Managing an affiliate marketing program can be challenging, and in this ShareASale review, we’ll explore whether this popular affiliate network is the right fit for your business.
From tracking referrals and paying commissions to recruiting quality partners, running a successful program requires the right tools. With global affiliate marketing spending projected to reach $15.7 billion by 2024—and with over 80% of brands using affiliate programs—choosing the best platform is more important than ever.
The Amazon Affiliate marketing platforms generally fall into two categories: traditional networks like ShareASale, and CJ Affiliate, or newer SaaS solutions for in-house programs such as AlgoRift, Impact, and Post Affiliate Pro.
Among these, AlgoRift has emerged as a strong alternative for businesses looking for a more advanced, flexible solution. But before diving into why AlgoRift is the best ShareASale alternative, let’s take a closer look at ShareASale—its features, pros, and cons, and what users have to say.
ShareASale Review: Features, Costs, Reviews
ShareASale is an affiliate marketing network founded in 2000 that connects merchants (advertisers) with affiliates (publishers). Now part of the Awin network, ShareASale boasts a user base of over 4,500 merchants and connects retailers to 225,000+ affiliate partners worldwide.
In this ShareASale review, we’ll cover its features, pricing, and what experts and users report about their experiences.
Note: ShareASale will close down by the end of 2025.
Main Features of ShareASale
ShareASale offers a range of features to help merchants manage an affiliate program for Amazon or other e-commerce platforms:
- Large Affiliate Network: Access to a vast marketplace of affiliates across diverse niches. (ShareASale is among the largest U.S. networks, primarily serving small to mid-sized merchants.)
- Affiliate Recruitment Tools: A built-in search and invitation system to find and recruit affiliates from the network. The network includes top-ranked programs and category filters to identify relevant partners.
- Tracking & Analytics: Reliable tracking of affiliate referrals with near real-time reporting. You can generate unique tracking links for affiliates and monitor clicks, conversions, and sales in one dashboard. ShareASale provides various reports for analyzing campaign performance, helping merchants see total traffic, sales, and more.
- Commission Management: Flexible commission structures and automated calculation of payouts. Merchants can define per-sale or per-lead commission rates, bonuses, and performance incentives. The platform handles the tracking of commissions owed and processes payouts to affiliates on a set schedule.
- Affiliate Link Generation & Tools: Easy creation of affiliate links and banners. ShareASale allows merchants to upload creative assets (banner ads, text links, data feeds), which affiliates can use to promote products. It also supports coupon codes and cookieless tracking for coupon-based attributions.
- Compliance & Fraud Protection: ShareASale also includes built-in fraud detection and compliance checks. For example, it offers a PPC compliance tool to monitor affiliates’ search keyword usage and has measures to prevent duplicate or invalid transactions. This helps maintain quality and trust in the program.
- Reporting Dashboard: Merchants and affiliates each get a dashboard with key metrics. A recent interface update aimed to improve usability, providing an activity feed of real-time updates and a streamlined merchant search experience for affiliates. Affiliates can easily discover new programs, and merchants can track program performance at a glance.)
ShareASale Pricing
One of the biggest considerations in this ShareASale review is the cost. Unlike many SaaS tools with monthly plans, ShareASale (now Awin) uses a fixed-fee structure for merchants. The platform provides three plans:
- Awin Access: $59/month + tracking fee, ideal for small businesses with a low-cost, self-managed program.
- Awin Accelerate: Custom pricing, additional automation, reporting, and flexible commission tools.
- Awin Advanced: Custom pricing and custom solutions with unlimited reporting, commission groups, and advanced features for large-scale programs.
Is ShareASale Pricing Worth It?
In a nutshell, ShareASale’s pricing requires a significant upfront investment and ongoing fees. This paid subscription model (entry fee + monthly fee + commission cut) can add up, especially as your program grows and more sales occur.
Who Is ShareASale Best For
Before we tap into ShareASale reviews and customer feedback, let’s see if the platform matches your goals.
Generally, ShareASale can be a good choice for small to mid-sized online retailers who want to launch an affiliate program quickly by plugging into an existing network. So, if you are a new or growing e-commerce business with some budget to invest, ShareASale can provide a turn-key affiliate management solution.
ShareASale will also fit you if you’re in one of the following groups:
- Small E-commerce Shops,
- Merchants Seeking Niche Affiliates,
- Advertisers in the U.S.,
- Affiliate Program First-Timers.
However, ShareASale may not be the best choice for:
- Very large brands,
- Businesses requiring extensive customization,
- Budget-conscious businesses,
- Companies that plan to scale quickly.
ShareASale Review: What Experts & Users Say
In this part of our ShareASale review, we’ll dive into how the platform performs in practice. We looked at expert assessments and user reviews to identify common praise and pain points:
On the positive side, ShareASale is praised for its large network and reliability. It’s a long-established platform, and some experts consider it a fair and transparent option in affiliate marketing.
Many affiliate marketers appreciate the wide range of niche programs available – “in total, almost 4,500 merchants” means there’s something for everyone.
What Are ShareASale Negative Reviews
There are many recurring complaints among ShareASale reviews on different platforms. ShareASale holds a 1.8 out of 5 stars rating on SiteJabber, based on 84 reviews. Users usually complain about high costs, low affiliate quality, poor support, and an aging platform. For example, this user is not only dissatisfied with their poor customer support but also complains about fake sales.
On Trustpilot, ShareASale has received only 1.3 stars from 83 reviews, indicating most of the users are unhappy with it. Users commonly complain about ShareASale’s poor customer support, with reports of unresponsive service and difficulties in resolving issues.
Additionally, there are concerns about fraudulent activities, such as fake sales and unauthorized commissions, indicating inadequate fraud prevention measures. Users also mention a lack of transparency in policies and fees, leading to unexpected charges.
The same goes for forums like Reddit. In this Reddit comment, the user expresses dissatisfaction about ShareASales’s high upfront and recurring costs. They say A $550 network fee is required to join, followed by a $35/month fee, even if no sales are made.
Poor affiliate recruiting tools, low-quality affiliates, and no refund policy are other complaints users have made.
On the affiliate side, there are even reports of accounts being suspended without clear explanation (often due to perceived Terms of Service violations).
One YouTuber-affiliate shared that their account was suspended right before reaching payout, with no warning or detailed reason given. It was later reinstated, but only after the user complained publicly. Such incidents raise concerns about transparency and trust for those using the platform.
Advantages & Disadvantages of ShareASale
Now that we’ve fully examined user reviews, let’s recap ShareASales’ pros and cons:
Pros of ShareASale
- Large Affiliate Network: Thousands of affiliates are active on ShareASale, giving merchants broad exposure and a chance to recruit partners in many niches.
- Easy Initial Setup: Setting up a program is relatively straightforward on ShareASale. In fact, the platform provides a step-by-step onboarding for merchants, and many processes (link tracking, payment processing) are handled for you.
- Reliable Tracking & Payouts: ShareASale has been in business for over two decades, and its tracking technology is proven.
- Flexible Commission Options: Merchants can configure various commission structures – per sale, per lead, tiered commissions, performance bonuses, etc.
- Diverse Affiliate Verticals: The network includes content bloggers, review sites, coupon/deal sites, email marketers, and more. For affiliates, it’s a one-stop shop to find programs; for merchants, it means you can potentially tap into multiple promotion channels (SEO blogs, YouTube, coupon aggregators, loyalty sites, etc.) via one platform.
Cons of ShareASale
- High Upfront Fees for Merchants: ShareASale’s startup cost can be prohibitive.
- Ongoing Commission Cuts & Monthly Fees: With ShareASale, you lose 20% of each commission to the network and pay $35 every month.
- Poor Customer Support: Many users say ShareASale’s support is unresponsive.
- Low-Quality Affiliates (Coupon & Spam): ShareASale’s network is crowded with coupon sites and low-value affiliates.
- Outdated Interface: ShareASale’s interface can feel clunky and old-school.
- Limited Reporting & Analytics: ShareASale offers basic reports but lacks advanced analytics or AI-driven insights.
- Difficult Affiliate Recruitment: Finding the right affiliates on ShareASale can be like finding a needle in a haystack, as noted by users.
- Scaling Challenges: Many merchants struggle to scale their affiliate program on ShareASale – either due to cost (fees growing with sales) or platform limitations (lack of advanced features for larger programs).
- Mostly U.S.-Centric: ShareASale’s focus on U.S. merchants/affiliates means limited reach in other markets.
- Strict/Arbitrary Policies: With ShareASale, affiliates risk suspension, and merchants have to adhere to network rules that may sometimes feel rigid.
In summary, ShareASale comes with significant downsides that have driven users to seek better solutions. Fortunately, AlgoRift offers answers to each of these pain points – from pricing to support to technology. We’ll now take a closer look at why AlgoRift stands out as the best ShareASale alternative.
Best ShareASale Alternative: AlgoRift
When considering a ShareASale alternative, AlgoRift clearly positions itself as a superior option by directly addressing the shortcomings of traditional affiliate networks.
AlgorRift is a modern affiliate marketing platform (launched in late 2024) that combines an affiliate network’s reach with the flexibility of a SaaS tool.
AlgoRift Vs. ShareASale
Here’s how AlgoRift solves the problems we saw in this ShareASale review:
1. No Hefty Upfront Cost
Unlike ShareASale, AlgoRift offers a generous free tier to get started. You can launch your affiliate program on AlgoRift at $0/month, which removes the barrier of large setup fees.
Even the paid plans are straightforward and performance-based. For example, the Professional plan is $125/month with a small 5% commission share, and the top-tier Ultimate plan is $625/month with only a 3.5% commission share.
This transparent pricing means no surprise fees or 20% cuts eating into every sale. In essence, AlgoRift’s cost structure is far more favorable: you keep more revenue and only pay as you scale (and if you choose to upgrade for advanced features).
For small businesses, this is a game-changer compared to ShareASale’s fixed fees and ongoing tolls.
2. User-Friendly, AI-Powered Platform
As a new platform, AlgoRift was built with modern technology and design. It features a clean, intuitive interface that is easy to navigate, even for newcomers.
Beyond looks, AlgoRift integrates AI-driven analytics and automation into the experience. The AI can automatically analyze your affiliate performance, highlight trends, and even suggest optimizations. This kind of intelligence is lacking in ShareASale.
3. Better Affiliate Matching and Recruitment
It prioritizes quality over quantity, curates high-intent affiliates, and uses algorithms for automatic matching. One-click onboarding and Amazon integration streamline campaign setup, addressing ShareASale’s inefficiencies.
4. Faster & Flexible Payouts
Faster, flexible affiliate payouts are other advantages that AlgoRift offers. It contrasts with ShareASale’s delayed monthly payments. Merchants can customize payout schedules and methods, ensuring smoother transactions and happier affiliates.
5. Integration with Amazon and E-commerce
Moreover, AlgorRift integrates deeply with Amazon Attribution, allowing sellers to track affiliate-driven sales on Amazon, Shopify, WooCommerce, and more—something ShareASale lacks. In fact, with multi-channel support and easy integration, AlgoRift is a more flexible, all-in-one solution for e-commerce sellers.
6. Customization & Control
AlgorRift also offers full control over commissions (10-40%), branding, and affiliate approvals, allowing for customized workflows and creative commission structures. Unlike ShareASale’s rigid setup, AlgoRift adapts to your business, not the other way around.
7. Responsive Support and Community
Here’s another benefit of AlgoRift over ShareASale: AlgoRift offers 24/7 responsive support, actively improves based on user feedback, and prioritizes customer success—unlike ShareASale’s slow, unhelpful support. It’s actually a fast-evolving platform invested in user growth.
To sum up, AlgoRift is not just another affiliate program for creators and brands – it’s a comprehensive affiliate management platform that resolves the pain points merchants have had with networks like ShareASale.
By choosing AlgoRift, businesses can run affiliate programs with lower costs, better partners, and more control, ultimately leading to higher ROI and growth.
Take control of your Amazon affiliate program with AlgoRift—the all-in-one platform for tracking sales, managing payouts, and maximizing your revenue.
If you want to grow your sales on Amazon, you have to learn everything from best practices to top strategies. This full tutorial is all you need:
More Alternatives to ShareASale
While AlgoRift is the #1 alternative to ShareASale, the following platforms can also meet your needs:
Refersion: A software solution ideal for businesses that want to run their own affiliate program. Refersion offers a user-friendly interface, easy integration with Shopify, and no need to join an affiliate network.
Archer Affiliates: While ShareASale offers a vast network and variety of offers, Archer Affiliates focuses on providing a more hands-on approach and higher flexibility, which may benefit smaller merchants or affiliates seeking niche opportunities. Its more selective, smaller-scale structure could offer better customer service and potentially higher commissions for specialized niches.
If you want to succeed in affiliate marketing, make sure to watch this video on global affiliate marketing trends in 2025:
FAQs on ShareASale Review
Now, it’s time to answer a few FAQs about ShareASale and its alternatives:
1. What is ShareASale, and How Does It Work?
ShareASale is an affiliate marketing network that connects merchants with affiliate marketers, allowing sellers to list their programs and affiliates to promote offers for commissions. It provides tracking technology and a marketplace, charging merchants fees (setup, monthly, and a percentage of sales). Affiliates join for free and earn commissions when referrals convert.
2. What Are Some of the Good ShareASale Alternatives?
Popular ShareASale alternatives include CJ Affiliate, ClickBank, Impact.com, and Rakuten Advertising (large networks), as well as Post Affiliate Pro, AffiliateWP, and AlgoRift (affiliate program software).
AlgoRift stands out by addressing ShareASale’s issues like high fees, better UI, and quality affiliates, offering flexibility and innovation for growing businesses. When choosing an alternative, consider your business size, budget, and needs.
3. How Does AlgoRift Compare to ShareASale?
AlgoRift is a superior alternative to ShareASale with lower costs, a modern AI-driven platform, curated high-quality affiliates, better e-commerce integrations, customizable features, and no transaction fees in its free tier. It offers more flexibility and value for merchants compared to ShareASale’s higher fees and outdated interface.
4. Is Affiliate Marketing Software Better Than an Affiliate Network?
Choosing between affiliate networks (like ShareASale) and affiliate software (like AlgoRift) depends on your needs. Generally, networks offer quick access to affiliates but come with higher fees and less control.
On the other side, software gives more control, customization, and lower costs, but requires managing affiliates. Newer platforms like AlgoRift blend both options, offering curated affiliates with the control of software, making them a great choice for long-term growth.
ShareASale Review Wrap-up
In this ShareASale review, we’ve seen that ShareASale offers broad reach but has drawbacks like high costs, an outdated interface, and quality control issues. While it can be a decent starting point for affiliate programs, newer platforms like Algorift offer a better alternative.
AlgoRift provides a more affordable, user-friendly, and feature-rich platform with no hefty fees, high-quality affiliates, AI-powered analytics, and flexible management options.
In short, for 2025, AlgoRift stands out as the next-generation solution for businesses looking to scale their affiliate efforts without the common frustrations of legacy networks like ShareASale.
