10 Top PartnerStack Alternatives for SaaS Affiliate Marketing

When it comes to managing affiliate programs for SaaS companies, PartnerStack has built a reputation as one of the leading platforms.

However, even the best tools have their limitations.

Many SaaS marketers have expressed frustrations about PartnerStack’s complex setup and high costs, two common pain points highlighted in reviews on platforms like G2 and Capterra.

Users have found the initial configuration to be time-consuming, requiring technical know-how and extensive onboarding, which isn’t ideal for startups or companies with lean teams. Additionally, PartnerStack's high pricing, especially for early-stage businesses, can be prohibitive.

As your SaaS business scales, these limitations can become more pronounced, making it harder to manage affiliate-driven growth while keeping costs under control.

The good news is that the affiliate marketing technology landscape for SaaS is ever-evolving, and there are now several robust alternatives that provide simpler onboarding, cheaper and transparent pricing, and useful features designed to support the specific needs of B2B SaaS marketers.

In this guide, we’ll explore ten top alternatives to PartnerStack, highlighting how each tool provides a compelling option for SaaS companies like you to run your affiliate program more efficiently.

*A note on what tools were considered for this comparison

We focused only on platforms that offer the fundamental affiliate management features one would expect from a software like PartnerStack - such as program setup, receiving partner joining applications, affiliate link tracking and commission payouts. Additionally, all the tools we considered cater to SaaS companies, either exclusively or with a strong support for the subscription-based business model.

10 top PartnerStack alternatives for SaaS companies in 2024

It’s now time to check out each PartnerStack alternative, one by one. We’ll provide an overview of each platform, highlight their ratings, and, most importantly, focus on how these tools specifically improve upon PartnerStack’s limitations. These insights will help you identify the best fit for your SaaS affiliate marketing needs.

1. Reditus

Reditus is a feature-rich affiliate program management software built solely for B2B SaaS businesses. It enables you to launch, recruit partners, manage, and grow your affiliate programs in a cost-effective way.

Reditus vs PartnerStack: What makes Reditus a great PartnerStack alternative?

• Growth-focused pricing: Reditus provides clearly defined pricing plans, including a lucrative startup plan at $69/month which is great for SaaS startups just beginning with affiliate marketing, while PartnerStack’s pricing is geared more toward companies with established partner programs. This makes Reditus more appealing for early-stage SaaS companies needing to scale gradually.
• Simple marketplace access: Reditus offers an easy entry into its popular SaaS-only affiliate marketplace with packages starting at $139/month. In contrast, PartnerStack’s marketplace access is integrated into a broader ecosystem that may require more investment and management resources.
• Migration support: Reditus offers dedicated support for migrating from other platforms, ensuring that affiliates, referrals, and commissions are moved over smoothly. While PartnerStack supports migration, Reditus promotes a clearer and more guided process for SaaS companies switching tools.
• Simpler integration for SaaS: Reditus supports integrations with major SaaS payment platforms like Stripe and Paddle, which are widely used by subscription businesses, simplifying the affiliate tracking and payment processes. While PartnerStack also offers integrations, Reditus is specifically tailored to the needs of SaaS businesses, making the integration process quicker and more intuitive for this niche.

Ratings:

• G2 rating: 4.8/5 (48 ratings)
• Capterra rating: 4.7/5 (10 ratings)

2. Tapfiliate

Tapfiliate is an affiliate marketing platform tailored primarily for SaaS, e-commerce, and subscription services. It allows businesses to create, track, and optimize their affiliate, referral, and influencer marketing programs. Part of the Mitgo ecosystem, Tapfiliate benefits from the company's extensive expertise in online advertising, helping it serve over 3,000 clients.

Tapfiliate vs. PartnerStack: What makes Tapfiliate a strong PartnerStack alternative?

• Custom branding and white-label options: Tapfiliate allows businesses to fully customize their affiliate pages, referral links, and affiliate dashboards with white-label options, even in mid-tier plans enhancing the partner onboarding experience. While PartnerStack also offers customization, its advanced branding features are more geared toward enterprise clients and may not be as accessible for smaller businesses.
• More transparent and affordable pricing: Tapfiliate’s pricing is clear and starts at just $89/month, with no revenue-sharing fees. This is significantly more affordable for smaller businesses compared to PartnerStack, which reportedly starts at $500/month and includes additional fees on partner payouts.

Ratings:

• G2 rating: 3.3/5 (16 ratings)
• Capterra rating: 4.5/5 (65 ratings)

3. FirstPromoter

FirstPromoter is a well-established affiliate marketing platform, primarily catering to SaaS and subscription-based companies. It provides a comprehensive solution for managing affiliate, referral, and influencer programs. FirstPromoter focuses on simplicity, scalability, and customization, making it accessible for both small and large businesses.

FirstPromoter vs PartnerStack: What makes FirstPromoter a great PartnerStack alternative?

• Extensive branding and customization of affiliate dashboards: FirstPromoter provides in-depth customization of affiliate dashboards, allowing businesses to brand the dashboard with their logo, colors, custom CSS, and JavaScript, while PartnerStack offers more limited customization options. FirstPromoter also supports embedding affiliate dashboards into a custom domain for a seamless brand experience.
• Multiple tracking options (referral links, coupons): FirstPromoter enables companies to track sales via personalized referral links and coupon codes, giving affiliates flexibility in how they drive traffic to your products. It also allows affiliates to create and manage their own coupon codes. PartnerStack primarily focuses on referral links without the same level of coupon-based tracking flexibility.
• Affordable and transparent pricing structure: FirstPromoter offers highly accessible pricing plans starting at just $49 per month, making it significantly more affordable than PartnerStack.

Ratings:

• G2 rating: 4.4/5 (21 ratings)
• Capterra rating: 4.9/5 (7 ratings)

4. Rewardful

Rewardful is an affiliate marketing platform designed for SaaS and subscription-based businesses. Launched in 2017, Rewardful focuses on simplicity and affordability, serving over 2,600 SaaS clients. It offers an easy-to-use solution for managing affiliate and referral programs with quick integration via Stripe and Paddle.

Rewardful vs PartnerStack: What makes Rewardful a great PartnerStack alternative?

• Simplicity and ease of setup: Rewardful is known for its fast and easy setup, with an intuitive interface that requires only 15 minutes to integrate with Stripe or Paddle. This no-code option is a stark contrast to PartnerStack, which offers more complex configurations and may require technical support, making Rewardful ideal for small and medium-sized businesses with limited technical resources.
• Subscription-focused features: Rewardful excels at managing recurring commissions and handling subscription-specific events like upgrades, downgrades, cancellations, and free trials automatically. While PartnerStack supports various commission structures, Rewardful’s can feel a better fit for businesses with recurring billing models.
• Affordable pricing: Rewardful’s pricing starts at $49 per month, which is much more accessible compared to PartnerStack. The lower-cost plans, combined with a 0% transaction fee, make it especially appealing for smaller SaaS companies.

Ratings:

• G2 rating: 4.5/5 (19 ratings)
• Capterra rating: 5/5 (4 ratings)

5. Partnero

Partnero is a flexible and user-friendly partner relationship management platform designed for SaaS and e-commerce businesses. It focuses on helping users run customized affiliate, referral, and newsletter programs while offering a seamless partner experience. With a strong focus on automation and ease of use, Partnero is positioned as a robust solution for businesses looking for an affordable and straightforward platform to manage partnership programs effectively.

Partnero vs PartnerStack: What makes Partnero a great PartnerStack alternative?

• Free trial availability: Partnero provides a 30-day free trial, allowing businesses to test its features without commitment. PartnerStack does not offer a free trial, requiring a demo call and custom pricing discussions instead.
• Multiple affiliate program types: Partnero supports a variety of programs, including referral, affiliate, and newsletter campaigns, allowing businesses to diversify their partner program strategies easily. PartnerStack primarily focuses on affiliate and reseller programs, making Partnero a more versatile option.
• Automated payouts with fewer fees: Partnero supports automated payouts via PayPal and Wise without transaction fees, whereas PartnerStack includes a 3-15% fee on payouts, which can make costs less predictable for users.
• Partner-first approach: Partnero is designed with the experience of referral partners in mind, from onboarding to reward disbursement. Customization of the partner experience, including a branded portal and dynamic rewards, is a key feature.

Ratings:

• G2 rating: 3.6/5 (5 ratings)
• Capterra rating: 5/5 (1 rating)

6. LeadDyno

LeadDyno is an affiliate marketing platform designed for e-commerce and SaaS businesses, offering comprehensive tools for managing affiliate, ambassador, and influencer programs. Backed by SureSwift Capital, LeadDyno is trusted by over 1,700 brands and has tracked over 312 million referrals since 2014.

LeadDyno vs PartnerStack: What makes LeadDyno a great PartnerStack alternative?

• Multi-level marketing and referral programs: LeadDyno supports multi-level marketing (MLM) with up to 10 tiers of affiliate recruitment, making it a good fit for businesses looking to scale through network marketing. PartnerStack, while offering robust affiliate and referral management, does not include specific support for MLM structures.
• Automated payments in cryptocurrency: LeadDyno allows for automated payments in cryptocurrencies through Coinbase, a feature not available in PartnerStack.

Ratings:

• G2 rating: 4/5 (11 ratings)
• Capterra rating: 4.3/5 (127 ratings)

7. Affise

Affise is a comprehensive affiliate marketing platform designed to help businesses scale their partner marketing efforts. It offers a complete ecosystem with tools for performance tracking, affiliate marketing program management, and mobile attribution. With global reach, Affise supports multi-currency payments in over 60 currencies and across 214 countries, making it suitable for businesses looking to expand internationally. Founded in 2017, Affise aims to simplify affiliate marketing for brands, agencies, and publishers.

Affise vs PartnerStack: What makes Affise a great PartnerStack alternative?

• Migration support via CPAPI: Affise offers a dedicated migration tool, CPAPI, that automates the data transfer process from other tracking platforms, making it easy to switch.
• Mobile-first approach: Affise’s mobile attribution platform supports detailed mobile app performance tracking, multi-touch attribution, uninstall attribution, and in-app event tracking, making it ideal for businesses with mobile-focused marketing. PartnerStack is more geared towards SaaS and referral programs without this mobile-first focus.
• Transparent pricing: Affise provides clear pricing tiers with features tailored for different business sizes, starting at $89/month. In contrast, PartnerStack’s pricing is higher and customized making Affise a more accessible option for small to medium-sized businesses.

Ratings:

• G2 rating: 4.6/5 (80 ratings)
• Capterra rating: 4.6/5 (84 ratings)

8. impact.com

impact.com is a leading affiliate and partnership management platform designed to help businesses of all sizes manage and scale their partnership programs. Founded in 2008 by industry veterans, impact.com is trusted by over 3,500 brands, including notable SaaS companies like Canva, Shopify, and Semrush. It offers comprehensive tools for affiliate, influencer, and referral marketing, allowing businesses to efficiently manage partnerships across various channels.

impact.com vs PartnerStack: What makes impact.com a great PartnerStack alternative?

• Advanced automation and AI-driven partner discovery: impact.com offers AI-powered tools and an affiliate marketplace with over 120,000 vetted global partners, streamlining the process of discovering and recruiting high-quality partners. PartnerStack also offers a marketplace, but impact.com’s AI and search functionalities give it an edge for companies looking to scale globally.
• Customizable and flexible payouts: Impact.com allows businesses to design highly flexible payout structures, including dynamic payouts based on customer behavior, order size, or product category. PartnerStack provides flexible commission triggers, but impact.com’s ability to customize payouts at multiple levels, such as customer and order, offers greater flexibility.
• Dynamic contract automation: Allows businesses to create and automate custom partner contracts that can be electronically signed and enforced without legal reviews. PartnerStack offers contract management but doesn’t emphasize automation and flexibility at the same level.
• Influencer and mobile app partnerships: impact.com specializes in managing influencer and mobile app partnerships with advanced mobile attribution and influencer tracking, making it a better fit for companies looking to tap into these growing channels. PartnerStack doesn’t emphasize influencer or mobile app partnerships to the same degree.

Ratings:

• G2 rating: 4.6/5 (893 ratings)
• Capterra rating: 4.4/5 (21 ratings)

9. Tolt

Tolt is an affiliate marketing platform designed specifically for SaaS startups, offering a cost-effective, all-in-one solution to launch and manage affiliate programs. It provides features like branded affiliate portals, automated payouts through PayPal and Wise, and seamless integrations with Stripe, Paddle, and Chargebee. Tolt’s focus on simplicity, affordability, and customization makes it an appealing choice for early-stage SaaS companies looking to build and scale their affiliate marketing efforts without the complexity and high costs associated with larger platforms like PartnerStack.

Tolt vs PartnerStack: What makes Tolt a great PartnerStack alternative?

• Paddle and Chargebee integrations: Tolt offers out-of-the-box integrations with both Stripe and Paddle, as well as Chargebee, providing SaaS businesses with greater flexibility in managing payments. PartnerStack, by comparison, primarily supports Stripe and lacks native Paddle integration, which can limit payment options for certain businesses.
• Simpler setup for SaaS startups: Tolt focuses on simplicity, with a quick setup process that allows businesses to launch affiliate programs in under 15 minutes. It offers easy integration with popular SaaS billing platforms like Stripe and Paddle. PartnerStack, while powerful, may require more configuration and time to launch, particularly for smaller businesses.
• Transparent and lower pricing: Tolt’s pricing starts at just $29 per month, making it far more affordable than PartnerStack. Tolt charges based on results, offering a more accessible solution for startups, whereas PartnerStack is generally aimed at larger enterprises with bigger budgets.

Ratings:

• G2 rating: No rating available yet.
• Capterra rating: 5/5 (18 ratings)

10. Trackdesk

Trackdesk is an affiliate tracking platform designed for businesses of all sizes, offering a feature-rich, budget-friendly solution with a $0 initial investment for up to $1,000 in monthly revenue. The platform is designed to cater to SaaS, e-commerce, lead generation agencies, and affiliate networks. With a strong focus on user experience, Trackdesk is positioned as a highly affordable alternative to traditional affiliate platforms like PartnerStack, particularly for startups and growing businesses.

Trackdesk vs PartnerStack: What makes Trackdesk a great PartnerStack alternative?

• Bulk auto payouts with cryptocurrency options: Trackdesk allows businesses to process bulk payouts through PayPal, Wise, Tipalti, and even cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. PartnerStack supports payouts primarily through Stripe and PayPal, making Trackdesk a better option for businesses needing more diverse payment options.
• Free plan up to $1,000 monthly revenue: Trackdesk offers a free plan for businesses generating up to $1,000 in affiliate-driven revenue, making it an attractive option.
• Unlimited affiliates, clicks, and conversions: Unlike PartnerStack, which may limit certain features based on pricing tiers, Trackdesk offers unlimited affiliates, clicks, and conversions across all plans, allowing businesses to scale without worrying about hitting platform limits.

Ratings:

• G2 rating: 4.7/5 (66 ratings)
• Capterra rating: 4.9/5 (61 ratings)

Practical tips on how to pick the right affiliate program management software for your SaaS?

While we’ve covered many of the top affiliate marketing tools, each offering unique strengths compared to PartnerStack, choosing the right one for your business requires thoughtful analysis. It’s not just about features - it’s about finding a solution that aligns with your specific needs and growth stage. Here are some key factors to consider to help you make the best decision.

Define your affiliate program goals

Every SaaS company has unique objectives for their affiliate program, so it's essential to clearly define what success looks like for your business. Are you aiming to rapidly scale your affiliate network, recruit a large number of high-quality partners, or simplify the payment and tracking processes? Depending on your goals, you may need specific features such as an active partner recruitment network, advanced reporting and analytics, or automated payouts. Understanding your priorities will help you choose a platform that aligns with your growth strategy and delivers the tools necessary to achieve those objectives.

Assess your current pain points with PartnerStack

If you’re already a PartnerStack user and looking to switch to another affiliate management software, start by identifying the specific pain points you’re experiencing. Are you finding the setup process overly complicated or requiring too much technical expertise? Is the pricing too high for your business to sustain as you scale? Perhaps PartnerStack’s features don’t fully align with your needs, such as the lack of flexibility in commission structures or integrations with the tools you use.

By understanding exactly where PartnerStack is falling short for your business, you can focus on finding a platform that directly addresses those issues - whether that’s a tool with simpler onboarding, more transparent pricing, or better integration options.

Test the platform with a free trial or demo

Most affiliate management platforms offer free trials or demos, allowing you to test the tool before committing. Use this opportunity to see if the software meets your specific needs and if the user experience is as intuitive as promised.

Prioritize migration support and ongoing success

If you're transitioning from PartnerStack, selecting an affiliate management tool that offers comprehensive migration assistance and ongoing support is essential for a seamless switch. Migrating your affiliate program can be challenging, so it’s important to choose a platform that provides dedicated help with moving over your affiliates, commissions, and tracking data without any disruption.

Beyond the initial migration, ensure the platform offers strong, ongoing customer support, such as live chat, email, or phone support. Additionally, access to robust success resources - including tutorials, thorough documentation, and a supportive user community can make a huge difference. These resources will help your team quickly get up to speed, ensuring that your affiliate program thrives both during the transition and as your business grows.

Closing remarks: Try Reditus if you are a SaaS startup

If you’re looking to build or scale your affiliate program without the overwhelming complexity and high costs associated with platforms like PartnerStack, Reditus offers a tailored solution designed specifically for SaaS startups.

With its growth-friendly pricing, simple setup process, and features that cater to SaaS needs like seamless integrations with Stripe and Paddle, Reditus enables you to manage your affiliate program efficiently and grow your business faster.

The platform’s dedicated SaaS-only marketplace access also provides a powerful way to connect with relevant affiliates, helping you scale your program at a pace that fits your business.

Request a demo of Reditus today and see how easily you can launch or expand your affiliate program with arguably the best PartnerStack alternative.

Meet the author

Joran Hofman

Back in 2020 I was an affiliate for 80+ SaaS tools and I was generating an average of 30k in organic visits each month with my site. Due to the issues I experienced with the current affiliate management software tools, it never resulted in the passive income I was hoping for. Many clunky affiliate management tools lost me probably more than $20,000+ in affiliate revenue. So I decided to build my own software with a high focus on the affiliates, as in the end, they generate more money for SaaS companies.