Affiliate and partner marketing
ShareASale - the practical guide.
ShareASale is a US-focused affiliate network owned by Awin, popular with SMB and DTC merchants thanks to its self-serve setup, transparent pricing and sizeable US publisher base. It's been running since 2000 and is one of the most common starting points for North American brands launching a first affiliate programme.
What ShareASale does
ShareASale is a US-focused affiliate network owned by Awin, popular with SMB and DTC merchants thanks to its self-serve setup, transparent pricing and sizeable US publisher base. It's been running since 2000 and is one of the most common starting points for North American brands launching a first affiliate programme.
Who it's for
SMB and DTC brands - especially in apparel, home, beauty, food and crafts - that want a self-serve US affiliate network without enterprise-level fees or sales cycles. A good fit when you have an established offer, decent margins and want to recruit content and coupon affiliates quickly.
Pricing, in rough terms
One-off network access fee (around USD 650), a transaction fee on top of commissions paid to affiliates (around 20%), and a low monthly minimum. Far more accessible than CJ or Rakuten for smaller brands. Awin Access is the equivalent self-serve tier in the UK/EU.
When ShareASale is the right fit
Right when you want a real US affiliate network without enterprise pricing and you're happy to manage day-to-day recruitment yourself. Wrong fit when you need global coverage across UK/EU/APAC publishers, or when partnerships beyond classic affiliates (B2B, influencer) matter - graduate to impact.com.
Watch-outs
Active management still matters - approve affiliates carefully, set exclusion rules and prune dormant partners. Coupon and cashback publishers can cannibalise; tier commissions accordingly. The UI shows its age but is functional. Plan to migrate to Awin or impact.com if you outgrow it.