Your 8 Best Affiliate Network Software Picks (2024 Overview)

Want to choose the right affiliate tracking software? Dive into the must-haves, special considerations, prices, reviews, comparisons, and much more

Affiliate network software is essential for business owners and affiliates who are already succeeding with their affiliate programs and want to take their marketing initiatives to the next level. Entrepreneurs and companies can use these online solutions to connect the "overflow" of their affiliate partners' referrals/leads with their allied businesses. At the same time, these platforms enable marketers to collaborate with numerous brands in their niche. These brand partners sign up on the network software where quality affiliates—with whom the marketer had networked earlier—can apply to join their programs. Networking can exponentially multiply conversion rates, translating to higher earnings for affiliate marketers. Thus, it’s wise to learn about the best software for affiliate networks if you can picture yourself in any of these use cases.

Company owners and marketers can automate various aspects of affiliate marketing using these online solutions. Tools are available to tailor-fit affiliate search, sales tracking, fraud detection, and payout management based on your business needs and existing structure. In this article, you'll discover the top affiliate network software on the market, the benefits of forming an affiliate network, and how to start building one.

Criteria for Choosing an Affiliate Network Builder for Your Brand 

Each network software has its strengths, including the industries where they're most suitable. After discussing the best software for affiliate networks, it’s time to start narrowing down your options. Consider the following factors when deciding the platform to use for your business:

● Niche relevance 

Select a platform that specialises in your niche or sector (iGaming and e-sport, casino and betting, trading, finance, forex, crypto & web3, dating, lead generation, Nutra, Sweepstakes, ad network, marketplace). Doing so will streamline your workflows while addressing the challenges faced by business owners and marketers within your niche.

● Transparent pricing

Many platforms have hidden fees, which leads to a higher final price. With solutions like Trackdesk, what you see is what you get. Transparent pricing provides the predictability you need for budget planning, especially when you want to scale. You won't pay for hidden add-ons or overcharge/overdraft fees per a thousand conversions. You can enjoy its full features with our basic plan.

● Robust infrastructure

Your chosen solution must ensure round-the-clock network availability to capture your partners' every click. Zero downtime means you can work with and scale your affiliate numbers from multiple national and international locations.

● Ease of use 

Find a network builder with user-friendly features that can customise product descriptions, segment affiliates, offer audience targeting and tracking options, and display performance metrics.

● Commission, offers, and reward system 

Check whether the software allows for tiered commission and various offers and rewards.

● Analytics 

Insights as well as advanced and customisable reporting tools help you analyse and accurately measure your partners' progress, who's contributing the most sales, and how effective your campaigns are.

● Detection mechanism for fraud and term violations 

Verify whether your chosen tool can spot, report, and avert fraud and other malicious activities. Establishing affiliate guidelines can further strengthen your brand’s integrity and data security besides avoiding legal repercussions and costly fines.

● Payout options 

Ensure that the platform has integrations with popular and dependable payment channels. Automated invoicing and notifications are a big plus.

● Other system integrations 

Select a software that can work with your existing e-store and other tools your business uses.

8 Best Affiliate Network Software for Your Business  

Selecting the right affiliate marketing software is crucial for optimising efforts, tracking performance, and maximising earnings. Below, we’ve listed the top online solutions in the market, led by Trackdesk, which offers the best value for your money. We offer an overview of each software's leading features so you can decide which one to scrutinise further as your network builder.

1. Trackdesk

Trackdesk’s powerful affiliate tracking software for networks package includes commission tiers, fraud protection, direct linking, discount coupons, device targeting, server-to-server tracking, redirect tracking, offline tracking, custom cookie durations, and conversion-on-hold periods. Additionally, enjoy the built-in communication channels, real-time analytics (including attribution tracking to identify traffic sources), and customizable reporting that the platform is known for.

Trackdesk is renowned for its multi-level marketing feature, enabling affiliates to easily recruit multiple levels of sub-affiliates directly on the platform through an invite link.

Its infrastructure is built on Google Cloud and is backed by a bold 99.99% uptime guarantee, ensuring you never miss a single click or transaction.

Thanks to our API, including full API billing access, you can filter your affiliates according to parameters such as registration date, country, and status in the system, and update their billing details and payment method. Settings are available for bulk payouts, recurring commissions, and refund handling. Trackdesk also offers multi-currency offers and refund/cancellation protection.

It fully automates affiliate payouts via Tipalti, PayPal, Wise, and other bank transfer modes or cryptocurrency. Amid the collection and handling of such vast data, you can rest assured that we keep your and your affiliates' data secure as a GDPR and CCPA/CPRA-compliant company.

Automation for other repetitive tasks beyond payment processing is possible using Zapier. Simply pair Trackdesk with your popular apps to define triggers and actions for streamlining workflows, such as message sending, status updating, and coupon creation.

Distribute your traffic to the best-performing offer and affiliate with the Smart Link feature, and manage campaign budgets with Offer Caps.

Affiliate tracking software for networks is part of the Enterprise package starting as low as $499, including full white labeling, advanced integrations, onboarding, and product training.

We offer affiliate tracking software with fair and transparent pricing. With us, you don’t have to worry about fees on top of the fees. Just predictable "pay-as-you-grow" pricing with no long-term binding contracts. We trust our product and do not need to lock you in.

2. Everflow

Everflow aims to "scale the drivers of your revenue" through targeting options, first-party tracking, QR code tracking for offline and connected TV conversions, and performance analytics. You can use the platform's tracking features (which cover mobile app tracking) to monitor and align your partner's earnings to the buyer journey stages or events (such as upgrades) where they generated more conversions. Meanwhile, Everflow's attribution tools can pinpoint the traffic sources that deliver engagement and conversions so you can optimise traffic. This software can integrate your attribution data to major platforms like Google, TikTok, and Facebook Ads.

3. Affise Performance

You can use this partner marketing solution—which boasts over 1,000 users—for eCommerce, SaaS, media buying, finance, cryptocurrency, web3, iGaming, travel, and dating. Affise's toolkit includes affiliate offer A/B testing, traffic optimisation based on the conversion rate and KPI rules you set, reward calculation based on your chosen affiliate actions (sign-ins, paid memberships, email verifications), comprehensive data analysis reports, and flexible payment methods. Hosted on Google's cloud service, the GDPR and CCPA-compliant platform protects your account from internal and external risks through built-in security tools and SOC2 Privacy.

Of its three products—Affise Performance, Affise Reach, and Affise Mobile Attribution—the first one is ideal for network-building. All of Affise Performance’s three plans include advanced tracking, targeting, real-time statistics, mass actions, fraud prevention, traffic monetisation, automation, data export, integration, and a dedicated customer success manager. Higher-plan users can access commission tiers, promo codes, zip code targeting, QR code tracking, view-through attribution, and onboarding support. Custom plan users can enjoy revenue prediction and white labelling.

4. Tune 

The Tune platform is recommended for D2C businesses, the financial sector, and subscription services. It has native postback capabilities, which track actions accurately on apps, desktops, and the mobile web. You can choose alerts and team-wide notifications for malicious traffic sources. Automated invoicing and payments are also available.

Tune's automations allow you to set customised rules for offer types, targeting (by browser, device, and other factors), conversion rate, and profit margin. It also provides integrations so that data from its real-time reporting tools can be delivered to your proprietary systems. It can work with your mobile network and mobile measurement partner. You can rest assured about data safety with its SOC 2 Type II and SOC 1 Type II certification and GDPR compliance with ePrivacy certification.

5. Scaleo

Scaleo is geared towards niche and global networks in eCommerce, iGaming, and finance, as well as those servicing multi-vertical networks. It boasts an easy setup process with its ready-to-use integrations for quick data transfer, automated flagging of fraudulent traffic, detailed reports covering over 30 data points, and full data visualisation for faster decision-making. 

Because Scaleo is a white label SaaS provider, end users will see your affiliate program as part of your website. Its intuitive dashboard features a customisable design (menu points and colours, dark/light themes, top bar, banners), sections, widgets, and metrics. You can also add internal or external links and dynamic or static third-party content, such as guides, promotions, and app sharing. Commission tiers and its Mailroom for built-in team-wide notification are available in higher plans. You can set who can access specific pages and features to ensure smooth workflow while keeping data secure. Automations for invoice generation and payout are also available.

6. Traffic Manager

Traffic Manager is a SaaS white label platform for eCommerce, dropshipping, paid media, casino, and betting companies. It has an affiliate registration page generator and a pre-agreement tool, which lets you upload your contract for partners to digitally sign and download. The platform also enables you to set rules for payouts (per offer and level or based on CPC/CPM rates) and revenue share. Meanwhile, its anti-fraud tool checks for questionable traffic, conversions, and credit card transactions.

Affiliates and publishers get their own multi-language dashboard, where they can view real-time performance stats, customise smartlinks, and access tools for customising ads, including uploading short videos. It also has a real-time bidding feature, wherein you can set your minimum ad bid per country, device, and promotional tool and then let advertisers compete for ad placements. Other tools include a landing page optimiser (via A/B testing) and a newsletter publisher.

7. Offer18

Offer18 caters to the fintech, eCommerce, iGaming, health and fitness, and dating sectors. Its employee management features allow account creation, role assignment, and permissions control. To protect its users, Offer18 provides a traffic source validator and fraud fender for filtering repeated or bot clicks from the same ISP. The solution can weed out spam clicks from legitimate ones leading to sales with its click spamming defender.

Offer18 makes it easy to set up and track campaigns through the advertiser URL builder and postback URL generator. You can pay affiliates based on geographical conversions, performance, or specific events/sales goals reached.

8. getCAKE

getCAKE, which has an Amazon Web Services-hosted global infrastructure, boasts a clientele of over 500 advertisers, publishers, and networks in over 50 nations. You can create your affiliate application process and generate landing pages, white-labelled forms, and contracts.

Custom targeting parameters—including location, browser, and device—are also at your disposal. At the same time, the platform provides pixel/postback integration and event tracking within virtually any platform (including mobile). Anti-fraud controls include pixel whitelisting and custom alerts for abnormal campaign behaviour.

On your white-labelled interface, you can customise user and department permissions, click and conversion caps, a commission-based incentive program for referrals, and metric calculations for campaign/performance reports. 

Why Build an Affiliate Network? 4 Benefits It Can
Bring Your Business

Figures from Datanyze show that 55 companies are behind the over 114,900 affiliate networks operating globally. Amazon Associates holds 48.13% of the market share, followed by Rakuten, CJ Affiliate, ShareASale, and AWIN. Business services (tech solutions and consultancy for fintech and HR operations), retail, hospitality, consumer services (eCommerce, insurance, and automotive-related services), and manufacturing are the top 5 industries that use such networks.

Thanks to the best software for affiliate networks, you can form a network to accelerate revenue growth without spending on advertising. You can reach new or a broader audience through your affiliate partners, a viable alternative to having an outbound sales team. Here are four ways you can benefit:

● To leverage your successful marketing program  

When you've gained an understanding of networking and the trust of clients and allied businesses, you can expand your reach based on the affiliate marketing conditions or an affiliate program that has worked for you.

● To access more system resources and additional support 

Affiliate network software has features for handling affiliate recruitment, onboarding, communication, and payment in the thousands.

● To achieve a higher payout 

You can set your fees or negotiate pricing based on your or your vetted affiliates' lead generation capacity.

● Easy business to start with, when done smartly

As a marketer, you can include payment terms in your affiliate marketing agreement so that brand partners pay your fee for the month on a specific date before your affiliates bring in leads. When your partner company agrees, you can set the payout date for your affiliates and include that information in your agreement.

6 Tips to Broaden Your Affiliate Network Effectively 

Apply the following strategies to retain your existing network partners and attract new ones:

1. Establish your authority in one industry. 

Marketers are drawn to experts who can give them advice on what works and what doesn’t. If you’re an affiliate or marketer creating a network, specialise in a specific industry or niche, and build your thought leadership in that area. Your industry authority gives added value to your network.

2. Offer irresistible deals. 

Give marketers a good reason to prefer your affiliate program over others. You can offer higher commissions/incentives or better cash flow terms (payouts released weekly and other short timeframes), depending on your market research.

3. Select an affiliate network-building software. 

Use our suggested criteria above when searching for a network builder. It should be intuitive enough for you and your affiliates to use.

4. Keep affiliate engagement vibrant. 

Conduct regular check-ins with your partners, providing them with the latest updates about your products/services and offers. We have a 12-step guide for motivating affiliates to bring more sales.

5. Stay abreast of your affiliates' performance. 

Use your platform's analytics tools to view conversion rates, sales, and top performers so you can adjust your program as needed.

6. Participate in industry-related events. 

Attending online and offline activities, such as trade fairs, expos, and conferences (Affiliate Summit in the US, Affiliate World conferences, and SiGMA iGaming events) provide plenty of opportunities to meet potential brand or network partners.

Final Thoughts 

Your affiliate marketing network takes planning, time, and nurturing to launch and grow properly. Partnering with the best brands and marketers is only part of one’s success story. You may start with some trial and error, but it’s necessary to stay on top of your offers and outcomes to determine what's working well and what you must improve.

Finding and using the right online solution can help you improve collaboration with brands and marketers using technology. As you continue to learn and refine your strategy, you and your partners can benefit from affiliate marketing.

Contact us to learn more about how Trackdesk can grow your affiliate network. Or sign up with us to start exploring our features. With our free program migration, you can safely shift to Trackdesk from your current platform without any downtime or data loss.