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Software · head to head

Rakuten Advertising vs ReferralCandy

Rakuten Advertising logo

Rakuten Advertising

Software

Performance marketing solutions with global reach

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ReferralCandy logo

ReferralCandy

Software

Customer referral program for e-commerce

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ReferralCandy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Rakuten Advertising account terminations without clear explanation; ReferralCandy limited transparency on pricing tiers without account registration
  • They diverge on capability: Rakuten Advertising covers Global publisher network, ReferralCandy covers Automated referral tracking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Rakuten Advertising and ReferralCandy actually diverge.

Attributes where Rakuten Advertising and ReferralCandy differ
AttributeRakuten AdvertisingReferralCandy
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modeltransactionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Shopify
Founded19972009

Identical on both: 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 Rakuten Advertising

  • Global publisher network
  • Influencer marketplace
  • Cross-device attribution
  • AI-powered insights
  • Brand protection
  • Google Analytics
  • Adobe Analytics
  • Mobile support

Only in ReferralCandy

  • Automated referral tracking
  • Customizable rewards
  • Email campaigns
  • Fraud detection
  • A/B testing
  • WooCommerce
  • BigCommerce
  • Magento

Both cover

  • Shopify
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Rakuten Advertising

  • affiliate marketing management
  • Workflow automation
  • Reporting

ReferralCandy

  • 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.

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

ReferralCandy

  • Limited transparency on pricing tiers without account registration
  • Primary focus on Shopify integration limits effectiveness for non-Shopify platforms
  • Email CC/BCC limitations for looping in stakeholders

Pricing, plan by plan

Rakuten Advertising

On request
  • NetworkFree
    • Performance-based pricing
    • Global publisher access
    • Advanced reporting

ReferralCandy

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the ReferralCandy review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Rakuten Advertising if

  • You need global publisher network.
  • You also want influencer marketplace.
Rakuten Advertising review

Choose ReferralCandy if

  • You need automated referral tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Shopify.
  • You also want customizable rewards.
ReferralCandy review

Questions people ask

Is Rakuten Advertising or ReferralCandy better?
Neither clearly leads. Rakuten Advertising starts at On request and ReferralCandy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Rakuten Advertising or ReferralCandy?
ReferralCandy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Rakuten Advertising and Free for ReferralCandy.
Does Rakuten Advertising or ReferralCandy run on more platforms?
Rakuten Advertising runs on Web. ReferralCandy runs on Web, Shopify.
Can I use ReferralCandy for free?
Yes. ReferralCandy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Rakuten Advertising starts at On request.
What is Rakuten Advertising best used for?
Rakuten Advertising is most often used for affiliate marketing management, workflow automation, reporting.
What can Rakuten Advertising do that ReferralCandy cannot?
Rakuten Advertising covers Global publisher network, Influencer marketplace, Cross-device attribution, AI-powered insights. ReferralCandy covers Automated referral tracking, Customizable rewards, Email campaigns, Fraud detection. Both handle Shopify, 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.

Source
ReferralCandy: Does ReferralCandy work with Shopify?

Yes, ReferralCandy integrates natively with Shopify with one-click installation, making it easy to set up referral programs on Shopify stores.

Source
Rakuten 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.

Source
ReferralCandy: What types of rewards can I offer?

ReferralCandy supports multiple reward types including store credit, discount coupons, PayPal cash transfers, gift cards, and free products.

Source
Rakuten 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
ReferralCandy: Does ReferralCandy include fraud detection?

Yes, ReferralCandy includes built-in fraud detection to catch self-referrals and leaked coupon codes before payouts are processed.

Source
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Related pages

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