Rakuten LinkShare review
A global partner network for configurable commissions and multi-touch attribution.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Rakuten LinkShare is Rakuten Advertising’s partner marketing network for brands, agencies, and publishers. Advertisers can discover and recruit partners, create commission offers, apply first-click, last-click, or multi-touch commissioning rules, and monitor campaign performance. Publishers can access advertiser programs, tracking links, deep links, dashboards, payment options, and reporting. Its focus is global partner reach, attribution, and performance measurement rather than self-serve subscription software.
Commissioning and attribution are central to the platform. The Commissioning Suite supports configurable commission rules, while campaign dashboards and performance reporting help advertisers evaluate partner activity. First-click, last-click, and multi-touch models give networks more flexibility when deciding how conversions are credited. Publisher tools include a dashboard for advertiser programs and links, and the platform provides reporting API access for connected workflows. Fraud and invalid-activity controls are also part of the product’s operating model.
The published pricing information does not present standard LinkShare subscription tiers or a plan table; advertiser pricing requires contacting sales. Publisher registration is described as free, but it is not presented as a free software plan. The platform is a strong fit for networks that need partner discovery, configurable commissions, multiple attribution models, reporting, and fraud controls across web and API environments. Businesses seeking a simple, transparent, self-serve tool with published package pricing may prefer a narrower alternative.
Rakuten LinkShare pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Supports first-click, last-click, and multi-touch commissioning
- Combines partner discovery with configurable commission rules
- Includes reporting APIs and fraud and invalid-activity controls
- Where it doesn't
- Pricing requires contacting sales
- No standard subscription plans or published plan table
- May be more than needed for simple self-serve campaigns
Rakuten LinkShare fact sheet, pricing and score →
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