Learn Shopify The 8 Best Shopify Affiliate App to Boost Sales in 2026

The 8 Best Shopify Affiliate App to Boost Sales in 2026

GemPages Team
Updated:
5 minutes read
Shopify Affiliate App

Affiliate marketing continues to be one of the most reliable ways for Shopify stores to increase traffic, boost sales, and reach new audiences without upfront ad costs. That’s why choosing the right Shopify affiliate app can make a major difference in how well your program performs in 2026. With dozens of tools available, each offering different tracking methods, payout rules, and automation features, finding the best option for your brand can feel overwhelming.

This guide breaks everything down for you. We’ll walk through whether affiliate apps are worth it, how to choose one, and the top eight tools Shopify merchants trust most. You’ll also learn the essential steps to launch your own affiliate program and create high-converting signup pages using GemPages.

Is Shopify Affiliate Apps Worth It?

For most Shopify merchants, affiliate apps are absolutely worth the investment because they help generate sales through creators, influencers, and loyal customers without requiring upfront ad spend. Instead of paying for clicks or impressions like you would with traditional advertising, you only reward affiliates when they successfully bring in revenue. This makes affiliate marketing one of the lowest-risk and highest-ROI channels for growing an online store.

A good Shopify affiliate app also removes the manual work that usually comes with managing partnerships. It automates referral tracking, coupon attribution, commission payouts, and creator onboarding, allowing even small teams to run a scalable program. As your store expands, these tools help you work with more affiliates, organize campaigns, and monitor performance from one dashboard.

Many merchants also use affiliate apps to tap into UGC, creator content, and niche communities that are difficult to reach through ads alone. Since creators promote products to audiences that already trust them, the traffic they drive is often more engaged and more likely to convert.

In short, if your brand wants a cost-effective way to reach new customers and build ongoing partnerships, a Shopify affiliate app remains one of the smartest tools to add to your growth strategy in 2026.

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How to Choose the Best Shopify Affiliate App for Your Brand

Choosing the right Shopify affiliate app depends on your goals, budget, and the type of creators you want to work with. While most apps offer basic referral tracking, the best ones provide features that help you scale, automate your workflow, and improve conversion results. Here are the key factors to evaluate before making your decision:

Easy Setup and Creator-Friendly Workflow

A great affiliate app should make onboarding simple for both merchants and creators. Look for apps with quick setup, customizable signup forms, and automatic affiliate approval flows. This ensures new partners can start promoting your products immediately.

Reliable Tracking and Fraud Prevention

Tracking should be accurate across links, discount codes, emails, and social media channels. Some apps also include fraud detection tools to identify suspicious orders or repeated coupon misuse, an important safeguard for maintaining healthy margins.

Flexible Commission Structures

Every brand rewards affiliates differently. Choose an app that lets you set flat commissions, tiered incentives, special bonuses, or product-specific rates. Flexibility helps you tailor rewards to different partner types, from influencers to ambassadors.

Multi-Channel Support

Creators promote products everywhere, not just through websites. The best apps track conversions from Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, email newsletters, and private community channels. This gives you a full view of where your highest-converting traffic comes from.

Seamless Shopify Integration

A strong integration ensures accurate order tracking and smooth commission payouts. Look for apps that sync instantly with your Shopify dashboard and support apps like GemPages Landing Page Builder for Shopify so you can build dedicated affiliate signup and promo pages without coding.

Performance Analytics

Data helps you refine your strategy. Choose a Shopify affiliate app that offers clear insights such as top-performing affiliates, best-selling products, conversion rates, and revenue generated from campaigns. These metrics make it easier to optimize future promotions.

Pricing and Scalability

Affiliate tools range from free plans for beginners to enterprise packages. Consider how many affiliates you plan to work with now and in the future. It’s often worth starting with a plan that grows with your business rather than switching apps later.

By evaluating these elements, you’ll be able to choose a Shopify affiliate app that aligns with your brand’s goals, supports long-term growth, and gives your creators everything they need to promote your store effectively.

Learn more: How to Sell Affiliate Products On Shopify — Apps & Pro Tips [2025]

8 Best Shopify Affiliate App to Try in 2026

With so many affiliate tools available in the Shopify App Store, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. To make your decision easier, we reviewed the most reliable and widely used solutions based on real merchant feedback, feature depth, ease of use, tracking accuracy, and pricing. 

Whether you’re running a small startup or scaling a fast-growing brand, the apps below offer everything you need to manage affiliates, track referrals, and boost revenue in 2026.

Here’s a closer look at the top eight Shopify affiliate apps worth considering this year.

#1 UpPromote Affiliate & Referral

UpPromote Affiliate Referral

UpPromote is one of the most widely used Shopify affiliate apps, trusted by thousands of brands for its powerful tracking system and customizable referral programs. It automates the entire process of managing affiliates, including fraud detection, discount link creation, branded signup pages, and real-time performance reports. For Shopify stores that want a scalable and reliable affiliate solution, UpPromote remains a top choice heading into 2026.

Key Features

  • Create personalized affiliate programs with flexible commission rules

  • Track referrals via affiliate links, coupons, and auto-apply discounts

  • Built-in fraud protection using IP tracking, blocklists, and activity monitoring

  • Branded affiliate portals and customizable signup pages

  • Automated workflows: auto-approval, auto-payment (PayPal), automated emails

  • Marketplace listing to help merchants recruit new affiliates

  • Customer referral tools and MLM-style multi-tier options

  • Analytics dashboard with detailed performance insights

Best For

UpPromote is best for Shopify merchants of all sizes who want an all-in-one affiliate platform with advanced automations, strong fraud prevention, and flexible commission settings. It suits both beginners and enterprise-level brands.

Pricing

UpPromote offers multiple plans, including a free tier:

  • Free Plan – Free to install; unlimited affiliates; 200 referral approvals/month

  • Growth Plan – $29.99/month – Multiple programs, marketplace listing, store credit rewards

  • Professional Plan – $89.99/month – Anti-leak discount, PayPal auto-payments, tiered commissions

  • Enterprise Plan – $199.99/month – Unlimited referral orders, multi-store support, priority assistance

Each paid plan includes a 14-day free trial, and all charges are billed every 30 days.

#2 Affiliatly Affiliate Marketing

Affiliatly Affiliate Marketing

Affiliatly is a simple yet flexible Shopify affiliate app designed for merchants who want full control over their referral program without dealing with complex setups. It offers multiple tracking methods, customizable commission structures, and a straightforward interface that makes it easy to manage affiliates even if you’re new to performance marketing. With real-time reporting and no coding required, Affiliatly is a reliable pick for brands seeking lightweight, efficient affiliate management.

Key Features

  • Seamless Shopify integration with no technical setup needed

  • Multiple tracking options: link, QR code, coupon, email, SKU, and customer/order tags

  • Custom commission structures per product or per affiliate

  • Post-checkout invitations to help recruit new affiliates from your customer base

  • In-app analytics dashboard for tracking clicks, sales, and commissions

  • Fully customizable affiliate portal, signup form, and email templates

  • Real-time performance monitoring and 3rd-party tracking support

Best For

Affiliatly is best for small to mid-sized Shopify merchants who want a straightforward, customizable, and cost-effective affiliate solution. It’s especially ideal for stores that don’t need advanced automation but value flexibility and full visibility into affiliate performance.

Pricing

Affiliatly uses a clear, tiered pricing structure with no commission fees. All plans include all features, with limits based on the number of active affiliates.

  • Starter – $16/month: Up to 50 active affiliates

  • Advanced – $24/month: Up to 200 active affiliates

  • Pro 1000 – $59/month: Up to 1000 active affiliates

  • Pro Unlimited – $129/month: Unlimited active affiliates

All plans come with a generous 90-day free trial, giving merchants plenty of time to test the platform.

#3 Snowball: Affiliate Marketing

Snowball: Affiliate Marketing

Snowball (formerly Social Snowball) is a high-performance affiliate and influencer marketing platform built specifically for fast-growing eCommerce stores. The app automates affiliate creation, attribution, and payouts, turning customers into promoters the moment they place an order. Its strength lies in automation and creator-focused features, making it ideal for brands heavily investing in influencer campaigns and TikTok-driven growth. Snowball also includes advanced fraud prevention tools, bulk payouts, and accurate tracking across multiple channels.

Key Features

  • Automatically turn new customers into affiliates at checkout

  • Bulk-send instant cash or store credit payouts in just a few clicks

  • Accurate attribution for influencer campaigns via safelinks and coupon protection

  • Eliminates coupon abuse and affiliate code leaks

  • Supports multiple program types: customer referrals, influencers, ambassadors

  • Save mentions and tags from social media creators

  • Manage influencers directly inside the dashboard

  • Create up to 4 different affiliate programs (on Snow Day plan)

Best For

Snowball is best for medium to large Shopify stores focused on rapid growth through influencer marketing, customer referral automation, and multi-channel attribution. It’s particularly strong for brands using TikTok, Instagram, or creator partnerships as core acquisition channels.

Pricing

Snowball offers two premium plans:

  • Snow Day – $249/month + 3% revenue generated by Snowball: Unlimited affiliates and sales, influencer management, customer referrals, product gifting, bulk payouts, up to 4 programs.

  • Blizzard – Starting at $699/month (custom pricing) Includes everything in Snow Day, plus: Social listening, TikTok Shop integration, unlimited programs, no commission fees, Instagram DMs.

Both plans are billed every 30 days.

#4 Automizely Referral & Affiliate

Automizely Referral Affiliate

AfterShip Referral & Affiliate is a free and user-friendly solution designed to help Shopify merchants grow through word-of-mouth marketing. The app turns your existing customers into brand advocates by rewarding them for every successful referral they bring in. With customizable reward programs, automated invite flows, and easy collaboration tools for influencers, AfterShip makes launching a referral or affiliate program simple, even if you’re just starting out.

Key Features

  • Build customizable referral and affiliate rewards programs

  • Motivate existing customers to refer friends, family, and followers

  • Automated referral invites and share links

  • Integrates seamlessly with Shopify and works with the latest themes

  • Launch influencer campaigns and pay commissions on sales they drive

  • Track referral performance and manage rewards from a single dashboard

  • No coding required, making setup quick and beginner-friendly

Best For

AfterShip Referral & Affiliate is best for new and small Shopify stores looking to start with a simple, free referral system before moving into advanced affiliate management. It’s ideal for brands that want to encourage customer advocacy without the complexity of multi-tier programs or high subscription costs.

Pricing

Free: All core referral features included with no monthly fee.

#5 Refersion: Affiliate Marketing

Refersion: Affiliate Marketing

Refersion is a robust affiliate marketing platform trusted by established Shopify brands that need advanced tracking, partner attribution, and large-scale program management. Designed to support creators, influencers, and customer referrals all in one place, Refersion makes it easy to launch, automate, and grow a high-performing affiliate program. With fast onboarding, accurate first-party tracking, and flexible commission rules, it’s a strong choice for merchants who want enterprise-level reliability.

Key Features

  • Accurate first-party data tracking with dedicated tracking domain (no reliance on cookies)

  • Manage all partner types: affiliates, influencers, ambassadors, and referrals

  • Bulk or automated payouts, including PayPal

  • Flexible commission rules by product, subscription type, or customer type

  • Unlimited affiliates, clicks, and conversions across all tiers

  • 30+ integrations with email, marketing, and analytics tools

  • Multi-store management for larger Shopify brands

  • Real-time dashboards to analyze partner performance

Best For

Refersion is best for medium to large Shopify stores that want enterprise-level attribution, advanced commission logic, and the ability to scale to thousands of affiliates. It’s ideal for brands that work heavily with influencers or need detailed first-party tracking for accurate reporting.

Pricing

Refersion offers three pricing tiers, each including unlimited affiliates and conversions:

  • Launch – $39/month + 3% of affiliate-generated sales: First-party tracking, one-click payouts, SKU and subscription commissions.

  • Growth – $129/month + 2% of affiliate-generated sales: Everything in Launch, plus SKU/email-level tracking, multi-currency support, 30+ integrations, and live chat support.

  • Scale – $599/month + 1% of affiliate-generated sales: Free conversions (no transaction fees), multi-store management, API & webhooks access, advanced onboarding, and returning-customer commission options.

#6 Referral Candy & Affiliate

Referral Candy Affiliate

Referral Candy is one of the most popular Shopify apps for referral and affiliate marketing, built to help brands drive more sales at a lower customer acquisition cost (CAC). Instead of relying on expensive paid ads, Referral Candy turns existing customers, creators, and ambassadors into powerful advocates who promote your brand in exchange for rewards. With automated workflows, customizable rewards, and deep integrations with Shopify and major marketing tools, it’s a strong choice for merchants who want a proven system that just works.

Key Features

  • Automatically launch referral and affiliate campaigns with customizable rewards

  • Turn happy customers into advocates with shareable referral links

  • Track affiliate and ambassador performance from a unified dashboard

  • Connect seamlessly with Klaviyo, ReCharge, and 20+ other apps

  • Supports cash rewards, coupons, store credit, and custom incentives

  • Fraud protection and referral validation tools

  • Designed to reduce CAC compared to Meta and Google Ads

  • Built directly into the Shopify admin for easier setup

Best For

Referral Candy is best for Shopify stores of any size that want a simple but powerful way to grow through customer advocacy and influencer referrals. It’s especially valuable for brands with strong customer loyalty or subscription-based products.

Pricing

Referral Candy offers four plans with different success fee structures:

  • Basic – $29/month + 10.5% success fee: Referral marketing essentials, coupons, store credit, and cash rewards.

  • Grow – $79/month + 3.5% success fee: Unlimited programs, creator onboarding, and integrations with advanced apps.

  • Scale – $249/month + 1.5% success fee: API integration, deeper customization, lower success fee.

  • Enterprise – $799/month + 0.25% success fee: Best for high-volume brands with technical needs, includes add-on features.

#7 BixGrow: Affiliate Marketing

BixGrow: Affiliate Marketing

BixGrow Affiliate Marketing is a highly rated 2-in-1 affiliate and referral solution designed to help Shopify merchants grow through influencers, ambassadors, and customer advocates. With flexible tracking methods, customizable commissions, and automated workflows, BixGrow gives you everything needed to manage referral campaigns at scale. Its strong performance, generous free plan, and built-in MLM and marketplace features make it one of the most accessible and powerful affiliate apps for Shopify in 2026.

Key Features

  • Multiple tracking methods: affiliate links, coupons, and linked emails

  • Auto-generated affiliate links and coupons for easy onboarding

  • Convert existing customers into brand advocates via referral programs

  • Shopify-integrated dashboard accessible directly from the Shopify toolbar

  • Multi-level Marketing (MLM) and affiliate marketplace tools

  • Flexible commissions: lifetime, product-level, or advanced rules

  • Transparent payouts via PayPal, store credit, and other payment methods

  • Email automation and bulk coupon creation

  • Dynamic coupon capabilities on higher plans

Best For

BixGrow is best for small to medium-sized Shopify merchants that want a feature-rich affiliate system without high monthly costs. It’s ideal for stores wanting to combine customer referrals with influencer-driven campaigns, and for brands interested in MLM-style structures or marketplace recruitment.

Pricing

BixGrow offers one of the most competitive pricing structures among Shopify affiliate apps:

  • Starter – Free: Up to 50 orders per month, 30 affiliates, auto-generated coupons, email automation, affiliate gifts, marketplace listing.

  • Scale – $14.99/month: Unlimited affiliates, customizable links, lifetime/product commissions, advanced rules, royalty tracking, refer-a-friend program.

  • Pro – $24.99/month: Multi-level marketing, commission tiers & bonuses, PayPal integration, store credit payouts, dynamic coupons, custom domain, bulk coupon creation.

#8 Jaka Affiliate Marketing

Jaka Affiliate Marketing

Jaka Affiliate Marketing is an intuitive and affordable solution that helps Shopify merchants set up and manage affiliate and referral campaigns without needing technical skills. The app allows you to create customizable commission structures, invite influencers or customers as affiliates, and automate tracking and payouts. Its clean interface and fully customizable affiliate portal make it easy for brands to launch high-performing campaigns and empower advocates to promote their products effectively.

Key Features

  • Build affiliate campaigns with flexible commissions and discount incentives

  • Automatically generate unique affiliate links and coupons

  • Clear, customizable affiliate portal for easy onboarding

  • Manage influencers and customers as referral partners

  • Automated referral tracking, order attribution, and payout management

  • Marketplace recruitment tools to find new affiliates

  • Advanced analytics and insights for performance monitoring

  • Multi-level marketing and auto-tier functionality available on higher plans

  • No coding or technical setup required

Best For

Jaka Affiliate Marketing is best for small to medium Shopify brands seeking a simple, budget-friendly affiliate system with strong customization. It’s ideal for merchants who want to run both referral and influencer-driven programs without the complexity of enterprise tools.

Pricing

Jaka offers a generous free plan and an accessible upgrade:

  • Starter – Free: Up to 2 campaigns, 200 referral orders/month, branding portal, marketplace access, automated emails, advanced analytics, commission rules, and referral program tools.

  • Growth – $29/month: Includes everything in Starter, plus unlimited campaigns, multi-level marketing, auto-tiers, performance bonuses, lifetime commission, custom portal domain, and custom affiliate links.

How to Set Up an Affiliate Program on Shopify (Beginner-Friendly Guide)

Setting up an affiliate program on Shopify doesn’t require a complex tech stack or a full marketing team. With the right tools and a clear workflow, any merchant can build a system that attracts creators, rewards loyal customers, and generates consistent sales. Below is a step-by-step guide designed for beginners, with practical tips used by high-performing Shopify brands.

Step 1: Install a Shopify Affiliate App

Your affiliate app becomes the “engine” of your program, so choose one that matches your brand’s needs—whether that’s influencer tracking, customer referrals, coupon attribution, or multi-tier commissions.

Popular choices include UpPromote, BixGrow, Refersion, or Referral Candy. After installing the app:

  • Connect it to your Shopify store.

  • Enable link and coupon tracking.

  • Set up your affiliate portal so applicants can sign up and access their dashboard.

Most apps will guide you through a quick onboarding process, so you can start accepting affiliates within minutes.

Step 2: Create Commission & Payout Rules

Your commission structure is the main incentive that motivates affiliates to promote your brand. Instead of choosing a random percentage, consider:

  • Your product margins

  • Average order value (AOV)

  • Competitor benchmarks

  • The type of partners you want to attract (influencers expect more than customers)

You can set up:

  • Percentage-based commissions (most popular)

  • Fixed payouts for specific products

  • Higher tiers for top performers

  • Lifetime commissions for subscriptions

  • Bonus rewards during campaigns (holidays, launches, etc.)

Next, choose your payout method: PayPal, store credit, bank transfer, or automated payouts (depending on your app). Clear, attractive rewards increase affiliate retention and long-term advocacy.

Learn more: Shopify Payments vs. Paypal: What's Best for You in 2026?

Step 3: Build Affiliate Signup Landing Page With GemPages

This is where most Shopify merchants fail.

A generic, unbranded affiliate signup page rarely converts because it doesn’t explain the value of joining your program. With GemPages, you can build a high-impact landing page that looks like a polished recruitment page from a top DTC brand.

Build Affiliate Signup Landing Page With GemPages

Your signup page should include:

  • A clear headline (“Join Our Affiliate Program & Earn Commission on Every Sale”)

  • A benefits checklist (commission %, exclusive perks, payouts, resources)

  • Social proof (testimonials, earnings screenshots, partner logos)

  • Requirements and expectations

  • A visually strong CTA button (“Apply Now” or “Become an Affiliate Today”)

  • The affiliate signup form from your app embedded directly into the page

Why use GemPages here?

Because you can fully control your branding, layout, messaging, and mobile experience, something default affiliate app pages can’t do. A well-built recruitment page can double or even triple your affiliate applications compared to a plain default form.

Learn more: Explore The Best Affiliate Marketing Landing Page Examples and Tools to Maximize Profit

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Step 4: Prepare Marketing Assets for Creators

Affiliates promote your brand faster when you remove friction.

To help them create content easily, prepare a shared resource folder containing:

  • Product photos (clean studio shots + lifestyle images)

  • Short videos or UGC clips

  • Brand tone guidelines

  • Approved hashtags and captions

  • Seasonal banners or launch graphics

  • Discount codes and tracking links

  • Demo product descriptions

The easier you make it for affiliates to produce content, the more often they will post—and the more sales they’ll generate. Many successful brands also send affiliates a welcome kit that includes:

  • Their unique referral link

  • A personalized coupon

  • Tips on how to earn more commission

  • Content ideas for TikTok, Reels, or blogs

Step 5: Track Performance and Optimize Conversions

Once your program launches, ongoing optimization is what separates profitable affiliate programs from inactive ones.

Monitor important metrics such as:

  • Click-through rate of affiliate links

  • Conversion rate of affiliate traffic

  • Top-performing affiliates

  • Discount code usage

  • Revenue per affiliate

  • Products that convert best

For deeper insights, many brands use:

  • The affiliate app’s built-in analytics

  • Shopify reports

  • GemPages to run landing page A/B tests with GemX: CRO A/b Testing

This part is crucial: If your product page or landing page doesn’t convert affiliate traffic, even the best creators can’t save the campaign.

By rebuilding your product page with GemPages, adding benefit-driven layouts, comparison tables, social proof blocks, testimonials, or urgency timers, you significantly increase the conversion rate of traffic your affiliates send.

Higher conversion rate = more sales → more commission → happy affiliates → more content → more revenue.

It becomes a powerful growth loop.

Conclusion

Affiliate marketing has become one of the most cost-effective and scalable ways for Shopify stores to grow in 2026. With the right Shopify affiliate app, you can turn customers, creators, and influencers into a reliable revenue channel while lowering your overall acquisition costs. The tools in this guide offer flexible commissions, automated payouts, strong tracking, and workflows designed for brands of all sizes.

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FAQ

What is the best Shopify affiliate app for beginners?
Apps like BixGrow and UpPromote are great for beginners because they offer free plans, simple onboarding, and easy to use dashboards. They include essential features such as link tracking, customizable commissions, and automated payouts without overwhelming new merchants.
Can I run both affiliate and referral programs on Shopify?
Yes. Many Shopify affiliate apps including BixGrow, Referral Candy, and AfterShip Referral allow you to run both affiliate programs (for creators) and referral programs (for customers) in one place. This helps you reach more audiences with one unified setup.
Do I need a paid plan to start an affiliate program?
No. Several apps offer free plans, where you can test referrals, track coupon usage, and onboard affiliates with basic features. As your program grows, upgrading to paid tiers unlocks automation, advanced tracking, and higher order limits.
How do I attract high quality affiliates or influencers?
Create a professional signup page with clear benefits, offer competitive commissions, and make the onboarding process simple. Building your page with GemPages allows you to highlight your brand story, showcase perks, and improve conversion rates for affiliate applications.
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