# LINE vs Rakuten Link

The clearest difference is rating: Rakuten Link at 4.4 against LINE's 3.2. Rakuten Link also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 14) and review sentiment (32% vs 24%). LINE's advantage is ratings volume (19K vs 282) and update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly). On price, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. LINE sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Rakuten Link asks for nothing beyond the download.

Rakuten Link holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LINE has 19K ratings behind it against 282, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 24% of LINE's written reviews are positive against 32% of Rakuten Link's.

LINE ships an update every 9 days, Rakuten Link monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LINE | Rakuten Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (19K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/line/id443904275/reviews) | **[4.4 (282 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rakuten-link/id1498877539/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **19K** | 282 |
| Positive reviews | 23.8% of reviews | **32.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#31** | — |
| Size | 401 MB | 369 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LINE Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/359067226) | [Rakuten Group, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/373778581) |

## What reviewers say

### LINE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/line/id443904275)

**Currently charting:** #31 Top Free · Social Networking, #121 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

Connect with friends and family through free voice and video calls, messages, and a wide array of stickers and themes. This communication platform offers a seamless experience across mobile, desktop, and smartwatches, with enhanced privacy features and content discovery options.

**Highlights:** Free voice and video calls, Messaging, Stickers and emojis, Customizable themes, Cross-platform compatibility, Encrypted messages, Keep Memo for storage

**Features:** Siri integration, Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| スタンダード | $3.99 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $4.99 | per month |
| 50 LINE Coin | $0.99 | one-time |
| 70 LINE Coin | $1.39 | one-time |
| LINE Characters: All the Love | $1.99 | one-time |
| Brown & Cony's Secret Date! | $1.99 | one-time |
| Brown & Cony's Lovey Dovey Date | $1.99 | one-time |
| 100 LINE Coin | $1.99 | one-time |
| 150 LINE Coin | $2.99 | one-time |
| 200 LINE Coin | $3.99 | one-time |
| 500 LINE Coin | $7.99 | one-time |
| 800 LINE Coin | $11.99 | one-time |
| 1600 LINE Coin | $22.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💬 Great messaging app
- 🎨 Customizable with cute stickers
- 🌐 Useful for international communication
- 🔒 Secure and private

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent bugs and glitches
- 🔑 Difficult account recovery and transfer
- 🚫 Accounts suspended without explanation
- 🤖 Poor customer support
- 🔍 Difficulty adding and searching for contacts

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to log in or sign up
- Messages not sending or receiving
- Notifications not working properly
- App crashing after updates
- Incompatibility with new devices and OS versions

**Requested features**

- See who is online and typing
- Ability to translate messages
- Automatic chat history backup and sync
- Easier sticker management and organization
- More ways to earn free stickers and points


### Rakuten Link

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rakuten-link/id1498877539)

This app offers unlimited domestic calling and messaging for subscribers. It also provides access to Rakuten Group services, point rewards, news, and weather updates. Manage your Rakuten points and payments easily within the app.

**Highlights:** Unlimited domestic calls, Group messaging up to 100 people, Access to Rakuten Group services, Earn Rakuten points by viewing ads, Participate in campaigns for points, News and weather updates, Rakuten Cash and Point Card integration

**Features:** Siri integration, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LINE free?

LINE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Rakuten Link free?

Rakuten Link is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, LINE or Rakuten Link?

Rakuten Link is rated higher. LINE averages 3.2 out of 5 from 19K ratings, while Rakuten Link averages 4.4 from 282 ratings.

### Do LINE or Rakuten Link have ads?

Both LINE and Rakuten Link show ads.

### Which is updated more often, LINE or Rakuten Link?

LINE ships an update every 9 days, and Rakuten Link monthly. Most recently, LINE was updated on October 31, 2026 and Rakuten Link on October 29, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*