per program across over 12,000 advertisers and no flat price list published.
- They diverge on capability: Rakuten Advertising covers Global publisher network, FlexOffers covers Large advertiser network.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Rakuten Advertising and FlexOffers actually diverge.
| Attribute | Rakuten Advertising | FlexOffers |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | transaction | usage-based |
| Founded | 1997 | 2008 |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Affiliate Marketing).
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 Rakuten Advertising
- Global publisher network
- Influencer marketplace
- Cross-device attribution
- AI-powered insights
- Brand protection
- Google Analytics
- Adobe Analytics
- Shopify
Only in FlexOffers
- Large advertiser network
- Deep linking
- Real-time reporting
- API access
- Content feeds
- WordPress
- Various CMS platforms
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Rakuten Advertising
- affiliate marketing managementnot FlexOffers
- Workflow automationnot FlexOffers
- Reportingnot FlexOffers
FlexOffers
- Affiliate marketing network connecting advertisers with publishersnot Rakuten Advertising
- Performance-based marketing campaigns with commission structurenot Rakuten Advertising
- Access to 12,000+ advertiser programs and 75,000+ publisher opportunitiesnot Rakuten Advertising
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
FlexOffers
- The Internet Archive's capture of FlexOffers' homepage on 14 January 2022 stated Net 7 payout terms for top-performing publishers, with commission rates negotiated per program across over 12,000 advertisers and no flat price list published.
Pricing, plan by plan
Rakuten Advertising
On request- NetworkFree
- Performance-based pricing
- Global publisher access
- Advanced reporting
FlexOffers
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the FlexOffers review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Rakuten Advertising if
- You need global publisher network.
- You also want influencer marketplace.
Questions people ask
- Is Rakuten Advertising or FlexOffers better?
- Neither clearly leads. Rakuten Advertising starts at On request and FlexOffers at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Rakuten Advertising or FlexOffers?
- Rakuten Advertising starts at On request and FlexOffers at On request.
- Does Rakuten Advertising or FlexOffers run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- What is Rakuten Advertising best used for?
- Rakuten Advertising is most often used for affiliate marketing management, workflow automation, reporting. Of those, affiliate marketing management and workflow automation are not what FlexOffers is typically brought in for.
- What can Rakuten Advertising do that FlexOffers cannot?
- Rakuten Advertising covers Global publisher network, Influencer marketplace, Cross-device attribution, AI-powered insights. FlexOffers covers Large advertiser network, Deep linking, Real-time reporting, API access. Both handle Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Rakuten 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.
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.
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