# BigCommerce Affiliate Program vs GetResponse Affiliate: Which Pays More in 2024?
Choosing between the BigCommerce Affiliate Program vs GetResponse Affiliate depends on your audience, traffic quality, and revenue goals. Both programs offer recurring commission potential, but they serve different publisher niches and conversion patterns.
This guide breaks down commission structures, approval ease, tracking reliability, and publisher fit so you can make a data-backed decision.
Commission Comparison: $200 Per Sale vs 33% Recurring
BigCommerce Affiliate Program
- Commission structure: $200 per qualified sale (one-time)
- What counts: Customer completes a paid BigCommerce plan signup
- Payment model: One-time per new customer
GetResponse Affiliate Program
- Commission structure: 33% recurring monthly commission
- What counts: Customer signs up and pays for a GetResponse plan
- Payment model: Recurring for as long as the customer remains active
Real-World Earnings Example (1,000 clicks/month)
Assumptions:
- 2% conversion rate (typical for affiliate content)
- 20 conversions per month
BigCommerce scenario:
- 20 conversions × $200 = $4,000/month
- No recurring benefit if customers churn
GetResponse scenario:
- Average customer pays ~$30/month for mid-tier plan
- 20 conversions × $30 × 33% = $198/month (first month)
- Month 6: If 80% of cohort remains active = ~$158/month
- Month 12: Compounding effect = ~$200+ month if acquiring 20 new customers consistently
Verdict on commission: BigCommerce wins on per-sale payout, but GetResponse wins if: 1. You can build a loyal audience that trusts your recommendations 2. You consistently send quality traffic (high lifetime value customers) 3. Your customer retention assumptions exceed 70%
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Cookie Window: 90 Days for Both
Both programs track conversions within a 90-day cookie window, meaning:
- A user clicks your affiliate link today
- They can purchase within 90 days and you still earn credit
- After 90 days, the attribution expires
Impact on earnings:
- B2B/SaaS (GetResponse): 90-day window is standard and sufficient. Most decision-makers research tools for 2-4 weeks before buying.
- E-commerce (BigCommerce): 90 days is generous. Shopify alternative research often converts within 14-30 days, so the full window provides a safety margin.
Advantage: Tie. Both windows are competitive. However, GetResponse's recurring model means even customers acquired 90 days ago continue paying commissions indefinitely.
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Network & Reliability: In-House Tracking for Both
BigCommerce Affiliate Program
- Network: In-house (managed directly by BigCommerce)
- Tracking: First-party cookies + IP matching
- Payouts: Reliable; processed monthly to approved payment methods
- Transparency: Dashboard shows real-time clicks, conversions, pending payouts
- Uptime: Enterprise-grade, rarely has tracking issues
GetResponse Affiliate Program
- Network: In-house (managed directly by GetResponse)
- Tracking: First-party cookies + conversion API
- Payouts: Reliable; processed monthly via PayPal, bank transfer, or store credit
- Transparency: Dashboard shows clicks, conversions, earnings, customer LTV
- Uptime: Stable SaaS infrastructure, good tracking accuracy
Reliability verdict: Both are trustworthy. In-house management means no middleman (unlike network affiliates like ShareASale), so tracking is direct and payouts are consistent.
Slight edge to GetResponse: Their dashboard shows more granular customer lifetime value data, helping you optimize promotion strategy.
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Approval Requirements: Medium vs Easy
BigCommerce Affiliate Program
- Approval difficulty: Medium
- Requirements:
- Active website or platform with relevant audience
- Existing traffic (typically 500+ monthly visitors expected)
- Content focused on e-commerce, Shopify alternatives, online retail, conversion optimization
- No content restriction; promotional content is acceptable
- Application review takes 3-7 business days
- Rejection reasons: Insufficient traffic, irrelevant niche, or poor site quality
GetResponse Affiliate Program
- Approval difficulty: Easy
- Requirements:
- Active website, blog, YouTube channel, or email list
- Minimal traffic threshold (100+ monthly visitors acceptable)
- Content related to marketing, email, sales, business, or general entrepreneurship
- Approval is often automatic or within 24 hours
- Rejection reasons: Rare; usually only for spam/adult content or no verifiable platform
Approval verdict: GetResponse is more inclusive. BigCommerce requires demonstrable e-commerce niche authority.
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Features & Program Highlights
BigCommerce Affiliate Program Standouts
- $200 per sale: Highest payout for e-commerce affiliate programs in the category
- Deep-linking support: Create affiliate links to specific product features, pricing pages, or help articles
- Comparison tool: Provided marketing materials (Shopify vs BigCommerce guides, feature comparisons)
- Co-marketing opportunities: Top performers get featured in BigCommerce's partner directory
- Dedicated affiliate manager: For high-performing affiliates (20+ referrals/month)
GetResponse Affiliate Program Standouts
- 33% recurring: Rewards long-term customer relationships
- Multi-tier commissions: Earn 15% on tier-2 sales (customers referred by your referred customers)
- Advanced tracking: UTM parameters, custom audience tracking, campaign performance breakdown
- Marketing resources: Pre-written email swipes, banner designs, comparison guides
- Bonus structure: Top affiliates earn 40% recurring (performance-based tier)
- Product roadmap access: Affiliates get early product announcements
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Publisher Fit: Who Should Promote Which?
Promote BigCommerce Affiliate Program When:
1. You write e-commerce comparison content (Shopify vs BigCommerce, WooCommerce reviews, Magento alternatives)
- Your audience is actively shopping for store platforms
- High conversion intent = higher close rate on $200 payouts
2. You run a conversion optimization or digital marketing blog
- Content like "Best platforms for high-ticket dropshipping" or "Scaling your online store to 7 figures"
- Audience has high purchase power and decision authority
3. You create video tutorials or courses on online retail
- YouTube channels teaching Shopify/Etsy automation, print-on-demand, etc.
- Video audiences convert at higher rates on platform recommendations
Promote GetResponse Affiliate Program When:
1. You cover email marketing, marketing automation, or CRM topics
- Audience actively researches tools for email campaigns, webinars, SMS
- Natural fit; your readers need GetResponse
2. You run a general business, startup, or entrepreneurship platform
- Content like "Tools for solopreneurs," "Best software for small businesses," or "Email sequences that sell"
- Broad audience; recurring commissions compound over time
3. You have an established email list or loyal community
- Recurring commissions reward repeat promotions
- Loyal audiences convert at 3-5% vs general web traffic at 1-2%
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FAQ
1. Can I promote both BigCommerce and GetResponse as an affiliate?
Yes. There's no exclusivity clause in either program. You can promote both simultaneously if your content fits. Example: A digital product creator might recommend GetResponse for email and BigCommerce for fulfillment. However, avoid promoting them as direct competitors (e.g., "GetResponse vs BigCommerce" isn't accurate since they serve different purposes).
2. Which program has faster payouts?
Tie. Both pay monthly, typically within 30-45 days of month-end. BigCommerce sometimes pays faster (net-15 to net-30). GetResponse typically processes by the 15th of the following month. Check current payment terms, as these change. Set up payments early to avoid delays.
3. What's the difference in cookie tracking between the two?
Functionally similar. Both use 90-day cookies. The key difference: GetResponse's recurring model means a single click can generate 36+ months of commission (if the customer stays). BigCommerce is 1-time per customer. This makes GetResponse's cookie window more valuable long-term despite identical duration.
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Disclosure
This article may contain affiliate links. If a reader clicks and makes a purchase or signup, AffiliPilot may earn a commission at no extra cost to the reader. We test and compare programs ourselves to provide accurate, unbiased recommendations.
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Final Takeaway
The BigCommerce Affiliate Program vs GetResponse Affiliate decision hinges on your niche and audience. Choose based on:
- E-commerce publishers: BigCommerce ($200/sale)
- Marketing/business publishers: GetResponse (33% recurring)
- Hybrid publishers: Promote both to different audience segments
Both programs offer competitive commissions, reliable tracking, and professional support. Your decision should match your content strength and audience interests, not just commission rate.
Related: BigCommerce Affiliate Program vs Carrd Affiliate Program: affiliate program comparison