Frequently asked questions
The questions people actually ask before signing up. Honest answers, longer ones in the blog.
How does AffRef pricing compare to Refersion, Tapfiliate, and others?
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AffRef is a flat monthly fee, no transaction fee on any sale. Most competitors charge $49-249/mo plus 2-5% of every affiliate-driven sale. The bigger the affiliate program, the more the percentage-fee gap matters: at $50k/mo affiliate revenue, AffRef Pro at $99 is hundreds of dollars a month cheaper than percentage-fee tools. Full math here.
Do I need a developer to set this up?
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Shopify: No. Setup is dead simple. Paste a one-line tracking script into your theme, then add three webhook URLs in Shopify Settings → Notifications. Total time: under five minutes, no code, no developer required.
Lemon Squeezy / RevenueCat: No. Just paste a webhook URL and auth secret.
Custom SaaS / Next.js: Usually yes. Roughly 6 lines of code in your Stripe webhook handler.
No developer needed for managing affiliates, payouts, or running your program day to day.
What platforms does AffRef work with?
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Native integrations: Shopify, Lemon Squeezy, RevenueCat (iOS / Android subscription apps), Stripe (any Stripe-based SaaS). Generic API for everything else — WooCommerce (manual integration today, native plugin coming), Next.js apps, Django / Rails / Laravel custom stores, anything that can fire a webhook. WordPress / WooCommerce native plugin is on the roadmap.
How do I actually pay my affiliates?
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Four ways, all built in:
Stripe Connect auto-pay (one click, instant, AffRef takes no fee on the transfer),
PayPal Mass Pay CSV (download → upload to PayPal),
Wise Batch Payments CSV (cheap international FX),
and a Detailed accounting CSV for paying via bank transfer / Venmo / anything custom and logging it for your books.
Comparison of all four payout methods.
Can I run an affiliate program for a mobile app (iOS / Android)?
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Yes. Universal Links (iOS) and App Links (Android) open your app directly with the affiliate code when a user taps a smart link with your app installed. Your app forwards the URL into AffRef's mobile SDK, which extracts the code and sets it as a user attribute on RevenueCat (or Adapty, Qonversion, or whatever subscription stack you use). When the user subscribes, the subscription webhook fires AffRef and credits the conversion. No paste prompts, no IDFA, no Branch.io subscription needed. An IP-fingerprint fallback runs server-side for users who weren't on the app yet. Full mobile SDK setup · Deep-dive walkthrough.
Does AffRef hold my money or charge a transfer fee?
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No. AffRef never custodies funds at any point. Stripe Connect transfers go directly from your Stripe balance to the affiliate's Stripe Express balance — no application_fee, no middleman. PayPal / Wise / bank flows are CSV exports you run yourself. The architecture is deliberate: money custody requires money-transmitter licensing, which would force us to take a 1-3% cut to cover compliance costs. We don't.
What happens if a customer refunds an order after I've paid the affiliate?
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Before payout: AffRef automatically reverses the conversion when the platform fires a refund webhook. No money moves.
After payout: none of the payment rails (Stripe, PayPal, Wise) let you claw back a paid transfer. That's why AffRef enforces a refund-window hold — conversions stay locked until they pass your cool-off period (default 30 days, configurable brand-wide or per-affiliate). Trusted veteran affiliates can have a shorter hold; new affiliates a longer one.
Can I track affiliate sales via coupon codes (not just links)?
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Yes — coupon-code attribution is first-class. Each affiliate gets both a referral link and an optional coupon code. The code maps to a real Shopify / Lemon Squeezy discount you create; AffRef matches the code from the order webhook back to the affiliate. Essential for influencer programs — podcast / TikTok / YouTube audiences don't type URLs from a video but they do type discount codes. Deep dive on coupon attribution.
Will tracking work in Safari, on iOS, and with ad blockers?
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Yes. AffRef is first-party by default — the tracking cookie lives on your domain, not ours, so Safari ITP and Firefox ETP don't kill it after 24 hours. We layer localStorage redundancy, Shopify cart-attribute injection, and a server-side webhook fallback on top. The stack survives ad blockers and Chrome's Privacy Sandbox restrictions. Technical breakdown.
What commission rate should I pay?
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Category-dependent. Rough benchmarks: apparel / home goods 10-20%, beauty / supplements 15-30%, SaaS / digital products 20-50%, AI tools 20-40% one-time (recurring eats thin margins). The real math: "what percentage of my gross margin am I willing to give up" — usually 25-40%. Full benchmarks by industry.
Can I run multiple brands from one account?
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Yes — Starter is 1 brand, Pro is 3, Scale is 5, and Enterprise is unlimited (contact sales). Each brand has its own affiliates, commissions, branded portal, integrations, and payout flow. Useful for agencies, portfolio operators, or anyone running a main brand plus a side project. Brand-switcher in the top-left of the dashboard.
Do I need to issue 1099 / tax forms to affiliates?
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For US merchants paying US affiliates over $600/year: yes, you legally need to issue 1099-NEC. If you pay via Stripe Connect or PayPal, those platforms issue 1099-K themselves — you're off the hook. If you pay via Wise or direct bank transfer, you're responsible. Collect W-9 on signup and use Track1099 / Bench / your accountant to file in January. Non-US: international tax is on the affiliate.
Can I export my data if I leave?
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Yes — full CSV export of affiliates, conversions, payouts, and clicks at any time. No lock-in. Affiliates' tracking links keep working until you take the snippet off your site / disable your webhooks.
What does the affiliate signup experience look like?
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Each brand gets a portal at yourbrand.affref.com — fully branded with your logo, color, program description, and custom signup questions. Affiliates sign up there, get auto-approved (or queued for your review, your choice), and see their dashboard with link, coupon code, click stats, commission balance, and payout history. No AffRef branding shown to affiliates unless you opt in.
