Softwr

Software · head to head

Friendbuy vs ClickBank

Friendbuy logo

Friendbuy

Software

Referral and loyalty platform for DTC brands

From
$249/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ClickBank logo

ClickBank

Software

Digital product affiliate marketplace

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ClickBank has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Friendbuy no public pricing; requires sales call which makes it difficult to compare costs; ClickBank a one time activation fee of $49.95 is charged when a seller's first product is approved
  • They diverge on capability: Friendbuy covers Referral programs, ClickBank covers Digital product marketplace.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Friendbuy and ClickBank actually diverge.

Attributes where Friendbuy and ClickBank differ
AttributeFriendbuyClickBank
Starting price$249/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptiontransaction
Free tierNoYes
Founded20101998

Identical on both: 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 Friendbuy

  • Referral programs
  • Loyalty programs
  • A/B testing
  • Fraud detection
  • Attribution tracking
  • Shopify
  • Klaviyo
  • Attentive

Only in ClickBank

  • Digital product marketplace
  • High commission rates
  • Recurring billing
  • Refund management
  • Affiliate tools
  • ClickFunnels
  • WordPress
  • Teachable

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Friendbuy

  • affiliate marketing managementnot ClickBank
  • Workflow automationnot ClickBank
  • Reportingnot ClickBank

ClickBank

  • Selling digital products through an affiliate marketplacenot Friendbuy
  • Recruiting affiliates to promote an info product or supplementnot Friendbuy
  • Earning commission as an affiliate on third party digital productsnot Friendbuy

Where each one falls short

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

Friendbuy

  • No public pricing; requires sales call which makes it difficult to compare costs
  • Custom pricing can be expensive, especially for additional currencies or features
  • Low level of customization makes it difficult to implement seamlessly and maintain brand consistency
  • Customer support only available via email with slow response times
  • Rewards require manual processing and approval rather than automatic distribution
  • Tracking accuracy issues where referred customers sometimes marked as existing customers

ClickBank

  • A one time activation fee of $49.95 is charged when a seller's first product is approved
  • ClickBank retains 7.5% plus $1 on each sale
  • A $5.00 pay period processing fee is charged on every payment issued
  • Refunds cost the seller $0.50 or $1 depending on product price and return date
  • Dormant accounts are charged $1 per pay period after 90 days without earnings, $5 after 180 days and $50 after 365 days
  • Payment is withheld until the account reaches the payment threshold, which defaults to $100

Pricing, plan by plan

Friendbuy

$249/month
  • Starter$249/month
    • Referral program
    • Basic analytics
    • Email support

ClickBank

Free
  • AffiliateFree
    • Free to join
    • Up to 75% commissions
    • Weekly payouts

Which should you pick?

Choose Friendbuy if

  • You need referral programs.
  • You also want loyalty programs.
Friendbuy review

Choose ClickBank if

  • You need digital product marketplace.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want high commission rates.
ClickBank review

Questions people ask

Is Friendbuy or ClickBank better?
Neither clearly leads. Friendbuy starts at $249/month and ClickBank at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Friendbuy or ClickBank?
ClickBank has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $249/month for Friendbuy and Free for ClickBank.
Does Friendbuy or ClickBank run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use ClickBank for free?
Yes. ClickBank has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Friendbuy starts at $249/month.
What is Friendbuy best used for?
Friendbuy is most often used for affiliate marketing management, workflow automation, reporting. Of those, affiliate marketing management and workflow automation are not what ClickBank is typically brought in for.
What can Friendbuy do that ClickBank cannot?
Friendbuy covers Referral programs, Loyalty programs, A/B testing, Fraud detection. ClickBank covers Digital product marketplace, High commission rates, Recurring billing, Refund management. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Friendbuy: What is Friendbuy's pricing model?

Friendbuy uses custom quote-based pricing with no publicly listed rates. Starting point is approximately $3,000 annually, with costs varying based on traffic volume, features needed, and onboarding requirements. Annual contracts are required.

Source
Friendbuy: Does Friendbuy offer a free trial?

Friendbuy does not offer a free trial. Prospective customers must contact sales for a demo and quote. There is no self-serve signup or trial period available.

Source
Friendbuy: Does Friendbuy offer referral and loyalty programs?

Yes. Friendbuy bundles both referral and loyalty program features together. You cannot purchase referral features alone and must pay for the complete suite.

Source
Friendbuy: What integrations does Friendbuy support?

Friendbuy integrates with major e-commerce platforms including Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce, plus marketing tools like Klaviyo, Braze, and Segment.

Source
Friendbuy: Are rewards processed automatically in Friendbuy?

Activity is tracked automatically, but rewards are processed manually, requiring administrator action to approve and distribute rewards to referrers.

Source
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Friendbuy

More on ClickBank

Keep looking

Other head to heads