Interactive Cost Model
Model what an affiliate program could cost you — commissions, platform fees, and total program economics — under your own assumptions.
These are your assumptions, not vendor quotes. Adjust everything to match your situation.
How to read this: Commission expense scales with your sales. Platform costs vary by vendor and are usually negotiated — the fixed/percentage/transaction fees above are your modeling assumptions, not published prices. Compare vendors using the pricing-model table below, then request actual quotes.
Most partnership platforms don't publish prices. Instead of inventing numbers, here are their real pricing models and cost drivers — so you know what to ask when you request a quote.
Revenue flowing through the platform and number of tracked transactions. Nearly every vendor prices against this.
Number of active partners. More partners = more accounts, payouts, and support overhead.
Flat subscription vs. percentage of sales (network override) vs. per-transaction. Networks typically take a cut of commissions; SaaS platforms typically charge subscription.
Advanced attribution, fraud prevention, API access, and marketplace access usually sit in higher tiers.
Setup/integration fees and minimum monthly commitments are common at enterprise levels. Always ask.
| Platform | Pricing Model | Major Cost Drivers | Public Pricing Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impact.com | Custom subscription (SaaS). Quote-based; scales with program size and feature tier. A self-serve Starter Edition is offered. | Program revenue volume, partner count, feature tier, marketplace access, implementation | Custom — contact sales |
| PartnerStack | Custom subscription, quote-based, tiered by program scale. Focused on B2B SaaS. | Partner count, GMV through platform, tier level | Custom; ~$1,000/mo entry reported by third parties — verify with vendor |
| Everflow | Subscription, typically usage/volume-based. | Tracked clicks/events, data volume, feature tier | Custom — contact sales |
| CJ Affiliate | Affiliate network: network access fees plus a share of commissions; negotiated. | Network access tier, transaction volume, commission override | Custom — network fees negotiated |
| ShareASale (Awin) | Affiliate network: one-time setup fee + monthly minimum + transaction fee on commissions. | Setup fee, monthly minimum, override percentage | Historically reported: $625 setup + $35/mo + 20% override — confirm current terms |
Pricing models summarized from publicly available information, last reviewed September 2026. Vendor pricing changes frequently — always confirm directly. "Reported" figures come from third-party sources and may be outdated or inaccurate.
You've modeled costs. Now estimate revenue potential and find the platform that fits your business.