Compare affiliate programs side by side
Pick any two programs and see commissions, cookie lengths, payout reliability, payment methods, and two tier availability in one place. The interactive comparison engine is launching Q3 2026. In the meantime, every head to head comparison lives as a dedicated blog post below.
| Factor | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|
| Commission type | 40% new + 30% renewal | 40% revshare |
| Cookie length | 30 days | 30 days |
| Two tier | No | No |
| Payout reliability | A (95/100) | B+ (88/100) |
| Network | Impact (A) | Impact (A) |
| Minimum payout | $100 | $50 |
| Payment | PayPal, Wire, ACH | PayPal |
| Approval time | 3 to 7 days | 2 to 5 days |
| Full review | NordVPN review | Surfshark review |
Head to head comparisons
Every comparison is a dedicated blog post with verified data, EPC estimates, and a clear winner for different audiences. No filler.
The interactive comparison tool launches Q3 2026. Until then, every program in the directory has a full spec breakdown you can compare manually. Use the sortable table on the homepage to filter by cookie length, commission type, and two tier availability. Individual program pages have side by side competitor tables. The comparisons below are the most searched head to head matchups.
How to compare affiliate programs the right way
Most people compare affiliate programs on the wrong metric. They see a 50 percent commission and get excited, without checking the cookie length. Or they see "$200 per sale" without running the recurring math against a program paying $8 a month forever.
Here is the actual framework that matters.
Cookie length determines how many sales you actually capture
Most affiliate sales don't happen on the first click. Buyers research. They compare. They come back a week later and buy. A 24 hour cookie means if they buy on day two, you get nothing. A 90 day cookie means you're covered for three months of consideration.
The general rule: the higher the price tag and the more complex the product, the longer the cookie you need. A $20 tool with a 24 hour cookie is fine because impulse buys happen fast. A $300/year software subscription with a 24 hour cookie is a disaster because nobody buys on the first click.
In our directory, cookie lengths range from session only (LeadsMarket, some CPA networks) to lifetime (Systeme.io). The sweet spot for most SaaS is 30 to 90 days.
Recurring vs flat: the math always favors recurring for subscriptions
For monthly subscription products, recurring commissions beat flat bounties after a certain number of months. The break even point depends on the commission rates and the average customer retention.
| Scenario | Flat $50 bounty | 30% recurring on $19/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | $50 | $5.70 |
| Month 6 | $50 total | $34.20 total |
| Month 12 | $50 total | $68.40 total |
| Month 18 (avg retention) | $50 total | $102.60 total |
| Month 24 | $50 total | $136.80 total |
The flat $50 bounty looks better in month one. By month nine the recurring wins and never looks back. This math is why FreeTTS, ConvertKit, and Kinsta are better long term plays than programs paying a single flat commission on the same subscription product.
Payout reliability: the grade that actually matters
A program can have a 50 percent commission rate and never pay. It happens. More common is a program that "scrubs" commissions, meaning they invalidate commissions on subjective grounds. Some programs are famous for this in private affiliate communities.
That is why every network in our directory has an A through F reliability grade based on community submitted payout receipts and our own monthly checks. Impact and PartnerStack both rate A. ClickBank rates B because of historical scrubbing issues despite having improved. MaxBounty rates B plus. In house tracking platforms vary from A (FreeTTS via Creem, Kinsta) to problematic on smaller programs.
The two tier multiplier
When comparing a two tier program to a single tier program, add the estimated tier two income to the comparison. If you can produce content that also attracts affiliates as your audience, the two tier layer changes the math significantly over 24 to 36 months.
Kinsta's 10 percent two tier is worth more in absolute terms than Builderall's 30 percent two tier because Kinsta's average affiliate produces higher monthly commissions. 10 percent of a bigger number still beats 30 percent of a smaller number.
The most commonly compared programs in our directory
Based on search data and reader questions, these are the comparisons affiliates make most often.
| Comparison | Key difference | Full comparison |
|---|---|---|
| NordVPN vs Surfshark | NordVPN better for renewal commissions | Read comparison |
| NordVPN vs ExpressVPN | Flat vs percentage model | Read comparison |
| Semrush vs Ahrefs | Ahrefs has no public affiliate program | Read comparison |
| Beehiiv vs ConvertKit | 12 month cap vs no cap on recurring | Read comparison |
| Kajabi vs Podia | Kajabi higher ticket, Podia no time cap | Kajabi review |
| Kinsta vs Hostinger | Recurring vs one time hosting commissions | Kinsta review |
| ClickFunnels vs Systeme.io | Systeme has lifetime cookie, cheaper product | ClickFunnels review |
| Jasper vs Writesonic | Jasper more established, higher ticket | Jasper review |
| Coinbase vs Kraken | Flat crypto bounty vs trading fee share | Coinbase review |
| Builderall vs ClickFunnels | Builderall higher tier two, ClickFunnels stronger brand | Builderall review |
Get notified when the comparison tool launches
The interactive side by side comparison engine is in development. When it ships, you will be able to select any two programs and get an instant comparison on every data point we track. Sign up for the newsletter at the blog page and you will get a note when it goes live.