LINEMO vs Rakuten Mobile Comparison [2026 Guide]: Price, Coverage & Points — Which Is Better for Foreign Residents in Japan?

LINEMO vs Rakuten Mobile [2026]: Which Should You Choose?

If you’re a foreign resident in Japan trying to cut your phone bill, you’ve probably come across two popular options: LINEMO and Rakuten Mobile. Both offer competitive prices and unlimited data plans, but they work very differently — and the right choice depends on your lifestyle, location, and how you use your phone.

This guide breaks down the real differences between LINEMO and Rakuten Mobile in 2026, with a focus on what matters most to foreign residents: price, network coverage, language support, and bonus points.

Quick Summary: LINEMO vs Rakuten Mobile at a Glance

Feature	LINEMO	Rakuten Mobile
Monthly price (unlimited)	¥2,728 (tax incl.)	¥3,278 (tax incl.)
Network	SoftBank (major carrier)	Rakuten Band (+ au roaming)
Unlimited data	Yes (with fair use policy)	Yes (genuinely unlimited)
Coverage in rural areas	Strong	Weaker outside cities
MNP bonus points	None currently	Up to 14,000 pts (via referral)
English support	Limited	Limited
eSIM available	Yes	Yes

Pricing: LINEMO vs Rakuten Mobile

LINEMO Monthly Plan

LINEMO offers a single flat-rate unlimited plan at ¥2,728 per month (tax included). There are no tiered options — you pay the same rate regardless of how much data you use. This simplicity is appealing, but it also means you’re paying the full price even in months when you barely use your phone.

Rakuten Mobile Monthly Plan

Rakuten Mobile’s unlimited plan is ¥3,278 per month (tax included) — about ¥550 more than LINEMO. However, this price includes the Rakuten Link app, which lets you make unlimited domestic calls for free. If you make regular phone calls within Japan, that savings alone can offset the price difference quickly.

Verdict on price: LINEMO is cheaper on paper, but Rakuten Mobile can be more cost-effective if you make calls regularly.

Network Coverage: Where Each Plan Works

This is arguably the most important factor for many users — and one of the biggest differences between these two services.

LINEMO: SoftBank Network

LINEMO runs on SoftBank’s established nationwide network, which is one of Japan’s three major carriers. Coverage is strong even in suburban and rural areas, making it a reliable choice if you travel frequently outside major cities.

Rakuten Mobile: Its Own Network + au Roaming

Rakuten Mobile operates on its own independent network, which has expanded significantly since launch. In major urban areas — Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka — coverage is generally solid. However, in rural areas, mountainous regions, and some suburban zones, Rakuten’s own signal can be weak.

To compensate, Rakuten Mobile uses au’s network as a roaming fallback, but roaming data is capped at 5GB per month. If you frequently travel outside cities or live in a rural area, this is worth considering carefully.

If you live in a major city and mainly use your phone at home, work, or in urban areas, Rakuten Mobile’s coverage will likely be sufficient. If you travel to the countryside regularly, LINEMO may be safer.

If you’re still weighing your options beyond just these two carriers, this comparison of Ahamo vs Rakuten Mobile is also worth reading to understand the full picture of affordable options in Japan.

Data Speed & Everyday Performance

Both plans offer unlimited data, but real-world performance varies.

LINEMO users generally report consistent speeds, benefiting from SoftBank’s mature infrastructure. Peak-hour slowdowns do happen, but speeds are generally reliable.

Rakuten Mobile users in strong coverage areas often report fast speeds, particularly on Rakuten’s own Band 3 network. However, when you’re roaming on au’s network, speeds can be more variable.

For most everyday tasks — streaming, social media, navigation — both services perform adequately in urban Japan.

Bonus Points: A Major Advantage for Rakuten Mobile

One area where Rakuten Mobile clearly stands out is its points campaign, especially when you apply through an employee referral link.

Normal Campaign vs. Employee Referral

Standard MNP (number portability) campaign: 13,000 Rakuten Points
Via employee referral link (MNP): 14,000 Rakuten Points — that’s 1,000 more
Via employee referral link (new number signup): 11,000 Rakuten Points

LINEMO currently offers no comparable points bonus at this level for new signups.

How the Points Are Paid Out

The 14,000 (or 11,000) points are not paid all at once. They are distributed in 3 installments, starting 4 months after the month you log in via the referral link. Plan accordingly — you won’t receive everything immediately.

⚠️ Important: These Are “Limited-Period Points”

This is something many people miss: the points awarded through this campaign are limited-period Rakuten Points, not regular (permanent) Rakuten Points. Limited-period points have a shorter expiry window, so use them promptly after each installment arrives. Don’t let them sit in your account assuming they’ll last forever.

Who Qualifies?

The employee referral campaign is more flexible than a standard friend referral. Notably:

Re-contracts are eligible
2nd or additional lines (up to 5 lines per person) are also eligible
These options are exclusive to employee referrals — they are not available through the standard friend referral program

This means even if you already have a Rakuten Mobile line, adding a second SIM or re-contracting can still earn you bonus points.

The 10-Second Call Requirement (From March 2, 2026)

If you apply from March 2, 2026 onward, there is one additional requirement to receive the points: you must make a call of 10 seconds or more using the Rakuten Link app. Without this step, your points will not be awarded.

Note: Data-only SIM cards are not eligible for this campaign.

If you forget to log in to the referral URL before applying, don’t panic: logging in via the referral URL within 7 days of your application still qualifies you for the campaign.

Ease of Use for Foreign Residents

Language Support

Neither LINEMO nor Rakuten Mobile offers fully bilingual customer support. Both services are primarily in Japanese, which can be a barrier.

However, Rakuten Mobile does offer some English-language support documentation on its website and has a broader international recognition. Many foreign residents find the online application process manageable with the help of translation tools.

LINEMO is a SoftBank service and is similarly Japanese-focused, though their website interface is relatively clean and navigable.

Application Process

Both services offer online applications with eSIM support, making it possible to switch quickly without visiting a physical store. For foreign residents who prefer handling everything digitally, both are reasonably accessible.

If you want a detailed walkthrough of the Rakuten Mobile application process from a foreign resident’s perspective, check out this Rakuten Mobile MNP complete guide for foreigners in Japan.

Rakuten Ecosystem Benefits

If you already use Rakuten services — Rakuten Ichiba, Rakuten Card, Rakuten Pay, Rakuten Travel — switching to Rakuten Mobile can boost your overall points earning rate across those platforms. Rakuten Mobile subscribers often get a higher Rakuten Points multiplier on shopping and other Rakuten services.

LINEMO doesn’t offer this kind of ecosystem integration. If you’re already embedded in the Rakuten ecosystem, the added value from Rakuten Mobile goes beyond just the phone plan.

Potential Downsides to Consider

Rakuten Mobile

Coverage outside major cities can be patchy
Roaming cap of 5GB/month in au areas
Points are limited-period, so they need to be used promptly
Requires a Rakuten Link call (10+ seconds) to receive points

LINEMO

No major points bonus for switching
Slightly higher monthly cost than budget MVNOs
Less ecosystem integration

Before committing, it’s worth reading honest reviews from people who had regrets switching to Rakuten Mobile — understanding the downsides helps you make a more informed decision.

Who Should Choose Which?

Choose LINEMO if:

You frequently travel outside major cities or live in a rural area
Network reliability is your top priority
You don’t use other Rakuten services

Choose Rakuten Mobile if:

You live or work primarily in major urban areas
You want to maximize bonus points (especially via employee referral)
You already use Rakuten services like Rakuten Card or Rakuten Ichiba
You make domestic calls regularly and want to use Rakuten Link for free calls
You want to add a second line or re-contract at a good deal

How to Apply with the Employee Referral Bonus

If you’ve decided that Rakuten Mobile is the right fit for you, applying through an employee referral link gives you a meaningful advantage — 14,000 points for MNP, or 11,000 points for a new signup — compared to the standard 13,000 points from the regular campaign.

A few things to keep in mind before applying:

Make sure to log in via the referral URL before (or within 7 days of) your application
After your SIM is activated, make at least one call of 10 seconds or longer via the Rakuten Link app — this is required for applications from March 2, 2026 onward
Points will arrive in 3 installments, starting 4 months after your referral login month
Remember: these are limited-period points — check the expiry dates and use them before they expire

You can apply using this employee referral link: 👉 Apply to Rakuten Mobile via Employee Referral (14,000pts for MNP)

Whether you’re switching from LINEMO, docomo, SoftBank, au, or any other carrier, this referral link is valid and gives you that extra 1,000-point boost over the standard campaign.

Final Thoughts

Both LINEMO and Rakuten Mobile are solid, affordable options in Japan’s mobile market — but they serve slightly different needs. LINEMO wins on raw coverage and simplicity; Rakuten Mobile wins on points value, free calling via Rakuten Link, and ecosystem benefits.

For most foreign residents living in Tokyo, Osaka, or other major cities who are already engaged with Rakuten services, Rakuten Mobile offers better overall value in 2026 — especially when you factor in the employee referral bonus.

Take your time, evaluate your coverage needs, and if Rakuten Mobile feels like the right fit, make sure to use the referral link to get the most out of your switch.