Rakuten Mobile: Should You Sign Up at the End or Start of the Month?
Heads Up: Rakuten Mobile Doesn't Prorate Daily Charges
Since your monthly fee is based on how much data you actually use, there's no daily proration — even if you join partway through the month.
Who Should Sign Up at the End of the Month
People switching via MNP from another carrier are the main ones who benefit here. Here's why:
- Major carriers like docomo, au, and SoftBank don't prorate charges for your cancellation month.
- Rakuten Mobile doesn't prorate charges for your contract month either.
- Signing up near the end of the month means you minimize the overlap where you're paying for both lines at once.
Recommended Schedule:
- Submit your application by the end of the month.
- Start using Rakuten Mobile a few days before the month ends.
- Keep your data usage under 3 GB until the 1st of the following month.
Who Should Sign Up at the Start of the Month
- New line subscribers: You get to enjoy the benefits right from the beginning.
- Heavy data users: Once you go past 20 GB, it's unlimited for a flat 3,278 yen — so a full month gives you more value.
- Rakuten最強U-NEXT users: Since it's a flat-rate plan, it just makes more sense to get the most out of it from day one of the month.