Rakuten Trade Review 2026: Malaysia's Fee Cap King—Should You Trade Here?
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TL;DR: Rakuten Trade has the lowest brokerage rates in Malaysia with a RM100 fee cap on large trades. Perfect for buy-and-hold investors who hate paying brokers. Transparent pricing, fast execution, and multi-market access. Account opens in 3 days.
Two Reasons Rakuten Trade Matters in 2026
1. Fee Caps That Compound Wealth Over Decades
RM100 fee cap for trades above RM100,000. Traditional brokers charge 0.4%–0.8%, which would be RM400–RM800.
Here's the math that matters: A RM200,000 trade costs RM800 at traditional brokers. At Rakuten, it costs RM100. That's RM700 saved per trade.
For an active trader doing 20 trades yearly over 30 years:
- RM700 savings × 20 trades/year = RM 14,000/year
- RM 14,000 × 30 years = RM 420,000 total saved
- Reinvest at 8% p.a. = RM 2.1 million extra by retirement
This is the difference between retiring comfortable and retiring wealthy. And it's purely from choosing the right broker.
2. Transparent Tiered Rates—You Pay What You Trade
Bursa Malaysia rates: RM1 (below RM100) → RM2.88 (RM100–RM10K) → 0.1% (RM10K–RM100K) → RM100 cap (above RM100K)
For retail traders (RM5K–RM50K trades): You pay RM7–18 per trade. That's the lowest on the market. Compare this to traditional brokers charging RM40–50 per RM5K trade.
For active traders (RM100K+ trades): The RM100 cap is transformative. You're paying 0.05% instead of 0.4%. Over 20 annual trades, that's RM6,000–8,000/year saved.
For US stocks: 0.10% commission (USD 0.88 minimum, USD 25 maximum).
The Numbers: What You Actually Pay
| Trade Size | Rakuten Fee | Traditional Broker (0.4%) | You Save |
|---|---|---|---|
| RM 5,000 | RM 10 | RM 20 | RM 10 (50%) |
| RM 20,000 | RM 20 | RM 80 | RM 60 (75%) |
| RM 50,000 | RM 50 | RM 200 | RM 150 (75%) |
| RM 100,000 | RM 100 | RM 400 | RM 300 (75%) |
| RM 200,000 | RM 100 (CAP) | RM 800 | RM 700 (88%) |
Real example: A RM5,000 Bursa trade at Rakuten costs RM 20–25 total (brokerage + stamp duty + clearing). Same trade at a traditional broker: RM 40–50. That's 50–60% savings on every single trade.
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The Bull Case: Why Thousands Choose Rakuten
- ✅ Fee Caps (The Hidden Gem): Largest competitive advantage. Saves thousands over a lifetime for serious traders.
- ✅ Cost Efficiency: Lowest non-promotional brokerage rates in Malaysia. Beats other Brokers for retail sizes.
- ✅ Speed & Convenience: 100% online. Trades execute in seconds. No office visits, no phone calls. Perfect for remote workers.
- ✅ Safety & Regulation: Securities Commission licensed. Client funds segregated with Kenanga Investment Bank. CDS holdings protected by Bursa Malaysia.
- ✅ Multi-Market Access: Trade Malaysian stocks, US (NYSE/NASDAQ), Hong Kong equities from one account. Beats opening 3 separate brokers.
- ✅ Beginner-Friendly: Account approval 2–3 days. Free LV2 market data. Educational resources. Entry friction minimal.
- ✅ Fractional Shares (US): Buy 0.5 shares of Apple for RM 30 instead of RM 6,000. Democratizes investing.
The Bear Case: Where Rakuten Falls Short
- ❌ Oldschool App Design: UI feels dated compared to Moomoo or newer fintech apps. Navigation unintuitive for first-timers without tutorials.
- ❌ Limited Order Types: No trailing stops, conditional orders, short-selling, options/futures. Restricts advanced strategies.
- ❌ No Assisted Trading: Phone/email trades cost extra RM 30. Discourages non-digital users.
- ❌ Modest Promotional Rewards: RT Points accumulation is slow. Other digital brokers provide more attractive reward system.
- ❌ Limited Asset Classes: Stocks and ETFs only. No bonds, commodities, options, crypto diversification.
- ❌ 24/5 Support (Not 24/7): Support hours limited. Risky if market crisis hits after-hours.
Who Should Trade at Rakuten?
Perfect For:
- New investors (RM 1K–RM 50K) wanting lowest fees and simplicity
- Buy-and-hold investors trading 5–20 times yearly
- Freelancers and remote workers needing 100% online access
- Budget-conscious traders comparing cost-per-trade
- Active traders (RM 100K+ per trade) benefiting from RM 100 fee cap
- Accumulators building wealth systematically over 30+ years
Not For:
- Day traders needing advanced order types (trailing stops, etc.)
- Options/futures/crypto speculators
- Investors seeking trendy, gamified UX (Moomoo wins here)
- Short-sellers or margin traders with complex strategies
Compare Rakuten Trade With Other Brokers
Want to see exactly how much you'll save with Rakuten Trade? Use the Duitwise brokerage fee comparison calculator to compare commissions across all Malaysian brokers.
📊 Compare Fees in 60 Seconds
Enter your trade size and see exactly how much you'll pay with Rakuten Trade vs. other brokers.
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Duitwise Rating
⭐ 4.5 / 5
Rakuten Trade is Malaysia's best value broker. It doesn't chase trends—it executes the fundamentals flawlessly. Transparent pricing, fast execution, regulatory safety, and multi-market access. The oldschool UI is a minor trade-off for fee caps that compound real wealth over decades.
Bottom Line:
If your goal is to build wealth through consistent, low-cost investing, Rakuten Trade removes one huge barrier: expensive brokers eating your returns. Open an account today. Your 30-year-old self will thank you.
💡 Pro Tip: Open a Rakuten Trade account in 3 days. Your first RM 5,000 Bursa trade costs ≤RM 25 in total fees. That transparency is how wealth actually grows.
⚠️ IMPORTANT: NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE
This article is a broker review only. It is NOT investment advice.
- Choosing a low-fee broker is smart, but it doesn't guarantee investment returns
- Stocks you buy can lose 50%+ of value. Saving on fees won't protect you
- Past broker performance doesn't indicate future results
- This information is from January 20, 2026. Fee structures and services change
- Before investing, consult a licensed financial advisor registered with the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC)
- Do your own research. Don't invest based solely on a broker review
Duitwise takes no responsibility for money lost on stocks bought through Rakuten Trade or any broker. You are responsible for your own investment decisions and stock selection.
Where We Got This Information
- Rakuten Trade Official: Fee structure, markets, research tools — rakutentrade.my
- Rakuten Trade FAQ: Charges, clearing fees, additional costs — Charges and Fees
- Securities Commission Malaysia: Broker regulation and investor protection — sc.com.my
- Bursa Malaysia: CDS nominee system and market data — bursamalaysia.com
For current Rakuten Trade fees, app features, and promotions, always check their official website. Brokerage rates and fee structures may change. Compare with other brokers for your specific needs.