The same offer can pay 2–3× more depending on which point site you go through.
Major sites compared · Free · No sign-uppointnavi lets you compare cashback rates across Moppy, Hapitas and other major Japanese point sites in one search — so you always know which route pays most.
Try pointnavi free- Why the same offer can pay 2–3× more depending on the Japanese point site — and how to stop losing out
- How to use pointnavi, the free, no-signup tool that compares cashback rates across major point sites
- How to time your applications using JPY conversion and 90-day rate history
Applying for a credit card, opening a brokerage account, shopping on Rakuten or Yahoo! Shopping — in Japan, routing these through a “point site” (cashback portal) earns you free points. It’s a staple money-saving technique here, known as poikatsu. What most people miss, though, is this: the same offer pays very differently depending on which point site you use.
This guide introduces pointnavi (pointnavi.app) — a free tool that shows those rate gaps side by side. I use it myself as the first stop before any point-earning move, and below I’ll walk through its features, how to use it, and some field-tested tips.
The point-site rate gap problem
Take a video-streaming free trial: one portal offers the equivalent of ¥2,000, another ¥1,900, a third only ¥1,000 — that’s an everyday occurrence. On big-ticket offers like brokerage account openings, the gap between sites can reach thousands of yen or more.
The reason is simple: each portal negotiates its own commission and decides how much to pass back to users — and rates change constantly. Last week’s best site may be second-best this week.
What is pointnavi? — all major sites, one search
pointnavi is a free web service that searches and compares cashback rates across major Japanese point sites. Sites currently covered include the following (as of July 2026, with more being added):
| Supported site | Point unit (guide) |
|---|---|
| Moppy | 1pt = ¥1 |
| Hapitas | 1pt = ¥1 |
| Pointtown | 1pt = ¥1 |
| Gendama | 10pt = ¥1 |
| Point Income | 10pt = ¥1 |
| Powl | 10pt = ¥1 |
| Rakuten Rebates | 1pt = ¥1 |
| Fruitmail | 10pt = ¥1 |
| Chobirich | 2pt = ¥1 |
It tracks tens of thousands of active offers (as of July 2026), based on regularly crawled, measured data from each site. No account needed, completely free — and the interface is available in English (plus Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean).
Key features
Type an offer name (Rakuten Ichiba, U-NEXT, a broker’s name…) and see every covered site’s rates ranked side by side.
“10,000pt” means very different things when 1pt=¥1 on one site and 10pt=¥1 on another. pointnavi shows an approximate yen value, so unit tricks can’t fool you.
See how much each rate has moved over the past 90 days — useful for judging whether now is a good time to apply or worth waiting.
Trending search keywords, top-paying offers, and in-depth guides comparing the major point sites — all free, with English versions available.
How to use it — 3 steps
- Open pointnavi — go to pointnavi.app. No app, no registration; it runs in any mobile or desktop browser, with an English UI.
- Search the offer — enter the service or shop name you’re about to use. Each site’s rates appear ranked from highest.
- Go through the top site — jump to the winning point site and complete the offer as usual. That’s it: you never overpay in forgone points again.
Field-tested tips
1. Start by doubting your usual site
The longer you’ve been doing poikatsu, the more likely you default to one portal. Search your regular offers on pointnavi first — you’ll be surprised how often another site pays more.
2. The bigger the offer, the bigger the payoff from comparing
Credit cards and brokerage openings carry the largest gaps between sites — often worth thousands of yen for a few minutes of checking. Make cross-site comparison a fixed habit before any big offer.
3. Use the 90-day history to time your application
Rates move in cycles. A quick glance at the history tells you whether today’s rate is near its high — apply when it is, and you stop leaving value on the table.
FAQ
Q. Does it cost anything?
Q. Which point sites are covered?
Q. Are the displayed rates current?
Q. Does it work on mobile? In English?
New to point sites? Register through the invite links below to get welcome bonuses (going through an invite never lowers your cashback rates).
