Quick Overview
- 1#1: Google Analytics - Provides powerful free web analytics to track affiliate link clicks, conversions, traffic sources, and user behavior via UTM parameters.
- 2#2: Matomo - Open-source self-hosted analytics platform for detailed tracking of affiliate links, e-commerce goals, and visitor insights.
- 3#3: Bitly - Link shortening service with free basic click tracking, link previews, and analytics for affiliate performance monitoring.
- 4#4: Rebrandly - Branded link management tool offering free custom domains, click tracking, and geo-location stats for affiliates.
- 5#5: Short.io - Link shortener with free plan featuring click analytics, UTM support, A/B testing, and custom domains for affiliate tracking.
- 6#6: StatCounter - Free website analytics tool that tracks affiliate link clicks, referrers, search terms, and visitor paths in real-time.
- 7#7: Clicky - Real-time analytics service with free plan for tracking link clicks, heatmaps, and on-site activity for affiliate links.
- 8#8: PostHog - Open-source product analytics platform for custom event tracking of affiliate link interactions and funnels.
- 9#9: Umami - Lightweight open-source analytics tool for simple, privacy-focused tracking of affiliate link clicks and pageviews.
- 10#10: YOURLS - Self-hosted open-source URL shortener with click logging, stats, and plugins for basic affiliate link tracking.
Tools were selected and ranked based on features like click tracking accuracy, ease of integration, and actionable insights, combined with overall quality and accessibility, ensuring the list prioritizes both functionality and user-friendliness.
Comparison Table
This comparison table simplifies selecting free affiliate link tracking software, highlighting tools like Google Analytics, Matomo, Bitly, Rebrandly, Short.io, and more. It breaks down key features, usability, and performance to help readers find the best fit for their affiliate marketing efforts.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Google Analytics Provides powerful free web analytics to track affiliate link clicks, conversions, traffic sources, and user behavior via UTM parameters. | enterprise | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 7.8/10 | 10/10 |
| 2 | Matomo Open-source self-hosted analytics platform for detailed tracking of affiliate links, e-commerce goals, and visitor insights. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 8.2/10 | 6.8/10 | 9.6/10 |
| 3 | Bitly Link shortening service with free basic click tracking, link previews, and analytics for affiliate performance monitoring. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 7.6/10 | 9.4/10 | 8.9/10 |
| 4 | Rebrandly Branded link management tool offering free custom domains, click tracking, and geo-location stats for affiliates. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 9.3/10 |
| 5 | Short.io Link shortener with free plan featuring click analytics, UTM support, A/B testing, and custom domains for affiliate tracking. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 7.8/10 | 9.3/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 6 | StatCounter Free website analytics tool that tracks affiliate link clicks, referrers, search terms, and visitor paths in real-time. | other | 7.2/10 | 6.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.8/10 |
| 7 | Clicky Real-time analytics service with free plan for tracking link clicks, heatmaps, and on-site activity for affiliate links. | specialized | 6.2/10 | 5.5/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 8 | PostHog Open-source product analytics platform for custom event tracking of affiliate link interactions and funnels. | specialized | 7.4/10 | 8.2/10 | 6.1/10 | 9.3/10 |
| 9 | Umami Lightweight open-source analytics tool for simple, privacy-focused tracking of affiliate link clicks and pageviews. | other | 6.2/10 | 5.8/10 | 4.7/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 10 | YOURLS Self-hosted open-source URL shortener with click logging, stats, and plugins for basic affiliate link tracking. | other | 7.2/10 | 6.5/10 | 5.8/10 | 9.5/10 |
Provides powerful free web analytics to track affiliate link clicks, conversions, traffic sources, and user behavior via UTM parameters.
Open-source self-hosted analytics platform for detailed tracking of affiliate links, e-commerce goals, and visitor insights.
Link shortening service with free basic click tracking, link previews, and analytics for affiliate performance monitoring.
Branded link management tool offering free custom domains, click tracking, and geo-location stats for affiliates.
Link shortener with free plan featuring click analytics, UTM support, A/B testing, and custom domains for affiliate tracking.
Free website analytics tool that tracks affiliate link clicks, referrers, search terms, and visitor paths in real-time.
Real-time analytics service with free plan for tracking link clicks, heatmaps, and on-site activity for affiliate links.
Open-source product analytics platform for custom event tracking of affiliate link interactions and funnels.
Lightweight open-source analytics tool for simple, privacy-focused tracking of affiliate link clicks and pageviews.
Self-hosted open-source URL shortener with click logging, stats, and plugins for basic affiliate link tracking.
Google Analytics
enterpriseProvides powerful free web analytics to track affiliate link clicks, conversions, traffic sources, and user behavior via UTM parameters.
Universal UTM parameter tracking, the global standard for precise, multi-channel affiliate campaign measurement
Google Analytics is a robust, free web analytics platform that enables precise tracking of affiliate links via UTM parameters, custom events, and goals to monitor clicks, traffic sources, and conversions. It offers in-depth reports on campaign performance, user engagement, and ROI attribution across websites and apps. As the industry standard, it scales effortlessly for high-volume affiliate marketing without any cost barriers.
Pros
- Completely free with unlimited data tracking and scalability
- Industry-standard UTM parameters for accurate affiliate link attribution
- Advanced segmentation, real-time reporting, and conversion funnels
Cons
- Steep learning curve for setup and advanced configurations
- Requires technical implementation on websites (no native link shortener)
- Privacy compliance (e.g., GDPR, consent mode) adds complexity
Best For
Experienced affiliate marketers with websites needing detailed, scalable analytics for tracking link performance and ROI.
Pricing
Free core version; enterprise Analytics 360 starts at $150,000/year.
Matomo
specializedOpen-source self-hosted analytics platform for detailed tracking of affiliate links, e-commerce goals, and visitor insights.
Self-hosted deployment for 100% data control and no external tracking dependencies
Matomo is a free, open-source web analytics platform that excels as a self-hosted solution for tracking affiliate link performance through custom events, UTM parameters, and goal tracking. It provides detailed insights into clicks, conversions, and traffic sources associated with affiliate links without relying on third-party cookies or data sharing. Users can leverage its plugin ecosystem to enhance affiliate-specific reporting, making it a robust alternative to proprietary tools.
Pros
- Completely free open-source core with no usage limits
- Full data ownership and privacy compliance (GDPR-ready)
- Highly customizable tracking via plugins and custom dimensions
Cons
- Requires self-hosting and technical setup (server management needed)
- Steeper learning curve for non-technical users
- Lacks built-in affiliate link cloaking or management tools
Best For
Privacy-focused website owners and developers who want customizable, cost-free tracking of affiliate link clicks and conversions.
Pricing
Free open-source self-hosted version; optional Matomo Cloud starts at $19/month with premium plugins available.
Bitly
specializedLink shortening service with free basic click tracking, link previews, and analytics for affiliate performance monitoring.
Detailed real-time click analytics with geographic, referrer, and device insights available even on the free plan
Bitly is a leading URL shortening and link management platform that excels in tracking clicks on shortened links, making it a solid choice for affiliate marketers seeking free tracking solutions. Its free plan provides essential analytics such as total clicks, geographic data, referrers, and device breakdowns, allowing users to monitor affiliate link performance effectively. While limited in scale, it supports custom parameters for better tracking and integrates seamlessly with various sharing platforms.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for quick link creation and management
- Reliable basic analytics including clicks, locations, and referrers on free plan
- Trusted bit.ly domain enhances link credibility for affiliate promotions
Cons
- Free plan limited to 10 Bitlinks per month, restricting high-volume users
- Advanced features like custom domains and link scheduling require paid upgrade
- No built-in A/B testing or retargeting pixels in free tier
Best For
Beginner affiliate marketers or small campaigns needing simple, reliable free link shortening and basic click tracking.
Pricing
Free plan with 10 Bitlinks/month and basic analytics; paid plans start at $8/month for more links and features.
Rebrandly
specializedBranded link management tool offering free custom domains, click tracking, and geo-location stats for affiliates.
Custom domain branding for professional, memorable short links that build trust and brand recognition
Rebrandly is a link management platform that enables users to create custom branded short links, ideal for tracking affiliate link performance with detailed click analytics. On its free plan, it provides essential tracking features like click counts, geographic locations, device types, and referrers, making it suitable for monitoring affiliate campaigns without cost. While powerful for basic needs, the free tier limits scale to 500 links per month, with advanced features available in paid upgrades.
Pros
- Robust free tracking including clicks, geo-location, devices, and referrers
- Custom branded links with own domain support
- Intuitive dashboard and quick link creation
Cons
- Limited to 500 links per month on free plan
- Advanced features like A/B testing and retargeting require paid upgrade
- Only one workspace on free tier
Best For
Affiliate marketers and solopreneurs needing free branded short links with reliable basic click tracking for small to medium campaigns.
Pricing
Free plan (500 links/month, basic analytics); paid plans start at $29/month for unlimited links and advanced features.
Short.io
specializedLink shortener with free plan featuring click analytics, UTM support, A/B testing, and custom domains for affiliate tracking.
Comprehensive referrer and geolocation tracking available right on the free plan
Short.io is a versatile URL shortening platform that excels in affiliate link tracking by providing detailed analytics on clicks, geolocation, referrers, devices, and browsers. Its free plan allows unlimited custom short links via the short.io domain and tracks up to 1,000 clicks per month, making it accessible for basic affiliate monitoring. Users benefit from UTM parameter support and an intuitive dashboard, though advanced features require upgrades.
Pros
- Unlimited custom short links on free plan
- Detailed analytics including geolocation and referrers
- User-friendly dashboard with real-time tracking
Cons
- 1,000 clicks/month limit on free tier
- No custom domains without upgrading
- Advanced retargeting pixels paywalled
Best For
Beginner affiliate marketers and small promoters needing free, reliable link tracking with solid basic analytics.
Pricing
Free: unlimited links, 1,000 clicks/month; paid plans from $12/month for custom domains and higher limits.
StatCounter
otherFree website analytics tool that tracks affiliate link clicks, referrers, search terms, and visitor paths in real-time.
Precise real-time referrer tracking that identifies affiliate link sources without requiring link modifications
StatCounter is a web analytics platform that tracks website visitors, page views, referrers, and traffic sources through a simple invisible tracking code. While primarily a general analytics tool, it can monitor affiliate link performance by analyzing referrer data and UTM parameters on your site. The free plan offers basic insights suitable for low-traffic sites, with paid upgrades for more advanced reporting and data access.
Pros
- Completely free basic plan with unlimited pageviews for one project
- Quick setup via simple code snippet integration
- Detailed referrer and traffic source tracking useful for affiliate insights
Cons
- Lacks dedicated affiliate link management like cloaking or shortening
- Free plan limits advanced features like raw data exports and multiple projects
- Not optimized specifically for click-level affiliate tracking outside of referrer analysis
Best For
Beginner website owners or bloggers seeking free, straightforward analytics to monitor general affiliate traffic sources without complex setup.
Pricing
Free plan for basic tracking; paid plans start at $9/month (billed annually) for more projects and advanced features.
Clicky
specializedReal-time analytics service with free plan for tracking link clicks, heatmaps, and on-site activity for affiliate links.
Real-time 'Spy' feature to watch individual visitor actions and clicks live
Clicky is a real-time web analytics platform that offers basic tracking capabilities for affiliate links through event tracking, UTM parameters, and referral source monitoring on websites. It provides insights into clicks, visitor behavior, bounce rates, and traffic sources, making it usable for simple affiliate performance analysis. While not specialized for affiliate marketing, its free tier allows low-volume users to monitor link performance without cost. However, it lacks advanced features like link cloaking, split testing, or direct affiliate network integrations.
Pros
- Real-time analytics for immediate click and visitor insights
- Generous free plan for low-traffic sites
- User-friendly dashboard with customizable reports
Cons
- No built-in link cloaking or shortening
- Limited free plan (3,000 pageviews/month, 1 site)
- Lacks affiliate-specific tools like conversion postbacks or A/B testing
Best For
Beginner affiliate marketers with low-traffic websites needing basic real-time traffic monitoring on a budget.
Pricing
Free plan (1 site, 3k pageviews/month); paid plans from $9.99/month (10k pageviews) up to $49.99/month for advanced features.
PostHog
specializedOpen-source product analytics platform for custom event tracking of affiliate link interactions and funnels.
Open-source self-hosting for unlimited, cost-free tracking with complete data ownership
PostHog is an open-source product analytics platform that enables affiliate link tracking through custom events, autocapture, and funnel analysis to monitor clicks, conversions, and user paths. It provides session replays and A/B testing for deeper insights into affiliate performance. While versatile and free for self-hosting, it's a full analytics suite rather than a lightweight link tracker.
Pros
- Generous free tier and fully open-source self-hosting
- Powerful funnel and retention analysis for affiliate performance
- Privacy-focused with no cookies required
Cons
- Steep learning curve and technical setup needed
- Overkill for basic affiliate link tracking
- Limited out-of-box affiliate-specific tools
Best For
Developers or technical teams needing scalable, customizable analytics for affiliate links alongside product insights.
Pricing
Free cloud tier up to 1M events/month; self-host open-source for unlimited free use; usage-based pricing starts at $0.00045/event beyond free tier.
Umami
otherLightweight open-source analytics tool for simple, privacy-focused tracking of affiliate link clicks and pageviews.
Cookie-less, privacy-first event tracking that complies with GDPR without compromising on data granularity
Umami is a free, open-source, privacy-focused web analytics tool that can be adapted for affiliate link tracking through custom event tracking on clicks and page views. It provides self-hosted dashboards for monitoring traffic sources, real-time data, and user sessions without relying on cookies or third-party trackers. While not purpose-built for affiliate marketing, it offers flexible event tracking to log link clicks and basic UTM parameter support for performance analysis.
Pros
- Completely free and open-source with no usage limits
- Privacy-focused tracking without cookies or data selling
- Customizable events and real-time dashboards for click monitoring
Cons
- Requires self-hosting and technical setup (Docker/Node.js)
- Lacks built-in affiliate-specific features like link cloaking or commission tracking
- No native UTM auto-parsing or advanced funnel reporting
Best For
Tech-savvy affiliate marketers who prioritize privacy and want a fully customizable, self-hosted free analytics solution.
Pricing
100% free (open-source, self-hosted; optional paid cloud hosting starts at $9/month)
YOURLS
otherSelf-hosted open-source URL shortener with click logging, stats, and plugins for basic affiliate link tracking.
Unlimited self-hosted deployment with full ownership of data and no external service reliance
YOURLS is a free, open-source, self-hosted URL shortening service that allows users to create custom short links and track clicks on them, making it suitable for basic affiliate link management. It provides real-time statistics including click counts, referrers, browsers, countries, and platforms without any usage limits. While primarily a link shortener, its logging capabilities enable simple affiliate performance tracking for those comfortable with server management.
Pros
- Completely free and open-source with no limits on links or clicks
- Self-hosted for full data privacy and custom domain support
- Detailed click stats including referrers, geo-location, and real-time logs
Cons
- Requires technical setup on a PHP/MySQL server
- Basic interface lacks modern UI/UX and advanced affiliate tools like commission tracking
- Relies on community plugins for extra features, which may need manual installation
Best For
Tech-savvy marketers or website owners seeking a free, self-hosted solution for basic affiliate link shortening and click tracking without third-party dependencies.
Pricing
Free (open-source, self-hosted; optional donations encouraged)
Conclusion
Evaluating the top 10 free affiliate link tracking tools reveals Google Analytics as the clear leader, offering robust web analytics and UTM parameter tracking for in-depth performance insights. Matomo, a reliable open-source alternative, provides detailed self-hosted tracking for customizable needs, while Bitly stands out with its user-friendly link shortening and basic click analytics. Each tool suits specific requirements, but Google Analytics remains the top choice for most users. Consider these options to find the best fit for your affiliate tracking goals.
Start with Google Analytics today to leverage powerful, free link tracking and enhance your affiliate marketing strategy.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison