Linktree vs Castos: affiliate program comparison

Metric	Linktree	Castos
Commission	50%	40%
Model	recurring	percentage cpa
Recurring	Yes	No
Cookie window	30 days	90 days
Network	In-house	FirstPromoter
Approval	easy	medium

# Linktree vs Castos: Which Affiliate Program Pays Better in 2024?

If you're deciding between Linktree vs Castos as your next affiliate program to promote, you need to know the real numbers. Both platforms serve different creator audiences, but their commission structures, cookie windows, and approval processes vary significantly.

This comparison cuts through the noise and gives you the data to choose the right program for your traffic and audience.

Commission Comparison

Linktree Affiliate Commissions

Rate: 50% recurring commission on all plans
Payment: Monthly, on the 15th
Minimum payout: Usually $50

Castos Affiliate Commissions

Rate: 40% recurring commission on all plans
Payment: Monthly
Minimum payout: Typically $50

Real-World Earnings Example

Scenario: You send 1,000 clicks/month to each program, with a 2% conversion rate.

Linktree:

20 conversions × $15 average MRR (Linktree starter tier) × 50% = $150/month (recurring)
Year 2+: $150 × 12 months = $1,800+ annually (assuming 50% retention)

Castos:

20 conversions × $20 average MRR (Castos starter tier) × 40% = $160/month (recurring)
Year 2+: $160 × 12 months = $1,920+ annually (assuming 50% retention)

Winner in this scenario: Castos by $120/year, but Linktree's 50% rate compounds faster as your customer base grows. Over 2 years, Linktree likely overtakes Castos if customer retention is equal.

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Cookie Window

Linktree: 30-Day Window

A visitor has 30 days to sign up after clicking your affiliate link. If they bookmark Linktree and return 45 days later, the conversion doesn't count toward your commission.

Impact: Suitable for creators with immediate pain points (need a link in bio now). Lower for decision-makers who research for 6+ weeks.

Castos: 90-Day Window

A visitor has 90 days—three full months—to convert. This captures:

Podcasters comparing hosting plans over 2+ months
Teams making budget decisions
Content creators trialing multiple services

Impact: Significantly better for B2B or considered-purchase audiences. More forgiving for slow-burn content.

Winner: Castos for affiliate earnings stability, especially with smaller audiences where each conversion matters.

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Network & Reliability

Linktree: In-House Tracking

Infrastructure: Linktree manages its own affiliate platform
Reliability: Excellent—no third-party middleman
Tracking accuracy: Direct server-to-server data; minimal discrepancies
Payout consistency: Industry-standard; rarely disputes

Pros: Fast payouts, transparent reporting, direct communication with affiliate support. Cons: Smaller affiliate program than enterprise networks.

Castos: FirstPromoter Network

Infrastructure: Castos uses FirstPromoter for affiliate management
Reliability: Strong; FirstPromoter is established, handles 1000s of programs
Tracking accuracy: Solid, though an extra layer of tracking exists (FirstPromoter → Castos)
Payout consistency: Reliable; FirstPromoter has good publisher reputation

Pros: FirstPromoter dashboards are intuitive; you can manage multiple programs in one place if enrolled elsewhere. Cons: Slightly slower support response than in-house programs; no direct Castos affiliate team.

Winner: Linktree for tracking simplicity; Castos for multi-program convenience.

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Approval Requirements

Linktree: Easy Approval

Typical timeline: 24–48 hours
Requirements: Active website or social media profile, basic content (50+ posts/followers suggested)
Rejection reasons: Spam content, no audience, illegal niches

How to get approved: 1. Visit Linktree Affiliate Program 2. Submit email, website/social handle, traffic estimate 3. Respond to quick questionnaire 4. Receive approval email with tracking links

Castos: Medium Approval

Typical timeline: 3–7 days
Requirements: Podcasting experience or audience in audio/creator space preferred; established website/social media; 1,000+ social followers or 500+ monthly site visits recommended
Rejection reasons: No relevant audience, low authority, untrusted niche

How to get approved: 1. Visit Castos affiliate link (through FirstPromoter) 2. Provide detailed creator background 3. Explain your audience (podcasters, creators, etc.) 4. FirstPromoter reviews and decides 5. Receive dashboard access

Winner: Linktree for speed and accessibility; good for new affiliates. Castos for those with established creator audiences.

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Features & Program Highlights

Linktree Unique Features

Deep linking: Full URL customization in promo links
Tiered payouts: Potential bonus structure for high performers (varies by quarter)
Marketing materials: Badges, sample emails, social templates (limited)
Creator-friendly: Perfect for influencers promoting to Gen-Z audiences
Brand alignment: Linktree is synonymous with "link in bio"—easy to pitch

Castos Unique Features

Podcast-specific resources: Host guides, podcast player embeds, audio clips for promotion
Higher AOV: Podcast hosting plans are more expensive than Linktree; bigger recurring payouts
FirstPromoter dashboard: Detailed analytics, multi-program management
Email marketing assets: Pre-built swipe copy for podcast-focused emails
API access: (For approved partners) Integrate Castos tracking into your platform

Winner: Linktree for breadth (any creator niche); Castos for depth (podcast creators specifically).

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Publisher Fit — Who Should Promote Which?

Promote Linktree When:

1. Your audience is broad creators (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter creators at any level) 2. You have emerging/new audiences (under 10k followers) where easy approval matters 3. You value passive recurring income and want the highest commission rate (50%)

Promote Castos When:

1. Your audience specifically includes podcasters (your blog, newsletter, or following is podcasting-focused) 2. You reach decision-makers and professionals willing to evaluate for 2–3 months (90-day cookie window is valuable) 3. You want to promote higher-ticket SaaS with bigger recurring payouts per customer

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FAQ

Q: Can I promote both Linktree and Castos?

A: Yes. Both programs' terms allow simultaneous promotion. Many creators link to Linktree and mention Castos in podcasting content. Just avoid promoting them in the same sentence to the same audience (confusing). Segment: use Linktree for social audiences, Castos for podcasting newsletters/communities.

Q: Which program is easier to convert traffic from?

A: Linktree. It's a household name in the creator space, requires no niche expertise to pitch, and the value proposition is obvious ("get a free link-in-bio page"). Castos requires explaining podcast hosting benefits—more education needed, lower conversion rates, but higher per-customer value.

Q: Will I lose earnings if my customer churns?

A: Yes. Both programs pay recurring commission only while the customer is active. If someone signs up for 3 months then cancels, you lose future commissions. This is why audience quality and fit matter: podcasters stay longer on Castos, random creators may churn faster from Linktree.

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Disclosure

This article may contain affiliate links. If you click a link to Linktree or Castos and sign up, AffiliPilot may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We don't let affiliate relationships dictate our recommendations—Linktree simply has a higher commission rate and broader appeal for most publishers.

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Ready to choose? Start with Linktree if you have a diverse creator audience and want quick approval. Switch to Castos once you build a podcasting-focused community. Many successful affiliates do both.