Choosing the right affiliate software for SaaS can be challenging, especially when different tools are built for very different use cases.
Dub (Dub Partners), Tolt, and Trackdesk are all well-known platforms for managing affiliate programs, but they take distinct approaches. Whether you’re exploring a Tolt alternative, comparing Trackdesk alternatives, or evaluating how Dub Partners stacks up against other affiliate tools, this guide is designed to help.
In this comparison, we break down these top tools to manage affiliate programs through a SaaS-specific lens. We’ll cover their ideal use cases, core features, and pricing models, so you can choose the best affiliate marketing software for your SaaS company.
TL;DR: Comparison of Dub, Tolt, and Trackdesk Affiliate Tools
Dub (Dub Partners): Best for Link-Driven SaaS Affiliate Programs
What is Dub (Dub Partners)?
Dub Partners is an affiliate attribution layer built on top of Dub, a link management and tracking platform. Instead of focusing on subscription billing or lifecycle-based commissions, Dub centers its affiliate system around links and attribution data. This makes it a strong choice for SaaS companies running link-heavy partner or referral programs.
Who is Dub Partners for?
Dub Partners works best for SaaS teams whose affiliate programs rely primarily on tracked links rather than recurring subscriptions. If accurate attribution, traffic-level insights, and flexible reward logic matter more than subscription-based commissions, Dub fits naturally.
Typical users of Dub include:
- SaaS companies with content-driven or creator-led acquisition
- Teams running campaign-based, referral, or bounty-style programs
- Programs where links (not customer accounts)are the main tracking unit
Dub Partners Pros and Cons
Pros
Dub’s feature set reflects its link-first approach:
- Advanced link analytics with breakdowns by device, location, and traffic source
- Server-side tracking for links and conversions
- Flexible rewards based on clicks, leads, or sales
- Stripe Express payouts for affiliates
- Supports dual-sided incentives (affiliate and referred user), 1-click global payouts, and Built-in tax compliance and invoicing
Cons
- Pricing scales with payouts, not revenue
- Built around link-based sales, not subscriptions
Dub Partners Pricing
- Business: $75/month (up to $2.5K in partner payouts/month)
- Advanced: $250/month (up to $15K in partner payouts/month)
- Enterprise: custom
- Non-optional payout fees: 3–5% for handling the payouts, tax, and invoicing
Tolt: Best for SAAS Affiliate Programs That Integrate With Paddle and Chargerbee
What is Tolt?
Tolt is an affiliate management tool designed for SaaS companies using Paddle, Chargebee, or Stripe. It enables teams to launch and manage affiliate programs with minimal setup, offering built-in payouts, a branded affiliate portal, and clear performance reporting.
Who is Tolt for?
Tolt is best suited for early-stage to mid-sized SaaS companies that want to run a focused, straightforward affiliate program and already rely on Paddle or Chargebee for billing.
It’s a good fit for teams that:
- Run standard affiliate programs with clear, predictable commission rules
- Want to offer affiliates a branded portal and self-serve visibility into performance
- Prefer contained program logic over highly customized or multi-layered setups
- Don’t require complex partner hierarchies, advanced automation, or lifecycle-based rewards
Tolt Pros and Cons
Pros
- Passwordless affiliate login
- Branded affiliate portal
- Lower barrier to entry for SaaS startups launching their first program
Cons
- Limited integrations compared to more mature platforms
- Advanced features are locked behind higher plans
- Less flexibility for complex programs
Tolt Pricing
- Basic: $69 per month
- Growth: $99 per month
- Pro: $199 per month
- Enterprise: custom pricing
- 2% fees for using their auto payouts service
Trackdesk: Best for SaaS Affiliate Programs Leveraging an Affiliate Marketplace
What is Trackdesk?
Trackdesk is an affiliate platform that combines affiliate program management with access to a built-in affiliate marketplace. It allows companies to manage affiliates, track performance, and handle partner operations while also discovering and recruiting affiliates through the Trackdesk network.
Who is Trackdesk for?
Trackdesk is best suited for digital businesses that want both affiliate acquisition and ongoing program management within a single platform.
It’s a good fit for teams that:
- Actively recruit affiliates through a built-in marketplace
- Need advanced partner and campaign segmentation
- Require built-in email and messaging system for centralized affiliate communication
Trackdesk Pros and Cons
Pros
- Flexible commission logic, including a multi-level marketing (MLM) system
- Broad integration support, including HubSpot, Shopify, and WooCommerce
- Support multicurrency payment
Cons
- Requires more setup and configuration
- Interface can feel dense for smaller teams
- Pricing scales with affiliate-driven revenue
- No tax compliance service
Trackdesk Pricing
The following are the prices for the affiliate program solution from Trackdesk:
- Starter: $67 per month
- Business: $249 per month
- Enterprise: from $499 per month
- Enterprise Plus: from $1,999 per month
Dub vs. Tolt vs. Trackdesk: Which SaaS Affiliate Software Is the Best?
Best use cases
Dub, Tolt, and Trackdesk each serve different types of SaaS affiliate programs. Rather than having a single “best” option, the right choice depends on how your program is structured and what you need most from an affiliate platform.
- Dub Partners is best suited for programs where link attribution and detailed link analytics are the primary focus.
- Tolt works well for SaaS companies using Paddle or Chargebee, especially when running straightforward affiliate programs.
- Trackdesk is designed for teams that want to combine affiliate management with access to an affiliate marketplace.
Pricing Overview
At a base level, pricing across the three tools is relatively similar:
- Dub Partners starts at $75/month
- Tolt starts at $69/month
- Trackdesk starts at $67/month
However, pricing models differ. Dub Partners applies an additional 3–5% fee on partner payouts to cover payments, tax handling, and invoicing. For higher-tier plans, Tolt’s upgrades are generally lower-priced compared to Dub and Trackdesk.
Final Thoughts
All three platforms—Dub, Tolt, and Trackdesk—can support SaaS companies looking to manage and grow an affiliate program. The best choice depends on whether your priority is link-based attribution, billing-stack alignment, or marketplace-driven affiliate acquisition.
If you’re looking for a solution built specifically for subscription-based SaaS affiliate programs, with strong Stripe support, customizable features, and streamlined affiliate payouts, Rewardful remains a compelling option to consider.
Rewardful: A Strong SaaS Affiliate Software Alternative to Dub, Tolt, and Trackdesk
Rewardful is built specifically for subscription-based SaaS businesses. Instead of starting from link tracking or marketplace models, Rewardful is designed around how recurring SaaS revenue actually works.
Why Many SaaS Businesses Chooses Rewardful
- Built for subscriptions
Rewardful integrates deeply with Stripe and natively supports recurring revenue. Affiliate commissions automatically adjust when customers upgrade, downgrade, or cancel without manual intervention. - Links and coupon codes
Affiliates can promote using tracked links or coupon codes, making Rewardful suitable for podcasts, video content, social media, and other channels where links aren’t always practical. - Easy setup and low learning curve
Most SaaS teams can launch an affiliate program with Rewardful in minutes. Connecting your Stripe account takes a single click and doesn’t require engineering resources. - Multiple affiliate payout options
Rewardful supports: manual payouts, PayPal and Wise mass payouts, and Managed Payouts (Rewardful handles tax forms, invoicing, and transfers on your behalf). This gives teams flexibility as their program scales. - Predictable and transparent pricing
Rewardful plans start at $49/month and scale with affiliate-generated revenue. There are no payout fees by default, unless you opt into Managed Payouts.
You can see the full breakdown of Rewardful features and pricing on our pricing page.
How Rewardful Compares to Tolt, Trackdesk, and Dub
This is often where SaaS teams land when evaluating the best affiliate marketing software for SaaS companies. While Dub, Tolt, and Trackdesk each solve specific problems, many subscription-based businesses need an affiliate tool designed around recurring revenue, predictable pricing, and long-term partner growth.
Compared to the platforms above:
- Rewardful is more cost-effective than Dub Partners at scale
Rewardful doesn’t rely on mandatory payout-based fees, making it a more predictable and scalable option as affiliate-driven revenue grows—especially for SaaS teams comparing Dub Partners alternatives. See how Rewardful and Dub Partners compare.
- Rewardful is simpler day-to-day management than Trackdesk
Rewardful focuses on core affiliate program operations without the added complexity of marketplace management, which makes it easier to run and maintain for SaaS companies managing subscription-based commissions. See how Rewardful and Trackdesk compare.
- Rewardful is more flexible for SaaS growth than Tolt
As affiliate programs evolve beyond basic commission setups, Rewardful supports more advanced use cases without being tied to a specific billing stack—making it a practical Tolt alternative for growing SaaS teams. See how Rewardful and Tolt compare.
For SaaS companies looking for the best affiliate software for SaaS, Rewardful provides a purpose-built solution that supports recurring subscriptions, transparent pricing, and scalable affiliate relationships without unnecessary operational overhead.
Start a 14-day free trial of Rewardful (no credit card needed) and see if it works better for your affiliate program.
FAQs - Tolt vs. Trackdesk vs. Dub Partners
What’s the Best Affiliate Marketing Software for SaaS Companies?
Rewardful is the best affiliate marketing software for saas companies because of its deep integration with Stripe, user-friendly interface, affiliate coupon code tracking, and streamlined affiliate payouts. Leading SaaS companies, like Podia, Clay, and Huntr, is using Rewardful to manage their affiliate programs. Learn their success stories here.
Is Rewardful a Great Dub Partners Alternative?
Yes. Rewardful is a strong Dub Partners alternative for SaaS companies that prioritize subscription-based affiliate tracking over link-level attribution. While Dub Partners is built around links and traffic analytics, Rewardful focuses on recurring revenue, customer lifecycle events, and long-term affiliate commissions—making it a better fit for many SaaS affiliate programs.
How does Rewardful pricing compare to Trackdesk?
You can adopt Rewarful from just $49/month or opt for a higher tier at $99 monthly. Trackdesk pricing is a bit higher than Rewardful, starting at $67 per month and go up to $249 monthly if you choose a more comprehensive plan. For SaaS companies looking for cost-effective, long-term pricing, Rewardful is a more budget-friendly SaaS affiliate software option than Trackdesk.
Can Rewardful Replace Tolt?
For many SaaS teams, yes. Rewardful can replace Tolt when subscription handling, recurring commissions, and flexible promotion methods (such as links and coupon codes) are key requirements. As affiliate programs grow beyond basic setups, Rewardful tends to offer more flexibility for SaaS-specific use cases.
