Affiliates FAQs
Common questions about setting up and running an affiliate program. For step-by-step setup, start with How to Launch Your Affiliate Program.
How does referral tracking actually work?
An affiliate shares a link carrying their token, such as ?ref=12. When someone clicks it, the plugin stores the token in a browser cookie and logs a visit. If that visitor buys before the cookie expires, the plugin reads the token at checkout and creates one commission per line item in the order.
How long does a referral link keep earning?
As long as the tracking cookie lasts. Cookie Life under Configuration and Referrals defaults to 7 days, so a visitor who clicks today and buys on day six still credits the affiliate. Do not leave the field empty. It sets the cookie fifteen years out rather than making it session-only.
Why is my affiliate link not tracking anything?
Check three things in order. Enable Affiliate System has to be on under Configuration and General. The affiliate has to be Approved, since a pending link resolves to nothing. And you cannot test from your own admin session, because a logged-in administrator's click is ignored on purpose. Use a private browsing window.
Can I pay different commission rates on different products?
Yes, with Pro. The Rules screen sets a rate per product, per product category or per customer user role. A matching rule beats the affiliate's own rate and the global default. The free version runs one global rate plus an optional per-affiliate rate, which is enough for most single-rate programs.
Can I set a different rate for one affiliate?
Yes, and this works in the free version. Open the affiliate from the Affiliates screen and enter a Commission Rate. Leave it empty and the global default applies. Note that a Pro commission rule matching the line item still beats this rate, so a rule and a personal rate on the same product will not stack.
When does a commission become payable?
When the order reaches Processing or Completed, the commission moves to Pending, which means earned and awaiting payment. An order on Pending payment or On hold produces a commission on Not Confirmed instead, and a cancelled or refunded order moves it to Cancelled or Refunded.
What happens to a commission if the order is refunded?
A full refund moves the commission to Refunded. A partial refund is handled differently. The plugin works out how much of the refund applies to that line, subtracts it from the commission and records the difference as a Refund figure, leaving the row payable at the reduced amount.
How do I pay my affiliates?
On the Commissions screen, filter to Pending, tick the rows and choose a Pay via bulk action. That creates a payout and moves the commissions to Pending Payment. Open the payout, use the withdrawal details to make the transfer through your bank or PayPal, record the reference in Transaction ID, then set the payout to Completed.
Does the plugin send the money automatically?
No. It tracks what is owed, groups commissions into payouts and records what you paid, but you make the transfer yourself through your bank or PayPal. The one exception is Pro's WooCommerce Wallet Management method, which credits the affiliate inside your store and generates its own transaction ID.
Can affiliates earn commission on their own purchases?
Not in the free version. Self-purchases are blocked and there is no way to turn that off. Pro adds an Allow Self-Referrals setting under Configuration and Commissions if you want affiliates to earn on what they buy themselves.
Can affiliates promote with a coupon code instead of a link?
Yes, with Pro. Turn on Enable Coupon Tracking under Configuration and Referrals, then assign a WooCommerce coupon to an affiliate from the coupon editor. Anyone applying that code sets the affiliate's referral cookie and credits them exactly as a link click would.
Does the plugin work with WooCommerce HPOS?
Yes. The plugin declares compatibility with WooCommerce High-Performance Order Storage, so you can leave HPOS switched on. It also supports both the classic checkout and the block-based Store API checkout, so referrals track either way.
What is the difference between the free and Pro versions?
The free version runs a complete single-rate program: signup, referral tracking, visit logging, commissions, manual payouts and the full affiliate dashboard. Pro adds commission rules, earnings tiers, reports, creatives, coupon referrals, twelve email notifications, a bulk payout wizard, custom referral tokens and custom registration fields.