What Is Rakuten Magazine Light? Differences from Rakuten Magazine and Eligible Users
Starting in April 2025, the new "Rakuten Magazine Light" has launched. While the number of magazines and the subscription period are limited, it offers an excellent service for eligible users to read magazines for free.
Posted at: 2025.4.8
What is Rakuten Magazine Lite?
Rakuten Magazine Lite is a new magazine subscription service that started in April 2025. It is a version of Rakuten Magazine with certain features limited and is available for free to specific users.
Rakuten Magazine Lite Pricing
Rakuten Magazine Lite is completely free for eligible users. However, if you are not an eligible user, you cannot use Rakuten Magazine Lite at all.
Eligible Users
Rakuten Magazine Lite is available for the following users:
- Rakuten Mobile strongest plan subscribers or new sign-ups: "Rakuten Magazine Lite for Rakuten Mobile"1
- Rakuten Black Card or Premium Card holders: "Rakuten Magazine Lite for Rakuten Card"2
Note that users with regular Rakuten Cards or MVNO Rakuten Mobile users are not eligible.
Differences Between Rakuten Magazine Lite and Regular Rakuten Magazine
Let's take a look at the differences between Rakuten Magazine Lite and the regular Rakuten Magazine.
| Item | Rakuten Magazine Lite | Rakuten Magazine |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Fee | Free | ¥572 (tax included) |
| Subscription Period | 7 days per ticket | Unlimited |
| Number of Tickets | 3 per month | Unlimited |
| Number of Magazines | Limited (about 1,000 titles) | Unlimited (about 10,000 titles) |
| Eligible Users | Special users only | All paid users |
| Viewing Platform | App only | App, Browser |
As shown, Rakuten Magazine Lite is a "limited free rental service" for specific magazines, whereas Rakuten Magazine is a "full magazine subscription service" allowing unlimited access.
For light users of magazine subscriptions, Rakuten Magazine Lite offers a highly cost-effective service. However, for those expecting the full magazine subscription experience, it may feel insufficient.
Rakuten Mobile Users Can Subscribe to Rakuten Magazine at a Discount
Rakuten Mobile users can access Rakuten Magazine Lite for free but can also subscribe to Rakuten Magazine at a discounted price.
| Item | Regular Users | Rakuten Mobile Users |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Payment | ¥572 (tax included) | ¥422 (tax included) |
| Annual Payment | ¥5,500 (tax included) | ¥4,070 (tax included) |
Rakuten Mobile users enjoy about a 25% discount, making the annual payment one of the most affordable prices for unlimited magazine subscriptions.
Since Rakuten Magazine Lite is a "free service for eligible users," if Rakuten Mobile users are not satisfied with Rakuten Magazine Lite, subscribing to the regular Rakuten Magazine at a special price is a much better cost-effective option.