Rakuten Mobile Cancellation: Thorough Comparison of Pros and Cons

Rakuten Mobile: Should you cancel or not? A super simple comparison!

To all Rakuten Mobile users, have you ever thought, “Is Rakuten Mobile really right for me?”

This time, we’ll explain in an easy-to-understand way what changes if you “cancel” or “don’t cancel” Rakuten Mobile!

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What happens if you cancel Rakuten Mobile? (Pros)

1. Better signal reception?
   Rakuten Mobile’s signal is improving, but there might be times when you think, “Is this working?” If you’re struggling with poor reception, switching to another carrier might provide more stability.
2. More freedom with overseas data!
   2GB free overseas is great, but some people might need more. Other carriers offer more data or a wider variety of plans. This gives more options for frequent international travelers.
3. Access to special services!
   Other carriers might have convenient services or apps that Rakuten Mobile doesn’t. If you want to use those, switching might be a good idea.
4. Wider choice of new smartphones!
   Rakuten Mobile sells many smartphones, but other carriers might offer exclusive models or a much wider selection.

What happens if you cancel Rakuten Mobile? (Cons)

1. Your monthly bill will be much higher!
   This is the biggest downside! Rakuten Mobile is incredibly cheap, with a maximum monthly fee of just 2,980 yen (incl. tax 3,278 yen), regardless of how much you use. If you switch to another carrier, you’ll likely pay 1,000 to 3,000 yen or more extra per month for the same usage. This could mean tens of thousands of yen in annual losses.
2. Calls will cost money!
   With Rakuten Mobile’s “Rakuten Link” app, domestic calls are completely free. If you cancel, calls with other carriers will cost money (22 yen per 30 seconds). If you make a lot of calls, your phone bill could be surprisingly high.
3. Overseas data will be more expensive!
   2GB free overseas is a real lifesaver. If you cancel, you’ll have to use expensive international roaming or buy your own SIM for overseas internet, increasing your expenses.
4. Rakuten Points will be harder to earn!
   Rakuten Mobile users earn more Rakuten Points on Rakuten Ichiba and other services. If you cancel, you’ll lose this benefit, which is a big blow for point enthusiasts.
5. Cancellation/transfer fees might apply!
   Rakuten Mobile generally doesn’t charge cancellation fees, but some older plans might. When switching to another carrier, administrative fees are almost always charged.

Conclusion: Do you really need to cancel?

While there are benefits to canceling Rakuten Mobile, the financial downsides are too significant: higher monthly fees, call charges, expensive overseas data, and fewer Rakuten Points.

If you’re unhappy with the signal, consider contacting Rakuten Mobile support, using Wi-Fi, or trying other solutions before canceling.

For those who want to save money, make free domestic calls, and travel overseas occasionally, Rakuten Mobile is the strongest choice.

Weighing these pros and cons, the strength of Rakuten Mobile’s affordable prices and free calls is truly significant.

So, before you think about canceling, compare it with your own usage habits and carefully consider if you truly need to cancel Rakuten Mobile!

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【For those who want to know more】Thorough explanation of Rakuten Mobile cancellation pros and cons

From here, we will delve deeper into the pros and cons of canceling Rakuten Mobile. We will introduce the background of each point and specific figures that could not be fully conveyed in the simple version. Please read on if you want to compare and consider carefully.

Pros of Canceling Rakuten Mobile (Details)

1. Improved Communication Quality (more stable signal in some areas)
   Rakuten Mobile is rapidly expanding its proprietary network area, but some users might still experience poor or unstable signal in certain locations, especially in rural areas, mountainous regions, underground, or inside tall buildings. Major carriers (NTT Docomo, au, SoftBank) have a long history of operation and extensive base station networks, so you can expect a more stable communication environment in these areas. Being free from the stress of dropped calls or slow data communication can be a significant benefit for improving your daily quality of life.
2. Removal of Overseas Data Usage Restrictions (larger capacity, more flexible options)
   Rakuten Mobile’s 2GB free data usage overseas is groundbreaking, but it might not be enough if you need more data or plan to use it in specific countries. Other carriers may offer larger capacity international roaming plans, or you can use dedicated overseas SIM cards or Wi-Fi routers to enable virtually unlimited data usage. Especially for those who frequently travel abroad for business or stay for extended periods, removing this 2GB limit allows for more stress-free internet use abroad.
3. Access to Specific Carrier Services (unique content and payment services)
   Each carrier offers its own unique services and content. For example, specific carrier payment services, entertainment content (music, videos), and cloud services may not be available on Rakuten Mobile. If you strongly desire to use these services offered by a particular carrier, then switching to that carrier is a viable option.
4. Wider Range of Latest Device Choices (carrier-exclusive models and extensive lineup)
   While Rakuten Mobile actively carries the latest smartphones, major carriers may offer carrier-exclusive models or sell a wider variety of devices in advance. For those who are particular about a specific manufacturer or model, or who want to get the latest smartphone quickly, switching to another carrier might allow them to find the optimal device from a wider range of choices.

Cons of Canceling Rakuten Mobile (Details)

1. Significant Increase in Monthly Fees (losing overwhelming cost performance)
   Rakuten Mobile’s biggest appeal is its incredibly low-cost plan. The monthly fee varies depending on data usage, with a maximum of just 2,980 yen (incl. tax 3,278 yen), which is overwhelmingly cheaper compared to other carriers. If you switch to another carrier, even for the same amount of data (e.g., an unlimited data plan), the monthly fee will generally be around 5,000 to 7,000 yen. Comparing this annually:
   1. Rakuten Mobile (max fee): 3,278 yen×12 months=39,336 yen
   2. Other carriers (average 6,000 yen): 6,000 yen×12 months=72,000 yen
      This results in an annual difference of 32,664 yen. This can be a very significant increase in household expenses.
2. Incurring Domestic Call Charges (losing the benefit of free calls)
   With Rakuten Mobile’s “Rakuten Link” app, domestic calls are completely free 24/7. This is an immeasurable benefit for those who make frequent calls. If you cancel, you will incur standard call charges from other carriers (often 22 yen / 30 seconds). For example, if you make 100 minutes of calls per month:
   1. Call charges with other carriers: (100 minutes×60 seconds)/30 seconds×22 yen=4,400 yen(100 minutes×60 seconds)/30 seconds×22 yen=4,400 yen
      Since Rakuten Mobile makes these 4,400 yen free, this disadvantage becomes greater for those who make many calls.
3. Increased Overseas Data Communication Costs (risk of unexpectedly high bills)
   Rakuten Mobile’s 2GB free overseas data is very convenient for short international trips or business travel. If you cancel, you will either have to use other carriers’ expensive international roaming services or separately prepare an overseas SIM or Wi-Fi router for data communication abroad. International roaming can lead to high bills even for small amounts of data usage, potentially resulting in unexpected expenses. It’s not uncommon to receive a bill for tens of thousands of yen if you use your smartphone abroad without any precautions.
4. Reduced Rakuten Point Rewards (loss of benefits in the Rakuten ecosystem)
   Rakuten Mobile users are eligible for the “SPU (Super Point Up Program)” which increases Rakuten Point rewards for purchases on Rakuten Ichiba and other services. Simply having a Rakuten Mobile contract can increase your Rakuten Ichiba point reward rate by +1x. For those who frequently use the Rakuten ecosystem, this means losing the opportunity to earn thousands to tens of thousands of yen worth of points annually. Canceling will result in the loss of this benefit, reducing opportunities to earn points.
5. Incurring Contract Cancellation Fees or MNP Transfer Fees (initial costs when switching)
   While Rakuten Mobile generally does not charge contract cancellation fees or MNP (Mobile Number Portability) transfer fees, some older plans might incur cancellation fees. Additionally, when switching to another carrier, administrative fees (usually around 3,300 yen) are almost always charged by the new carrier. When considering cancellation, these initial costs should also be taken into account.

Conclusion: Do You Really Need to Cancel?

While canceling Rakuten Mobile offers benefits such as improved communication quality and access to specific services, you can see that it also comes with significant financial drawbacks, including a substantial increase in monthly fees, incurring domestic call charges, increased overseas data communication costs, and reduced Rakuten Point rewards.

If you are dissatisfied with Rakuten Mobile’s signal strength, instead of canceling immediately, you might first consider contacting Rakuten Mobile’s support center, using a Wi-Fi router in conjunction, or trying signal improvement solutions like “Rakuten Casa” provided by Rakuten Mobile.

Especially for those who want to keep their monthly phone bill low, make free domestic calls, or travel overseas a few times a year, Rakuten Mobile offers unparalleled cost performance compared to other carriers.

Considering these pros and cons, the benefits of affordable monthly fees and free calls are very substantial, and it would be a waste to cancel carelessly. Before considering cancellation, weigh it against your own usage patterns and carefully consider whether you truly need to cancel Rakuten Mobile.

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