【User Review】Is “Practically Free” Really True with Point Rewards?

—What I Learned After Using Rakuten Mobile for One Year—

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💭 “Practically free” — is that really possible?

You’ve probably heard someone say, “Rakuten Mobile is basically free,”
but let’s be honest — that sounds a bit hard to believe, right?

Before I signed up, I thought, “There must be some conditions. You end up paying in the end.”
But before I knew it, a year had passed —
and there were even months when, thanks to point rewards, I actually made money instead of paying any phone bills.

In this article, I’ll share what I learned after using Rakuten Mobile for a year:

💡 Who can really make “practically free” work?
💡 What are the hidden traps behind the point reward system?

Let’s dive into the real story.

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📱 How Rakuten Mobile’s Point Reward System Works

Rakuten Mobile’s point rewards are based on three main pillars:

① SPU (Super Point Up) on Rakuten Ichiba
While you’re a Rakuten Mobile subscriber, your Rakuten Ichiba shopping earns +4× points.
That means a ¥10,000 purchase gives you 400 points.
If you shop ¥30,000 a month, that’s already 1,200 points — roughly ¥1,200 back.

② Rakuten “Saikyō Plan” Subscriber Bonus
You earn several hundred yen worth of Rakuten Points every month, depending on your plan and usage.

③ Rakuten Card and Rakuten Pay Integration
Paying with your Rakuten Card adds another 1% cashback.
And with Rakuten Pay, you can rack up points even more easily at convenience stores, cafés, and supermarkets.

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💰 Breakdown of a Month When It Was Truly “Practically Free”

Here’s what my actual (measured) point earnings looked like 👇
You can check your detailed point history in the Rakuten Point Club app.

🔢 Checking Only the Points Earned in December

Here’s how it breaks down when I look just at the points I earned in December:

Item	Amount / Points	Notes
Rakuten Mobile usage fee	¥980	Less than 2GB data
Rakuten Ichiba SPU reward	+1,192 pts	Around ¥30,000 in monthly purchases
Rakuten Card payment bonus	+300 pts	Using Rakuten Card for purchases on Rakuten Ichiba
Rakuten Card standard reward	+332 pts	1% cashback on total card spending
Shopping Marathon campaign	+298 pts	Points earned during campaign period
Total	+¥1,142 surplus!	(Points exceeded phone bill)

I usually spend about ¥30,000 a month on daily necessities, rice, home appliances, and gifts by purchasing them together on Rakuten Ichiba.
As a result, my points naturally accumulate — and sometimes the rewards exceed my actual payments.
In other words, there are even months when my phone bill is not only free, but I actually come out ahead!

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⚠️ When “Practically Free” Doesn’t Work

Of course, not everyone can reach this situation.

1️⃣ Those who don’t use Rakuten Ichiba
→ You’ll miss out on the SPU benefits, and your point return rate will drop.
A smart trick is to always check if what you want to buy is sold on Rakuten Ichiba before shopping elsewhere.

2️⃣ Heavy data users
→ If you use a lot of data, you’ll pay the full fee of ¥3,278 (tax included), which requires a lot of spending to offset with points.
Still, during Super Sale events, large purchases like furniture or electronics might cover that gap.

3️⃣ Those not linking a Rakuten Card
→ Without linking a Rakuten Card, you lose access to many point routes and your rewards will be limited.
Don’t forget to apply for and link your Rakuten Card!

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🧮 Summary of Conditions for “Practically Free”

The simplest way to make point rewards exceed your costs is:

• Spend around ¥30,000/month on Rakuten Ichiba
• Keep mobile data usage within 2GB/month

Combining this with Rakuten Card, Rakuten Pay, and special campaigns makes it even more effective.

Condition	Details	Approximate Balance
Monthly Rakuten Ichiba spending	Around ¥30,000	SPU +4× = +1,200 pts (+¥1,200)
Mobile usage	Up to 2GB	Base fee ¥980 (-¥980)
Total	—	+1,200 pts – ¥980 = practically free (+¥220)

In short:
The more naturally you live within the “Rakuten Ecosystem,” the closer you get to free.

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📊 Real Impressions After One Year

• The savings effect is definitely real — especially if you were paying around ¥3,000/month with another carrier before.
• Being able to use points like cash is a huge plus (especially when linked with Rakuten Pay).
• But beware — relying too much on points can lead to overspending, since it’s easy to feel like you’re getting a bargain.

In other words:

“If you use it smartly, it’s unbeatable. If you use it carelessly, it’s just average.”

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💡 Conclusion: “Free” Isn’t an Illusion — It Can Be Real

Key Takeaways	Details
Rewards concentrate on users within the Rakuten Ecosystem	Combining Ichiba + Card + Pay multiplies the effect
Keep your phone bill under ¥980	Light data users benefit most
“Practically free” is conditional, but achievable	Anyone can make it work once they understand the system

✨ The real power of points isn’t just saving — it’s being a form of payment.

The beauty of Rakuten Mobile’s points is that you can use them not only to save on bills, but also for everyday purchases.
By cutting your phone costs and redirecting that money to shopping or subscriptions on Rakuten Ichiba,
you can enjoy a lifestyle where your smartphone is free — and your hobbies thrive as a bonus.

📱 “Practically free” is something you create.
Starting today, why not turn your points into part

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