Aspire vs Rakuten Bank.
Aspire (A70/100) 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. Aspire leads Rakuten Bank 4-3.
| A Aspire №37 · MAS 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 | 0.30% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank MAS | Full bank JFSA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €100,000 SG.SDIC | Safeguarded No DGS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 8 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.3 ★ 1k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.4 | 4.3 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.2 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Aspire if…
The APAC-first multi-currency business-account platform for SaaS startups and e-commerce sellers — SG-HQ MAS Major Payment Institution with native multi-currency accounts (USD/SGD/EUR/GBP/IDR + HKD/AUD/IDR/MYR) plus local-currency receiving in 30+ countries and local account issuance in 6 jurisdictions (SG, HK, US, UK, EU, AU). Built for APAC startups taking USD revenue who need a SGD operating account without the friction of running Mercury (US) + a SG-bank relationship side-by-side. Stripe + Shopify + Xero integration depth makes Aspire the structural fit for SaaS / e-commerce / fintech operators in the region. MAS-licensed Major Payment Institution status is the structural anchor.
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 Rakuten Bank won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Tied
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Aspire won 2 of 2
Aspire vs Rakuten Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Aspire better than Rakuten Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Aspire leads Rakuten Bank 4–3 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Aspire 70/100 vs Rakuten Bank 70/100. Aspire is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Aspire or Rakuten Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Aspire: €0; Rakuten Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Aspire: 0.30%; Rakuten Bank: Interbank. Rakuten Bank wins more fee rows (1 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Aspire or Rakuten Bank?
Aspire holds a Partner-bank licence under MAS; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. 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 Aspire and Rakuten Bank?
Aspire operates in 8 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.