Best Affiliate Tracking Software Shortlist
Here’s my shortlist of the best affiliate tracking software:
Our one-on-one guidance will help you find the perfect fit.
Are you tired of juggling spreadsheets and manually tracking affiliate performance? As a marketing manager, you know how time-consuming and error-prone this can be. That's where affiliate tracking software comes in, offering a way to simplify your processes.
These tools help you monitor campaigns, manage commissions, and optimize partnerships. Using my experience in marketing management, I tested and reviewed the top affiliate tracking software available.
In this article, you'll find detailed reviews of each solution, focusing on the features that matter most to you. Whether your team needs something user-friendly or highly customizable, I'll guide you through the best options available. Let's find the right tool to enhance your affiliate marketing strategy.
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Best Affiliate Tracking Software Summary
This comparison chart summarizes pricing details for my top affiliate tracking software selections to help you find the best one for your budget and business needs.
Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Best for financial services | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
2 | Best for custom reporting | Free demo available | From $1,120/month (billed annually) | Website | |
3 | Best for real-time analytics | 14-day free trial + free plan available | From $67/month | Website | |
4 | Best for easy integration | Free trial available | From $74/month (billed annually) | Website | |
5 | Best for ecommerce brands | 14-day free trial for new subscribers | From $99/month (paid annually) | Website | |
6 | Best for budget-friendly plans | Free trial available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
7 | Best for mobile tracking | Free demo available | From $389/month (billed annually) | Website | |
8 | Best for influencer partnerships | 3-day free trial (then 30-days for $1) | From $26/month | Website | |
9 | Best for team collaboration | Free trial + plan available | From $24/month (billed annually) | Website | |
10 | Best for partnership automation | Free demo available | From $500/month | Website |
How to Choose an Affiliate Tracking Software
It’s easy to get bogged down in long feature lists and complex pricing structures. To help you stay focused as you work through your unique software selection process, here’s a checklist of factors to keep in mind:
Factor | What to Consider |
Scalability | Ensure the software can grow with your business, handling more affiliates and data. |
Integrations | Check if it connects with your existing tools, like CRM or email marketing software. |
Customizability | Look for options to tailor features to fit your team's workflow needs. |
Ease of Use | Prioritize a user-friendly interface to reduce training time and increase efficiency. |
Budget | Compare pricing models to ensure it fits within your financial constraints. |
Security Safeguards | Verify the software has strong data protection measures to keep your information safe. |
Support | Consider the availability of customer support and resources when you need help. |
Performance Tracking | Look for detailed reports to monitor affiliate success and optimize strategies. |
Best Affiliate Tracking Software Reviews
Below are my detailed summaries of the best affiliate tracking software on my shortlist. My reviews look at each tool’s key features, pros & cons, integrations, and ideal use cases to help you find the best one.
Fintel Connect integrates with accounting and loan origination systems, ensuring end-to-end transparency and compliance. Its built-in financial content management tools allow fintechs and credit unions to scale their partner marketing efforts.
Why I picked Fintel Connect: Fintel Connect has tools specific for financial services such as compliance monitoring to ensure your affiliates align with industry regulations. It offers real-time tracking to monitor campaigns as they happen and performance analytics for insights into affiliate effectiveness. Additionally, the software allows customizable reports and dedicated account management to support your marketing strategies.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include compliance tracking that ensures your campaigns meet industry standards, performance analytics that provide detailed insights to help you evaluate affiliate effectiveness, and a dedicated account management team to support your marketing strategies.
Integrations include Salesforce, HubSpot, Google Analytics, Facebook Ads, LinkedIn Ads, Twitter Ads, WordPress, Mailchimp, Stripe, and PayPal.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Specialized affiliate network
- Real-time analytics
- Full-funnel metrics
Cons:
- Delayed conversion tracking
- Niche market limitation
Scaleo has detailed tracking and reporting capabilities, offering tools for gaining insights into partner performance and campaign effectiveness. It allows users to generate visualized reports and export data in various formats for flexible campaign analysis.
Why I picked Scaleo: Scaleo has a highly customizable reporting tool, allowing you to tailor data views to your needs. You can track over 30 metrics, from traffic sources to conversion rates, giving your team detailed insights into campaign performance. The platform also allows you to create visualized reports and export them in multiple formats, and automate reporting schedules, so your team gets updates exactly when needed.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include advanced analytics that provide deep insights into your affiliate activities, an intuitive dashboard that allows you to navigate and easily find the information you need, and automated alerts to keep you informed about key changes and developments in your campaigns.
Integrations include PayPal, Stripe, Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Zapier, Salesforce, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and Mailchimp.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- API for custom integrations
- Customizable partner dashboards
- Real-time data visualization
Cons:
- Restricted tracking for non-digital marketing campaigns
- No support for multi-touch attribution
Trackdesk helps businesses grow their affiliate revenue streams without initial investment. Its real-time analytics enable users to make data-driven decisions by analyzing affiliate program performance, customizing reports, and accessing error logs for accurate insights.
Why I picked Trackdesk: Trackdesk’s real-time analytics provide immediate insights, letting you monitor affiliate and campaign performance as it happens. It offers customizable reports for specific metrics, tools for tracking conversions, clicks, and revenue, while its advanced reporting capabilities show you advanced affiliate activity. Trackdesk also includes error logs and detailed tracking capabilities, ensuring you immediately catch and address any issues.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include advanced reporting tools that offer in-depth analysis of your campaigns, customizable dashboards that allow you to tailor the view to suit your needs, and automated alerts to keep you informed about significant developments in your affiliate programs.
Integrations include Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, BigCommerce, Stripe, PayPal, Facebook, Google Analytics, Zapier, and HubSpot.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Multi-currency support
- Customizable commission structures
- Real-time performance analytics
Cons:
- Basic cross-device tracking
- No mobile app for affiliates
Tapfiliate offers an intuitive interface, custom branding, multi-currency, and performance analytics features. It has pre-built integrations, allowing businesses to quickly onboard affiliates and start tracking campaigns without extensive technical knowledge.
Why I picked Tapfiliate: Tapfiliate’s easy integration capabilities connect with existing systems with minimal configuration, allowing users to set up and manage affiliate programs quickly. It offers a highly customizable dashboard to match your brand, while real-time performance tracking allows for accurate insights and to see how your affiliates are doing. Additionally, Tapfiliate provides performance-based commissions, detailed analytics, and a branded affiliate portal, giving you full control over your program while creating a professional experience for affiliates.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include a branded affiliate dashboard that lets you customize the interface for affiliates, real-time performance tracking to keep you updated on affiliate activities, and the ability to manage marketing channels and materials centrally, making it simple to distribute assets.
Integrations include Shopify, WooCommerce, Squarespace, WordPress, Stripe, PayPal, Chargify, and Recurly.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Affiliate recruitment features
- API for custom integrations
- Flexible commission structures
Cons:
- Limited customization for reports
- No built-in payment processing
Refersion integrates with major ecommerce platforms to efficiently onboard affiliates, monitor performance, and automate payments. Its marketplace connects brands with affiliates whose audiences align with their target market.
Why I picked Refersion: Refersion is tailored for ecommerce, offering features like customizable affiliate onboarding, detailed performance tracking, automated commission management, and online sales tracking. It supports discount codes and SKU-based tracking, helping you connect affiliate efforts to product performance. Additionally, the customizable affiliate portal lets you create a personalized experience for your affiliates.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include sales tracking that provides insights into affiliate-generated sales, detailed reporting that offers analytics to help your team make informed decisions, and the ability to manage commissions easily, ensuring timely and accurate payments to affiliates.
Integrations include Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento, Stripe, PayPal, Square, Mailchimp, Klaviyo, and Salesforce.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Custom commission structures
- Unlimited affiliate management
- First-party tracking compliance
Cons:
- Restricted custom tracking URLs
- Limited reports customization
Trackier is an affiliate marketing platform that offers flexible pricing based on various perimeters, such as conversion and monthly activity rate. It includes multiple tracking options, cross-device tracking, and customizable reporting to attribute partner performance across every platform and device.
Why I picked Trackier: Trackier is a cost-effective solution for managing campaigns with limited resources. It includes performance tracking to understand your affiliate’s impact and advanced click and conversion tracking to monitor real-time performance. Additionally, Trackier’s customizable tracking parameters ensure you’re collecting the most important data, while its automated reporting simplifies tracking of key metrics.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automated reporting that helps your team save time on manual data collection, performance tracking to provide detailed insights into each campaign's success, and customizable dashboards that allow you to tailor the software to your specific needs.
Integrations include Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, BigCommerce, Zapier, PayPal, Stripe, Google Analytics, Facebook Ads, and Google Ads.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Geo-based targeting
- Detailed performance tracking
- In-house fraud detection
Cons:
- Basic affiliate onboarding
- Delayed conversion tracking
Voluum is an affiliate management platform that provides a dedicated mobile app for monitoring and controlling campaigns on the go. The app delivers instant updates, customizable widgets, and notifications, ensuring marketers can promptly act on performance changes.
Why I picked Voluum: Voluum offers advanced mobile tracking capabilities, allowing you to monitor campaigns and conversions on mobile devices. It has geo-tracking and device-specific metrics that give detailed insights into mobile traffic performance. You can also track user behavior to understand the effectiveness of mobile ad campaigns and leverage real-time data to identify trends to improve mobile marketing efforts.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automatic optimization, which helps your team adjust campaigns based on performance data, advanced tracking capabilities that allow you to follow user behavior closely, and reporting tools to provide detailed insights into all aspects of your campaigns.
Integrations include Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Bing Ads, Taboola, Outbrain, PropellerAds, Pushground, MGID, TikTok Ads, and Snapchat Ads.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Customizable reporting tools
- Advanced mobile tracking
- Real-time data updates
Cons:
- Limited affiliate onboarding materials
- Limited API automation
Shopify Collabs streamlines influencer partnerships for merchants within the Shopify platform. It enables businesses and startups to discover and connect with creators, send gifts or samples, and manage new affiliate links and coupon codes from a single dashboard.
Why I picked Shopify Collabs: Shopify Collabs simplifies looking and working with influences by offering tools to discover creators that align with your brand. It allows you to see gifts or samples directly through the platform, and notifies you of which strategies are working with its detailed campaign tracking and customizable affiliate links. The tool also offers discount codes and commission management to keep your partnerships organized and rewarding.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include campaign tracking that lets you monitor influencer performance, data analytics that provide insights into sales generated by influencers, and managed content distribution to ensure consistent branding across campaigns.
Integrations include Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok, LinkedIn, Snapchat, WhatsApp, and Shopify.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Centralized communication hub
- Affiliate link generation
- Real-time performance tracking
Cons:
- Basic analytics features
- Limited to Shopify users
Zoho Thrive is an all-in-one solution that enhances team collaboration by allowing multiple users to manage programs, assign specific roles, and maintain control over affiliate activities.
Why I picked Zoho Thrive: Zoho Thrive provides shared access to reporting tools for team members to contribute insights, customizable dashboards for users to access important metrics, and a centralized communication feature to avoid duplication. The tool also has automated workflows and task reminders to ensure everyone is up to date.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include shared dashboards that provide an advanced view of affiliate activities, customizable reports that allow you to focus on specific performance metrics, and a task management system that helps you assign and track responsibilities within your team.
Integrations include Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, Zoho Desk, Zoho Mail, Zoho Campaigns, Slack, Salesforce, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and Mailchimp.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Integrated payment gateway support
- Dedicated affiliate portals
- Customizable affiliate registration forms
Cons:
- Restricted multi-currency tracking
- No click path analysis
impact.com is an affiliate management software used by marketing and partnership teams across industries to simplify collaboration and drive measurable outcomes. It allows users to streamline every stage of the affiliate lifecycle, from onboarding to payout processing.
Why I picked impact.com: impact.com focuses on automating the end-to-end management of partnerships, making it easier for you to scale and maintain relationships. It offers customizable workflows, contract management, and real-time performance monitoring that help reduce manual effort. impact.com also includes tools for tracking and managing payouts, ensuring your partnerships stay on track without added complexity.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include tools for automating partnership workflows, customizable tracking for measuring performance, built-in contract management to simplify your agreements, and real-time reporting to monitor partnership success and payouts.
Integrations include Shopify, BigCommerce, Salesforce, WooCommerce, Magento, HubSpot, Stripe, PayPal, Google Analytics, and WordPress.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Customizable tracking features
- Flexible partnership options
- Scales with business growth
Cons:
- Basic payout customization
- No built-in link cloaking
Other Affiliate Tracking Software
Here are some additional affiliate tracking software options that didn’t make it onto my shortlist, but are still worth checking out:
Affiliate Tracking Software Selection Criteria
When selecting the best affiliate tracking software to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points like performance tracking accuracy and integration capabilities. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:
Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to fulfill these common use cases:
- Track affiliate sales and referrals
- Manage commission payouts
- Monitor campaign performance/referral programs
- Generate performance reports
- Provide affiliate management tools
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:
- Advanced fraud detection
- Real-time analytics
- Manage invoicing
- Customizable dashboards
- Multi-language support
- Automated marketing tools/SEO
Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:
- Intuitive interface design
- Easy navigation
- Clear reporting tools
- Pre-designed templates
- Minimal learning curve
- Accessibility across devices
Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered the following:
- Availability of training videos
- Interactive product tours
- Step-by-step setup guides
- Access to webinars
- Responsive chat support
Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:
- Availability of 24/7 support
- Multiple contact options
- Access to a knowledge base
- Personalized support for setup
- Quick response times
Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:
- Competitive pricing
- Flexible subscription plans
- Features included in base plan
- Discounts for annual subscriptions
- Transparency in pricing
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:
- Overall satisfaction ratings
- Consistency in positive feedback
- Commonly reported issues
- User-reported ease of use
- Customer service experiences
Trends In Affiliate Tracking Software
In my research, I sourced countless product updates, press releases, and release logs from different affiliate tracking software vendors. Here are some of the emerging trends I’m keeping an eye on:
- AI-Driven Insights: Many tools use AI to analyze affiliate performance data and provide actionable insights. This helps users identify patterns, optimize campaigns, and enhance decision-making processes.
- Fraud Prevention Technologies: As affiliate marketing grows, so does fraud. To combat this, new technologies are being developed to detect and prevent fraudulent activities.
- Customizable User Interfaces: There's a growing demand for software with customizable dashboards and reports. This allows teams to focus on the data that matters most to them.
- Blockchain Integration: Some vendors are exploring blockchain to enhance transparency and security in tracking transactions. This technology ensures data integrity and builds trust with affiliates. While still in the early stages, it's an area of interest for forward-thinking platforms.
- Performance-Based Pricing Models: Instead of flat fees, some software explores pricing based on affiliate partner performance. This aligns cost with the value received, making it attractive for budget-conscious teams and providing more flexible options.
What Is Affiliate Tracking Software?
Affiliate tracking software monitors and manages affiliate marketing activities, and tracks sales and commissions. Marketing professionals and affiliate managers use these tools to optimize performance and ensure accurate payouts.
Its features, such as real-time analytics, fraud prevention, and customizable reporting help with data-driven decision-making and maintaining program integrity. Overall, these tools provide essential insights and control over affiliate marketing efforts, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness.
Features of Affiliate Tracking Software
When selecting affiliate managemenet software, keep an eye out for the following key features:
- Real-Time Analytics: Provides up-to-the-minute data to help you make informed decisions quickly.
- Fraud Prevention: Detects and prevents fraudulent activities to protect your marketing investments.
- Customizable Dashboards: Allows you to tailor the interface to focus on the most relevant metrics for your team.
- Compliance Tracking: Ensures your affiliate marketing campaigns adhere to industry regulations, which is crucial for financial services.
- Mobile Tracking: Monitors user behavior on mobile devices to optimize mobile campaigns.
- Performance-Based Pricing Models: Offers flexible pricing that aligns with the value received, which is beneficial for budget management.
- AI-Driven Insights: Uses artificial intelligence to analyze data and provide actionable recommendations for campaign optimization.
- Blockchain Integration: Enhances transparency and security in tracking transactions, and building trust with affiliates.
- Automated Reporting: Saves time by generating reports automatically, allowing your team to focus on strategic tasks.
- Advanced Tracking Capabilities: Provides detailed insights into user behavior and affiliate performance, aiding in effective management.
Benefits of Affiliate Tracking Software
Implementing affiliate tracking software provides several benefits for your team and your business. Here are a few you can look forward to:
- Increased Efficiency: Automated reporting and real-time analytics save time and allow your team to focus on strategy.
- Enhanced Accuracy: Advanced tracking capabilities ensure precise affiliate performance and sales data monitoring.
- Fraud Protection: Fraud prevention features help secure your marketing efforts against fraud.
- Improved Decision-Making: AI-driven insights and customizable dashboards provide the data for informed decisions.
- Cost Management: Performance-based pricing models offer flexibility, aligning costs with the value your team receives.
- Regulatory Compliance: Compliance tracking ensures your campaigns meet industry standards, reducing legal risks.
- Mobile Optimization: Mobile tracking capabilities help you understand user behavior on mobile devices and optimize campaigns.
Costs and Pricing of Affiliate Tracking Software
Selecting affiliate marketing software requires understanding the various pricing models and plans available. Costs vary based on features, team size, add-ons, and more. The table below summarizes common plans, their average prices, and typical features included in affiliate tracking software solutions:
Plan Comparison Table for Affiliate Tracking Software
Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
Free Plan | $0 | Basic tracking, limited reports, and minimal support. |
Personal Plan | $10-$30/user/month | Standard tracking, simple reports, and email support. |
Business Plan | $50-$100/user/month | Advanced analytics, customizable dashboards, and priority support. |
Enterprise Plan | $150+/user/month | Comprehensive analytics, dedicated account manager, and full customization. |
Affiliate Tracking Software FAQs
Here are some answers to common questions about affiliate tracking software:
How is affiliate performance tracked?
Performance is tracked using various KPIs like clicks, conversions, and customer lifetime value. These metrics help you assess the effectiveness of your affiliate program. Tools often integrate with analytics platforms for a comprehensive view of affiliate contributions.
Can you work with multiple affiliate programs?
Yes, you can manage multiple affiliate marketing programs using tracking software. This allows you to diversify your affiliate partnerships and reach broader audiences. The software helps you organize and track each program’s performance effectively.
How does affiliate tracking software prevent fraudulent activities?
Affiliate tracking software employs various methods to detect and prevent fraud, such as monitoring unusual traffic patterns, verifying the authenticity of clicks and conversions, and implementing IP tracking. These measures help maintain the integrity of your affiliate program.
Is it possible to customize commission structures with affiliate tracking software?
Absolutely. You can set different commission rates based on product categories, sales volume, or promotional campaigns. This flexibility allows you to tailor your affiliate program to meet your business objectives.
How does affiliate tracking software handle international affiliates and currencies?
Many affiliate tracking solutions support multiple currencies and languages, enabling you to manage affiliates from different countries effectively. This feature simplifies transactions and reporting for a global affiliate base.
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