AffRef vs Impact
Impact is built for enterprise partnership teams. AffRef is built for operators who want to launch an affiliate program by lunch. Flat $49/mo, your affiliate list stays yours.
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| Feature | AffRef | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Public, flat | Custom, sales call |
| Entry price | $49/mo | Enterprise floor |
| Transaction fees | $0 | Varies (custom) |
| Affiliate marketplace | None | Network-style |
| Onboarding speed | Same day | Weeks |
| Shopify install | 1-click app | Custom integration |
| Mobile (RevenueCat) | Pro+ | Custom |
| Stripe Connect auto-pay | Pro+ | Available |
Where Impact is the wrong fit
Great enterprise tool. Wrong tool for indie operators and SMB.
You don't have a partnerships team
Impact is built for brands with full-time partnership managers. AffRef is built so a single operator can launch a program by themselves in a few hours. Different organisational shape, different tool shape.
You want your affiliate list to stay private
Impact runs a network-style discovery layer where affiliates can find new merchants. Useful if you want exposure to existing affiliate publishers; counterproductive if you don't want the affiliates you recruit to see competing offers. AffRef has no marketplace.
You want flat, predictable pricing
Impact's pricing is custom and bundled with implementation fees. AffRef's pricing is on the pricing page: $49 / $99 / $249. The bill doesn't grow with attributed revenue.
Why operators pick AffRef
Self-serve, same day
Sign up with a credit card, install in an afternoon, run your first referral that evening. Impact-class onboarding is measured in weeks.
Your list, not the network's
Recruit affiliates from your own customer base. They don't see competing offers through us because there is no us-as-marketplace.
Flat pricing, no contracts
No annual commit, no implementation fees, no QBRs. Cancel from billing settings any time and your data is retained for 90 days in case you reactivate.
Frequently asked questions
What's different between AffRef and Impact?
Impact (impact.com) is enterprise partnership management with a marketplace, custom pricing, and a contract-driven sales motion. AffRef is operator-grade affiliate tracking: flat $49/mo, self-serve, no marketplace, no procurement. Live same day with a credit card. Different audience, different price floor.
Is Impact good for SMB?
Impact is generally over-built for indie operators and SMB merchants. The pricing floor and onboarding overhead are designed for brands with dedicated partnerships teams. AffRef is the inverse: built so a single operator can launch a program in an afternoon.
Does Impact charge transaction fees?
Impact's pricing is custom and not published. Marketplace-style platforms often layer percentage fees on top of platform fees. AffRef is $0 transaction fees on every plan, full stop.
Will my affiliates be visible to other merchants?
On AffRef, no. We don't run an affiliate marketplace or aggregate affiliates across brands. The people you recruit don't see competitor offers through us. Impact's marketplace is opt-in but exists; if you opt in, your roster surfaces to other merchants on the network.
Skip enterprise procurement.
7-day free trial. Card up front. Cancel from billing any time.
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