Software · head to head
Amazon Associates vs RedTrack
Amazon Associates
Software
The world's largest affiliate marketing program
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Amazon Associates commission rates are among the lowest in affiliate marketing at 4-20% by category; RedTrack the Builder plan at $69 per month includes 1 seat and 2M events, with ad spend sync only every 6 hours
- They diverge on capability: Amazon Associates covers Product linking tools, RedTrack covers Cookieless tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Amazon Associates and RedTrack actually diverge.
| Attribute | Amazon Associates | RedTrack |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Platforms | Web, Browser plugin, Mobile browser | Web |
| Founded | 1996 | 2015 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 RedTrack
- Cookieless tracking
- Multi-touch attribution
- Auto-optimization
- Fraud detection
- Team collaboration
- Google Ads
- TikTok
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 RedTrack
- Workflow automationnot RedTrack
- Reportingnot RedTrack
RedTrack
- Tracking paid media and affiliate conversions across ad networksnot Amazon Associates
- Server side conversion tracking for ecommerce storesnot Amazon Associates
- Automating rules to pause or scale ad campaignsnot 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
RedTrack
- The Builder plan at $69 per month includes 1 seat and 2M events, with ad spend sync only every 6 hours
- Events above the plan allowance are billed as overage, at $0.04 per 1,000 on Builder and Solo
- Data retention is 12 months on Builder and Solo and reaches 36 months only on the $833 per month Enterprise plan
- Read and write Ads Manager access is Enterprise only at base tier
- Scale Rules are a paid add on unless on Enterprise
- Setup assistance requires the Team plan or Agency plan
- The free ecommerce Relay plan covers 1 store, 1 user and basic conversion API only
- The Brand ecommerce plan is capped at 3 stores
Pricing, plan by plan
Amazon Associates
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Amazon Associates review.
RedTrack
Free- FreeFree
- 100K events
- Basic tracking
- Community support
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.
Choose RedTrack if
- You need cookieless tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want multi-touch attribution.
Questions people ask
- Is Amazon Associates or RedTrack better?
- Neither clearly leads. Amazon Associates starts at Free and RedTrack at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Amazon Associates or RedTrack?
- Amazon Associates starts at Free and RedTrack at Free.
- Does Amazon Associates or RedTrack run on more platforms?
- Amazon Associates runs on Web, Browser plugin, Mobile browser. RedTrack runs on Web.
- Can I use Amazon Associates for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- 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 RedTrack is typically brought in for.
- What can Amazon Associates do that RedTrack cannot?
- Amazon Associates covers Product linking tools, Native shopping ads, SiteStripe toolbar, Commission tracking. RedTrack covers Cookieless tracking, Multi-touch attribution, Auto-optimization, Fraud detection. 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.
SourceAmazon 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.
SourceAmazon 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.
SourceAmazon 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.
SourceAmazon 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