Free Tool
Affiliate Program Comparison
A 20% commission on a product nobody buys pays less than a 5% commission on a product that converts. This calculator compares programs on EPC — what each click is really worth.
Planning estimate, not financial advice. All figures on this page are estimates or scenarios for planning purposes only, built from the numbers you enter. They are not financial, tax or legal advice, and no earnings are promised. Read the full financial disclaimer.
What this tool does
Enter up to three programs with the same traffic — clicks, conversion rate, average order value and commission rate — and the calculator shows each program’s EPC and net commission, ranked. The ranking is the teaching: a high headline rate with a low conversion rate or a small basket loses to a modest rate with a converting offer, and the table makes that visible in one look.
The payout-threshold mode answers the second question: once you know the monthly net commission, how many months until the program’s payout threshold is reached? Enter the threshold the program states and your monthly net figure, and the planner shows the wait.
Try it
Waiting. Enter the programs to compare, or switch to the payout mode, then press Calculate.
How it works
Each program is modelled the same way: sales equal clicks multiplied by the conversion rate; commission per sale equals the average order value multiplied by the commission rate; net commission equals sales multiplied by commission per sale. EPC — earnings per click — is net commission divided by clicks, and it is the fair comparison, because it folds the rate, the conversion and the basket size into one number.
The payout mode divides the threshold by the monthly net commission. A threshold of 50 with 18 a month takes about 2.8 months, which in practice means three months of commission before anything lands. Programs state their own thresholds; this page never assumes one.
Assumptions and limitations
A comparison is only fair when the inputs are equal. This tool assumes they are.
- The same clicks are entered for every program. If one program gets different traffic, the comparison is not between programs but between audiences.
- Conversion rates, order values and commission rates are entered by you. Rates change — check the program’s own terms before joining or promoting it.
- Reversals, refunds and cookie windows are not modelled. The commission calculator on this site models reversals for a single funnel.
- All figures are scenarios from your assumptions, not forecasts. A program that wins on paper still has to convert your actual audience.
Worked example
Example (illustrative inputs, not real programs). Same 5,000 clicks for both programs:
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Program A — 2% conversion, 60 order value, 8% rate | Net 480.00 a month; EPC 0.10 per click |
| Program B — 1% conversion, 120 order value, 5% rate | Net 300.00 a month; EPC 0.06 per click |
| Winner on EPC | Program A, despite the lower headline rate |
Frequently asked questions
Why compare on EPC instead of the commission rate?
Because the rate is only one of four numbers. A 20% rate on a product that converts at 0.5% pays less than a 5% rate on a product that converts at 3%. EPC folds the rate, the conversion and the order value into one figure per click, which is the fair comparison.
Should the clicks be the same for every program?
Yes. The comparison assumes the same audience and the same traffic, so the difference is the program, not the audience. If one program would get different traffic, model that traffic separately.
Where do I find a program’s payout threshold?
In the program’s own terms or payment settings — every program states its minimum payout. Thresholds differ widely and change, so enter the figure the program states today rather than trusting a roundup.
Why does the winner sometimes have the lower rate?
Because conversion and basket size matter more than the rate. A low rate on a high-converting, high-value offer beats a high rate on an offer nobody buys. That is exactly what the comparison is built to show.