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Affiliate Marketing · head to head

ShareASale vs Awin

ShareASale logo

ShareASale

Affiliate Marketing

Leading affiliate network connecting merchants with publishers

From
$550/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Awin logo

Awin

Affiliate Marketing

Global affiliate network with 1M+ publishers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Awin has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ShareASale platform shutting down at end of 2025 with mandatory migration to Awin; Awin pricing not published, available by quote only
  • They diverge on capability: ShareASale covers Real-time tracking, Awin covers Global publisher network.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ShareASale and Awin actually diverge.

Attributes where ShareASale and Awin differ
AttributeShareASaleAwin
Starting price$550/one-timeFree
Pricing modelUnknownquote
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Mobile

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Affiliate Marketing), founded (2000).

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 ShareASale

  • Real-time tracking
  • Affiliate recruitment
  • Commission management
  • Fraud detection

Only in Awin

  • Global publisher network
  • Cross-device tracking
  • Compliance tools
  • Publisher recruitment
  • Mobile support

Both cover

  • Payment processing
  • Shopify
  • WooCommerce
  • Magento
  • BigCommerce
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

ShareASale

  • affiliate marketing managementnot Awin
  • Workflow automationnot Awin
  • Reportingnot Awin

Awin

  • Affiliate network for content creators and publishersnot ShareASale

Where each one falls short

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

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

Awin

  • Pricing not published, available by quote only
  • Commission structure and payment thresholds not disclosed

Pricing, plan by plan

ShareASale

$550/one-time
  • Merchant Setup$550/one-time
    • One-time network sign-up fee
  • Merchant Monthly$35/month
    • Platform access
    • Affiliate management

Awin

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Awin review.

Which should you pick?

Choose ShareASale if

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

Choose Awin if

  • You need global publisher network.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want cross-device tracking.
Awin review

Questions people ask

Is ShareASale or Awin better?
Neither clearly leads. ShareASale starts at $550/one-time and Awin at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ShareASale or Awin?
Awin has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $550/one-time for ShareASale and Free for Awin.
Does ShareASale or Awin run on more platforms?
ShareASale runs on Web. Awin runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use Awin for free?
Yes. Awin has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ShareASale starts at $550/one-time.
What is ShareASale best used for?
ShareASale is most often used for affiliate marketing management, workflow automation, reporting. Of those, affiliate marketing management and workflow automation are not what Awin is typically brought in for.
What can ShareASale do that Awin cannot?
ShareASale covers Real-time tracking, Affiliate recruitment, Commission management, Fraud detection. Awin covers Global publisher network, Cross-device tracking, Compliance tools, Publisher recruitment. Both handle Payment processing, Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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

More on ShareASale

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