Rakuten vs Stay22
Rakuten
A global performance marketing network connecting brands with premium publishers via affiliate and media solutions, in a strategic alliance with impact.com (April 2026).
Publishers using it: 3 · incl. TechRadar, PCWorld, MacRumors
Stay22
AI-powered monetization platform helping publishers and creators turn travel intent into booking revenue.
Publishers using it: 12 · incl. Liverpool Echo, Lonely Planet, Daily Mirror
Last verified Oct 19, 2026
At a glance
- Rakuten scores 3.8/5 and Stay22 scores 3.8/5 in Benchmark Grid's independent affiliate networks benchmark, both assessed on the same 10 criteria.
- The widest gaps are disclosure & compliance tools (Rakuten 3.0, Stay22 1.8) and reporting & api (Rakuten 3.5, Stay22 2.4); they are within 0.3 on 2 of 10 criteria.
- Rakuten is built for mid-market and enterprise publishers; Stay22 for small and mid-market.
- On total cost of ownership Rakuten scores 4.0 and Stay22 4.6 (higher means better value, not a lower price).
- In our tracking 3 publishers use Rakuten and 12 use Stay22.
- Scores last verified 19 Oct 2026. Vendors cannot pay for a score or a position.
Where they differ
Rakuten is stronger on disclosure & compliance tools (3.0 vs 1.8), reporting & API (3.5 vs 2.4) and payment reliability & thresholds (4.5 vs 3.9).
Stay22 is stronger on link automation & commerce content tools (4.6 vs 3.8).
Which one fits
Choose Rakuten if…
- You publish at mid-market and enterprise scale.
- You weight disclosure & compliance tools, reporting & API and payment reliability & thresholds heavily — Rakuten leads on those in this benchmark.
Choose Stay22 if…
- You publish at small and mid-market scale.
- You weight link automation & commerce content tools, integration and publisher approval & programme access heavily — Stay22 leads on those in this benchmark.
Also weighing these
The nearest-scored tools to Rakuten and Stay22 in this benchmark, listed A to Z.
- 4.0Amazon AssociatesThe world's largest affiliate marketing program providing creators and publishers global product monetizationRead review
- 3.8AwinA global affiliate marketing platform connecting publishers with diverse advertisers to drive performanceRead review
- 3.7CJ.comA global affiliate marketing network connecting publishers with premium brand advertisersRead review
- 3.9ImpactComprehensive partnership management platform for automating affiliate, influencer, and creator growthRead review
All 12 scored tools are in Best Affiliate Networks for Publishers.
Who uses them
Publishers we have detected running each tool, from ads.txt, site code and published case studies. Agencies, brands and vendors are excluded.
Head to head
| Criterion | Rakuten | Stay22 |
|---|---|---|
| Commission rates & payout terms14% of capability | 3.8 | 3.4 |
| Merchant & programme coverage14% of capability | 4.2 | 3.8 |
| Tracking accuracy & attribution14% of capability | 3.5 | 3.2 |
| Link automation & commerce content tools12% of capability | 3.8 | 4.6 |
| Payment reliability & thresholds10% of capability | 4.5 | 3.9 |
| Reporting & API10% of capability | 3.5 | 2.4 |
| Product feeds & price comparison8% of capability | 3.6 | 3.5 |
| Disclosure & compliance tools6% of capability | 3.0 | 1.8 |
| Integration6% of capability | 3.0 | 3.5 |
| Publisher approval & programme access6% of capability | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| Capability45% of composite | 3.7 | 3.4 |
| Publisher fit40% of composite | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Total cost of ownership15% of composite | 4.0 | 4.6 |
Cost of ownership
| Sub-score | Rakuten | Stay22 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | 3.0 | 4.5 |
| Entry cost | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| Implementation cost | 4.0 | 4.6 |
| Hidden-fee risk | 4.0 | 4.7 |
| Ongoing cost | 4.0 | 4.6 |
Rakuten pricing
Free for publishers to join; advertisers pay custom pricing (performance commissions plus negotiated monthly platform and setup fees).
Stay22 pricing
Free to use for publishers; operates on a performance-based revenue-share model where creators earn a commission on completed bookings.
What users say
Rakuten
1 positive · 4 neutral · 1 negative
Stay22
20 positive · 8 neutral · 5 negative
Mentions we could not tie to a real user, and those flagged as promotional, are excluded. Sentiment is opinion, and is independent of the verified publisher adoptions above.
Rakuten scores 3.8 and Stay22 scores 3.8 in Benchmark Grid's independent Best Affiliate Networks for Publishers benchmark (benchmarkgrid.com/vs/rakuten/stay22, verified Oct 19, 2026)
Common questions
How do Rakuten and Stay22 differ?
Rakuten is stronger on disclosure & compliance tools (3.0 vs 1.8), reporting & API (3.5 vs 2.4) and payment reliability & thresholds (4.5 vs 3.9). Stay22 is stronger on link automation & commerce content tools (4.6 vs 3.8). Neither is better in the abstract — which one suits you depends on which of those dimensions carries the most weight in your operation.
Which is cheaper, Rakuten or Stay22?
On total cost of ownership — pricing transparency, entry cost, implementation, hidden-fee risk and ongoing cost — Rakuten scores 4.0/5 and Stay22 scores 4.6/5. A higher score means better value, not a lower sticker price.
How are these scores calculated?
Each tool is assessed against its category's published criteria (10 in this benchmark), which make up Capability (45% of the composite), Publisher fit (40%) and Total cost of ownership (15%). Assessment is carried out by SODP's editorial team against a published methodology. Vendors cannot pay for inclusion, scores or positions.
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Both tools are scored in Best Affiliate Networks for Publishers. See alternatives to Rakuten or alternatives to Stay22.
Weighing a third option? Add a tool to this comparison.
Where to next
Four questions, and a scored stack across every benchmark — not just Best Affiliate Networks for Publishers
Every scored tool in Best Affiliate Networks for Publishers, with the criteria behind each number
Every category, independently scored
Related comparisons
Other head-to-heads publishers look at in Best Affiliate Networks for Publishers.
