Affiliate marketing used to be simple. You insert links into your content, track clicks, get paid, and the cycle goes on. But today, it has scaled into a more complex system that requires marketers to have the right tools to work smarter and the right platforms to use.
As an affiliate, you can use affiliate marketing management software for tracking and analytics, to search for offers, receive payments, and even improve your workflow.
However, there are myriads of affiliate software options on the market, so you might get overwhelmed if trying to research all of them. Each one promises they’re “the easiest to use and the most accurate”, but in the end, you still deal with broken tracking or confusing dashboards.
Our team mapped out this guide to help affiliate marketers zero in on the best affiliate management software and use these platforms to find offers, track results, and grow profits.
Why Publishers Need Affiliate Marketing Management Software
If you’ve run an affiliate business before, you’re already familiar with some of the affiliate programs and the platforms they use. However, these platforms have evolved significantly to adapt to today’s realities.
At its core, the affiliate marketing management software:
- Tracks actions
- Generates reports
- Sends payouts
- Automates routine tasks
How Can You Benefit From Using Affiliate Marketing Software?
First of all, affiliate marketing software provides real-time analytics, so you can make necessary adjustments to your campaigns. Secondly, you can track affiliate link clicks and conversions. Some software offers API tracking for more precise analysis. Thirdly, knowing how affiliate marketing management tools work also helps to better navigate dashboards and understand cookie windows.
Additionally, affiliates can use those platforms to work with referral offers. What’s more, you can search for better programs and avoid bad offers. This all results in higher earnings and efficiency.
17 Best Affiliate Marketing Management Platforms
With so many affiliate management solutions, it can be difficult not to get lost. That’s why we’ve gathered platforms every affiliate marketer should be familiar with.
PartnerStack
PartnerStack offers a unified platform for managing various partnership models – affiliates, referrals, and resellers – in a single environment. Thus, it’s ideal for B2B SaaS brands and those that manage multiple partner channels beyond affiliates.
Key Features:
- Partner marketplace access (100k+ partners)
- Customizable partner portals
- Automated onboarding
- Real-time analytics
- Multi-program support
Potential Limitations: Perhaps excessive for lean e-commerce brands running just a single, straightforward affiliate program. Costs and complexity could escalate as the operation grows.
Benefits for Affiliates:
- One dashboard and one payout system for all programs
- On-time payments (clear schedule)
- Bonus tiers
- Promo material library (banners, logos, product images, short promo videos, etc.)
- Strong SaaS tracking
- Earnings reports and other analytics
- Automatic link management
- Easy to find high-paying SaaS programs
Tapfiliate
Tapfiliate tracks and manages affiliate programs in the cloud. Plus, it supports affiliates, referrals, and influencers in e-commerce and SaaS. This software is intended for medium-sized e-commerce businesses or SaaS brands seeking adaptability without enterprise costs.
Key Features
- Immediate updates
- Commission structures that adapt
- Effortless connections
- Complete automation of hiring, payments, and all correspondence
- Supports many currencies
Potential Limitations: A few users have suggested that the reporting features could be more robust. Smaller teams, in particular, might benefit from additional assistance in tailoring the system to their needs.
Although Tapfiliate is not an affiliate network, affiliates can join programs that run on this software.
Benefits for Affiliates:
- Real-time click tracking
- Auto-generated tracking links
- Promo material library
- Simple dashboards
- Affiliate programs in a lot of niches
Refersion
Refersion is an affiliate marketing platform known for growing affiliate, influencer, and ambassador programs. Also, it focuses on e-commerce businesses, which are more common in this field.
Since it’s built that way, it’s safe to say that the affiliate tracking tool is best for e-commerce brands. Very often, this software is used by businesses on Shopify that need a simple, dedicated affiliate and ambassador program.
Key Features
- First-party tracking
- Commission rules
- Affiliate dashboards
- Multiple payout options
- Strong Shopify integration
Potential Limitations: The reporting and user interface seem a bit behind the times. Plus, some of the more sophisticated features are locked behind pricier subscription levels.
Refersion is not an affiliate network in the traditional sense, but affiliates can join brand affiliate programs through this software. Refersion is also a tool for working with referral offers.
Benefits for Affiliates:
- One easy-to-use dashboard for everything
- Simple link generation and automatic tracking
- Strong integration with some e‑commerce platforms (e.g., Shopify, BigCommerce)
Post Affiliate Pro
Post Affiliate Pro has been around for a while, and that alone adds reliability in the eyes of affiliates. The software is often chosen by brands or agencies managing extensive affiliate or reseller programs that require comprehensive tracking and adaptable rulesets.
Many brands prefer Post Affiliate Pro because it’s convenient and covers the entire process, from the initial click to the final payout.
Key Features
- Multi-method tracking (cookies, IP, email)
- Recurring and multi-tier commissions
- Integrations with 200+ carts/payment gateways
- White-labeling
- Deep reporting
Potential Limitations: Scanning the internet, people say the user interface feels a bit old-fashioned and that getting used to it takes some time.
Benefits for Affiliates:
- Flexible commission patterns
- Detailed reports and strong analytics
- Multiple tracking methods
- Marketing materials
- Reliable attribution
Rewardful
Rewardful offers affiliate and referral software, designed with SaaS companies in mind. It’s straightforward to set up, integrates seamlessly with Stripe, and boasts a user-friendly interface.
Rewardful is a quite straightforward affiliate marketing management tool, doesn’t require much effort to implement, and is typically chosen by SaaS businesses, particularly those with monthly or annual billing cycles.
Key Features
- One-click Stripe/PayPal linkage
- Automatic referral tracking
- Clean dashboard
- Recurring commission support
Potential Limitations: It may not offer the advanced customization, multi-program support, or enterprise-scale features that larger or multi-channel brands require.
Benefits for Affiliates:
- Multiple payout methods (including bank transfers)
- Clear and detailed dashboard, showing clicks, conversions, and the earned commissions
- Reliable identification of customer conversions
- Simple onboarding
- Promo materials
- Unique discount codes
HubSpot (Affiliate Integrations)
HubSpot is a standout. It is a top-tier CRM and marketing automation platform that is not exclusively designed for affiliate marketing management, but it still provides features that publishers need.
Key Features
- CRM centralization
- Partner/contact tracking
- Automation workflows
- Link tracking via integrations
- Affiliate program policies and support
Potential Limitations: You may come across users reporting that affiliate program setup and link/commission tracking may require additional tools or manual work.
Benefits for Affiliates:
- Potentially high payouts
- Up to 30% recurring commissions
- Long attribution periods
- A lot of demo materials, templates, banners, etc.
Everflow
Everflow is a marketing platform built for performance partners to track, manage, and grow affiliate, influencer, media-buying, and referral programs. The Everflow’s gist is to unite affiliates, influencers, media purchases, and paid channels into a single system.
Key Features
- Unified dashboard for all partner types
- Multi-touch attribution
- Automation of offer/payout/partner workflows
- Fraud detection
- Integration with paid-ad platforms
- Real-time data and customizable reporting
Potential Limitations: Sadly, this affiliate management tool can be more complex to set up than simpler platforms. It can also cost more. Finally, smaller publishers may be overwhelmed by all the advanced features and might not use them all, which could feel overkill.
Benefits for Affiliates:
- Instant reports
- Strong tracking
- Fast payouts
- Mobile app
- Auto optimization (SmartSwitch)
- Easy integration with Google, TikTok, and other platforms
- In-platform messaging
- Fraud monitoring
AffiliateWP
AffiliateWP is a WordPress plugin for stores and websites that enables you to track affiliate performance in your WordPress dashboard. This tool is most often chosen by SMBs, digital product vendors, membership sites, and creators operating WordPress/WooCommerce stores.
Key Features
- Real-time reporting
- Customizable commission rules
- Coupon tracking
- Automatic affiliate registration
- One-click integrations with WooCommerce, Easy Digital Downloads, MemberPress, and LMS platforms.
Potential Limitations: This isn’t a fit for brands that don’t use WordPress. It also misses the mark on enterprise-level multi-channel tracking and the sophisticated attribution models you’d find in dedicated platforms.
Benefits for Affiliates:
- Compatible with WordPress plugins
- Real-time analytics on clicks, conversions, and commissions
- Multiple payout options
- Reliable tracking
- Straightforward dashboard (you don’t need to be a tech pro)
- Link Generator
- Marketing materials
- Custom codes
UpPromote
UpPromote is a tool you can use together with Shopify for affiliate and influencer marketing. It works best for D2C brands, dropshippers, and Shopify sellers, helping them scale while enabling customizable features.
Key Features
- Branded affiliate portals
- Coupon codes
- Product-specific commissions
- Email templates
- Influencer recruitment
- Multi-store tracking
Potential Limitations: Though it’s a great fit for Shopify, its adaptability diminishes when dealing with brands on other platforms. Advanced analytics tools might seem less powerful than those used by large companies.
Benefits for Affiliates:
- Transparent analytics (real-time mode)
- Simple no-hassle registration
- Referral links and coupon-code tracking
- Paypal + alternative payout methods
- Promo materials
- Supports MLM
TUNE
TUNE is a sophisticated affiliate marketing management platform, known for elaborate workflows and worldwide performance marketing campaigns. It’s ideal for large brands, networks, and agencies seeking detailed control over tracking, attribution, and partner management.
TUNE can be used with a lot of flexibility and molded however you want. It is a good match for anyone who regards partner marketing as a key performance channel and wants a hands-on approach with all the custom features.
Key Features
- Flexible tracking options
- Customizable partner portals
- Powerful APIs
- Fraud protection
- Smart links
- Dynamic payouts
- In-depth reporting tools
Potential Limitations: The learning curve is a bit steep, and it could be a lot to handle. The pricing structure is clearly designed for larger enterprises. So, it’s not very popular with smaller companies.
Benefits for Affiliates:
- Advanced tracking and reliable attribution
- A wide array of offers for affiliates
- A variety of commission options
- Detailed dashboards
- Good for both large and small affiliate setups
Trackdesk
Trackdesk is a contemporary platform designed for managing affiliates and partners, built to scale, track in real-time, and be user-friendly. It’s a good fit for expanding brands, agencies, and startups seeking a robust tracking platform that won’t break the bank. Plus, without the headaches of enterprise-level systems.
Trackdesk has an amazing combination of features, including reliable tracking tools and flexible partner limits. It is best for brands seeking performance software that tracks competitors at a fraction of the price.
Key Features
- Real-time analytics
- Customizable commission rules
- Fraud prevention
- Multi-currency support
- Integrations with major e-commerce platforms and payment providers
Potential Limitations: Compared with affiliate marketing management platforms such as TUNE or Everflow, some advanced attribution features may be limited. Integrations are on the rise, though they are still expanding.
Benefits for Affiliates:
- Easy-to-use
- Flexible commissions
- Different payout methods
- Reliable attribution
- Strong analytics
- Recurring commissions
- Used in a variety of niches
Shopify (Affiliate App Ecosystem)
Shopify has its limitations since it does not offer its own affiliate software, but it does have several options in its app marketplace, including UpPromote, Refersion, Snowball, and Dovetail.
Although Shopify is not a platform for managing affiliate programs, many e-commerce brands on Shopify launch their own affiliate marketing management programs. There are many Shopify merchants looking for affiliate programs to promote their products.
The Shopify ecosystem gives you a lot of flexibility, and for some smaller shops, a simpler approach is probably all that is needed. There is also a seamless option to scale and move to more complex options as their affiliate program continues to grow within the Shopify ecosystem, but expenses can quickly accumulate as they expand.
Key Features
- App-based tracking
- Coupon codes
- Influencer programs
- Product-specific commissions
- Automatic payouts
- Multi-store support depending on the chosen app
Potential Limitations: The quality of your experience hinges on the app you select. Some applications have limited reporting features or fewer automation options.
Benefits for Affiliates:
- A great number of affiliate programs in a variety of niches
- Intuitive dashboards
- Reliable attribution
- High commission rates
- Promo materials
- Quick registration
- Special offers
Referral Factory
Referral Factory is known for its customizable referral system. The software’s templates and other tools make it easier to implement referral programs, partner funnels, and customer promotions.
SaaS companies, consumer apps, and/or referral, word-of-mouth, and ambassador program-driven businesses often opt for this affiliate marketing management tool.
Referral Factory is the fastest software for implementing referral campaigns and programs, allowing brands to incentivize customers to actively promote their tools and drive growth.
Key Features
- Referral campaign templates
- Custom landing pages
- Automated rewards
- Customer segmentation
- CRM integrations
- Referral tracking dashboards
Potential Limitations: It’s primarily designed for referrals, not affiliates. Consequently, brands requiring sophisticated affiliate capabilities – think multi-touch attribution, complex payout structures, and detailed influencer tracking – might find themselves needing a supplementary tool.
Referral Factory gives an opportunity to join many different campaigns as an affiliate and promote their products.
Benefits for Affiliates:
- Matches merchants with affiliates via built-in AI
- A variety of niches to choose from
- Different reward types
- Automatic tracking
- Recurring commissions (depending on the program)
CJ (Commission Junction)
CJ is one of the largest and oldest affiliate marketing networks, connecting businesses to a large number of publishers, influencers, and performance marketing partners. CJ is primarily used by medium- to large-sized companies that need a large partner ecosystem and a reliable global network with robust compliance and tracking capabilities.
Key Features
- Deep reporting
- Real-time analytics
- Advanced attribution
- Global payouts
- Fraud detection
- Automated partner onboarding
- Access to high-quality publishers
Potential Limitations: For smaller brands, the whole system can seem daunting. Getting started might take longer than expected, and the approval process can be quite rigid. That’s why if you are seeking smaller businesses, you’d better search somewhere else.
Benefits for Affiliates:
- Thousands of offers in different niches
- Reliable tracking and analytics
- Real-time reporting
- Trusted brands
- Different payout models
- Deep links
- Feed support
Awin
Since Awin is a global affiliate network that helps brands secure partnerships, tools, and tech they need to reach new places. So, if you are looking to go international, this is always a good shot.
Key Features
- Cross-channel tracking
- Influencer tools
- Commission flexibility
- Automated approval flows
- Partner discovery
- Fraud protection
- Multi-region support
Potential Limitations: The platform’s interface can seem a bit daunting initially. Smaller brands, in particular, might find the setup process more intricate than with simpler, ready-to-use alternatives.
Benefits for Affiliates:
- Operates worldwide (you can apply for a program almost in any country)
- A large selection of brands and offers in a variety of niches
- Several commission types
- Reliable tracking, reporting, and analytics tools
- Quality control for advertisers
- Suitable for beginners
- Different payout options
Affise
Affise builds performance marketing software mainly for networks, agencies, and brands running big affiliate marketing campaigns. Affise is most often used by large advertisers, agencies, and affiliate networks that need powerful tracking, a wide range of reports, and greater flexibility in features and tools.
Key Features
- Server-to-server tracking
- Smart links
- Automation
- Granular reporting
- Anti-fraud tools
- Offer management
- API access
- Mobile partner tools
Potential Limitations: More sophisticated than entry-level options, this tool’s full potential might not be leveraged by smaller companies. Getting started could necessitate some technical assistance.
Although Affise might not be the perfect choice for very small affiliates, those managing multiple offers will find it very useful.
Benefits for Affiliates:
- Detailed data insights
- Good tracking and reliable attribution
- Automated payouts
- Numerous advertisers
- One dashboard for everything
- “SmartLinks”
- Fraud protection
- Works well on mobile
Affiliatly
Affiliatly has an easy and affordable way to track affiliate sales, designed for e-commerce and smaller brands on Shopify or WooCommerce. As one of the top affiliate marketing tools, this software is a good fit for small businesses, online stores, or even one-person shops.
Key Features
- Coupon tracking
- Custom links
- Partner dashboards
- Product-level commissions
- Email notifications
- Easy integrations with major e-commerce apps
Potential Limitations: Limited advanced features — no complex automation, fewer integrations, and simpler reporting compared to larger platforms.
How can Affiliatly help marketers boost their income? Let’s look at some important features that could be useful for affiliates.
Benefits for Affiliates:
- Flexible payout system (per order total, per product or service, or fixed)
- Detailed dashboard for deep analytics
- No technical knowledge is required for the setup
- Multiple tracking methods
- Easy navigation
Best of the Best or How To Pick the Right One
Every affiliate software we have listed is built to help marketers expand and scale, but what works for the other marketer doesn’t necessarily work for everyone. So it’s hard to say which affiliate marketing management platforms to choose. It requires a clear understanding of your program structure, performance goals, and operational workflows.
Follow these three steps to make your decision:
- First, what kind of products or services do you promote? Identify which platform or platforms have products in this niche.
- Next, understand your priorities. Each platform has its unique features. Highlight your specific requirements and look for platforms that will meet them. Also, pick from those that specialize in your niche.
- Then, select and give it a try.
Monetize Your Traffic with Profitise
Profitise is a leading insurance and solar affiliate network for affiliates who are selling quality web leads and phone calls. With hundreds of businesses already joined and even more to come, Profitise is the go-to place to monetize your traffic.
With Profitise, you get:
- Embeddable JavaScript forms to generate qualified insurance and solar leads
- Large lead market to sell your traffic instantly
- High price for your web and call leads
- Free assistance from your affiliate manager
Sell leads with Profitise as an affiliate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does affiliate marketing management software actually do?
Affiliate marketing management software tracks who brings in sales, how much they earn, and helps manage everything in one place. Instead of doing things by hand, it automatically organizes links, payouts, and stats.
Which platform should I use to pick the right affiliate program?
Think about what you need most, and choose based on these criteria. The one that offers a lot in your niche, feels reliable, and fits your goals is usually the best choice.
Do I need to be tech-savvy to use an affiliate marketing platform?
Not really. But it helps if you do. As you know, most affiliate marketing management tools are made for regular users. Almost anyone can set up links, check reports, and search for advertisers. And if ever you need help, most platforms offer support.
