What is a cookie window?

How long after clicking your link a purchase still counts as yours. A day suits impulse products and rewards nothing else. A month covers considered purchases. Two programmes with identical commission can pay very differently because of this alone.

Do I have to disclose affiliate links?

Yes. A financial relationship has to be clear to the reader, near the link rather than buried at the foot of the page. Beyond the legal requirement it is what makes a recommendation credible, since readers assume the arrangement anyway.

Why has my balance not been paid out?

Usually a minimum threshold, a holding period covering the refund window, or both. Small programmes can hold a balance for a long time before it clears, which is worth checking before picking one over a slightly lower-paying alternative.

Best Affiliate and Referral Tools for Creators 2026

Earn on what you already recommend, and track whether it converted.

22 tools in this category.

Earning on what you already recommend is the least intrusive revenue there is, and the details decide whether it amounts to anything. Commission rate is the headline. The cookie window, whether the sale has to be a first purchase, and the payout threshold are what determine how much of it you ever see.

AffiliateWP

Affiliate

Run your affiliate program inside WordPress

From $299Visit

Awin

Affiliate

The affiliate network ShareASale merged into

Best Affiliate and Referral Tools for Creators 2026

AffiliateWP

Awin

FirstPromoter

Genius Referrals

GoAffPro

GrowSurf

Impact.com

Kickbooster

Kit

Lasso

LeadDyno

Partnero

Post Affiliate Pro

ReferralCandy

Refersion

Refgrow

Rewardful

Tapfiliate

Tolt

UpPromote

Viral Loops

ViralSweep

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