UpPromote

Overview

UpPromote is a Shopify affiliate-marketing platform for merchants who want to track referrals and manage partner programs alongside their store. It suits Shopify-first businesses especially well; paid tiers pair a monthly charge with a fee on successful referral sales, so both costs deserve attention.

Key features

Referrals can be tracked through links, coupons, connected customers, and connected products. Last-click attribution and a 3,652-day cookie window support crediting a referral long after the original visit, though merchants should consider whether that long attribution period fits their own program rules.

The partner portal gives affiliates a dedicated place to participate, while scheduled payouts can go through PayPal or store credit. Fraud detection targets spam signups and suspected referrals, which helps address common risks as a program expands. Integrations include Wise, email marketing and subscription apps, Shopify customer accounts, API, and postback URLs; the product also advertises 24/7 support.

Shopify Plus is supported. Creator Discovery is an optional add-on starting at $39/month that searches creators across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Professional is capped at four staff accounts, while Enterprise includes unlimited staff accounts and API and webhook customization.

Pricing

The Free plan costs $0.00 USD and supports one affiliate program, one coupon per affiliate, $3,000 in referral reviews per month, 100 bulk emails per day, and a 50 MB media gallery. It is a practical starting point for a small program, but the review cap and single-program limit will constrain stores with higher referral volume or multiple campaigns.

Growth costs $29.99 a month, plus 2% of successful referral sales. It raises the monthly referral-review limit to 300 and bulk email allowance to 300 per day, while retaining one program, one coupon per affiliate, and a 50 MB media gallery. The percentage fee makes this tier less attractive as referral sales grow, and the single-program cap remains.

Professional costs $89.99 a month, plus 1.5% of successful referral sales. It allows 600 referral reviews monthly, unlimited programs, unlimited coupons per affiliate, 400 bulk emails per day, and unlimited media storage. The four-seat maximum is a consideration for larger teams, but this tier is the first to remove the program and coupon caps.

Enterprise costs $199.99 a month, plus 1% of successful referral sales. It includes unlimited referral reviews, programs, coupons per affiliate, and media storage, with 500 bulk emails per day and unlimited staff accounts. It is the clearest fit for high-volume programs and larger teams, although the sales-based fee still applies.

Creator Discovery starts at $39/month as an optional add-on with any plan. Yearly billing is advertised as saving 17%.

Platforms

UpPromote is built for Shopify and supports Shopify Plus, with API access. It is not positioned as a general-purpose affiliate platform for merchants outside Shopify.

Who it's for

Choose UpPromote if your store runs on Shopify and you want referral tracking, affiliate payouts, and fraud detection in one program. The free tier fits a modest launch; Professional or Enterprise makes more sense once program, coupon, review-volume, or team limits become obstacles. Merchants who need a platform beyond Shopify, or who want to avoid sales-based fees, should compare alternatives.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Multiple tracking methods, a partner portal, scheduled payouts, and fraud detection cover core affiliate-program needs.
• Pros: Professional and Enterprise remove the program and coupon caps, with Enterprise also providing unlimited reviews and staff accounts.
• Cons: Paid plans add a percentage fee on successful referral sales, so costs rise with attributed revenue.
• Cons: The free and Growth plans limit merchants to one affiliate program, and Professional caps staff at four.

Alternatives

OpenPartner is worth considering for a freemium option spanning API, self-hosted, and web platforms; its Revshare plan charges 3% of GMV with no monthly fee and includes unlimited partners, links, and campaigns.

Refport offers a free plan with 100 links, 5,000 monthly clicks, and one seat; its $49 a month Starter plan may suit teams needing a different link- and click-based allowance.

Sentalong has a free Starter plan for 10 active affiliates and $2,000 per month in tracked revenue, a possible fit for a smaller program with a revenue cap.

Siren offers a free-forever Lite plan with unlimited programs, affiliates, and conversions, making it an option for readers prioritizing those uncapped quantities.

Affiliates for WooCommerce is an alternative for stores using WooCommerce.

Affilyn has a permanent free plan with five active partners, one VIP storefront, and unlimited product syncing and affiliate links.

Buzzbassador offers a free Launch plan with unlimited members and tracked orders, one program, and a 5% fee on affiliate-generated revenue.

Endorsely is another freemium option, with a Pro plan at $39 a month for up to $5,000 affiliate revenue.

Browse more options in Affiliate Marketing Software or Affiliate Analytics Software.

Verdict

UpPromote is a strong choice for Shopify merchants who want a broad set of referral-tracking methods, scheduled payouts, and safeguards against suspicious activity. Its main trade-off is the recurring performance fee on paid plans, alongside quotas on cheaper tiers; compare total referral volume and team needs before committing.