How to choose software affiliate programs with recurring commission

A recurring commission is only worth something if customers stay and the program pays reliably. Before you put a link on your site or send it to clients, check these eight points.

1. The commission and how long it lasts

25% for 12 months and 20% for life are very different deals. Work out what one customer is worth to you over a realistic lifetime, not the headline percentage.

2. Product fit with your audience

The best program is the one your audience already needs. A great commission on a product your readers don't use earns nothing.

3. How long customers stay

Ask or estimate the program's churn. Tools businesses run every day (tracking, accounting, hosting) keep customers for years; nice-to-have apps lose them in months.

4. Tracking you can see

You should see your clicks, sign-ups and commissions in a panel, ideally in real time, and receive conversions by postback if you use your own tracker. A program that only sends a monthly number asks you to trust blindly.

5. Free trials and the attribution window

Many SaaS products start with a free trial. Check that a trial started through your link counts when the customer pays later, and how long after the click a sign-up is still yours. Also check whether the program asks visitors for cookie consent: in the EU it should, and it explains why some referrals only count in the same visit.

6. Payouts

How you are paid (bank transfer, PayPal, crypto), how often, and the minimum balance (net terms). Commissions on refunds and chargebacks are usually reversed: that's fair, as long as it's written down.

7. The rules

Most programs ban brand bidding (ads on their brand name), spam and self-referrals. Breaking them gets you banned and unpaid, so read them before you promote.

8. Support and materials

A partner manager who answers, banners and copy you can use, and a product you can try yourself. If you can't get a reply before joining, you won't get one when a commission is missing.

A quick scorecard

Question	Good sign
What is one customer worth over a realistic lifetime?	A number you can calculate
Do customers stay?	Daily-use product, low churn
Can I see my referrals?	Real-time panel, postbacks
Do trials count?	Yes, from the first payment
How am I paid?	Monthly, clear minimum

RastroAff's answers

The RastroAff partner program pays 25% of every payment for 12 months. Referrals are tracked in a RastroAff network, so partners see clicks, sign-ups and commissions in their own panel; trials count; payouts are requested in the portal and paid monthly. The rules are on the program page.