# LiquidWeb vs Fastly: Which Affiliate Program Pays More?
If you're comparing LiquidWeb vs Fastly as potential affiliate programs to promote, you're looking at two very different business models and commission structures. LiquidWeb focuses on managed hosting and VPS solutions, while Fastly specializes in edge computing and CDN services. This guide breaks down the key differences to help you choose the right program for your audience and traffic.
Commission Comparison
LiquidWeb: $150 Per Sale
- Structure: Flat $150 per referred customer signup
- Payout: One-time commission per new customer
- Recurring potential: Limited (no ongoing revenue share)
- Best for: High-volume publishers with conversion-optimized landing pages
Fastly: 20% Recurring Revenue
- Structure: 20% of customer MRR (monthly recurring revenue)
- Payout: Monthly, indefinitely, as long as customer stays active
- Ceiling: No stated cap, but varies based on customer plan tiers
- Best for: Publishers who can drive enterprise or committed customers
Earnings Comparison (1,000 clicks/month)
Assuming a 2% conversion rate (typical for SaaS hosting):
LiquidWeb scenario:
- 1,000 clicks × 2% = 20 conversions
- 20 × $150 = $3,000/month
Fastly scenario:
- 1,000 clicks × 2% = 20 conversions
- Average customer plan: ~$500/month MRR
- 20 × $500 × 20% = $2,000/month (first month)
- Grows to $2,000/month ongoing if customer retention is strong
Short-term winner: LiquidWeb ($3,000 vs $2,000 in month one)
Long-term wild card: Fastly could match or exceed LiquidWeb if you drive customers with high MRR or achieve 80%+ retention over 12 months. However, this requires a more enterprise-focused audience.
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Cookie Window
LiquidWeb: 120 Days
- Visitors have 4 months to convert after clicking your link
- Gives prospects time to research, compare, and decide
- Covers most B2B buying cycles for small-business hosting
- Implication: You earn credit even if conversion happens weeks after initial click
Fastly: 90 Days
- Visitors have 3 months to convert
- Shorter than LiquidWeb but still respectable
- Risks missing late-stage conversions in longer enterprise sales cycles
- Implication: A prospect who clicks your link and converts 100+ days later won't credit you
What This Means for Earnings
The 30-day difference favors LiquidWeb, especially if your audience does significant research before buying. A 120-day window captures more of the consideration phase, which is crucial for hosting decisions where buyers typically compare 3-5 providers.
If you drive enterprise-tier Fastly customers with internal approval processes, the 90-day window may still be sufficient—but it leaves less margin for error.
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Network & Reliability
Both programs operate in-house affiliate tracking systems rather than third-party networks.
LiquidWeb
- Tracking: Proprietary system; well-established, reliable
- Payouts: Consistent monthly payouts; no reported delays
- Support: Dedicated affiliate manager for active publishers
- Transparency: Dashboard shows real-time click and conversion data
- Reliability rating: Strong (minimal technical issues reported)
Fastly
- Tracking: Proprietary system; enterprise-grade infrastructure
- Payouts: Monthly; depends on customer billing cycles
- Support: Affiliate liaison available for partners
- Transparency: Comprehensive dashboard with detailed customer LTV data
- Reliability rating: Strong (CDN infrastructure backing ensures uptime)
Head-to-Head
Both are reliable. Fastly may have a slight edge in infrastructure reliability (they're a CDN company, after all), but this rarely impacts affiliate tracking. LiquidWeb's advantage is faster, more hands-on support for affiliate queries.
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Approval Requirements
LiquidWeb: Medium Approval
What you need to get approved: 1. Website audit: Must demonstrate relevant content (hosting reviews, tech blogs, SaaS comparisons) 2. Traffic quality: Need to show decent monthly traffic (typically 1,000+ sessions) 3. Promotional methods: Specify how you'll promote (blog posts, email, PPC, social media) 4. No prohibited tactics: No keyword bidding on LiquidWeb brand terms; no misleading claims 5. Contact method: Affiliate manager will likely request a call or message
Timeline: 3-7 business days
Approval rate: ~70% for legitimate publishers
Fastly: Hard Approval
What you need to get approved: 1. Technical credibility: Your site must demonstrate genuine developer/engineer audience 2. Infrastructure content: Blog posts, tutorials, or case studies related to edge computing, CDN, or performance optimization 3. Significant traffic: Typically need 5,000+ monthly sessions from technical audience 4. Brand alignment: Fastly is selective; they want partners who understand their product deeply 5. Professional presence: LinkedIn profile, bio, or speaker history helps 6. Direct outreach: Often requires applying through their partner portal or getting referred
Timeline: 2-4 weeks (longer review process)
Approval rate: ~40% (rejection is common for non-technical publishers)
Which Is Easier?
LiquidWeb approves faster and has lower barriers to entry. Fastly is gatekeeping their program for legitimate technical publishers only, which protects brand integrity but limits access.
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Features & Program Highlights
LiquidWeb
- Generous cookie window: 120 days (industry-leading for hosting)
- Flat-rate commission: No surprises; $150 is guaranteed
- Marketing assets: Banners, landing pages, email templates provided
- Deep linking: Full support for linking to specific hosting plans
- Affiliate portal: Real-time tracking and reporting
- Tiered bonuses: Some reports of $250+ commissions for high-volume referrers (varies by performance)
- Brand flexibility: Easier to promote alongside competitor reviews
Fastly
- Recurring revenue model: Build passive income from retained customers
- Enterprise customer support: Help with onboarding to increase retention
- Technical resources: Whitepapers, performance benchmarks, case studies
- Developer focus: Partners can attend Fastly conferences and events
- API documentation: Deep linking and integration options for tech-heavy publishers
- Higher ceiling: No commission cap; enterprise customers can generate $500+/month each
- Brand prestige: Association with a tier-1 CDN provider
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Publisher Fit — Who Should Promote Which?
Promote LiquidWeb When:
1. You write hosting reviews and comparisons: LiquidWeb is a top-tier managed hosting provider; hosting-focused blogs are LiquidWeb's ideal audience 2. Your audience is small-to-medium businesses or freelancers: Agencies, consultants, and solo business owners use LiquidWeb; this is a massive market 3. You want predictable, immediate income: $150 per sale is straightforward and doesn't depend on customer retention or plan size
Promote Fastly When:
1. Your audience is developers and DevOps engineers: If your content reaches CTOs, infrastructure architects, or senior developers, Fastly is their tool 2. You publish infrastructure, performance, or edge computing content: Deep technical blogs on caching, CDN, or distributed systems align perfectly with Fastly's positioning 3. You have relationships with growth-stage SaaS companies or platforms: Fastly's typical customer is a rapidly scaling app; if you influence these buyers, recurring revenue will add up
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FAQ
1. Can I promote both LiquidWeb and Fastly at the same time?
Yes. They serve different markets and use cases. In fact, some customers use both: LiquidWeb for origin hosting and Fastly for CDN acceleration. Promote whichever fits your content context naturally. Avoid promoting one as "better" if you lack expertise to back that claim.
2. Which program is more likely to reject applications?
Fastly has a significantly higher rejection rate (~60% of applicants). If you're new to affiliate marketing or your site isn't technical-focused, LiquidWeb is a safer first affiliate program. You can build credibility there, then apply to Fastly later.
3. How do I maximize earnings with each program?
LiquidWeb: Write detailed hosting reviews, comparison posts, and tutorials. Focus on conversion optimization and email list building. Each conversion is worth $150, so optimize your funnel.
Fastly: Build a smaller but highly qualified audience of engineers. Publish technical case studies, performance benchmarks, and architecture guides. Focus on attracting customers likely to spend $500+/month and stay long-term. One high-value customer can generate $100+/month recurring.
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Disclosure
This article may contain affiliate links. If a reader clicks and buys, AffiliPilot may earn a commission at no extra cost to the reader. All comparisons are made on publicly available information and common knowledge in the affiliate marketing industry. We recommend verifying current commission rates and program terms directly with each provider before joining.
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Ready to choose? Start with LiquidWeb if you're new to affiliate marketing or have a general business audience. Move to Fastly once your technical credibility and audience depth warrant it. Both programs reward honest, content-first promotion—avoid shortcuts and focus on genuinely helping your audience choose the right solution.
Related: LiquidWeb vs Namecheap: affiliate program comparison