Quick Overview
- 1#1: ThirstyAffiliates - WordPress plugin that cloaks, organizes, and tracks affiliate links with click stats and geo-targeting.
- 2#2: Pretty Links - WordPress tool for creating custom short links, tracking clicks, and managing affiliate redirects.
- 3#3: MonsterInsights - Connects Google Analytics to WordPress for easy affiliate link tracking and conversion reporting.
- 4#4: Google Analytics - Free analytics platform to track affiliate referrals, user behavior, and conversion performance.
- 5#5: Mailchimp - Email marketing tool with free tier for building lists and sending affiliate promotions.
- 6#6: Canva - Design platform with free templates for creating visuals and banners to promote affiliate offers.
- 7#7: Buffer - Social media scheduler with free plan to post and track affiliate links across channels.
- 8#8: Bitly - Link management service with free click tracking and shortening for affiliate campaigns.
- 9#9: Ubersuggest - Free SEO tool for keyword research to discover profitable affiliate marketing opportunities.
- 10#10: Google Search Console - Free tool to monitor search performance and optimize affiliate websites for organic traffic.
Tools were ranked based on their ability to deliver actionable value, with a focus on features like link cloaking, conversion tracking, and user-friendliness, as well as their long-term utility in supporting diverse affiliate strategies.
Comparison Table
This comparison table helps readers navigate free affiliate software options, featuring tools like ThirstyAffiliates, Pretty Links, MonsterInsights, Google Analytics, Mailchimp, and more. It outlines key features, use cases, and differences to simplify finding the right fit for tasks ranging from link management to analytics and email integration.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ThirstyAffiliates WordPress plugin that cloaks, organizes, and tracks affiliate links with click stats and geo-targeting. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 8.7/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 2 | Pretty Links WordPress tool for creating custom short links, tracking clicks, and managing affiliate redirects. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 7.5/10 | 9.0/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 3 | MonsterInsights Connects Google Analytics to WordPress for easy affiliate link tracking and conversion reporting. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 7.8/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.6/10 |
| 4 | Google Analytics Free analytics platform to track affiliate referrals, user behavior, and conversion performance. | other | 9.2/10 | 9.6/10 | 7.8/10 | 10/10 |
| 5 | Mailchimp Email marketing tool with free tier for building lists and sending affiliate promotions. | other | 7.1/10 | 6.5/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.4/10 |
| 6 | Canva Design platform with free templates for creating visuals and banners to promote affiliate offers. | creative_suite | 8.7/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 7 | Buffer Social media scheduler with free plan to post and track affiliate links across channels. | other | 8.3/10 | 7.7/10 | 9.6/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 8 | Bitly Link management service with free click tracking and shortening for affiliate campaigns. | other | 8.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.2/10 |
| 9 | Ubersuggest Free SEO tool for keyword research to discover profitable affiliate marketing opportunities. | specialized | 8.1/10 | 7.7/10 | 9.3/10 | 9.4/10 |
| 10 | Google Search Console Free tool to monitor search performance and optimize affiliate websites for organic traffic. | other | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.5/10 | 10/10 |
WordPress plugin that cloaks, organizes, and tracks affiliate links with click stats and geo-targeting.
WordPress tool for creating custom short links, tracking clicks, and managing affiliate redirects.
Connects Google Analytics to WordPress for easy affiliate link tracking and conversion reporting.
Free analytics platform to track affiliate referrals, user behavior, and conversion performance.
Email marketing tool with free tier for building lists and sending affiliate promotions.
Design platform with free templates for creating visuals and banners to promote affiliate offers.
Social media scheduler with free plan to post and track affiliate links across channels.
Link management service with free click tracking and shortening for affiliate campaigns.
Free SEO tool for keyword research to discover profitable affiliate marketing opportunities.
Free tool to monitor search performance and optimize affiliate websites for organic traffic.
ThirstyAffiliates
specializedWordPress plugin that cloaks, organizes, and tracks affiliate links with click stats and geo-targeting.
Automatic keyword replacement that instantly inserts cloaked affiliate links anywhere on your site
ThirstyAffiliates is a powerful WordPress plugin designed for affiliate marketers to manage, cloak, and track affiliate links seamlessly on their sites. The free version allows users to create categorized link groups, automatically replace keywords with affiliate links, and access basic click statistics. It's particularly effective for bloggers and content creators looking to organize and monetize links without coding expertise.
Pros
- Intuitive WordPress integration with drag-and-drop link management
- Automatic keyword linking saves time on content updates
- Reliable basic click tracking and link cloaking for security
Cons
- Advanced analytics and A/B testing require Pro upgrade
- Limited customization options compared to premium alternatives
- Exclusively for WordPress users, not compatible with other platforms
Best For
WordPress bloggers and affiliate marketers seeking a no-cost, user-friendly solution for link management and automation.
Pricing
Free version with full core features; Pro plans start at $49/year for enhanced analytics and tools.
Pretty Links
specializedWordPress tool for creating custom short links, tracking clicks, and managing affiliate redirects.
Keyword-based automatic link replacement for effortless affiliate link insertion throughout site content
Pretty Links is a popular WordPress plugin that transforms long, cumbersome affiliate URLs into clean, branded short links while providing essential tracking capabilities. It allows users to cloak links, set up redirects, and monitor clicks directly from the WordPress dashboard. The free version offers core features like link shortening, basic analytics, and keyword-based auto-linking, making it a solid starting point for affiliate marketers on WordPress sites.
Pros
- Excellent free click tracking and link shortening for WordPress users
- Simple keyword auto-linking to streamline affiliate link placement
- Seamless integration with any WordPress theme or site
Cons
- Limited advanced features like A/B testing or link groups in free version
- Reporting is basic without premium upgrades
- Exclusively for WordPress, not suitable for other platforms
Best For
WordPress bloggers and small site owners new to affiliate marketing who need simple, trackable link management without cost.
Pricing
Free core plugin; Pro version starts at $99/year for advanced features like link cloaking enhancements and detailed analytics.
MonsterInsights
specializedConnects Google Analytics to WordPress for easy affiliate link tracking and conversion reporting.
WordPress admin dashboard displaying Google Analytics data instantly
MonsterInsights is a leading WordPress plugin that simplifies Google Analytics integration for site owners, providing a user-friendly dashboard right in the WordPress admin panel. It tracks essential metrics like traffic sources, popular content, and form submissions, making it valuable for affiliate marketers monitoring performance and conversions. The free version offers core tracking capabilities without requiring coding knowledge.
Pros
- Seamless one-click Google Analytics setup
- Real-time stats and reports in WordPress dashboard
- Excellent for tracking affiliate link performance
Cons
- Advanced e-commerce and custom dimensions require Pro upgrade
- Limited reports compared to paid version
- Relies on Google Analytics account setup
Best For
WordPress-based affiliate marketers seeking free, easy analytics tracking without technical expertise.
Pricing
Free Lite version; Pro starts at $99/year for 1 site.
Google Analytics
otherFree analytics platform to track affiliate referrals, user behavior, and conversion performance.
Precise UTM parameter and event tracking for attributing affiliate link performance across multi-channel user paths
Google Analytics is a robust, free web analytics platform that tracks website traffic, user interactions, and conversions in real-time. For affiliate marketers, it excels at monitoring UTM-tagged links to measure campaign performance, traffic sources, and user journeys leading to affiliate sales. With GA4's event-based tracking, it provides deep insights into audience behavior without any cost, scalable from small blogs to large sites.
Pros
- Completely free with enterprise-grade features like UTM tracking and conversion funnels
- Extensive integrations with websites, ads, and affiliate networks
- Real-time data and customizable reports for optimizing affiliate strategies
Cons
- Steep learning curve, especially with GA4's interface changes
- Data sampling limits accuracy for very high-traffic sites
- Requires manual GDPR/CCPA compliance setup for privacy
Best For
Affiliate marketers and small-to-medium site owners needing detailed, no-cost traffic and conversion analytics to refine campaigns.
Pricing
Free core platform; Google Analytics 360 paid upgrade for enterprises ($150,000+/year).
Mailchimp
otherEmail marketing tool with free tier for building lists and sending affiliate promotions.
Audience segmentation for personalized affiliate link delivery
Mailchimp is an email marketing platform with a free tier that enables affiliates to build email lists, send newsletters with affiliate links, and automate basic campaigns. It provides templates, audience segmentation, and performance analytics to help promote offers effectively. While excellent for email-driven affiliate strategies, it lacks dedicated affiliate tracking or commission management features.
Pros
- Generous free plan supporting up to 500 contacts and 1,000 monthly sends
- Intuitive drag-and-drop editor for quick campaign creation
- Basic automation and A/B testing for optimizing affiliate promotions
Cons
- No native affiliate link tracking or commission tools
- Free tier limits scalability for growing lists
- Advanced segmentation and integrations require paid upgrades
Best For
Beginner solo affiliates focused on email list building and simple promotions with small audiences.
Pricing
Free forever for up to 500 contacts (1,000 emails/month); paid plans start at $13/month for 500 contacts.
Canva
creative_suiteDesign platform with free templates for creating visuals and banners to promote affiliate offers.
Thousands of customizable, marketing-ready templates accessible for free
Canva is a versatile online graphic design platform that allows users to create professional visuals like social media graphics, presentations, infographics, videos, and marketing materials using a drag-and-drop interface and extensive template library. For affiliates, it excels in producing eye-catching banners, ad creatives, and promotional content quickly without requiring design expertise. The free plan offers substantial access to templates, stock photos, and basic editing tools, making it a strong entry-level solution for affiliate marketing visuals.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop editor perfect for non-designers
- Massive free library of templates, images, and videos tailored for marketing
- Fast collaboration and sharing features even on free plan
Cons
- Premium elements, templates, and advanced AI tools require Pro upgrade
- Limited storage (5GB) and background remover in free version
- Designs can look generic if relying heavily on templates
Best For
Beginner affiliates and small marketers needing quick, budget-friendly visuals for social media, emails, and ads.
Pricing
Generous free plan with core features; Pro at $14.99/month or $119.99/year for unlimited premium assets and advanced tools.
Buffer
otherSocial media scheduler with free plan to post and track affiliate links across channels.
The intelligent posting queue that automatically schedules queued content at optimal times based on audience data
Buffer is a user-friendly social media scheduling platform that enables users to plan, queue, and publish posts across major networks like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok. Its free plan supports up to 3 social channels with a queue of 10 scheduled posts per channel, ideal for distributing affiliate link promotions efficiently. The tool includes a visual calendar, basic analytics, and content suggestions to help affiliate marketers maintain a consistent online presence without advanced technical skills.
Pros
- Extremely intuitive interface with drag-and-drop scheduling
- Automatic posting queue optimizes timing for audience engagement
- Basic analytics and content ideas included even on free plan
Cons
- Limited to only 3 social channels on free tier
- Queue capped at 10 posts per channel, restricting heavy users
- Advanced reporting and team features require paid upgrade
Best For
Solo affiliate marketers or beginners managing a handful of social accounts who want simple, cost-free scheduling.
Pricing
Free forever plan; paid Essentials ($6/channel/month), Team ($12/channel/month), and Agency ($120+/month) plans.
Bitly
otherLink management service with free click tracking and shortening for affiliate campaigns.
Free real-time analytics dashboard tracking clicks by location, device, referrer, and language
Bitly is a leading URL shortening and link management platform that transforms long links into short, branded ones with built-in tracking. For affiliates, it offers free click analytics, including location, device, referrer, and language data, making it easy to monitor campaign performance. The tool also supports custom aliases, QR codes, and link scheduling on the free plan, streamlining affiliate link distribution across social media and emails.
Pros
- Unlimited link shortening and clicks on free plan
- Robust analytics for clicks, referrers, and geography
- Quick setup with browser extension and API access
Cons
- Branded bit.ly domain required on free tier
- No custom domains or vanity URLs without upgrade
- Limited to 1,000 archived links on free plan
Best For
Beginner affiliate marketers needing a reliable, no-cost solution for shortening and basic tracking of promotional links.
Pricing
Free plan with core features; paid plans (Core $8/mo, Premium $29/mo) unlock custom domains, advanced analytics, and more.
Ubersuggest
specializedFree SEO tool for keyword research to discover profitable affiliate marketing opportunities.
Free keyword overview reports with SEO difficulty scores and content ideas tailored for quick affiliate content planning
Ubersuggest is a free SEO tool developed by Neil Patel that provides keyword research, content ideas, site audits, and backlink analysis to help users improve their search rankings. It offers search volume, CPC, SEO difficulty, and paid difficulty metrics for keywords, along with SERP previews and competitor insights. Ideal for affiliates, it supports niche research and content optimization without initial costs, though with usage limits on the free plan.
Pros
- Generous free tier with core keyword research and site audits
- Intuitive dashboard requiring no steep learning curve
- Valuable content and traffic analyzer for affiliate niche selection
Cons
- Limited to 3 daily searches on free plan, restricting heavy use
- Data accuracy lags behind premium tools like Ahrefs
- Frequent upsells to paid plans can feel intrusive
Best For
Beginner affiliate marketers needing a no-cost entry into keyword research and basic SEO analysis.
Pricing
Free plan with 3 searches/day; Individual plan at $29/month (unlimited searches), higher tiers up to $99/month.
Google Search Console
otherFree tool to monitor search performance and optimize affiliate websites for organic traffic.
Search Performance report delivering precise keyword impressions, clicks, and position data straight from Google.
Google Search Console is a free web-based tool from Google that allows website owners to monitor, analyze, and optimize their site's presence in Google search results. It provides detailed insights into search performance, indexing issues, mobile usability, core web vitals, and security vulnerabilities. For affiliate marketers, it excels at revealing top-performing keywords, click-through rates, and traffic trends to refine content strategies and boost organic commissions.
Pros
- Direct access to Google's proprietary search data and performance metrics
- Comprehensive tools for site diagnostics, sitemaps, and indexing verification
- No cost, with seamless integration into Google Analytics for deeper insights
Cons
- Limited to Google search ecosystem, no data from other engines
- Reporting data has a 2-3 day delay, not real-time
- Steep learning curve for beginners without SEO experience
Best For
Affiliate marketers focused on organic Google traffic who need reliable, no-cost SEO monitoring and optimization.
Pricing
Completely free for all users.
Conclusion
Among the reviewed tools, ThirstyAffiliates emerges as the top choice, standing out with its robust link cloaking, organization, and detailed tracking features, including click stats and geo-targeting. Pretty Links and MonsterInsights are strong alternatives: Pretty Links excels in custom short links and redirect management, while MonsterInsights offers seamless Google Analytics integration for conversion reporting. Each tool addresses unique needs, but ThirstyAffiliates combines versatility and ease of use to deliver a comprehensive affiliate marketing solution.
Don’t miss out—start using ThirstyAffiliates today to take control of your affiliate links, track performance effortlessly, and maximize your campaign success.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison
