Freshworks Overview
Freshworks Inc. is a global, cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) company founded in 2010. It is headquartered in San Mateo, California, and was the first Indian SaaS company to be listed on Nasdaq (FRSH).
Freshworks offers a suite of business software products designed to be powerful, yet easy to use and cost-effective. These tools focus on customer service, employee engagement, and business operations, aiming to simplify workflows and deliver exceptional experiences.
Key products include:
- Freshdesk: Customer support and helpdesk software (ticketing system).
- Freshservice: IT Service Management (ITSM) software.
- Freshsales: AI-powered Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform.
- Freshmarketer: Marketing automation and campaign software.
The company operates on a freemium model, making its core functionality accessible to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) while offering scalable upgrades for larger enterprises.
Freshworks Affiliate Program Overview
The Freshworks Affiliate Program allows individuals and businesses to earn commissions by referring new customers to Freshworks’ various SaaS products. It is a performance-based program designed for marketers, consultants, and content creators in the B2B and software space.
| Factor | Description |
| Industry | Software as a Service (SaaS), Information Technology, B2B |
| Product Type | Digital, Cloud-based Business Software (CRM, ITSM, Helpdesk, Marketing Automation) |
| Affiliate Program Type | Single-Tier Revenue Share (Rev Share) and/or Cost Per Lead (CPL) |
Freshworks Affiliate Program Offers
Freshworks aims to support its affiliates with resources and a competitive setup managed through a third-party platform.
| Promotional Factor | Detail |
| Promotional Materials | Ready-to-use assets like banners, case studies, white papers, and videos are available in the affiliate dashboard. |
| Affiliate Cookie Duration | 90 days. Affiliates earn credit for a lead or sale if the referral signs up within 90 days of clicking the affiliate’s link. |
| Accepted Traffic Source | Accepted sources include Email Marketing, Social Media, Banner Ads, Blogs/SEO, and Paid Ads/PPC. |
| Accepted Countries | The program is open to affiliates and referrals in countries worldwide (Global availability). |
| Explicit Content | Not Allowed. Promotion through or associated with explicit content is prohibited. |
| Religious or political content | Not Allowed. Promotion through or associated with religious or political content is prohibited. |
Freshworks Affiliate Commissions & Payments
The program offers competitive recurring commissions, primarily focusing on a revenue share model for paying customers, along with a potential payout for qualified leads.
| Commission Factor | Detail |
| MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) | No. The program operates on a single-tier structure, paying commission on your direct referrals only. |
| Commission Rate | 15% to 25% recurring commission for the first 12 months of the customer’s contract. |
| Commission Structure | Rev Share: Base rate starts at 20% recurring commission for the first 12 months of the customer’s contract. Higher tiers (Power/Champion Affiliates) can earn 25% recurring plus performance bonuses. Some older details suggest a 15% rate, but the current tiered structure is more rewarding. Some sources also mention a $5 CPL (Cost Per Lead) for free trial sign-ups. |
| Payout Frequency | Monthly. Commissions are calculated monthly and paid out before the end of the following month. |
| Payout Methods | Payments are managed through Partnerstack, which supports withdrawals via PayPal and Stripe. (Some older/secondary sources mention bank transfers/checks, but PayPal/Stripe via Partnerstack are the primary methods). |
| Minimum Payout | $5 USD. |
Suitable Affiliates for Freshworks Affiliate
The Freshworks Affiliate Program is best suited for individuals and companies who can effectively reach and influence a B2B audience interested in business software solutions (CRM, IT, Marketing, Customer Service).
| Affiliate Type | Suitability & Strategy |
| Bloggers | Highly Suitable. Can create SEO-optimized reviews, “best of” lists, in-depth tutorials, and comparisons of CRM/Helpdesk/ITSM software, leveraging content to drive sign-ups. |
| YouTubers | Highly Suitable. Excellent for product reviews, software tutorials, video comparisons, and “day in the life” content featuring Freshworks products. |
| Influencers (KOL/KOC) | Suitable. Primarily B2B or “pro-sumer” influencers in the SaaS, tech, or business consulting niches. Less suitable for general consumer-focused influencers. |
| TikTokers/Livestreamers | Potentially Suitable (Niche). Can work for quick, engaging tips/reviews on business hacks or software efficiency, but the B2B focus is a tougher fit for mainstream platforms like TikTok compared to YouTube or Blogs. |
| Video Editors | Less Suitable (Indirect). While their content is valuable, their expertise isn’t typically monetization via SaaS affiliate links unless they are part of a content creation business. |
Freshworks Affiliate Software
Freshworks uses a third-party affiliate management platform to handle its program:
- Affiliate Management Software: Partnerstack
- In-House Management: No, they use the Partnerstack platform for tracking, assets, communication, and payouts.
3 Alternatives for Freshworks Affiliate Program
Freshworks competes in the highly crowded SaaS/CRM market. Here are three popular alternatives with affiliate programs:
- HubSpot: An all-in-one CRM, marketing, sales, and service platform known for its extensive free tools and powerful enterprise solutions.
- Zoho CRM: Part of the larger Zoho suite, offering a comprehensive and customizable CRM solution, often appealing to users looking for an integrated ecosystem.
- Pipedrive: A sales-focused CRM known for its simple, visual pipeline management tool, making it popular with sales teams and SMBs.
| Factor | Freshworks Affiliate Program | HubSpot Affiliate Program | Zoho CRM Affiliate Program | Pipedrive Affiliate Program |
| Average Bill | Varies widely by product, from low-cost to Enterprise suite. | High (Known for higher-tier professional/enterprise plans). | Moderate (Affordable entry, scales up with the suite). | Moderate (Built for small to mid-sized sales teams). |
| Entry Fees | $0 (Free to join) | $0 (Free to join) | $0 (Free to join) | $0 (Free to join) |
| Withdrawal Threshold | $5 | $10 | $10 (via PayPal) | $100 |
| Payment Frequency | Monthly (Paid out before the end of the following month) | Monthly | Monthly | Monthly |
| Commission | 20-25% Recurring for the 1st year + potential CPL. | 15% Recurring forever OR 100% of the 1st month’s revenue. | 15% Recurring for 1 year (12 months). | 20% Recurring lifetime commission. |
| Conversion | Free trial sign-up ($5 CPL) to paid customer (Rev Share). | Free sign-up to paid customer. | Free sign-up to paid customer. | Free sign-up to paid customer. |
| Marketing Materials | Banners, Case Studies, Videos, White Papers. | Large library of banner ads, demo videos, and pre-written copy. | Banners, Text Links, Product Images, Content. | Branded assets, ready-made links, and tracking. |
