Rakuten Books vs Amazon: Where to Buy Books, CDs and DVDs
For books and media, choose by 'shipping and points' or 'catalog and speed.' We used both and mapped who each suits.
सूचना: तलको विस्तृत सामग्री हाल अंग्रेजीमा मात्र उपलब्ध छ। नेपाली अनुवाद चाँडै थपिनेछ।
Books & MediaAmazon is the default for books, CDs, DVDs and games, but Rakuten Books — free shipping from one item, plus Rakuten points — is strong for ecosystem users. The same item is identical; what differs is shipping, points, catalog and delivery speed.
We bought the same books and media on both and compared effective price and usability. The standalone Rakuten Books test is in our main note.
Search on Rakuten Books
Free shipping on everything
Free from one item; earn Rakuten points; marathon-eligible
* सबै मूल्यमा कर समावेश छ; लेखको डाटा लिइएको समयको प्रत्येक स्टोरको सूचीअनुसार। पछिल्लो मूल्य र ढुवानी शुल्क लिङ्क गरिएको पृष्ठमै अवश्य जाँच्नुहोस्।
* उत्पादनका लिङ्कहरू एफिलिएट लिङ्क हुन्। खरिदबाट हामीले कमिसन पाउन सक्छौं।
The quick answer: which are you?
| Your profile | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Collect Rakuten points | Rakuten Books | Free shipping + points lower effective price |
| Free shipping even on one book | Rakuten Books | ¥0 shipping from one item |
| Want foreign/specialist/used | Amazon | Catalog and marketplace |
| Want it fastest | Amazon | Prime delivery speed |
| Want pre-order bonuses | Check both | Bonuses differ by item/store |
Rakuten Books vs Amazon: terms compared
Shipping, points, catalog and delivery in one table. Terms change, so compare effective price (points included) at purchase (tendencies, not figures).
- Effective price (points included) tends to favor Rakuten Books
- Catalog breadth, used, and delivery speed favor Amazon
- Compare the same item's effective price on both
| Item | Rakuten Books | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping | Free on all (from one item) | Conditional / free with Prime |
| Points / return | Rakuten points (ecosystem-wide) | Amazon points (modest) |
| Catalog | Strong on domestic books/media | Rich foreign/specialist/used |
| Delivery speed | Standard, on-release delivery | Prime speed is the edge |
| Bulk buying | Multiplier via marathon/SPU | Subscribe & Save (eligible items) |
| Ebooks | Not offered (paper/media) | Kindle separately |
Pick Rakuten Books for shipping and points
- Free shipping from one item — buy a single paperback without worrying
- Purchases earn Rakuten points, spendable across the ecosystem
- Stack points via shopping marathon, SPU and Rakuten Card
- No 'add junk to hit free shipping'
Pick Amazon for catalog and speed
- Broad foreign, technical and specialist catalog
- Cheap used via the marketplace
- Prime delivers fast — as soon as next day
- Kindle keeps ebooks in the Amazon ecosystem too
A foolproof way to choose
- 1. Note which points you collect (Rakuten / Amazon)
- 2. Split: new titles, or foreign/specialist/used?
- 3. New/domestic → Rakuten Books; foreign/used → Amazon
- 4. Compare the same item's effective price (points included) on both
- 5. Urgent → Amazon Prime; shipping/points → Rakuten Books
फाइदाहरू (मन परेका कुरा)
- Free shipping from one item — strong on small orders
- Purchases earn Rakuten points, spendable ecosystem-wide
- Marathon, SPU and Rakuten Card lift the effective return
- Pre-orders arrive on release day
- Domestic books, CDs, DVDs and games together
बेफाइदाहरू (ध्यान दिनुपर्ने कुरा)
- Foreign/specialist/used catalog trails Amazon
- Delivery speed cedes to Amazon Prime
- No ebooks (needs Kobo/Kindle)
- Comparing effective price each time takes effort
परीक्षणको अभिलेख (हामीले साँच्चै नाप्यौं)
सबै तस्बिर हाम्रो घरको परीक्षण स्थलमा खिचिएका हुन्।
| Aspect | Rakuten Books' position | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping | Free on all from one item | Amazon is conditional/Prime |
| Points | Rakuten points (versatile) | Amazon points are modest |
| Catalog | Strong on domestic books/media | Foreign/used → Amazon |
| Delivery | Standard, on-release | Speed → Prime |
| Ebooks | Not offered | Go to Kobo/Kindle |
बारम्बार सोधिने प्रश्न
Which is cheaper for books, Rakuten Books or Amazon?
List-priced books rarely differ much in base price, but Rakuten Books ships free from one item and earns Rakuten points, so with marathons and SPU it tends to win on effective price. Amazon can be cheaper for used (marketplace). Compare the same item's effective price.
Which ships free?
Rakuten Books ships everything free from a single item. Amazon's shipping depends on order value and Prime membership. For small orders where you don't want shipping worries, Rakuten Books fits.
Which has the bigger catalog?
Including foreign, specialist and used (marketplace), Amazon is broader. For domestic new books, comics, CDs and DVDs, Rakuten Books is ample. Search each site for your specific item.
Which delivers faster?
Amazon Prime is faster, delivering as soon as next day. Rakuten Books uses standard shipping but arranges pre-orders to arrive on release. Want it fastest → Amazon; shipping/points → Rakuten Books.
Where do I buy ebooks?
Rakuten Books focuses on paper and media, not ebooks. For ebooks, use Rakuten Kobo (Rakuten) or Kindle (Amazon). Think paper → Rakuten Books/Amazon, ebooks → Kobo/Kindle.
Related notes
Books & Media
Rakuten Books, Field-Tested: Free Shipping on Everything and the Point Return
4.3Books & Media
The Rakuten Books Coupon & Point Playbook: Buying Books at the Lowest Effective Price
4.4eBooks
Rakuten Kobo vs Kindle, 3 Months Side by Side: We Price-Checked the Same Books Weekly
4.1Credit Card
One Full Year on the Rakuten Card: Every Point Earned — and the Traps
4.5
💴 Based on buying the same books and media on both sites and comparing them, paid for by our editorial team in 2026.