About Shopify
Shopify is a leading e-commerce platform that provides businesses, ranging from small startups to large enterprises (Shopify Plus), with the tools they need to set up, run, and scale an online store.
It’s a cloud-based solution that offers a unified platform for managing key business aspects like storefront creation, marketing, payments, shipping, and inventory management. Essentially, Shopify democratizes e-commerce, making it accessible for entrepreneurs, content creators, and existing businesses to sell products and services online and in-person (via Shopify POS).
Shopify Affiliate Program Overview
The Shopify Affiliate Program is designed for entrepreneurs, educators, influencers, and content creators who want to earn commission by referring their audience to Shopify’s e-commerce platform. Affiliates inspire and teach their audience about entrepreneurship, with an incentive for each qualified new merchant who signs up for a paid plan using their unique referral link.
| Factor | Description |
| Industry | E-commerce / SaaS (Software as a Service) |
| Product Type | Digital Subscription/Platform (e-commerce platform, business tools) |
| Affiliate Program Type | Cost Per Acquisition (CPA) / Pay-Per-Sale (P-P-S) |
Shopify Affiliate Program Offers
Shopify provides affiliates with the resources and tools to effectively promote the platform.
| Factor | Description |
| Promotional Materials | Ready-made educational content, banners, logos, and tracking links are typically provided. |
| Affiliate Cookie Duration | 30 Days (This means a conversion is tracked up to 30 days after the initial click). |
| Accepted Traffic Sources | Must own and run an active website, established audience, and create original content (e.g., blog posts, videos, online courses, guides). Common sources include blogs, content websites, and social media (must comply with terms). |
| Accepted Countries | Global (Commissions may vary based on the referred merchant’s location). |
| Explicit Content | Not accepted; affiliates must comply with the Shopify Affiliate Marketing Program Terms, which restrict content like sexually explicit, violent, or illegal material. |
| Religious or Political Content | Not accepted if it is discriminatory or hateful; affiliates must maintain professionalism and adhere to brand guidelines. |
Shopify Affiliate Commissions & Payments
The program offers a generous, straightforward commission structure for referring new merchants to a paid plan.
| Factor | Description |
| MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) | No (It is a standard two-tier affiliate program focused on referring new customers to Shopify, not recruiting other affiliates for a percentage of their earnings). |
| Commission Rate | Typically a flat commission (often reported as a one-time payment equivalent to the first two months’ subscription fee paid by the new merchant, or a set amount like $150 USD for a standard plan referral, though rates can vary by merchant location and plan, like POS Pro). |
| Commission Structure | Flat Commission (CPA) per qualified new merchant sign-up for a paid plan after the trial period. Commissions are paid only after the merchant starts paying at full price. |
| Payout Frequency | Bi-weekly (or monthly, depending on the platform settings). Payments are issued via the affiliate tracking platform. |
| Payout Methods | PayPal and Bank Transfer (through the affiliate tracking platform, Impact). |
| Minimum Payout | $10 USD (or the approximate equivalent in local currency, processed through the tracking platform, Impact). |
Suitable Affiliates for Shopify Affiliate
The Shopify Affiliate Program is an excellent fit for individuals and entities that serve an audience interested in starting or growing an online business.
| Affiliate Type | Suitability | Rationale |
| Bloggers | High | Ideal for reviewing e-commerce platforms, writing business guides, and creating “how-to” content related to online selling. |
| YouTubers | High | Excellent for video tutorials on setting up a store, comparing platforms, and sharing entrepreneurship tips. |
| Influencers (KOL/KOC) | High | Strong fit if the audience is interested in monetizing a following, launching a personal brand store, or selling products. |
| Educators/Content Creators | Highest | The primary target. Affiliates who create online courses, templates, or educational content around business, marketing, and e-commerce. |
| Video editors | Low/Medium | Less direct fit, but suitable if they create content focused on marketing/business for e-commerce. |
| Livestreamers | Medium | Can work if their streams are focused on business/side-hustles, or if they demonstrate building a store live. |
Shopify Affiliate Software
Shopify utilizes a trusted third-party platform for managing and tracking its affiliate program.
Shopify uses the affiliate management software platform Impact (impact.com) for its primary Affiliate Program. This platform handles third-party tracking, real-time reporting, and monthly commission payments for the affiliates. They do not use an entirely in-house software solution for this program.
3 Alternatives for Shopify Affiliate Program
Here is a comparison of the Shopify Affiliate Program with three major alternatives in the e-commerce/web-building space that also offer affiliate programs: BigCommerce, Wix, and WooCommerce (as a platform). Note: Data for affiliate program factors like ‘Average Bill’ and ‘Conversion’ are estimates as they depend heavily on the referred customer’s behavior and the affiliate’s traffic quality.
| Comparison Factor | Shopify Affiliate Program | BigCommerce Affiliate Program | Wix Affiliate Program | WooCommerce (via Marketplaces) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average Bill (Platform Cost) | Starts at $39/month | Starts at $39/month | Starts at $17/month | Platform is free (WordPress) + Hosting/Plugins $10+/month |
| Entry Fees | $0 (Free to join) | $0 (Free to join) | $0 (Free to join) | $0 (Free to join) |
| Withdrawal Threshold | $10 USD (via Impact) | Varies (typically ~$50 minimum) | $300 USD minimum | Varies by network (e.g., ClickBank, ShareASale) |
| Payment Frequency | Bi-weekly / Monthly | Monthly | Monthly | Varies by network |
| Commission | High CPA (Flat rate, e.g., ~$150 USD or equivalent to 2 months’ subscription) | 200% Bounty (up to ~$1,500 per enterprise referral) | $100+ USD per premium sale (Flat CPA) | Varies widely; typically 30%+ recurring or CPA for themes/plugins |
| Conversion | Generally High, thanks to strong brand recognition & entrepreneur appeal | High, particularly effective for high-volume sellers | High for users seeking an easy website builder | High for WordPress-focused audience |
| Marketing Materials | Banners, links, content | Banners, links, dedicated affiliate manager | Banners, landing pages, tracking links | Depends on marketplace; varies by program/product, often less centralized |
