5 Platforms for Launching an Affiliate Network

New affiliate networks keep entering the market, each competing to attract publishers. Some buying teams eventually consider launching their own affiliate network and start running the numbers to gauge the scope of the challenge. 

We've put together a roundup of 5 tools for building an offer aggregator. We analyzed the key features, highlighted the drawbacks, and outlined the pricing. Read, test, and choose the best fit. 

Affise

Distribution model: SaaS
Key feature: all-inclusive
Price: $500–1,500+

Affise is a cloud-based SaaS platform for performance marketing and ad campaign analytics. It has Belarusian roots but operates with offices in Lithuania, Cyprus, and China. On the market since 2017, it raised $8M in investment in 2021. 

The platform is one of the top solutions for launching an affiliate program aggregator. In recent years it has evolved into an all-inclusive format, helping affiliate companies build infrastructure on top of ready-made out-of-the-box solutions. Affise is used by well-known brands: PropellerAds, Affle, Flow, PrimeAds, and others. 

Drawbacks:

• insufficient fraud protection tools;
• occasional technical issues;
• limited options for combining metrics for comprehensive tracking.

Try it out →

Scaleo 

Distribution model: SaaS
Key feature: customization
Price: $500–1,200

Scaleo positions itself as a simple yet powerful affiliate marketing platform. It has been operating since 2018; in 2020, the developers overhauled the internal architecture to improve module performance. 

The SaaS offers full customization: from removing pages to redesigning the interface. You can also add your own content with ads or instructions to build a fully functional CPA product. 

Drawbacks:

• occasional technical issues;
• beginners may face a steep learning curve at the start;
• limited number of localizations. 

Try it out →

Offer18

Distribution model: SaaS
Key feature: all-inclusive
Price: $49–349

Offer18 is marketed as the #1 tool for launching an affiliate program. It's in high demand thanks to its competitive pricing — the basic plan can be tested for as little as $50. 

The platform offers solutions for affiliate networks, agencies, and e-commerce brands. A wide range of tools, fast migration, 800 satisfied clients, and a wealth of positive case studies all fuel interest among potential customers. 

Drawbacks:

• beginners may face a steep learning curve at the start;
• limited knowledge base;
• potential issues with API integration. 

Try it out →

Cake

Distribution model: SaaS
Key feature: 24/7 support
Price: $299+

Cake is one of the earliest tools on the market for building an offer aggregator. Launched in 2010, it has closed one funding round and continues to grow actively. As of 2024, it serves 500 advertisers across 50 countries. 

The SaaS offers cloud infrastructure, advanced reporting, a fraud protection system, 24/7 support, and a range of other benefits. New clients can book a demo to evaluate the platform's capabilities. 

Drawbacks:

• beginners may face a steep learning curve at the start;
• incomplete knowledge base.

Try it out →

Post Affiliate Pro

Distribution model: SaaS
Key feature: built-in automations
Price: $129–600

Post Affiliate Pro is another player in the "Best Affiliate Software" category. A powerful tool for building both a brand affiliate program and an affiliate network with hundreds of offers. 

The platform boasts a broad set of built-in modules that cover all client needs — from reporting to smartlinks and multi-tier commissions. On top of that, it features robust automation capabilities to boost affiliate network performance. 

Drawbacks:

• possible tracking losses;
• users report a limited knowledge base;
• performance issues on mobile devices. 

Try it →

Among additional alternatives, it's worth considering Tune and OffersLook. Competition in the SaaS market for building affiliate networks is fierce, and finding the right tool will take some time. 

Some platforms offer a trial period to test the service's capabilities. Scaleo, Offer18, and Post Affiliate Pro all provide this option. Webmasters don't need to spend several hundred dollars upfront just to explore the interface and available modules.