Cash App vs Rakuten Bank.
Cash App (C70/100) and Rakuten Bank (R70/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Cash App leads Rakuten Bank 5-1.
| C Cash App №31 · FDIC 70 /100 | R Rakuten Bank №33 · JFSA 70 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 70 /100 | 70 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FDIC | Full bank JFSA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | $250,000 US.FDIC | Safeguarded No DGS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 2 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | 1 coins | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 1.6 ★ 50k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.8 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.7 | 4.3 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.2 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Cash App if…
The largest US peer-to-peer payments + neobank hybrid by user count (~50M monthly actives). Block-owned, public via NYSE:XYZ. Bitcoin-native — was the first major US fintech to integrate BTC buy/sell. Partner-bank model via Sutton Bank means FDIC pass-through, not direct charter cover.
Pick Rakuten Bank if…
Largest Japanese internet-only bank by customer count (~14M+) and the only TSE Prime-listed pure-play net bank (TYO: 5838, IPO 21 April 2023 — the largest Japanese IPO in five years at the time). Originally chartered as eBank in 2001; acquired by Rakuten Group (TYO: 4755) in 2009. Structural moat is the Rakuten Points + Rakuten Card + Rakuten Securities + Rakuten Mobile + Rakuten Ichiba ecosystem — points cross-pollinate across the entire surface area. Full FSA Banking Act licence; statutory DICJ member at the JPY 10,000,000 ceiling.
- Best for fees Tied
- Best for protection Tied
- Best for reach Cash App won 2 of 3
- Best for ux Cash App won 2 of 2
Cash App vs Rakuten Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Cash App better than Rakuten Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Cash App leads Rakuten Bank 5–1 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Cash App 70/100 vs Rakuten Bank 70/100. Cash App is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Cash App or Rakuten Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Cash App: €0; Rakuten Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Cash App: Interbank; Rakuten Bank: Interbank. Tied across fee rows. See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Cash App or Rakuten Bank?
Cash App holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Rakuten Bank holds a Full bank licence under JFSA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Both score equally on regulatory protection rows.
Where can I use Cash App and Rakuten Bank?
Cash App operates in 2 countries; Rakuten Bank operates in 1 country. Check each provider's signup page for the live country list — eligibility depends on residency, not just the licence footprint.
Want a 3- or 4-way comparison?
The dynamic compare picker handles up to four banks. Add this pair plus one or two more and we'll resolve every row.