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Affiliate Marketing · head to head

GrowSurf vs ShareASale

GrowSurf logo

GrowSurf

Affiliate Marketing

Referral software for tech companies

From
Free
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

  • Only GrowSurf has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: GrowSurf startup tier limited to 1 referral program; ShareASale platform shutting down at end of 2025 with mandatory migration to Awin
  • They diverge on capability: GrowSurf covers Referral tracking, ShareASale covers Real-time tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GrowSurf and ShareASale actually diverge.

Attributes where GrowSurf and ShareASale differ
AttributeGrowSurfShareASale
Starting priceFree$550/one-time
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierYesNo
Founded20172000

Identical on both: 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 GrowSurf

  • Referral tracking
  • Automated rewards
  • Custom branding
  • Developer API
  • HubSpot
  • Salesforce
  • Intercom
  • Segment

Only in ShareASale

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

Both cover

  • Fraud detection
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

GrowSurf

  • Launching customer referral programs without engineering overheadnot ShareASale
  • White-label referral systems matching brand appearancenot ShareASale
  • AI-powered reward suggestions and promotional copy generationnot ShareASale
  • Integrations with Zapier, Stripe, HubSpot, Slack, PayPal, Salesforcenot ShareASale

ShareASale

  • affiliate marketing managementnot GrowSurf
  • Workflow automationnot GrowSurf
  • Reportingnot GrowSurf

Where each one falls short

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

GrowSurf

  • Startup tier limited to 1 referral program
  • Startup and Business tiers include only email support, not real-time
  • Requires upgrade to Business tier for custom referral portal domain
  • Custom tier requires 25,000+ participants and quote-based pricing

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

GrowSurf

Free
  • Startup$179/month
    • 2,500 participants
    • 2 referral programs
    • 2 team members
  • Startup$279/month
    • 5,000 participants
    • 2 referral programs
    • 2 team members
  • Business$449/month
    • 10,000 participants
    • 5 referral programs
    • 5 team members
  • Business$1429/month
    • 150,000 participants
    • 5 referral programs
    • 5 team members

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 GrowSurf if

  • You need referral tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want automated rewards.
GrowSurf review

Choose ShareASale if

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

Questions people ask

Is GrowSurf or ShareASale better?
Neither clearly leads. GrowSurf starts at Free and ShareASale at $550/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GrowSurf or ShareASale?
GrowSurf has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for GrowSurf and $550/one-time for ShareASale.
Does GrowSurf or ShareASale run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use GrowSurf for free?
Yes. GrowSurf has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ShareASale starts at $550/one-time.
What is GrowSurf best used for?
GrowSurf is most often used for launching customer referral programs without engineering overhead, white-label referral systems matching brand appearance, ai-powered reward suggestions and promotional copy generation, integrations with zapier, stripe, hubspot, slack, paypal, salesforce. Of those, launching customer referral programs without engineering overhead and white-label referral systems matching brand appearance are not what ShareASale is typically brought in for.
What can GrowSurf do that ShareASale cannot?
GrowSurf covers Referral tracking, Automated rewards, Custom branding, Developer API. ShareASale covers Real-time tracking, Affiliate recruitment, Commission management, Payment processing. Both handle Fraud detection, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

GrowSurf: Is there a free trial for GrowSurf?

Yes, all paid plans include a 14-day free trial with access to paid features and integrations. No credit card required.

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
GrowSurf: How does GrowSurf pricing scale with participants?

GrowSurf pricing is based on the number of participants (people who refer or are referred). Startup plans range from $179-$279/month for 2,500-5,000 participants. Business plans range from $449-$1,429/month for 10,000-150,000 participants. Plans auto-scale on a prorated basis.

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
GrowSurf: Do higher GrowSurf tiers include more integrations?

Yes. Startup includes Stripe, HubSpot, Zapier, Slack, and Tango Card. Business adds PayPal, Salesforce, Chargebee, Recurly, Marketo, and CDP integrations.

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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