Choosing an affiliate network starts with the needs of your program: the partners you want to work with, the markets you serve, the tracking you require and the support your team can provide.
Names can make the research confusing. Our directory began in 2013, and several providers listed then have since rebranded, been acquired or retired a platform. A legacy name in an old article should not be treated as a current product comparison.
This guide explains the relevant names from that directory and provides a practical framework for building a shortlist. Provider context was checked in October 2026; commercial terms and availability should be confirmed directly during an evaluation.
Awin: Affiliate Window and the ShareASale transition
Affiliate Window was one of the providers in our original directory. It and zanox rebranded to Awin in March 2017.
ShareASale was a separate entry in that historical list. Awin's current documentation confirms that the ShareASale platform closed on October 6, 2025. It should therefore not appear as a separate live platform option in a new comparison.
If either name appears in your existing program materials, establish which account, integration and current terms apply. For a new evaluation, discuss the Awin offering that fits your markets, partner requirements and management model.
Avangate Affiliate Network
The original Avangate entry emphasized software and downloadable products. The current Avangate Affiliate Network continues to describe its focus as software and digital goods.
For a business in that category, investigate relevant publisher relationships, supported products, commission administration and the connection to your commerce setup. Ask how the proposed workflow handles your specific purchase and renewal model rather than assuming every digital product has the same requirements.
AvantLink
AvantLink appeared in our historical directory for its affiliate tools and relevance to outdoor and recreation merchants. Its current provider information describes services for advertisers, publishers and agencies.
Evaluate the actual partners and markets relevant to your brand. Ask for a demonstration of the workflows your team will use, including links, feeds, tracking, reporting and partner support.
A category reputation can help identify a candidate, but it should be tested against your own recruitment opportunity and operating needs.
CJ, formerly Commission Junction
The Commission Junction entry in the original article described a range of service levels and advertiser tools. Use CJ's current advertiser information when assessing its offering today.
Confirm the scope of technology, recruitment support and management services in the actual proposal. Historical service labels, ownership references and claims about network size are not substitutes for current terms.
Ask how the platform will support your integrations, partner types and reporting requirements, and what work remains with your internal team or agency.
Rakuten Advertising and the LinkShare name
LinkShare and Rakuten LinkShare appear in older affiliate materials. Rakuten maintains official LinkShare information within its current business, while its affiliate offering is presented through Rakuten Advertising.
For an evaluation, focus on relevant publisher access, market coverage, reporting, integrations and service expectations. Awards or a historical ranking may provide context, but they do not establish that the provider is the right fit for a particular program.
Pepperjam and Ascend by Partnerize
Our directory listed eBay Enterprise under its earlier Pepperjam Exchange identity. That name belongs to the historical entry.
Partnerize announced its acquisition of Pepperjam in July 2020. Its current official page identifies the Pepperjam affiliate network as Ascend by Partnerize.
Confirm which current product and service scope is being proposed. Do not assume that an old Pepperjam feature description, an Ascend agreement and another Partnerize offering have identical terms or capabilities.
Historical entries that need a different reading
Google Affiliate Network
The original directory was updated to record Google's April 16, 2013 announcement that it would retire Google Affiliate Network. It is a historical entry, not a candidate for a current network shortlist.
Its former relationship with AdSense was part of the program described at the time. That relationship should not be used to infer the availability or operation of a present-day Google affiliate service.
oneNetworkDirect
The 2013 directory described Digital River's oneNetworkDirect as a network focused on software and digital content. That is historical context rather than a current capability assessment.
For any legacy provider name, establish a verified current commercial contact, operating entity and set of terms before treating it as an available option. An old directory entry or familiar domain is insufficient evidence.
RevenueWire and AffiliateWire
RevenueWire appeared in the original article with its AffiliateWire network and several other product names. Those descriptions reflected the offering discussed in that period.
A current evaluation needs current documentation for the proposed service, including onboarding, support and payment arrangements. Historical product lists should not be carried forward as verified capabilities.
How to compare the providers on your shortlist
Build the comparison around the work your program needs to do.
Partner fit: Identify relevant publishers and creators, not just the total number of accounts. Ask how discovery becomes recruitment and activation.
Technical fit: Review tracking, ecommerce integrations, product feeds, reporting exports and the order-adjustment process with the team that will implement them.
Operating model: Separate platform functionality from management services. Confirm who handles outreach, approvals, communication, payment questions and performance analysis.
Economics: Compare setup charges, ongoing fees, commission-related costs, minimums and any additional services using a consistent scope.
Contract and transition: Review term length, support commitments, data access and the work required if you later migrate or close the program.
Using more than one network can add reach or capability in some situations, but it can also add administration and tracking complexity. Define the reason and the operating plan before expanding the setup.
Our guide to launching an affiliate program places the platform decision within the wider launch plan. If you need help translating your requirements into a shortlist, talk with our team about network selection.
