UpPromote vs Awin
Choose UpPromote if you run a Shopify store and want to build an affiliate or customer-referral program; choose Awin if your priority is recruiting partners through an established affiliate network or supporting a store outside Shopify. Both are available to advertisers and provide tools to track referrals, but they differ most in how merchants find partners and where they can run a program.
Last updated November 1, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | UpPromote | Awin |
|---|---|---|
| Partner discovery | Customer referrals; marketplace listing on Growth and above | Directory of more than 1 million partners |
| Store platforms | Shopify | Shopify, WooCommerce, PrestaShop and more |
| How to start | Install the Shopify app | Apply for an advertiser account |
| Advertiser plans | Free, Growth, Professional, Enterprise | Access, Accelerate, Advanced |
| Monthly price | Free; paid plans from $29.99/month | Access $49/month; Accelerate from $99/month |
| Transaction-based fee | None on Free; 2% to 1% on paid plans | Access 3.5%; Accelerate 2.5% per transaction |
| Free entry | Ongoing Free plan; 14-day paid-plan trials | First month free on Access |
| Starting-plan limit | One affiliate program on Free | Up to three commission groups on Access |
| Integrations | Klaviyo, Mailchimp, Omnisend, Recharge | Shopify, WooCommerce and PrestaShop plugins |
| Partner payments | Store credit; PayPal auto-pay on Professional | Partner payment processing |
| API | Affiliate marketing API | Advertiser APIs on Accelerate and Advanced by default |
| Minimum term | Not published | Three months on Access |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose UpPromote if
- Shopify merchants building their own affiliate program
- Stores turning customers into referral partners
- Teams that want a free plan for one program
- Merchants using Shopify-focused email and subscription integrations
Choose Awin if
- Advertisers seeking partners in a large affiliate directory
- Merchants using WooCommerce or PrestaShop
- Teams managing affiliate campaigns beyond a Shopify app
- Advertisers seeking advanced reporting and commission rules on higher plans
The verdict
The deciding factor is partner recruitment and store platform. UpPromote fits Shopify merchants who want to enroll their own customers and affiliates, with an optional marketplace listing and a free starting plan. Awin fits advertisers who want access to its directory of more than one million partners, including merchants using WooCommerce or other supported platforms. Compare the monthly fee, transaction-based fee and partner commissions together before choosing.
UpPromote vs Awin: common questions
- Is UpPromote vs Awin a useful comparison?
- Yes. Both currently offer advertisers affiliate-program management and referral tracking. UpPromote is built around Shopify, while Awin combines program tools with access to its partner network.
- Can I use UpPromote or Awin without Shopify?
- Awin publishes integrations for Shopify, WooCommerce and PrestaShop. UpPromote presents its affiliate platform as built for Shopify; its third-party tracking feature covers clicks on pages outside Shopify.
- Which helps me find affiliates?
- Awin gives advertisers access to a directory of more than one million partners. UpPromote supports customer referrals and, on Growth and higher plans, a marketplace listing where affiliates can discover a merchant's program.
- How much do UpPromote and Awin cost?
- UpPromote has a Free plan and paid plans starting at $29.99 per month, plus a fee on approved referral sales. Awin Access costs $49 per month plus a 3.5% tracking fee per transaction; advertiser-set partner commissions are additional.
- Does either product offer a free way to start?
- UpPromote publishes an ongoing Free plan for one affiliate program and 14-day trials for paid plans. Awin publishes a free first month on Access, followed by its monthly fee and a three-month minimum term.
- Can either platform pay affiliates?
- UpPromote lists store-credit payments and PayPal auto-pay on its Professional plan. Awin lists partner payment processing among its advertiser platform features.
- What limits matter on the entry plans?
- UpPromote Free permits one affiliate program. Awin Access permits up to three commission groups under its published commission rules. These are different limits, so neither number is a direct measure of how many affiliates you can recruit.
- Which offers more advanced program controls?
- UpPromote lists multiple programs on Growth, PayPal auto-pay on Professional and multi-store sync on Enterprise. Awin lists APIs and enhanced reporting on Accelerate, with custom reports and branded private networks on Advanced.
