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Software · head to head

CJ Affiliate vs ShareASale

CJ Affiliate logo

CJ Affiliate

Software

Global affiliate marketing platform by Publicis

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ShareASale logo

ShareASale

Software

Leading affiliate network connecting merchants with publishers

From
$550/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: CJ Affiliate complex pricing tiers without transparent public pricing; ShareASale platform shutting down at end of 2025 with mandatory migration to Awin
  • They diverge on capability: CJ Affiliate covers Cross-device tracking, ShareASale covers Real-time tracking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CJ Affiliate and ShareASale actually diverge.

Attributes where CJ Affiliate and ShareASale differ
AttributeCJ AffiliateShareASale
Starting priceOn request$550/one-time
Pricing modeltransactionUnknown
Founded19982000

Identical on both: free tier (No), platforms (Web), 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 CJ Affiliate

  • Cross-device tracking
  • Real-time analytics
  • Publisher recruitment
  • Commission automation
  • Fraud protection
  • Salesforce
  • Adobe Analytics
  • Google Analytics

Only in ShareASale

  • Real-time tracking
  • Affiliate recruitment
  • Commission management
  • Payment processing
  • Fraud detection
  • Shopify
  • WooCommerce
  • Magento

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

CJ Affiliate

  • affiliate marketing management
  • Workflow automation
  • Reporting

ShareASale

  • affiliate marketing management
  • Workflow automation
  • Reporting

Both are used for affiliate marketing management, workflow automation, reporting, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

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

CJ Affiliate

  • Complex pricing tiers without transparent public pricing
  • Limited integration capabilities with leading third-party HR point solutions compared to some competitors

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

CJ Affiliate

On request
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Custom pricing
    • Dedicated support
    • Advanced analytics

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 CJ Affiliate if

  • You need cross-device tracking.
  • You also want real-time analytics.
CJ Affiliate review

Choose ShareASale if

  • You need real-time tracking.
  • You also want affiliate recruitment.
ShareASale review

Questions people ask

Is CJ Affiliate or ShareASale better?
Neither clearly leads. CJ Affiliate 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, CJ Affiliate or ShareASale?
CJ Affiliate starts at On request and ShareASale at $550/one-time.
Does CJ Affiliate or ShareASale run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is CJ Affiliate best used for?
CJ Affiliate is most often used for affiliate marketing management, workflow automation, reporting.
What can CJ Affiliate do that ShareASale cannot?
CJ Affiliate covers Cross-device tracking, Real-time analytics, Publisher recruitment, Commission automation. ShareASale covers Real-time tracking, Affiliate recruitment, Commission management, Payment processing. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CJ Affiliate: How much does CJ Affiliate cost?

CJ Affiliate requires custom pricing based on business needs. Contact their sales team for a customized quote; pricing tiers vary by affiliate network size and commission models used.

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
CJ Affiliate: How many publishers and brands are on CJ Affiliate?

CJ is the platform of choice for over 3,800 global brands with over 167K publishers and brands engaging billions of consumers worldwide across all verticals.

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
CJ Affiliate: What integrations does CJ Affiliate support?

CJ Affiliate provides a comprehensive API supporting integrations with marketing automation platforms, analytics tools, and tracking systems through RESTful endpoints with OAuth 2.0 authentication.

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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Related pages

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