Affiliate Marketing · head to head
PFL vs Amazon Associates
Amazon Associates
Affiliate Marketing
The world's largest affiliate marketing program
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Amazon Associates has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: PFL pFL's homepage describes its direct mail automation products in detail but every pricing action is a 'Talk To Us' or 'Book a Meeting' CTA, with no edition names or figures published; Amazon Associates commission rates are among the lowest in affiliate marketing at 4-20% by category
- They diverge on capability: PFL covers Tactile marketing automation, Amazon Associates covers Product linking tools.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which PFL and Amazon Associates actually diverge.
| Attribute | PFL | Amazon Associates |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | Unknown |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Browser plugin, Mobile browser |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Affiliate Marketing), founded (1996).
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 PFL
- Tactile marketing automation
- Variable data printing
- Dimensional mailers
- Swag fulfillment
- Intent-based triggers
- Salesforce
- Marketo
- HubSpot
Only in Amazon Associates
- Product linking tools
- Native shopping ads
- SiteStripe toolbar
- Commission tracking
- Real-time reporting
- WordPress
- Blogger
- YouTube
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
PFL
- affiliate marketing management
- Workflow automation
- Reporting
Amazon Associates
- 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.
PFL
- PFL's homepage describes its direct mail automation products in detail but every pricing action is a 'Talk To Us' or 'Book a Meeting' CTA, with no edition names or figures published
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
Pricing, plan by plan
PFL
On request- EnterpriseFree
- Custom pricing
- Full platform
- Dedicated support
Amazon Associates
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Amazon Associates review.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is PFL or Amazon Associates better?
- Neither clearly leads. PFL starts at On request and Amazon Associates at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, PFL or Amazon Associates?
- Amazon Associates has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for PFL and Free for Amazon Associates.
- Does PFL or Amazon Associates run on more platforms?
- PFL runs on Web. Amazon Associates runs on Web, Browser plugin, Mobile browser.
- Can I use Amazon Associates for free?
- Yes. Amazon Associates has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PFL starts at On request.
- What is PFL best used for?
- PFL is most often used for affiliate marketing management, workflow automation, reporting.
- What can PFL do that Amazon Associates cannot?
- PFL covers Tactile marketing automation, Variable data printing, Dimensional mailers, Swag fulfillment. Amazon Associates covers Product linking tools, Native shopping ads, SiteStripe toolbar, Commission tracking. 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.
SourceAmazon 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.
SourceAmazon 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.
SourceAmazon 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.
SourceAmazon 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