“I want to cancel Rakuten Mobile, but should I wait until the end of the month?”

“If the plan isn’t prorated, wouldn’t I get more value by delaying my cancellation?”

When considering canceling Rakuten Mobile or switching to another carrier (MNP) in Japan, many people find themselves unsure about the best timing.

To get straight to the point: with the current Rakuten Mobile plan (Rakuten Saikyo Plan), the best move is to proceed with cancellation as soon as you decide.

Although you may find information online suggesting that “canceling at the end of the month is best,” this is likely outdated information. This article clearly explains why you should cancel immediately under the current Rakuten Mobile plan.

1. Why Is “Cancel Immediately” the Best Option?

The current “Rakuten Saikyo Plan” does not offer prorated billing. Instead, it uses a tiered (pay-as-you-go) system where your bill changes depending on the amount of data used:

• Up to 3GB: ¥1,078 (tax included)
• Over 3GB to 20GB: ¥2,178 (tax included)
• Over 20GB (Unlimited): ¥3,278 (tax included)

Therefore, the decision on when to cancel simply depends on how much data you have used this month.

① Prevent the risk of bumping up to a higher price tier

If you delay cancellation thinking “I might as well use it since I’m paying for the month,” background app updates or accidental usage could push your data usage over the limit, moving you up to the next tier (e.g., exceeding 3GB and jumping to ¥2,178).

To avoid an unnecessary price jump, the safest option is to complete the cancellation process right when you decide to cancel.

② Staying until the end of the month only costs the same if you’ve already hit the maximum tier (¥3,278)

If your data usage this month has already exceeded 20GB and reached the ¥3,278 cap, your bill will not go any higher. In this case, using the service until the end of the month before canceling won’t change your total payment.

2. Beware of Outdated Information! “Canceling at the End of the Month Is Best” Is Old News

Older online articles and social media posts often claim that “canceling Rakuten Mobile at the end of the month is the best value.”

However, this applies to old plans from the Docomo/au network era (such as Super Hodai) prior to the launch of Rakuten’s own network (Rakuten Saikyo Plan). The pricing structure between old and current plans is completely different:

• Old Plans: Fixed-rate plans, meaning it made sense to use the service until the end of the month after canceling midway.
• Current Plan (Rakuten Saikyo Plan): Tiered pay-as-you-go system, meaning delaying cancellation risks pushing up your monthly bill due to data consumption.

Do not be misled by outdated information—be sure to base your actions on the current plan specifications.

3. Important Tips When Switching Carriers (MNP)

If you are transferring your phone number to another carrier, keep these points in mind for a smooth transition:

1. Automatic cancellation upon completion of “line switching” at your new carrierYour official Rakuten Mobile cancellation date will be the day your new carrier’s service is activated.
2. Watch out for month-end overlap risksIf you apply to switch at the very end of the month, the arrival of your new SIM or the activation process might spill over into the next month. This could result in an extra month of base charges (from ¥1,078) at Rakuten Mobile.
3. Plan ahead with plenty of timeEven when using MNP, it is safest to start the process early rather than waiting until the end of the month.

Summary: Cancel Early Before Data Charges Go Up!

Rakuten Mobile currently uses a pay-as-you-go system without prorated billing:

• Already over 20GB (maximum cap) ➡ Safe to use until the end of the month
• Still within 3GB or 20GB ➡ Cancel immediately to prevent a price jump

Holding onto your contract just because “it feels like a waste” could backfire, raising your bill by ¥1,100 to ¥2,200. Once you decide to cancel, complete the procedure right away!

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