Best WordPress Plugins for Affiliate Marketers

Alexandra Belski Alexandra Belski
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Installing plugins can help you advance your campaign, track your links, and grow your business faster. This is because plugins bring additional functionality to your website, such as capturing new visitors, building an email list, shortening links, launching multiple ads, and more. Check out this list of the top-rated WordPress plugins. Maybe a few of them will be useful for your affiliate campaign!

Best WordPress Plugins for Affiliate Marketers

Best Plugins for Email Marketing

The first step to building strong connections with your audience is to start and grow an email list. The following WordPress plugins will support affiliate marketers in the collection of visitors’ email addresses, which will help convert visitors to customers.

Popups by OptinMonster 

A screenshot of the Optinmonster homepage featuring a description of the plugin
Optinmonster homepage

Optinmonster is the ultimate tool for lead generation and conversion. It features an intuitive form builder that allows you to create and customize beautiful popups so visitors remain on your website longer. Here is what you get with OptinMonster:

  • A wide range of responsive templates: Popups and side-bar forms, exit-intent popups, floating headers and footers, scroll-triggered boxes, etc.
  • The opportunity to add video, social icons, images, and social media buttons.
  • Compatibility with any email marketing service.
  • An opportunity to target visitors depending on their location and behavior on your website.
  • A/B tests and statistics that help determine highly effective forms.
  • The MonsterLinks tool to keep your content up to date.
  • Optinmonster claims to be the number one most popular popup-builder plugin.

The plugin is compatible with WordPress Version 4.7.0 and higher.

Viral Signup 

A screenshot of the Wow Viral homepage featuring a signup form and a photo of a person typing on a laptop
Wow Viral homepage

This WordPress affiliate plugin allows you to build a signup form based on the specific needs of your campaign. Options include a simple form to collect emails, a form that incentivizes customers to share the link and to refer friends and connections, as well as a form for scarcity-based campaigns with limited available spaces. Here are other features of the plugin:

  • Four different modes for highly effective campaigns.
  • The option to add email addresses to a built-in list and customize that list for users who bring in referrals.
  • The ability to protect your email list from errors by prohibiting multiple registrations for a single user.
  • Customizable forms.
  • The ability to share any links with users.

The number of signups depends on the plugin version. To have more than 50 signups, you’ll need to buy a Pro plan. It will also allow you to create unlimited forms and an email list, integrate tools such as Mailchimp and Getresponse, and offer different design options. 

Viral SIgnup is compatible with WordPress 4.3 and higher, and has been tested up to Version 5.3.

WPForms 

A screenshot of the WPForms homepage featuring a breakdown of the plugin’s benefits as well as a CTA button
WPForms homepage

WPForms is a drag-and-drop form creator with predesigned responsive templates that one can use without any training. This platform also claims to be the fastest WordPress contact form builder available online. You can build almost any type of online forms, including signup, payment, feedback, donation, surveys, and more. In addition, all forms are mobile-responsive and look nice on all devices, including desktop or mobile. Here are some more features:

  • A built-in library of over 100 templates with customization options.
  • Integration with tools, such as MailChimp, AWeber, GetResponse, and other programs.
  • An upload feature that allows subscribers to attach files.
  • Spam protection.
  • Dynamic forms that adjust based on the answers provided by users.
  • Fully responsive forms for desktop, mobile, and tablet devices.
  • An instant form notification feature that will allow you to quickly respond to new leads.
  • A collection of payments and donations.

WPForms is compatible with WordPress 5.2 and higher, and it has been tested up to Version 5.6. It is also possible to purchase a premium plan.

E-Commerce Tools

The following WordPress plugins are suitable mainly for e-commerce affiliate programs, such as Amazon. These tools will help you build links right in your editor, show a quick product preview, add items to a wish list, and more.

YITH WooCommerce

A screenshot of the YITH WooCommerce homepage featuring descriptions of various YITH plugins
YITH WooCommerce homepage

This is a family of plugins for e-commerce websites. Most YITH WooCommerce plugins are available for WordPress 4.0 and higher, and have been tested up to Version 6.3.1. Here are some of the best YITH tools for affiliates:

  • Wishlist: Allows clients to add products to a wish list, which can then be shared on social media or via links.
  • Ajax Product Filter: Allows clients to apply relevant filters to display the products they are looking for.
  • Compare: Displays the products you like on a single table and compares them to help you find the best options.
  • Zoom Magnifier: Allows clients to zoom in on product images.
  • Quick View: Opens a product preview without leaving the page. 
  • Order Tracking: Allows you to check the shipping details right on the website and to receive a notification if necessary.
  • Add-Ons: Allows you to add and customize unlimited blocks of options for all products on your blog or a specific category.
  • Subscription: Allows you to market your products and services with a subscription plan and manage payments.

Manage Affiliate Links

Links are the foundation of any affiliate campaign’s success, so using one of the following tools is a must for managing affiliate links on WordPress. It allows you to shorten your links to make them more attractive, insert links automatically in your content, change link statuses, and more.

URL Shortener

A screenshot of the URL Shortener homepage featuring a list of the product benefits and a download button
URL Shortener homepage

URL Shortener Pro helps you shorten links to make them easy to remember and boost social media shares. The plugin is free and requires no coding skills or multi-level settings. It allows you to insert your own textual information into the URL and hide the affiliate marker.

In addition, it’s possible to automatically link specific keywords in all your articles to short URLs. You’ll always know how many users clicked on your short link. The rel=”nofollow” option also prevents web crawlers from following your links, which helps avoid problems on Google.

The plugin is compatible with WordPress 5.6 and higher, and has been tested up to Version 7.2. 

For affiliate partners who work with Travelpayouts, there is a free alternative: the built-in URL shortener found in your Travelpayouts’ account. By using this tool, in just a few clicks, you can create a short affiliate URL with your brand name and ID included (without any technical parameters). Simply open the “Link Generator” tool in the selected program and fill in the required fields. You can find tips on how to shorten links in the tool update review.

WP Links

A screenshot of the WP Links homepage featuring a dashboard window and product description
WP Links homepage

This plugin is one of the top-rated tools for managing your links. It allows you to control external and internal icons, link statuses, the manner in which a link opens (in a new tab/window), etc. These features are especially important for website optimization. You can also add user-generated content and sponsored values.

Here are some other features of WP Links:

  • Set proper attributes for all published links to get the most SEO juice out of them that you can.
  • Check whether your links have a correct REL tag and are not broken or misleading.
  • Get detailed reports to have a bigger view. 
  • Send a warning each time a visitor clicks on an external link. 

WP Links is compatible with WordPress 4.2 and higher, and has been tested up to Version 7.2. 

Auto Affiliate Links

A screenshot of the Auto Affiliate Links homepage featuring a photo of a man typing on a computer as well as links to Auto Affiliate Links Pro
Auto Affiliate Links homepage

Auto Affiliate Links will automatically insert affiliate links into your content once your post has been published. In addition, you can do all of that manually from the plugin menu on your dashboard. It is compatible with many tools, such as Amazon, Clickbank, Shareasale, Ebay, and Best Buy. Some other options include:

  • Hide links.
  • Select the page for placing links.
  • Set nofollow or dofollow status.
  • Limit the number of links per post.
  • Get 100 keywords from your content.

The plugin offers a free plan, as well as several PRO memberships. It is available for WordPress 3.5 and higher, and has been tested up to Version 6.2.

Manage Ads

Ads are an important tool for many affiliate marketers. To make the best of your ad campaign, use one of the following tools to help create banners, display them properly, and manage your promotions.

Google Analytics Dashboard Plugin

A screenshot of the MonsterInsights homepage featuring the “Upgrade Now” button and a list of product features
MonsterInsights homepage

This is one of the most popular tools for integrating Google Analytics into WordPress. It features a dashboard that you’ll see right in the editor to easily track your campaign. The plugin filters the data and only shows the most important stats:

  • Audience Report: Shows demographics, device types, and other metrics about your website visitors.
  • Behavior Report: Controls the way people find and interact with your blog. 
  • Content Report: Provides insights on which posts get the most attention from your audience.
  • E-Commerce Report: Allows you to analyze sales metrics, such as revenue, conversion, etc.
  • Forms Report: Summarizes the conversion rate and helps improve your signup forms.

You can also resort to custom dimensions to access advanced tracking. The plugin is available for WordPress 4.8.0 and higher, and has been tested up to Version 5.6.

AdRotate

A screenshot of the AdRotate Banner Manager page featuring the product’s logo and description as well as information about the author
AdRotate Banner Manager page

This plugin is available for WordPress 4.9 and higher, and has been tested up to Version 5.7.4. AdRotate helps create banner ads and track how many people have clicked on them. The free plugin comes with continual updates and support. You can create your own ad from scratch or take it from sources such as Google AdSense, Media.net, Google Ad Manager, and many others. Here is what you can do with AdRotate:

  • Set an expiration date for each ad.
  • Display several banners simultaneously.
  • Choose any size for your ad.
  • Monitor your ad’s effectiveness with the analytics features.
  • Remove inefficient ads automatically.
  • Buy AdRotate Pro for advanced functionality.

Best Plugins for SEO

The following plugins ensure that your website is friendly for search engines and can rank high enough. They are useful regardless of the type of website you run (personal blog, e-commerce, etc.) and are suitable for both beginners and professional webmasters alike.

SEOPress

A screenshot of the SEOPress homepage featuring a screenshot of the WordPress dashboard 
SEOPress homepage

SEOPress is a great plugin for increasing your blog’s traffic through SEO. Here are the main features of the tool:

  • Increasing search traffic.
  • Boosting social shares on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.
  • Generating custom HTML and XML sitemaps.
  • Managing meta tags for every page and post.
  • Integrating applications, such as WooCommerce, Multilingual Press, and WPML. 
  • SEOPress PRO will make your work more effective by automatically creating SEO titles and meta descriptions with the help of AI.

SEOPress is compatible with WordPress Version 5.0, and has been tested up to Version 7.2. 

Yoast SEO

A screenshot of the Yoast SEO homepage featuring two cartoon characters climbing up the background of a webpage
Yoast SEO homepage

Yoast SEO focuses on attracting traffic from search engines like Google or Bing as well as various social networks. Yoast SEO claims to be the most popular SEO plugin for WordPress websites. The plugin comes offers several useful functions:

  • Checking the keyword number and placement in your content. 
  • Optimizing content with relevant keywords.
  • Providing links to related posts.
  • Adding schema.org code.
  • Editing snippets.

This plugin helps you avoid duplicate content and provides content analysis to reveal whether the keywords you use correspond to your post. In addition, it displays the webpage preview to see how everything will look on social media platforms.

With a Yoast SEO Premium account, you can receive updates and new features faster than other users, increase your traffic from Google and social networks, and also get access to Yoast SEO Academy.

Yoast SEO is available for WordPress 6.2, and has been tested up to Version 7.2.5.

Manage Your Affiliate Campaigns and Links

The following examples of WordPress affiliate plugins are all-in-one platforms that you can use to handle various aspects of your affiliate campaign, such as checking reports, moderating signups, launching promotions, and more. 

Thirsty Affiliates

A screenshot of the Thirsty Affiliates homepage featuring a video introduction and list of product benefits
Thirsty Affiliates homepage

This plugin is designed for webmasters who want to join the affiliate marketing field and promote products on their WordPress website. Basically, Thirsty Affiliates allows you to manage your affiliate links and track their performance, as well as:

  • Shorten links and insert them into your content.
  • Track clicks.
  • Change the link status to nofollow.
  • Store data.
  • Delete outdated links automatically.
  • Customize plugin functionality and use only the necessary functions.

The Pro versions allow you to connect multiple websites, create automated keyword linking, set geographic redirects, and more.

This plugin is compatible with WordPress 5.0 and higher, and has been tested up to Version 5.6.

AffiliateWP

A screenshot of the Affiliate WP homepage featuring the product benefits followed by icons
Affiliate WP homepage

AffiliateWP is a plugin that allows you to fully manage your affiliate program on WordPress. You can establish a referral rate for affiliates, track their performance, distribute commissions, and more. One of the distinctive features of this plugin is that it allows you to set different commissions for each product and even tailor commissions to each individual affiliate.

AffiliateWP integrates with WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads. The plugin is available for WordPress 5.2 and higher, and has been tested up to Version 5.6. 

Travelpayouts: Flights & Hotels Travel Search

This plugin is designed to help webmasters display the cheapest hotels and flights on their websites with the help of various widgets, forms, maps, calendars, and tables. The plugin is perfect for travel agents, bloggers, and more, as it allows them to generate additional income, while customers will be able to find the best travel deal directly on their website. Moreover, it is possible to build your own Flights Search White Label.

The plugin is available for WordPress 4.0 and higher, and has been tested up to 5.0.7.

Affiliates Manager

A screenshot of the WordPress Affiliate Manager homepage featuring a detailed description of the tool
WordPress Affiliate Manager homepage

Affiliate Manager is a dedicated plugin for merchants to keep track of their affiliates. It covers the entire affiliate signup process while helping to monitor the referred users and distribute commissions accordingly. Here are some of the features of Affiliates Manager:

  • Real-time reports of your affiliates’ sales and referrals.
  • Unlimited number of affiliates.
  • Various payment models. 
  • Flexible payouts and rates for each affiliate in case you need to increase a reward or change the terms.
  • Integration with Paypal.
  • Unlimited banners and ads.

The plugin integrates with the most popular software for online sales, such as WooCommerce, Simple Shopping Cart, Paid Membership Pro, and more. It is available for WordPress 3.5 and higher, and has been tested up to Version 6.3.1.

Affiliates

A screenshot of the Affiliates by itthinx homepage featuring product banners
Affiliates by itthinx homepage

This is another great plugin for running your affiliate program and managing referrals. It is great for merchants, stores, distributors, and anyone who would like to launch an affiliate program.

You’ll be able to track visits to your website through affiliate links, attribute referrals to partners, send rewards, and provide affiliates with real-time stats on their performance on the front end. Here are some of the most important features:

  • Dashboard for affiliates with all the information about the program and analytics.
  • Built-in tools and links that partners can share and use.
  • Automated registration.
  • Integration with various apps for e-commerce, lead generation, membership websites, and more.
  • Built-in commissions.

This plugin is available for WordPress 6.0 and higher and has been tested up to Version 7.2. You can also purchase Affiliates Pro or Affiliates Enterprise solutions.

Which WordPress Affiliate Plugin Should I Choose

WordPress affiliate marketing will be a piece of cake once you take advantage of affiliate plugins. There are all-in-one solutions that cover various aspects of promotion as well as dedicated tools for growing email lists, shortening links, and so on. In order to choose the best plugin for your specific needs, think about the aspects of your campaign that need improvement and test a few options to find the best one.

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