Glossary

Affiliate network

An affiliate network is a marketplace that connects advertisers with publishers (affiliates) who promote their products for a commission. The network provides the tracking links, attribution, consolidated reporting, and payment handling, so neither side has to integrate with the other directly.

Affiliate network vs CPA network

The terms overlap and are often used interchangeably. "Affiliate network" is the broader label and includes revenue-share models common in e-commerce and SaaS; "CPA network" emphasizes fixed payouts per action — a lead, an install, a deposit — and is the standard term in performance and media buying circles.

Why it matters

For an affiliate, networks aggregate offers and guarantee payment terms from one counterparty instead of dozens of advertisers. For an advertiser, a network is instant reach into a pool of vetted traffic sources with quality control and fraud filtering already in place.

Related terms