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Affiliate Marketing · head to head

ReferralCandy vs ShareASale

ReferralCandy logo

ReferralCandy

Affiliate Marketing

Customer referral program for e-commerce

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 ReferralCandy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ReferralCandy limited transparency on pricing tiers without account registration; ShareASale platform shutting down at end of 2025 with mandatory migration to Awin
  • They diverge on capability: ReferralCandy covers Automated 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 ReferralCandy and ShareASale actually diverge.

Attributes where ReferralCandy and ShareASale differ
AttributeReferralCandyShareASale
Starting priceFree$550/one-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, ShopifyWeb
Founded20092000

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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 ReferralCandy

  • Automated referral tracking
  • Customizable rewards
  • Email campaigns
  • A/B testing
  • ReCharge

Only in ShareASale

  • Real-time tracking
  • Affiliate recruitment
  • Commission management
  • Payment processing

Both cover

  • Fraud detection
  • Shopify
  • WooCommerce
  • BigCommerce
  • Magento
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

ReferralCandy

  • 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.

ReferralCandy

  • Limited transparency on pricing tiers without account registration
  • Primary focus on Shopify integration limits effectiveness for non-Shopify platforms
  • Email CC/BCC limitations for looping in stakeholders

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

ReferralCandy

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the ReferralCandy review.

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 ReferralCandy if

  • You need automated referral tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Shopify.
  • You also want customizable rewards.
ReferralCandy review

Choose ShareASale if

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

Questions people ask

Is ReferralCandy or ShareASale better?
Neither clearly leads. ReferralCandy 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, ReferralCandy or ShareASale?
ReferralCandy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for ReferralCandy and $550/one-time for ShareASale.
Does ReferralCandy or ShareASale run on more platforms?
ReferralCandy runs on Web, Shopify. ShareASale runs on Web.
Can I use ReferralCandy for free?
Yes. ReferralCandy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ShareASale starts at $550/one-time.
What is ReferralCandy best used for?
ReferralCandy is most often used for affiliate marketing management, workflow automation, reporting.
What can ReferralCandy do that ShareASale cannot?
ReferralCandy covers Automated referral tracking, Customizable rewards, Email campaigns, A/B testing. ShareASale covers Real-time tracking, Affiliate recruitment, Commission management, Payment processing. Both handle Fraud detection, Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ReferralCandy: Does ReferralCandy work with Shopify?

Yes, ReferralCandy integrates natively with Shopify with one-click installation, making it easy to set up referral programs on Shopify stores.

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
ReferralCandy: What types of rewards can I offer?

ReferralCandy supports multiple reward types including store credit, discount coupons, PayPal cash transfers, gift cards, and free products.

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
ReferralCandy: Does ReferralCandy include fraud detection?

Yes, ReferralCandy includes built-in fraud detection to catch self-referrals and leaked coupon codes before payouts are processed.

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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