Best Affiliate Marketing Software
Turn partners into your most efficient sales channel—with proper tracking and payments
TL;DR
PartnerStack is best for B2B SaaS companies wanting a complete partner ecosystem. Impact suits enterprises with complex multi-channel partnership needs. Refersion is excellent for e-commerce affiliate programs. For simple programs, start with Rewardful or FirstPromoter—they're affordable and effective.
Affiliate marketing is one of the most cost-effective growth channels—you only pay for results. But managing affiliates manually is chaos: tracking links break, commissions dispute, payments are manual, and you can't see what's working. Affiliate software handles the infrastructure so you can focus on recruiting and supporting good partners. Here's how to choose the right platform.
What is Affiliate Marketing Software?
Affiliate management platforms track partner referrals, calculate commissions, handle payouts, and provide reporting. They generate unique tracking links, attribute conversions, manage partner relationships, and automate the operational work that makes affiliate programs sustainable at scale.
Why Affiliate Software Matters
Running affiliates without software means: manual tracking (that breaks), spreadsheet commission calculations (with errors), individual PayPal payments (time-consuming), and no visibility into performance. Software automates all of this and enables scale—from 10 affiliates to 10,000 without proportional effort increase.
Key Features to Look For
Tracking & Attribution
essentialAccurate tracking of clicks, conversions, and commission attribution
Commission Management
essentialFlexible commission structures, tiers, bonuses, and overrides
Automated Payouts
essentialScheduled payments via PayPal, Stripe, wire, or other methods
Partner Portal
importantSelf-service for affiliates to get links, see stats, and request payouts
Fraud Detection
importantIdentify suspicious clicks, self-referrals, and invalid conversions
Reporting & Analytics
importantPerformance dashboards for both merchants and affiliates
Recruitment Tools
nice-to-haveAffiliate marketplace, application management, onboarding
Multi-tier Programs
nice-to-haveSupport for sub-affiliates and network structures
Key Factors to Consider
- What do you sell? E-commerce and SaaS have different tracking needs
- Expected affiliate volume? Pricing often scales with partners and transactions
- Payment preferences of your affiliates? Some platforms have limited options
- Integration with your billing system (Stripe, Shopify, etc.)
- Do you need a marketplace/network or bringing your own affiliates?
Pricing Overview
Affiliate platforms typically charge monthly fees plus percentage of tracked revenue. Budget $50-500/month for most programs.
Starter
$50-$100/month
New programs, simple commission structures
Growth
$100-$300/month
Active programs, multiple commission types
Enterprise
$500+/month
Large programs, complex needs, network features
Top Picks
Based on features, user feedback, and value for money.
PartnerStack
Top PickThe B2B SaaS partner ecosystem platform
Best for: B2B SaaS companies wanting complete partner management
Pros
- Purpose-built for SaaS
- Marketplace of partners
- Good enterprise features
- Strong integrations
Cons
- Expensive for small programs
- B2B focus limits other use cases
- Takes percentage of commissions
- Enterprise-oriented sales
Refersion
E-commerce affiliate tracking made simple
Best for: E-commerce brands wanting straightforward affiliate management
Pros
- Great Shopify integration
- Easy to set up
- Influencer features
- Good for e-commerce
Cons
- Less suitable for SaaS
- Features lag behind enterprise tools
- Support quality varies
- Per-conversion pricing adds up
FirstPromoter
Affordable affiliate tracking for SaaS and subscriptions
Best for: Bootstrap SaaS companies wanting value and simplicity
Pros
- Very affordable
- Good Stripe integration
- Simple setup
- SaaS-friendly features
Cons
- Fewer features than enterprise tools
- Limited marketplace/network
- Smaller team behind it
- Basic reporting
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Launching without proper tracking—attribution problems undermine everything
- Commission rates too low to attract good affiliates
- No affiliate support or resources—they need content and guidance
- Ignoring fraud—some 'affiliates' game the system
- Paying on clicks instead of conversions—invites abuse
Expert Tips
- Start with simple commission structure—add complexity when needed
- Provide affiliates with ready-made content and assets
- Pay promptly and reliably—this is your reputation
- Focus on recruiting a few great affiliates over many mediocre ones
- Track affiliate lifetime value, not just immediate conversions
The Bottom Line
PartnerStack is the enterprise choice for B2B SaaS partner ecosystems. Refersion works well for e-commerce affiliate programs. FirstPromoter and Rewardful offer excellent value for startups. Choose based on your business model and expected scale—you can always migrate later, though it's not painless.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's a good affiliate commission rate?
For SaaS: 20-30% of first year revenue or first payment is common. For e-commerce: 5-30% depending on margins. Higher commissions attract better affiliates but need to maintain profitability. Recurring commissions are powerful for SaaS.
How do I find good affiliates?
Start with your best customers—they already know and love your product. Then reach out to bloggers and influencers in your space. Partner marketplaces help, but curated outreach typically yields higher-quality affiliates.
When should I start an affiliate program?
After you have product-market fit and can handle increased customer volume. You need solid onboarding, support, and a product affiliates would be proud to recommend. Don't use affiliates to compensate for product-market fit issues.
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