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Affiliate Marketing · head to head

Amazon Associates vs Reachdesk

Amazon Associates logo

Amazon Associates

Affiliate Marketing

The world's largest affiliate marketing program

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Reachdesk logo

Reachdesk

Affiliate Marketing

B2B gifting and direct mail platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Amazon Associates has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Amazon Associates commission rates are among the lowest in affiliate marketing at 4-20% by category; Reachdesk plans start at $20,000 per year, and the Core tier caps at roughly 50 gifts per month with only 5 users and 1 warehouse
  • They diverge on capability: Amazon Associates covers Product linking tools, Reachdesk covers Global fulfillment.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Amazon Associates and Reachdesk actually diverge.

Attributes where Amazon Associates and Reachdesk differ
AttributeAmazon AssociatesReachdesk
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Browser plugin, Mobile browserWeb
CategoryAffiliate MarketingUnknown
Founded19962018

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Amazon Associates

  • Product linking tools
  • Native shopping ads
  • SiteStripe toolbar
  • Commission tracking
  • Real-time reporting
  • WordPress
  • Blogger
  • YouTube

Only in Reachdesk

  • Global fulfillment
  • Gift marketplace
  • Handwritten notes
  • eGifts
  • Campaign analytics
  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot
  • Outreach

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Amazon Associates

  • affiliate marketing managementnot Reachdesk
  • Workflow automationnot Reachdesk
  • Reportingnot Reachdesk

Reachdesk

  • B2B corporate gifting and direct mail campaigns for sales and marketing teamsnot Amazon Associates

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Amazon Associates

  • Commission rates are among the lowest in affiliate marketing at 4-20% by category
  • Requires $100 minimum earnings threshold before payment is issued
  • Cookie duration limited to 24 hours for click tracking, compared to 60-90 days at competitors

Reachdesk

  • Plans start at $20,000 per year, and the Core tier caps at roughly 50 gifts per month with only 5 users and 1 warehouse
  • Swag sourcing carries a $2,500 minimum order

Pricing, plan by plan

Amazon Associates

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Amazon Associates review.

Reachdesk

On request
  • ProFree
    • Custom pricing
    • Global shipping
    • Full integrations

Which should you pick?

Choose Amazon Associates if

  • You need product linking tools.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Browser plugin, Mobile browser.
  • You also want native shopping ads.
Amazon Associates review

Choose Reachdesk if

  • You need global fulfillment.
  • You also want gift marketplace.
Reachdesk review

Questions people ask

Is Amazon Associates or Reachdesk better?
Neither clearly leads. Amazon Associates starts at Free and Reachdesk at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Amazon Associates or Reachdesk?
Amazon Associates has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Amazon Associates and On request for Reachdesk.
Does Amazon Associates or Reachdesk run on more platforms?
Amazon Associates runs on Web, Browser plugin, Mobile browser. Reachdesk runs on Web.
Can I use Amazon Associates for free?
Yes. Amazon Associates has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Reachdesk starts at On request.
What is Amazon Associates best used for?
Amazon Associates is most often used for affiliate marketing management, workflow automation, reporting. Of those, affiliate marketing management and workflow automation are not what Reachdesk is typically brought in for.
What can Amazon Associates do that Reachdesk cannot?
Amazon Associates covers Product linking tools, Native shopping ads, SiteStripe toolbar, Commission tracking. Reachdesk covers Global fulfillment, Gift marketplace, Handwritten notes, eGifts. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Amazon Associates: Is it free to join Amazon Associates?

Yes. There are no signup fees, monthly costs, or commissions paid to Amazon. Joining and participation are completely free.

Source
Amazon Associates: How long does a click cookie last?

Amazon gives you 24 hours to earn a commission once a visitor clicks an affiliate link. You also earn a commission if a person adds a product to their cart within 24 hours and purchases it within 90 days.

Source
Amazon Associates: What are the commission rates?

Commission rates vary by product category. Amazon Games earns 20%, Luxury Beauty at 10%, Kitchen at 4.5%, and All Other Categories at 4%. Commission rates change frequently.

Source
Amazon Associates: How often does Amazon pay affiliates?

Amazon Associates provides reports updated hourly for most orders. Earnings can be tracked in real-time through the Associates Central dashboard. Payments are issued monthly if earnings exceed $100.

Source
Amazon Associates: Can I earn commissions internationally?

Yes. Amazon Associates operates in multiple countries. OneLink allows US Associates to earn commissions internationally by automatically directing customers to their local Amazon store.

Source
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Related pages

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