Affiliate marketing is one of the most effective ways to monetize your website or content. But if you’re not tracking your affiliate links, you’re flying blind. Knowing which links generate clicks, conversions, and revenue helps you make better decisions and maximize profits.
In this article, we’ll show you how to track affiliate links using both free and paid tools — so you can optimize your affiliate marketing strategy with data-driven insights.
Why You Should Track Affiliate Links
Tracking affiliate links is essential because it allows you to:
-
Measure performance – See which links drive the most traffic and conversions.
-
Optimize content – Focus on top-performing products or partners.
-
Split test offers – Compare different affiliate programs or landing pages.
-
Prevent broken links – Monitor affiliate links and fix issues quickly.
-
Boost revenue – Allocate efforts where the ROI is highest.
Free Tools to Track Affiliate Links
You don’t need a big budget to get started. Several free affiliate link tracking tools offer robust features.
1. Google Analytics (GA4)
Best for: Beginners and site owners already using GA.
By setting up custom events and UTM parameters, you can track affiliate link clicks directly in Google Analytics.
-
Use UTM parameters like
?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=productX -
Create events in GA4 using Google Tag Manager to capture outbound link clicks
Tip: Use Google Tag Manager to track all external link clicks as events.
2. Pretty Links (Free version) – WordPress Plugin
Best for: WordPress users who want clean and trackable URLs.
Pretty Links lets you:
-
Cloak affiliate links (e.g.,
yoursite.com/go/product) -
Track click stats per link
-
Group and organize your affiliate links
Free version is enough for basic tracking, but has limitations compared to Pro.
3. Bitly
Best for: Social media affiliate links.
Bitly allows you to:
-
Shorten URLs
-
Track clicks
-
View geographic and platform-based analytics
Use Bitly when sharing affiliate links on Twitter, Instagram, or email.
Paid Tools to Track Affiliate Links Like a Pro
If you’re serious about affiliate marketing, paid tools offer advanced tracking, automation, and reporting.
1. ThirstyAffiliates (Pro) – WordPress Plugin
Best for: Affiliate marketers with growing websites.
Features include:
-
Advanced link redirection and geotargeting
-
Click tracking by link category
-
Automated keyword linking
-
Broken link checking
Price: Starts from $79/year
2. Voluum
Best for: Performance marketers and media buyers.
Voluum is a powerful affiliate tracking platform with:
-
Real-time data
-
Conversion tracking with multiple traffic sources
-
Split testing and A/B campaigns
-
Fraud detection
Price: Starts at $149/month
3. ClickMeter
Best for: Agencies or marketers managing multiple campaigns.
Main features:
-
Conversion tracking and attribution
-
Detailed link analytics
-
Branded tracking links
-
Team collaboration features
Price: From $29/month
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
How to Choose the Right Affiliate Tracking Tool
When choosing a tool, consider:
-
Your platform (WordPress vs non-WordPress)
-
Budget
-
Level of detail you need (clicks only vs full conversion path)
-
Volume of traffic or links you manage
If you’re just starting out, begin with Pretty Links Free or Google Analytics. As you grow, consider investing in a more powerful solution like ThirstyAffiliates Pro or Voluum.
Final Thoughts
Affiliate link tracking is not optional — it’s a must. Whether you use a free tool like Google Analytics or a paid platform like Voluum, tracking helps you understand what works and what doesn’t.
Ready to supercharge your affiliate earnings? Start by setting up basic tracking today, and scale up as your business grows.