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Affiliate Marketing · head to head

CAKE vs ShareASale

CAKE logo

CAKE

Affiliate Marketing

Performance marketing software by Accelerize

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ShareASale logo

ShareASale

Affiliate Marketing

Leading affiliate network connecting merchants with publishers

From
$550/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: CAKE pricing is not published and requires a demo; ShareASale platform shutting down at end of 2025 with mandatory migration to Awin
  • They diverge on capability: CAKE covers Advanced fraud detection, ShareASale covers Affiliate recruitment.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CAKE and ShareASale actually diverge.

Attributes where CAKE and ShareASale differ
AttributeCAKEShareASale
Starting priceOn request$550/one-time
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Founded20072000

Identical on both: free tier (No), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Affiliate Marketing).

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 CAKE

  • Advanced fraud detection
  • Multi-channel attribution
  • Pixel management
  • API access
  • Salesforce
  • Major ad networks
  • Payment processors

Only in ShareASale

  • Affiliate recruitment
  • Commission management
  • Payment processing
  • Fraud detection
  • Shopify
  • WooCommerce
  • Magento
  • BigCommerce

Both cover

  • Real-time tracking
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

CAKE

  • Affiliate and partner performance trackingnot ShareASale
  • Lead distribution to buyers in real timenot ShareASale
  • Attribution across performance marketing channelsnot ShareASale
  • Managing an affiliate network's publishers and advertisersnot ShareASale

ShareASale

  • affiliate marketing managementnot CAKE
  • Workflow automationnot CAKE
  • Reportingnot CAKE

Where each one falls short

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

CAKE

  • Pricing is not published and requires a demo
  • Ownership is not stated on the site, which matters for a platform holding performance marketing data

ShareASale

  • Platform shutting down at end of 2025 with mandatory migration to Awin
  • High merchant entry cost at $550 sign-up fee plus $35 monthly
  • $50 minimum payout for publishers creates cash flow delay
  • Consolidation into Awin creates uncertainty for existing workflows and features

Pricing, plan by plan

CAKE

On request
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Custom pricing
    • Full platform
    • Dedicated support

ShareASale

$550/one-time
  • Merchant Setup$550/one-time
    • One-time network sign-up fee
  • Merchant Monthly$35/month
    • Platform access
    • Affiliate management

Which should you pick?

Choose CAKE if

  • You need advanced fraud detection.
  • You also want multi-channel attribution.
CAKE review

Choose ShareASale if

  • You need affiliate recruitment.
  • You also want commission management.
ShareASale review

Questions people ask

Is CAKE or ShareASale better?
Neither clearly leads. CAKE starts at On request and ShareASale at $550/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CAKE or ShareASale?
CAKE starts at On request and ShareASale at $550/one-time.
Does CAKE or ShareASale run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is CAKE best used for?
CAKE is most often used for affiliate and partner performance tracking, lead distribution to buyers in real time, attribution across performance marketing channels, managing an affiliate network's publishers and advertisers. Of those, affiliate and partner performance tracking and lead distribution to buyers in real time are not what ShareASale is typically brought in for.
What can CAKE do that ShareASale cannot?
CAKE covers Advanced fraud detection, Multi-channel attribution, Pixel management, API access. ShareASale covers Affiliate recruitment, Commission management, Payment processing, Fraud detection. Both handle Real-time tracking, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CAKE: Why does CAKE require a demo to see pricing?

CAKE directs all inquiries to sales via their demo request form and contact page, with no self-service pricing information available.

Source
ShareASale: What is ShareASale's current status?

ShareASale is closing at the end of 2025. The platform was acquired by Awin in 2017, and all users are transitioning to Awin as the parent company consolidates services.

Source
CAKE: How do I get more information about CAKE?

Interested parties can request a demo or contact CAKE's support team at getcake.com/contact/.

Source
ShareASale: What are the pricing fees for merchants on ShareASale?

Merchants pay a one-time network sign-up fee of $550 plus a recurring $35 monthly platform fee. Merchants must also maintain a minimum deposit in their account to cover affiliate commissions.

Source
ShareASale: How much do publishers earn on ShareASale?

Publishers join ShareASale for free. Minimum payout is $50, with monthly payments made on the 20th via ACH direct deposit, check, or Payoneer.

Source
ShareASale: How large is the ShareASale network?

ShareASale has over 25,000 merchants, 270,000 active publishers, and generated $200 million in sales in 2022, making it one of the fastest-growing affiliate platforms in North America.

Source
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