When it comes to managing influencer and affiliate marketing, finding the right platform is crucial for driving success. Roster has emerged as a standout solution, offering a comprehensive suite of features tailored for effective affiliate marketing. With its interactive community platform, Roster unifies and ignites brand communities by bringing together ambassadors, influencers, pros, affiliates, customers, and superfans. Its powerful Ambassador's CRM provides deep insights into community dynamics while robust tracking, reward distribution, and automated product seeding ensure seamless campaign execution. However, Roster’s features and pricing may not suit every brand’s needs, which is why we've compiled this guide to explore the top Roster alternatives.
In this article, we highlight other platforms and compare their features, pricing, and reviews to help you find the best fit for your affiliate marketing strategy. Whether you're looking for more customization, a broader network reach, or specialized tools, the alternatives discussed here offer various solutions tailored to different marketing needs. Understanding the strengths and limitations of each platform will guide you to the ideal choice for your brand's unique goals.
Our comparison focuses on several key aspects:
A detailed overview of all the features covered by these platforms both affiliate marketing related as well as other capabilities.
Overview of all the integrations the software offers.
Different industries which use the software.
Level of support the platform offers
Understanding the cost and reviews can help brands to make the right decision.
Selecting the right affiliate marketing software involves understanding the two primary types of platforms available, each offering distinct methods for implementing and managing your brand's affiliate program.
Roster is recognized as a unique and comprehensive platform that stands out for being the first to enable organizations to work with influencers, brand ambassadors, pros, athletes, affiliates, and customers all within a single ecosystem. This innovative approach allows businesses to streamline their marketing efforts by managing diverse types of partnerships on one platform.
Roster is particularly valued for its ability to integrate various marketing strategies, from influencer outreach to affiliate management, providing a cohesive solution for brands looking to enhance their reach and engagement across multiple channels.
Roster offers a comprehensive ambassador portal, an all-in-one mobile dashboard that keeps advocates informed and engaged around the clock. This portal provides clear updates on milestone progress, current campaigns, available discount codes, referral links, reward points, and user profiles. Additionally, Roster simplifies the collection and reuse of user-generated content (UGC), enabling brands to gather authentic content that can be repurposed to create distinctive and genuine marketing materials.
Roster is classified as an outbound platform, focusing on proactive outreach and engagement with partners, including influencers and affiliates, to drive marketing success.
Roster integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, BigCommerce, Slack, Quickbooks, and Zapier.
Founded in 2016 and based in Sydney and Utah, Roster is a marketing platform that unifies brand ambassadors, influencers, and affiliates under one system.
Hydroflask, On running, Solomon, Bulletproof Coffee
Health, Wellbeing, Sports.
Roster is ideal for D2C e-commerce brands and marketing agencies looking for an all-in-one platform to manage their influencer and affiliate marketing efforts.
Roster offers chatbot support and email, ensuring that users receive timely assistance with their campaigns and platform management.
Influencer Hero is recognized as a comprehensive solution for influencer marketing, offering tools that streamline the entire influencer campaign process. The platform stands out for its ability to discover influencers, manage relationships, and measure campaign success.
Influencer Hero is ideal for brands and agencies aiming to enhance their influencer marketing strategies through a user-friendly interface that centralizes all essential features.
Known for its robust influencer discovery, CRM capabilities, and detailed reporting, Influencer Hero is designed to drive measurable results in the influencer marketing space.
Influencer Hero goes beyond just affiliate management, offering a wide range of features including influencer discovery, outreach, CRM for influencer relationships, content and UGC management, influencer gifting, and robust reporting and analytics tools. These features make it a well-rounded platform for handling various aspects of influencer marketing.
Influencer Hero is an outbound platform, characterized by its proactive outreach and engagement capabilities, allowing brands to actively seek out and manage influencer partnerships.
Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Instagram, Klaviyo, Gmail, Outlook.
Founded in 2017, Influencer Hero offers robust tools for managing influencer marketing campaigns, tailored specifically for e-commerce brands.
Bower Collective, Alkaline, Immersive Gamingbox, FreakOut, Olivida, Holzprofi24
Beauty, Fashion & Retail, e-commerce, Food & Beverage, Technology & Apps, Gaming, Luxury, Automative, Hospitality
The platform is designed for D2C ecommerce brands and marketing agencies looking for a comprehensive influencer marketing solution.
Influencer Hero offers 24/7 live chat support with fast replies, ensuring that users receive timely assistance whenever needed.
Roster and Influencer Hero both offer robust features for managing influencer and affiliate marketing campaigns. However, Influencer Hero excels in providing a comprehensive toolset that includes influencer discovery, outreach, and CRM, which Roster lacks.
While Roster may be strong in certain affiliate-specific features, Influencer Hero’s advanced reporting, 24/7 customer support, and seamless integrations with major e-commerce platforms make it a more versatile choice.
Pricing is another point of difference, with Influencer Hero being transparent and offering a flat-rate plan, whereas Roster’s pricing may vary. Reviews indicate a higher satisfaction rate for Influencer Hero, making it a preferred option for brands seeking a well-rounded influencer marketing platform.
UpPromote is widely recognized as an efficient affiliate marketing tool, particularly tailored for e-commerce businesses. It is known for its user-friendly interface, which simplifies the process of setting up and managing affiliate programs.
UpPromote stands out for its strong cross-promotion opportunities, allowing users to enhance their affiliate marketing efforts by tapping into multiple channels.
In addition to its strong affiliate marketing capabilities, UpPromote also includes features such as an ambassador recruitment tool, which helps businesses identify and onboard brand ambassadors, and integrated invoice and tax setup options, simplifying financial management and compliance for affiliate marketing efforts.
UpPromote is classified as an outbound platform, focusing on actively managing and promoting affiliate programs to enhance e-commerce performance.
Shopify, WooCommerce, Mailchimp, Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel.
Founded in 2018, UpPromote offers a user-friendly interface and a variety of tools for managing affiliate programs.
TreSkin, SaleDress, Wink, Imperial Toys, Kaged, Capterra.
Serves industries such as retail, consumer goods, and beauty.
UpPromote is ideal for D2C e-commerce brands seeking a scalable and user-friendly affiliate marketing platform.
Offers email support, along with tutorials and videos to help users get started and manage their affiliate programs effectively.
While both Roster and UpPromote are powerful tools for affiliate marketing, UpPromote’s user-friendly interface and cross-promotion opportunities set it apart. UpPromote offers automated payouts and customizable affiliate links, which Roster also supports, but UpPromote’s strong integration with Shopify and WooCommerce gives it an edge in the e-commerce space.
Pricing is a key differentiator; UpPromote offers a free plan, making it accessible to a wider range of businesses. In contrast, Roster’s pricing may be more variable and possibly higher.
However, Roster might offer more advanced features for affiliate tracking and reporting, making it a better choice for businesses needing more detailed analytics.
Refersion is known for its robust affiliate marketing capabilities, particularly its strong attribution and first-party tracking features. The platform is tailored for e-commerce brands looking to manage and scale their affiliate programs effectively.
Refersion excels in offering detailed reporting tools and customizable affiliate programs, making it a popular choice among businesses that need advanced tracking and analytics for their affiliate marketing efforts.
The platform is also praised for its ease of use, allowing users to set up and manage their affiliate programs with minimal effort.
Besides its strong focus on affiliate marketing, Refersion offers features that cater to broader marketing needs, such as integration with popular e-commerce platforms and support for multi-channel marketing campaigns. The platform also provides tools for managing influencer partnerships, further enhancing its value for e-commerce businesses.
Refersion is defined as an inbound platform, emphasizing data-driven insights and attribution tracking to optimize affiliate marketing efforts.
Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Bigcommerce, Klaviyo, Zapier, Salesforce.
Founded in 2013, Refersion has built a reputation for reliable affiliate tracking and management.
Verb, Fuego, Simply Earth, Harney & Sons, In common Beauty
It serves a range of industries, including health and wellness, CBD, and home goods.
Refersion is ideal for D2C e-commerce brands and individuals who want to efficiently manage and scale their affiliate marketing programs with advanced analytics and tracking capabilities.
Refersion offers chatbot support and email assistance, ensuring users can access help when needed.
Roster and Refersion both offer strong features for affiliate marketing, but they cater to slightly different needs. Refersion is more focused on detailed tracking and reporting, making it a great choice for businesses that require in-depth analytics. On the other hand, Roster may offer a more straightforward approach to affiliate management with a broader feature set, depending on specific needs.
Refersion’s pricing is more transparent and includes a free trial, which can be advantageous for businesses looking to test the platform before committing. However, Roster might provide more flexibility in terms of pricing and feature offerings.
While both platforms are well-regarded, Refersion’s strong analytics capabilities might make it the better choice for data-driven marketers.
Awin is a globally recognized affiliate marketing platform known for its extensive network and advanced tracking capabilities. The platform offers a wide range of features designed to help businesses create, manage, and optimize affiliate programs.
Awin is particularly strong in providing detailed reporting and analytics, allowing businesses to gain insights into the performance of their affiliate campaigns.
The platform’s global reach and customizable referral campaigns make it a popular choice among businesses looking to expand their affiliate marketing efforts internationally.
Awin leverages its extensive partnership database to drive business growth by connecting brands with a vast network of affiliates, influencers, and other marketing partners. This comprehensive database allows businesses to identify and collaborate with the right partners, expanding their reach and optimizing their marketing efforts for greater impact. By tapping into this resource, brands can scale their campaigns effectively, fostering sustainable growth through well-targeted partnerships.
Awin is classified as an inbound platform, focusing on detailed analytics and tracking to help businesses optimize their affiliate marketing efforts.
Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Bigcommerce, AppsFlyer, Adjust, Button, Branch, Squarespace, Wx, Wordpress
Founded in 2017, Awin is recognized for its extensive network and detailed reporting capabilities.
Nike, Boohoo, Acer, and MyProtein.
Awin serves multiple industries, including retail, travel, finance, telecommunications, and more.
Awin is ideal for D2C e-commerce brands and businesses looking to expand their affiliate marketing reach on a global scale.
Awin offers support via email and phone, ensuring that users can get help when needed.
Roster and Awin both offer strong affiliate marketing capabilities, but Awin’s global reach and extensive network give it an edge for businesses looking to expand internationally.
Awin’s detailed reporting and analytics are comparable to Roster’s offerings, but Awin’s customizable referral campaigns and advanced tracking solutions might make it a better choice for businesses that need these specific features. Roster, however, might offer a more straightforward setup process and potentially lower entry requirements, making it more accessible to smaller businesses or those just starting with affiliate marketing.
Awin’s lack of transparent pricing and the absence of a free trial could be seen as drawbacks, especially when compared to platforms like Roster that might offer more flexibility in these areas.
Share a Sale is a well-established affiliate marketing platform known for its extensive network of affiliates and merchants. The platform has been a staple in the affiliate marketing industry for many years, offering a broad range of tools to help businesses create, manage, and grow their affiliate programs.
Share a Sale is particularly recognized for its robust recruitment tools, which allow merchants to expand their affiliate base by easily finding and onboarding new partners. The platform’s large pool of affiliates and its long-standing reputation make it a go-to choice for businesses looking to leverage affiliate marketing to drive sales.
Share a Sale offers agency-managed options, allowing organizations to entrust their marketing efforts to expert teams. This service provides professional oversight and strategic execution, ensuring that businesses can focus on other priorities while their marketing campaigns are handled by experienced professionals.
Share a Sale is defined as an inbound platform, focusing on attracting and managing a large network of affiliates to optimize marketing efforts.
Shopify, WooCommerce, Bigcommerce, Paypal, Mailchimp, Wix, Shoplazza.
Established in 2000, Share a Sale has built a strong reputation for its reliable affiliate marketing solutions.
Northwest, Nanit, Buffy, and Ergobaby.
It caters to industries like beauty, e-commerce, food & beverage, and technology, offering specialized solutions for each.
Share a Sale is ideal for D2C e-commerce brands, merchants, and agencies looking for a reliable and extensive affiliate network to boost their marketing efforts.
Share a Sale offers support via email and phone, providing users with the assistance they need to manage their affiliate programs effectively.
Roster and Share a Sale both offer strong features for managing affiliate marketing campaigns, but they cater to different needs. Share a Sale is renowned for its extensive affiliate network and recruitment tools, making it ideal for businesses looking to expand their reach. However, Roster may provide a more modern and streamlined user experience, potentially with more flexibility in campaign management.
While Share a Sale’s long-standing reputation is a plus, its lower user reviews and complex setup process could be seen as drawbacks when compared to Roster’s potentially more user-friendly interface. Pricing transparency is another area where Roster might have an advantage, offering clearer cost structures compared to Share a Sale’s undisclosed pricing.
ClickBank is a globally recognized platform that combines affiliate marketing with a vast marketplace of digital products. It is particularly known for its large affiliate network, which connects vendors with affiliates to promote a wide range of products, primarily digital ones such as eBooks, online courses, and software.
ClickBank is a preferred platform for creators of digital content looking to scale their sales through affiliate marketing.
ClickBank not only excels in affiliate marketing but also provides tools for vendors to create, manage, and market their digital products. The platform offers a range of resources, including product creation tools, marketing support, and analytics, to help vendors optimize their sales strategies.
ClickBank is classified as an inbound platform, focusing on attracting a large network of affiliates to promote digital products.
Shopify, GetResponse, AWeber mailing, Facebook, Mailchimp.
Founded in 1998, ClickBank is a veteran in the affiliate marketing space, known for its large network and reliable services.
Tea burn, Organifi, Ship Offers, Voluum, Disk.
Consumer Goods, Beauty, Fitness.
ClickBank is ideal for digital product vendors and affiliates looking for a robust marketplace and extensive network to boost their sales.
ClickBank offers 24/7 phone support, ensuring that users can get help whenever they need it.
Roster and ClickBank both provide strong affiliate marketing capabilities, but they serve different markets. ClickBank is primarily focused on digital products, offering a large network of affiliates and a global marketplace, making it ideal for vendors in this space. Roster, on the other hand, might offer more flexibility and advanced features for businesses outside the digital product industry.
While ClickBank’s integrated payment system and global reach are significant advantages, Roster might appeal more to businesses looking for a platform with broader e-commerce capabilities and potentially more customization options.
ClickBank’s strict policies and lack of a free trial could be seen as drawbacks compared to Roster’s potentially more flexible and transparent approach.
GoaffPro is recognized for its user-friendly interface and affordability, making it a popular choice for small to medium-sized businesses looking to start or scale their affiliate marketing efforts.
The platform is known for offering comprehensive tools at a competitive price point, including automated payments, customizable affiliate dashboards, and detailed analytics.
GoaffPro is particularly appealing to businesses that require a cost-effective solution to manage their affiliate programs without compromising on essential features.
GoaffPro is a versatile platform designed to benefit both sellers and affiliates. It provides user-friendly tools that make it easy for sellers to manage affiliate programs, while offering affiliates an intuitive dashboard for tracking performance and earnings. The platform’s seamless integration with e-commerce stores ensures a smooth experience for both parties, promoting effective collaboration and growth.
GoaffPro is defined as an inbound platform, focusing on detailed tracking and analytics to optimize affiliate marketing efforts.
Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Bigcommerce, Pagefly, PayPal Payouts, Wix, Squarespace.
Founded in 2020, Goaffpro is relatively new in the affiliate marketing space, but it has quickly gained popularity for its simplicity and effectiveness.
G Fuel, Lakme, Juicy Chemistry, S&D, Minimalist, Green Soul.
The platform caters to industries like health and wellbeing, beauty, and e-commerce.
GoaffPro is ideal for small to medium-sized e-commerce businesses that need a budget-friendly yet comprehensive platform to manage and grow their affiliate marketing programs.
GoaffPro provides support through email and social media, helping users manage their affiliate programs effectively with minimal hassle.
Roster and GoaffPro both serve as powerful tools for managing affiliate marketing, but they cater to different segments of the market. GoaffPro is particularly well-suited for small to medium-sized businesses due to its affordability and ease of use. Its automated payments and customizable dashboards are strong features, especially given its competitive pricing.
Roster, however, might offer a more comprehensive set of tools and integrations, making it a better choice for larger businesses or those with more complex affiliate marketing needs.
While GoaffPro’s free plan and multi-language support are appealing, Roster might provide more advanced features and flexibility, particularly for businesses looking to scale beyond the capabilities of a more budget-focused platform.
Impact is a leading affiliate marketing platform renowned for its comprehensive partner management capabilities. It is designed to handle complex affiliate and partnership programs with ease, making it a favorite among larger enterprises and businesses with intricate partnership needs.
Impact stands out for its powerful tracking and analytics tools, which provide businesses with granular insights into the performance of their affiliate programs.
The platform also supports a wide range of partnerships beyond traditional affiliates, including influencers, business development partnerships, and more, making it a versatile solution for companies looking to manage diverse partnership networks.
Impact offers several additional features to enhance user experience. Their expert team provides seamless migration assistance from existing affiliate networks to their expanded partner platform. By focusing on technology and partnering with accredited agencies, they ensure top-notch service without conflicts of interest. Additionally, Impact boasts a vibrant marketplace where businesses can discover, connect with, and recruit high-performing media partners globally.
Impact is classified as an inbound platform, focusing on detailed tracking, multi-channel integration, and comprehensive partner management to optimize marketing efforts.
Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Bigcommerce, Salesforce, Hubspot, Google Ads, Facebook.
Founded in 2008, Impact is a well-established platform known for its advanced capabilities in managing complex affiliate programs across various industries.
Uber, McAfee, Walmart, Ticketmaster, Microsoft, Lenovo.
Retail, Finance, Consumer Goods, Hospitality, Fashion, Electronics, Health & Beauty
Impact is ideal for large enterprises and businesses with complex partnership needs, looking for a powerful and scalable solution to manage their affiliate and partnership programs.
Impact offers support through email and chatbot, providing assistance to users as needed.
Roster and Impact both offer powerful tools for managing affiliate and partnership programs, but they cater to different segments of the market. Impact is designed for large enterprises with complex partnership needs, offering advanced tracking, attribution, and comprehensive partner management capabilities. While Roster may provide similar features, Impact’s ability to handle a wide range of partnerships, including business development and influencer partnerships, sets it apart.
However, Impact’s higher cost and potentially complex setup might make Roster a more attractive option for businesses looking for a more straightforward and cost-effective solution. Additionally, Roster’s potentially quicker setup and more accessible pricing could be advantageous for businesses not requiring the full range of Impact’s enterprise-level features.
Referral Candy is a specialized platform focused on referral marketing, helping e-commerce businesses grow through customer referrals.
The platform is known for its simplicity and effectiveness in creating and managing referral programs that incentivize customers to refer their friends and family.
Referral Candy’s ease of use and seamless integration with popular e-commerce platforms make it a popular choice for small to medium-sized businesses looking to enhance their customer acquisition efforts through word-of-mouth marketing.
Referral Candy is classified as an inbound platform, focusing on leveraging customer referrals to drive growth through organic, word-of-mouth marketing.
Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Bigcommerce, Bold, Celery, Cratejoy, Paywhirl, Volusion.
Founded in 2019, Referral Candy focuses on helping eCommerce businesses grow through effective referral marketing strategies.
Colgate, Stanley, Tupperware, Steve Madden
Retail, Beauty, Travel, Wellness, Technology
Referral Candy is ideal for small to medium-sized e-commerce businesses that want to increase their customer base through a cost-effective referral marketing strategy.
Provides support through a chatbot, allowing users to get quick answers to common questions and issues.
Roster and Referral Candy both serve as effective tools for driving customer acquisition, but they do so in different ways. Referral Candy is highly specialized in referral marketing, making it a great choice for e-commerce businesses looking to grow through word-of-mouth. In contrast,
Roster offers a broader range of affiliate marketing capabilities, potentially making it a more versatile solution for businesses looking to manage various types of partnerships and affiliate programs. While Referral Candy’s simplicity and affordability are major strengths, Roster might be more appealing to businesses seeking advanced features and greater flexibility in their marketing efforts.
Additionally, Roster’s focus on affiliate marketing, rather than just referrals, could provide a more comprehensive solution for businesses looking to scale their marketing strategies across multiple channels.
Social Snowball is an innovative platform designed to help e-commerce businesses turn customers into affiliates with ease. It is particularly known for its ability to automate the affiliate creation process, allowing businesses to instantly turn their customers into brand ambassadors as soon as they make a purchase.
Social Snowball’s approach to affiliate marketing focuses on leveraging the power of existing customers to drive growth, making it a popular choice for businesses looking to enhance their affiliate programs with minimal effort.
Social Snowball streamlines the gifting process by automatically sending gifts to creators upon onboarding or when they reach performance milestones. Creators can easily select their preferred gifts, provide shipping details, and receive products without further steps. Additionally, the platform enables bulk payouts to multiple creators simultaneously, simplifying reward distribution.
Social Snowball is classified as an outbound platform, focusing on proactive affiliate creation and customer engagement to drive growth.
Shopify, Zapier, Tydo, Prehook, Klaviyo, Adoric.
Founded in 2020, Social Snowball is a newer entrant in the affiliate marketing space, quickly gaining popularity for its innovative approach to customer referrals.
Obvi, Tabs, True Classic, Solawave, and Javy.
Food & Beverages, Beauty, and Wellness Industries.
Social Snowball is ideal for e-commerce businesses of all sizes, particularly those looking to scale their affiliate marketing efforts by turning their existing customers into affiliates with minimal effort.
Social Snowball provides support via chatbot and email, ensuring that users have access to help when needed.
Roster and Social Snowball both offer unique approaches to affiliate marketing, but they cater to different needs. Social Snowball’s strength lies in its ability to quickly convert customers into affiliates, making it ideal for businesses looking to rapidly scale their affiliate programs with minimal effort. Roster, on the other hand, provides a more comprehensive set of tools for managing a wide range of affiliate and partnership programs, offering greater flexibility and advanced features.
While Social Snowball is perfect for e-commerce businesses focused on customer-driven growth, Roster might be a better fit for businesses seeking a more robust and customizable affiliate marketing solution.
Additionally, Social Snowball’s simplicity and automation features are major advantages, but Roster’s broader capabilities might appeal to businesses with more complex marketing needs.
When seeking the best Roster alternatives, it's clear that platforms like Influencer Hero, UpPromote, and Impact offer robust solutions tailored to different business needs. Influencer Hero excels with its comprehensive influencer and affiliate management, while UpPromote is ideal for cost-effective affiliate marketing. Impact stands out for enterprises requiring advanced partner management. Each platform has unique strengths, whether it's specialized in referral marketing like Referral Candy or automating affiliate creation like Social Snowball. For those prioritizing extensive network access, ShareASale and ClickBank provide large affiliate pools. Ultimately, understanding your marketing objectives and industry requirements will guide you to the most suitable platform.
Some of the best alternatives to Roster for affiliate marketing include platforms like Influencer Hero, UpPromote, Impact, Referral Candy, and ShareASale. These platforms offer a variety of features such as influencer management, advanced tracking, and customizable campaigns that cater to different business needs.
Popular Roster alternatives like Influencer Hero, Refersion, and GoAffPro offer robust integrations with major e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento. These integrations make it easy to manage affiliate marketing efforts directly from your online store.
Yes, several Roster alternatives like Influencer Hero and Impact provide the capability to manage both influencers and affiliates on a single platform. These platforms offer comprehensive tools to handle diverse marketing partnerships efficiently.
When evaluating Roster alternatives, key features to look for include multi-channel tracking, customizable affiliate links, detailed reporting and analytics, influencer CRM, reward distribution, and automated payouts. These features ensure that you can manage your affiliate and influencer marketing campaigns effectively.
Customer support quality varies among Roster alternatives. Platforms like Influencer Hero and Impact are known for offering 24/7 support, including live chat and email assistance. It’s important to choose a platform that provides reliable support to help you resolve issues quickly.
Schedule a Demo with one of our media experts below.