Affiliate Marketing ReferrLy vs Simple Affiliatefor Shopify (2026)
Affiliate Marketing ReferrLy and Simple Affiliate are both highly rated Shopify apps aimed at enabling merchants to create and manage affiliate marketing programs. ReferrLy positions itself as an all-in-one tool focused on seamless affiliate onboarding and post-purchase customer recruitment, particularly emphasizing influencers and ambassadors. It directly encourages turning existing customers into affiliates through post-purchase pop-ups. Simple Affiliate, on the other hand, highlights its automated platform for managing influencer and referral marketing programs, emphasizing simplicity, ease of use and customer account management. Simple Affiliate appeals to merchants seeking a streamlined, automated solution with tax management capabilities. ReferrLy appears more suited for merchants focused on leveraging existing customers as affiliates and influencer marketing strategies.
At a Glance
Affiliate Marketing ReferrLy
786 reviews
Simple Affiliate
82 reviews
Detailed Overview
Affiliate Marketing ReferrLy
Affiliate program & Referral marketing tool to drive sales via ambassadors and influencers marketing
Key Features
- Seamless Affiliate Onboarding. Custom signup domain & form fields.
- Set Commission rules by affiliates, products, collections & achievements & more
- Automatically creates Referral links & Coupon Codes for affiliates
- Post Purchase Pop-Ups. Ask your customers to join as affiliates on order pages
- Track referral sales using both referral links and coupon codes.
Simple Affiliate
Drive Sales With an Automated Affiliate Platform to Manage Influencer & Referral Marketing Programs
Key Features
- New Customer Accounts: Register & sign in directly from your store
- Track Sales & Payouts: Affiliates can track commission rates & total sales
- Flexible Reward Structures: Based on products, variants, categories, codes, etc.
- Manage Taxes: All 1099 tax forms are easily handled, automated & consolidated
- Reward Payout: Manually or auto-pay sales commissions based on your preferences
Feature Comparison
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Rating Affiliate Marketing ReferrLy5/5 Simple Affiliate5/5 | ||
| Reviews | 786 | 82 |
Reviews Affiliate Marketing ReferrLy786 Simple Affiliate82 | ||
| Target Audience | Merchants focused on influencer/ambassador marketing and customer recruitment via post-purchase popups | Merchants seeking an automated, simple affiliate management platform |
Target Audience Affiliate Marketing ReferrLyMerchants focused on influencer/ambassador marketing and customer recruitment via post-purchase popups Simple AffiliateMerchants seeking an automated, simple affiliate management platform | ||
| Affiliate Onboarding | Seamless, custom domain & form fields | New customer accounts directly within store |
Affiliate Onboarding Affiliate Marketing ReferrLySeamless, custom domain & form fields Simple AffiliateNew customer accounts directly within store | ||
| Commission Management | Rules by affiliate, product, collections, achievements, etc. | Flexible reward structures based on products, variants, categories, codes, etc. |
Commission Management Affiliate Marketing ReferrLyRules by affiliate, product, collections, achievements, etc. Simple AffiliateFlexible reward structures based on products, variants, categories, codes, etc. | ||
| Sales Tracking | Referral links & coupon codes | Tracks commission rates and total sales |
Sales Tracking Affiliate Marketing ReferrLyReferral links & coupon codes Simple AffiliateTracks commission rates and total sales | ||
| Tax Management | Not mentioned | Automated 1099 tax form handling |
Tax Management Affiliate Marketing ReferrLyNot mentioned Simple AffiliateAutomated 1099 tax form handling | ||
| Customer Acquisition Focus | Post-purchase popup for affiliate sign-up | Onboarding through new customer accounts. |
Customer Acquisition Focus Affiliate Marketing ReferrLyPost-purchase popup for affiliate sign-up Simple AffiliateOnboarding through new customer accounts. | ||
| Ease of Use | Not explicitly stated, implied by 'effortlessly' | Emphasized by 'simple' and 'easy set up' |
Ease of Use Affiliate Marketing ReferrLyNot explicitly stated, implied by 'effortlessly' Simple AffiliateEmphasized by 'simple' and 'easy set up' | ||
Our Verdict
If you're looking to aggressively recruit your existing customers as affiliates through post-purchase pop-ups and want granular control over commission rules based on various criteria, Affiliate Marketing ReferrLy is a strong contender. Its focus on influencers and ambassadors suggests a more hands-on approach to affiliate management. However, if automation and simplicity are paramount, especially concerning tax management and new affiliate account creation within your store's ecosystem, Simple Affiliate offers a compelling alternative. Smaller merchants or those new to affiliate marketing might find Simple Affiliate's simpler interface and automation features more appealing.
Common Questions
Which app is better for recruiting existing customers as affiliates?
Affiliate Marketing ReferrLy is likely better, offering post-purchase pop-ups to directly ask customers to become affiliates.
Which app offers better tax management features?
Simple Affiliate explicitly states it handles automated 1099 tax forms, a feature not mentioned for Affiliate Marketing ReferrLy.
Which app is easier to use for beginners?
While both apps are highly rated, Simple Affiliate explicitly emphasizes simplicity and easy setup, suggesting it's potentially more beginner-friendly.
Which app provides more granular commission control?
Affiliate Marketing ReferrLy allows setting commission rules based on affiliates, products, collections, achievements, and more, suggesting more granular control.
Which app is better suited for established brands with a focus on influencers?
Affiliate Marketing ReferrLy, with its emphasis on influencers and ambassadors, may be a better fit for established brands with influencer marketing strategies already in place.
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