Softwr

Software · head to head

Amazon Associates vs Sprout Social

Amazon Associates logo

Amazon Associates

Software

The world's largest affiliate marketing program

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sprout Social logo

Sprout Social

Software

Social media management with influencer insights

From
$249/month
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; Sprout Social pricing is by quote only, with no rate, tier or minimum published; the page directs visitors to schedule a demo to discuss pricing
  • They diverge on capability: Amazon Associates covers Product linking tools, Sprout Social covers Social publishing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Amazon Associates and Sprout Social actually diverge.

Attributes where Amazon Associates and Sprout Social differ
AttributeAmazon AssociatesSprout Social
Starting priceFree$249/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Browser plugin, Mobile browserWeb, Ios, Android, Api
Founded19962010

Identical on both: 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 Sprout Social

  • Social publishing
  • Social inbox
  • Analytics
  • Social listening
  • Influencer identification
  • Competitor analysis
  • Report builder
  • Content calendar

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 Sprout Social
  • Workflow automationnot Sprout Social
  • Reportingnot Sprout Social

Sprout Social

  • Discovering and vetting creators with brand safety reporting and Brand Fit Scoresnot Amazon Associates
  • Centralising creator outreach, contracting, approvals and paymentsnot Amazon Associates
  • Measuring creator-driven revenue with first-party analytics and attributionnot Amazon Associates
  • Building a creator pipeline through branded application pagesnot 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

Sprout Social

  • Pricing is by quote only, with no rate, tier or minimum published; the page directs visitors to schedule a demo to discuss pricing
  • Influencer marketing is sold separately from the main Sprout Social social media management plans

Pricing, plan by plan

Amazon Associates

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Amazon Associates review.

Sprout Social

$249/month
  • Standard$249/month
    • 5 social profiles
    • Social inbox
    • Publishing calendar
  • Professional$399/month
    • Competitive reports
    • Optimal send times
    • Response rate reports

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 Sprout Social if

  • You need social publishing.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want social inbox.
Sprout Social review

Questions people ask

Is Amazon Associates or Sprout Social better?
Neither clearly leads. Amazon Associates starts at Free and Sprout Social at $249/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Amazon Associates or Sprout Social?
Amazon Associates has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Amazon Associates and $249/month for Sprout Social.
Does Amazon Associates or Sprout Social run on more platforms?
Amazon Associates runs on Web, Browser plugin, Mobile browser. Sprout Social runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
Can I use Amazon Associates for free?
Yes. Amazon Associates has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sprout Social starts at $249/month.
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 Sprout Social is typically brought in for.
What can Amazon Associates do that Sprout Social cannot?
Amazon Associates covers Product linking tools, Native shopping ads, SiteStripe toolbar, Commission tracking. Sprout Social covers Social publishing, Social inbox, Analytics, Social listening. 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
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Amazon Associates

More on Sprout Social

Keep looking

Other head to heads