Choosing between Rakuten Advertising and Refersion is a common decision for affiliate marketing buyers in 2026. Rakuten Advertising has been in the market since 1996, giving it a 19-year head start over Refersion (founded 2015). Rakuten Advertising serves 150K+ publishers users while Refersion has 10K+ users globally. Rakuten Advertising differentiates with affiliate network and display advertising, while Refersion leads with affiliate management and influencer tracking. In this head-to-head comparison, Refersion earns a higher hiltonsoftware.co score of 84/100 — but the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and team size.
AI Verdict
After comparing Rakuten Advertising and Refersion across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, Refersion takes the lead with a score of 84/100 versus Rakuten Advertising's 82/100. Refersion's key advantages include "excellent shopify integration" and "strong influencer tracking". That said, Rakuten Advertising has its own strengths — particularly "premium brand partnerships available" — making it a viable alternative for specific use cases.
On pricing, there's a clear difference: Rakuten Advertising offers a free plan, making it more accessible for individuals and small teams exploring affiliate marketing solutions. Refersion starts at $99/mo with no free tier, but often justifies the cost with affiliate management and influencer tracking.
Bottom line: Choose Rakuten Advertising if you need premium publishers wanting to partner with top global retail brands. Go with Refersion if your priority is shopify and e-commerce brands managing affiliate and influencer programs. Both are strong affiliate marketing tools — we recommend trying the free plan of each before committing.
CHOOSE RAKUTEN ADVERTISING IF:
Premium publishers wanting to partner with top global retail brands.
CHOOSE REFERSION IF:
Shopify and e-commerce brands managing affiliate and influencer programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rakuten Advertising better than Refersion in 2026?
Refersion scores 84/100 on hiltonsoftware.co compared to Rakuten Advertising's 82/100. Rakuten Advertising stands out for "premium brand partnerships available" and is best for Premium publishers wanting to partner with top global retail brands. Refersion is known for "excellent shopify integration" and suits Shopify and e-commerce brands managing affiliate and influencer programs. Your specific workflow and team size should guide the decision.
What is the pricing difference between Rakuten Advertising and Refersion?
Rakuten Advertising offers a free plan while Refersion starts at $99/mo, making Rakuten Advertising the more budget-friendly option. When comparing value, consider that Rakuten Advertising (founded 1996, 150K+ publishers users) includes features like Affiliate network, Display advertising, Attribution analytics. Refersion (founded 2015, 10K+ users) offers Affiliate management, Influencer tracking, Shopify integration. The right choice depends on which features matter most to your team.
What are the main differences between Rakuten Advertising and Refersion?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. Rakuten Advertising excels at Affiliate network, Display advertising, Attribution analytics, while Refersion focuses on Affiliate management, Influencer tracking, Shopify integration. Rakuten Advertising's main advantage is "premium brand partnerships available", though some users note "smaller network than cj or awin". Refersion's strength is "excellent shopify integration", but "pricey for small stores" can be a drawback. Both serve the Affiliate Marketing market but target different user profiles.
Can I switch from Rakuten Advertising to Refersion?
Switching between Rakuten Advertising and Refersion is possible since both operate in the Affiliate Marketing space. Before migrating, export your data from Rakuten Advertising and check Refersion's import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: Affiliate network, Display advertising, Attribution analytics (Rakuten Advertising) vs Affiliate management, Influencer tracking, Shopify integration (Refersion). Consider running both tools in parallel during a trial period to ensure a smooth transition.
Which is better for small teams: Rakuten Advertising or Refersion?
For small teams, Rakuten Advertising has an advantage with its free plan, letting you get started without financial commitment. Rakuten Advertising is best for Premium publishers wanting to partner with top global retail brands. Refersion (starting at $99/mo) may be worth the investment if your team specifically needs Affiliate management, Influencer tracking, Shopify integration.