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Browser Extensions · head to head

Rakuten vs Violentmonkey

Rakuten logo

Rakuten

Browser Extensions

Get cash back on every purchase

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Violentmonkey logo

Violentmonkey

Browser Extensions

Open source userscript manager

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Rakuten minimum withdrawal amount of $5.01 creates friction for light users; Violentmonkey smaller script ecosystem compared to Tampermonkey which has larger user base and more available scripts
  • They diverge on capability: Rakuten covers Cash back rewards, Violentmonkey covers Userscript support.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Rakuten and Violentmonkey actually diverge.

Attributes where Rakuten and Violentmonkey differ
AttributeRakutenViolentmonkey
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
PlatformsBrowser Extension (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)Chrome, Firefox, Edge
Founded19992013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Browser Extensions).

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

  • Cash back rewards
  • Coupon codes
  • In-store offers
  • Price comparisons
  • Safari support

Only in Violentmonkey

  • Userscript support
  • Clean interface
  • Cloud sync
  • Script editor
  • Opera support

Both cover

  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support

What people use each for

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

Rakuten

  • Cash back on online purchases from partner retailersnot Violentmonkey
  • Cash back on in-store purchases using linked cardsnot Violentmonkey

Violentmonkey

  • Run open-source userscripts to customize or automate web pagesnot Rakuten
  • Import scripts compatible with Greasemonkey and Tampermonkey formatsnot Rakuten
  • Sync scripts and settings across browsers via Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, or WebDAVnot Rakuten
  • Batch import/export scripts as zip filesnot Rakuten

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Rakuten

  • Minimum withdrawal amount of $5.01 creates friction for light users
  • Quarterly payout schedule only, with months-long delays between earning and receiving payments
  • Amazon cashback limited to specific categories at 1-3% rates
  • Must click through Rakuten link first or cashback does not register

Violentmonkey

  • Smaller script ecosystem compared to Tampermonkey which has larger user base and more available scripts
  • Less marketing and visibility results in lower adoption compared to more widely-known alternatives
  • Community maintenance model means slower feature development compared to commercial alternatives

Pricing, plan by plan

Rakuten

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Rakuten review.

Violentmonkey

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Violentmonkey review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Rakuten if

  • You need cash back rewards.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Browser Extension (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge).
  • You also want coupon codes.
Rakuten review

Choose Violentmonkey if

  • You need userscript support.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
  • You also want clean interface.
Violentmonkey review

Questions people ask

Is Rakuten or Violentmonkey better?
Neither clearly leads. Rakuten starts at Free and Violentmonkey at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Rakuten or Violentmonkey?
Rakuten starts at Free and Violentmonkey at Free.
Does Rakuten or Violentmonkey run on more platforms?
Rakuten runs on Browser Extension (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge). Violentmonkey runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
Can I use Rakuten for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Rakuten best used for?
Rakuten is most often used for cash back on online purchases from partner retailers, cash back on in-store purchases using linked cards. Of those, cash back on online purchases from partner retailers and cash back on in-store purchases using linked cards are not what Violentmonkey is typically brought in for.
What can Rakuten do that Violentmonkey cannot?
Rakuten covers Cash back rewards, Coupon codes, In-store offers, Price comparisons. Violentmonkey covers Userscript support, Clean interface, Cloud sync, Script editor. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Rakuten: Does Rakuten charge membership fees?

No. Rakuten is completely free to join and use. There are no membership fees, setup fees, or any charges to members. Rakuten's revenue comes from merchant commissions, not user fees.

Source
Violentmonkey: Is Violentmonkey open-source?

Yes. Violentmonkey is fully open-source and available on GitHub, making it free to use and community-maintained unlike Tampermonkey which has a larger proprietary ecosystem.

Source
Rakuten: Is there a cost to use the Rakuten browser extension or mobile app?

No, both the browser extension and mobile app are free to download and use at no cost.

Source
Violentmonkey: What browsers does Violentmonkey support?

Violentmonkey works on browsers with WebExtensions support, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and other Chromium-based browsers.

Source
Rakuten: How does Rakuten make money if it's free?

Brands partner with Rakuten and pay commissions to bring them customers. Rakuten shares a portion of these commissions with members as cash back rewards.

Source
Violentmonkey: How does Violentmonkey compare to Tampermonkey in performance?

Community benchmarks show Violentmonkey uses about 15 to 30 percent less RAM on Chrome compared to Tampermonkey when managing many open tabs.

Source
Violentmonkey: What is the current version of Violentmonkey?

Violentmonkey reached version 2.46.0 as of July 31, 2026, with active ongoing development and regular updates to the open-source project.

Source
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