Best Shopify App for Affiliate Marketing Guide

Overview

The goal of this guide is to identify the best shopify app for affiliate marketing and help Shopify store owners pick the right tool to recruit, track, and pay affiliates. I compare five widely used apps: Refersion, UpPromote (Secomapp), Affiliatly, LeadDyno, and Tapfiliate. Key decision criteria include tracking accuracy, ease of affiliate onboarding, payout automation, integration with Shopify and payment processors, reporting, scalability, and price.

Quick summary - who each option is best for:

• Refersion: mid-market merchants who need reliable tracking and branded affiliate portals.
• UpPromote: budget-conscious stores and those who want a free or low-cost entry with solid features.
• Affiliatly: small stores that want a simple, cost-effective affiliate program with coupon and link tracking.
• LeadDyno: stores prioritizing marketing automation and influencer/partner management.
• Tapfiliate: brands that want advanced tracking, multi-channel integrations, and enterprise features.

Pricing cited below is accurate as of June 2024 but check each app listing for updates. The comparisons include feature tradeoffs and real use cases to help you match product to business needs.

Best Shopify App for Affiliate Marketing

Refersion

Overview and Positioning

Refersion is one of the more established Shopify-focused affiliate platforms. It emphasizes robust link and coupon tracking, a customizable affiliate dashboard, and integrated payout workflows. Refersion positions itself at merchants who have existing sales volume and need enterprise-style reporting and partner management without building internal tools.

Key Features and Strengths

• Affiliate tracking by unique link, coupon, and order attribution.
• Customizable affiliate portal with branding options.
• Built-in payout options (PayPal mass payouts, manual, or third-party integrations).
• Real-time reporting and order-level visibility.
• Integrations with Shopify, Klaviyo, Recharge (subscriptions), and shipping platforms for accurate recurring order attribution.
• Fraud filters and approval workflows for affiliate applications.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

• Higher pricing than some budget competitors; more cost-effective once you scale affiliates and sales.
• Some advanced features (white-labeling, API limits) require higher-tier plans.
• Setup complexity is moderate; merchants without an operations person may need help configuring tracking rules, especially for subscriptions and returns.

Pricing and Value

• Starter: $39 per month - basic features and limited number of monthly orders/affiliates.
• Professional: $149 per month - recommended for growing stores with more affiliates and branded portal.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing - larger volume, dedicated support, custom SLA.
• There may be transaction thresholds or affiliate limits per plan; additional fees can apply.

Value: Good for stores that expect measurable affiliate revenue and need reliable attribution and payout automation. The break-even point often occurs when affiliate-driven sales are large enough to justify ease-of-use and lower internal overhead.

Best For

• Mid-market Shopify merchants scaling a program to dozens or hundreds of affiliates.
• Stores that need subscription and recurring revenue attribution.
• Teams that want branded affiliate portals and built-in payout options.

Uppromote (Secomapp)

Overview and Positioning

UpPromote by Secomapp offers an affiliate and referral solution built specifically for Shopify merchants, with a generous free tier. It focuses on ease-of-use, quick onboarding for affiliates, and affordable paid tiers for growing programs. UpPromote appeals to early-stage and budget-conscious stores.

Key Features and Strengths

• Free plan available with core features: referral links, coupon code tracking, basic dashboard.
• Simple affiliate registration, manual approvals, and CSV import/export for easy migration.
• Automated email templates and basic performance reports.
• Payout records and commission management, with PayPal/stripe support through integrations or manual payout.
• Integrations with popular apps like Klaviyo and Shopify Flow.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

• Advanced automation and white-labeling are limited compared with enterprise tools.
• Reporting and fraud prevention are more basic; larger programs may outgrow features.
• Some integrations or automation require paid plan tiers.

Pricing and Value

• Free: $0 - limited affiliates and basic tracking (good for testing).
• Basic: $19.99 per month - more affiliates, commissions, email automation.
• Professional: $49.99 per month - advanced rules, more reports, priority support.
• Enterprise/Agency: $199.99+ per month - custom limits, priority onboarding.

Value: Strong entry-level value. The free plan is usable to pilot affiliate programs and the $19.99 tier provides upgrade paths for small to mid-size stores.

Best For

• New stores testing an affiliate channel.
• Side projects and low-margin merchants who need a low-cost option.
• Merchants who prefer a Shopify-native setup and simple onboarding.

Affiliatly

Overview and Positioning

Affiliatly focuses on simplicity and affordability. It is a straightforward affiliate tracking app that supports unique links, coupon codes, and custom commissions. Affiliatly is designed for small to medium stores that want a no-frills affiliate program.

Key Features and Strengths

• Multiple tracking methods: unique link, coupon, and manual order assignment.
• Customizable affiliate signup widget and dashboard.
• Tiered commissions and product/category-level commission rules.
• Simple API/webhook support for integrations.
• Lightweight UI that is easy to learn and administer.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

• Reporting and analytics are basic compared to Refersion and Tapfiliate.
• Payout automation is limited; mass payouts require exporting data or external tools.
• Integrations with email marketing and subscription platforms are fewer.

Pricing and Value

• Basic: $16 per month - up to 1,000 clicks and limited features.
• Professional: $39 per month - more tracking, additional affiliates.
• Advanced: $89 per month - priority support, advanced features.
• Enterprise: custom pricing for high-volume stores.

Value: Very competitive for small stores — Affiliatly is often the cheapest way to run a simple affiliate program with link and coupon tracking.

Best For

• Small stores and hobbyists launching a basic affiliate program.
• Merchants that want the lowest monthly cost with reasonable features.
• Stores that can handle payouts manually or through a separate payment processor.

Leaddyno

Overview and Positioning

LeadDyno doubles as an affiliate and lead-tracking/marketing tool and is built with influencer and partner programs in mind. It emphasizes email integrations, partner funnels, and tools to convert influencer traffic into tracked sales and leads.

Key Features and Strengths

• Affiliate tracking with unique links and coupons.
• Automated email sequences and integration with email marketing tools.
• Built-in lead capture pages and tracking for influencer campaigns.
• Payout reporting and affiliate portal.
• Integrations with Shopify, Facebook, Klaviyo, Mailchimp, and Zapier.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

• Slightly higher starting price than the simplest apps.
• UI can feel dated; some merchants prefer modern dashboards.
• Deeper analytics or enterprise needs may require custom work.

Pricing and Value

• Starter: $49 per month - basic affiliate tracking and limited affiliates.
• Pro: $99 per month - more affiliates, advanced reports, and onboarding.
• Growth: $199 per month - larger affiliate networks and extra features.
• Custom/Enterprise pricing available.

Value: Good for stores that want affiliate and lead-generation workflows tied into email marketing. The built-in funnel tools make it useful for influencer-driven campaigns.

Best For

• Merchant using influencer marketing and lead capture alongside affiliate tracking.
• Stores that want integrated email automation and partner onboarding.
• Brands that want a combined lead + affiliate solution.

Tapfiliate

Overview and Positioning

Tapfiliate targets brands that need advanced affiliate features and multi-channel tracking. It is a robust platform for enterprises and growing brands requiring API access, multi-currency support, and strong integrations across ad networks and SaaS tools.

Key Features and Strengths

• Advanced tracking: links, coupons, server-side tracking, sub-affiliate networks.
• Strong API and webhooks for custom integrations and automation.
• Multi-currency and multi-brand support.
• Branded affiliate portals and advanced reporting with cohort analysis.
• Integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, Stripe, PayPal, and Zapier.

Limitations and Tradeoffs

• Higher price point compared with entry-level apps.
• Complexity: configuration and advanced integrations often need developer resources.
• Overkill for stores with a handful of affiliates or low monthly affiliate sales.

Pricing and Value

• Starter: $69 per month - basic affiliate features for small teams.
• Professional: $149 per month - API access, advanced reports, more affiliates.
• Scale: $299 per month - enterprise features, priority support.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing for dedicated SLAs, onboarding, SSO.

Value: Best when you need advanced tracking, API-driven workflows, and multi-currency support. Pricing reflects enterprise-grade capabilities.

Best For

• Brands with global affiliates, multiple storefronts, or custom integration needs.
• Merchants needing detailed cohort and lifetime value tracking for affiliates.
• Companies that can invest in technical integration to maximize attribution accuracy.

How to Choose

Decision checklist (4-5 points) to pick the best app for your store:

1. Program scale and budget - If you are testing, start with a free or low-cost option (UpPromote, Affiliatly). If you plan to scale to hundreds of affiliates, budget for Refersion or Tapfiliate.
2. Tracking complexity - Need subscription/recurring order attribution or server-side tracking? Choose Refersion or Tapfiliate for more accurate rules.
3. Payout automation - If you want built-in mass payouts via PayPal/Stripe, prefer Refersion or platforms with integrated payout features; otherwise prepare manual exports.
4. Integrations - Match the app to your tech stack (Klaviyo, Recharge, Shopify Flow). LeadDyno and Tapfiliate provide more marketing/automation integrations.
5. Technical resources - If you have developers and need API/customization, Tapfiliate and Refersion offer deeper APIs; for non-technical teams, UpPromote and Affiliatly are easier to run.

Use this decision path: pilot with a free/basic plan to validate affiliate ROI - if CPA and average order value justify admin fees, upgrade to a plan with better reporting and payout automation.

Quick Comparison

Feature | Refersion | UpPromote | Affiliatly | LeadDyno | Tapfiliate — | —: | —: | —: | —: | —: Monthly price (starting) | $39 per month | $0 per month | $16 per month | $49 per month | $69 per month Free plan | No (trial) | Yes | Trial/limited | No (trial) | Trial Tracking methods | Links, coupons, subscriptions | Links, coupons | Links, coupons | Links, coupons, lead pages | Links, coupons, server-side Payout automation | Built-in (PayPal/exports) | Manual/exports | Manual/exports | Built-in exports | Built-in/exports/API Best for | Growing/mid-market stores | Budget/new stores | Small/simple programs | Influencer/lead-driven brands | Enterprise/multi-channel brands

Pricing breakdown notes:

• Refersion: Starter $39/mo, Professional $149/mo, Enterprise custom (pricing as of June 2024).
• UpPromote: Free tier; Basic $19.99/mo; Professional $49.99/mo; Enterprise $199.99+/mo.
• Affiliatly: Basic $16/mo; Professional $39/mo; Advanced $89/mo; Enterprise custom.
• LeadDyno: Starter $49/mo; Pro $99/mo; Growth $199/mo.
• Tapfiliate: Starter $69/mo; Professional $149/mo; Scale $299/mo.

Always verify pricing on the Shopify App Store or vendor website, since add-ons, affiliate limits, or transaction thresholds may change costs.

FAQ

How Much Does an Affiliate App Add to My Monthly Costs?

Most affiliate apps range from free/basic tiers up to $299 per month for enterprise-grade solutions. Small programs can run at $0 to $20 per month, mid-market programs commonly cost $39 to $149 per month, and enterprise setups with API and SLAs cost $149 to $299+ per month.

Do Affiliate Apps Handle Payouts Automatically?

Some apps offer built-in payout automation (Refersion, Tapfiliate, LeadDyno to varying degrees), often using PayPal mass payouts or integrations. Other apps require exporting payout reports and handling payments manually or via a third-party service. Check each app’s payout features and supported processors.

Will Affiliate Links Interfere with My Analytics or Ads?

Properly configured affiliate platforms use tracking parameters and cookies. If you use server-side tracking (Tapfiliate supports this) or UTM preservation, you can minimize conflicts. Always test affiliate links with your analytics setup (Google Analytics/GA4, Facebook/Meta) to confirm attribution.

Can I Track Subscription or Recurring Revenue From Affiliates?

Not all apps attribute subscription renewals by default. Refersion and Tapfiliate have stronger support for recurring orders and subscription platforms like Recharge, but require configuration. Verify subscription attribution is supported before selecting an app if you rely on LTV-based commissions.

How Many Affiliates Can I Manage with These Apps?

Limits vary by plan. Free or low-tier plans often cap affiliates (for example 50-200), while professional and enterprise plans scale to hundreds or thousands with custom pricing. If you expect a large influencer network, choose a plan that explicitly supports your affiliate volume.

Should I Use Coupons or Referral Links?

Both have pros and cons. Coupon codes are easy for customers and work well for coupon-driven traffic (social posts, stores). Links provide cleaner tracking across platforms and are less prone to misuse.

Use both if the app supports them and set rules to avoid double-attribution.

Further Reading

• Best Shopify Affiliate Apps Top 7 Picks
• Best Shopify Referral Apps Roundup
• Best Shopify Apps Referral for Merchants
• Best Shopify Apps to Increase Sales