StrongVPN vs IPVanish: affiliate program comparison

# StrongVPN vs IPVanish: Which Affiliate Program Pays More?

The StrongVPN vs IPVanish comparison matters to publishers because both VPN services offer competitive affiliate commissions, but with different payout structures and approval pathways. Choosing the right program directly impacts your monthly earnings.

This guide breaks down commission rates, cookie windows, approval requirements, and audience fit—so you can decide which program aligns with your publishing goals.

Commission Comparison

Breakdown by Program

Real-World Earnings Scenario

Assume you drive 1,000 clicks/month with a typical 2% conversion rate for VPN services (20 sign-ups):

StrongVPN earnings (at $12.99/month avg. plan):

• Month 1: 20 customers × $12.99 × 50% = $129.90
• Month 2 onwards: Same 20 customers renew → $129.90/month recurring
• Year 1 total (with new customers): ~$1,500–$2,000+

IPVanish earnings (at $12.99/month avg. plan):

• Month 1: 20 customers × $12.99 × 40% = $103.92
• Month 2 onwards: Same 20 customers renew → $103.92/month recurring
• Year 1 total (with new customers): ~$1,200–$1,600+

Difference: StrongVPN pays approximately 20% more per customer over a 12-month period. For a publisher with consistent traffic, this gap compounds significantly.

---

Cookie Window: Why 90 Days Beats 30

StrongVPN's 90-day cookie window vs. IPVanish's 30-day window is a critical differentiator.

What This Means in Practice

StrongVPN (90 days):

• A reader clicks your link on day 1
• They research VPN reviews on day 45
• They purchase on day 87
• ✅ You earn the commission (within the window)

IPVanish (30 days):

• Same reader, same scenario
• Purchase on day 87
• ❌ Cookie has expired; no commission earned

Publisher Impact

VPN purchase decisions are not impulse purchases. Most users:

• Compare 3–5 services
• Read independent reviews
• Test free trials
• Make a decision over 4–8 weeks

StrongVPN's 90-day window aligns with buyer behavior, reducing "lost" sales due to timing. IPVanish's 30-day window works if your traffic has immediate intent (tech news breaking, promotional angle).

Estimated impact: The cookie window difference could represent 15–25% additional revenue annually, depending on your audience's research cycle.

---

Network & Reliability

Both StrongVPN and IPVanish operate in-house affiliate networks rather than using third-party networks like Impact or ShareASale.

Tracking Accuracy

• StrongVPN: Proprietary tracking, strong fraud detection, reliable cookie placement
• IPVanish: Solid tracking infrastructure; owned by Ziff Davis (reputable parent company), which ensures compliance and transparency

Both programs track conversions accurately and rarely dispute legitimate sales.

Payout Consistency

Neither program has documented widespread payout issues. Both are reliable for consistent publishers.

---

Approval Requirements

StrongVPN Approval Process

Timeline: 24–48 hours

Requirements:

• Active website/blog (6+ months of content history preferred, not required)
• Clear traffic source disclosure
• No misleading marketing practices
• Basic SEO site (no requirement for massive traffic)

Verdict: Very approver-friendly. Rejected applications are rare unless you use deceptive practices.

IPVanish Approval Process

Timeline: 24–48 hours

Requirements:

• Established domain (3+ months old preferred)
• Original content or audience engagement
• No trademark bidding without approval
• Compliance with Ziff Davis affiliate policies

Verdict: Equally easy. Ziff Davis's corporate structure means stricter compliance audits, but approval rates are high.

Head-to-Head: Approval Ease

Winner: Tie. Both programs approve clean, legitimate publishers within 1–2 days. If rejected, both offer appeal pathways with clear feedback.

---

Features & Program Highlights

StrongVPN Highlights

• 90-day cookie window (major advantage)
• 50% recurring commission (industry-leading for mainstream VPPs)
• Deep linking support — create custom promo pages
• Marketing assets: Banners, text links, product comparison sheets
• Dedicated affiliate support — responsive to publisher questions
• No promotional restrictions — freedom to use various marketing angles

IPVanish Highlights

• Strong brand recognition — owned by Ziff Davis (assures credibility)
• 40% recurring commission (solid, though 10% lower than StrongVPN)
• Comprehensive dashboard — real-time stats, detailed conversion tracking
• Marketing materials: Video assets, comparison guides, promotional calendar
• Seasonal bonuses — occasional promotional boost periods
• Native ad integration — if you use native ad networks

Unique Advantages

StrongVPN's edge: Cookie window + commission rate make it the pure earnings play.

IPVanish's edge: Corporate backing (Ziff Davis) reduces perceived risk; consistent brand partnerships mean stable promotional support.

---

Publisher Fit — Who Should Promote Which?

Promote StrongVPN When:

1. You have a research-focused audience (tech blogs, security reviews, privacy guides) — your readers are willing to spend weeks evaluating options, and the 90-day window captures those conversions 2. You emphasize recurring revenue — if you're optimizing for long-term earnings per customer, the 50% recurring rate delivers measurable income growth 3. You run content sites without promotional restrictions — StrongVPN allows flexible marketing angles (best VPN for streaming, best VPN for privacy, etc.)

Promote IPVanish When:

1. You target immediate-intent audiences (gaming forums, tech news subreddits, breaking news coverage) — if your readers decide quickly, the 30-day window is sufficient 2. You value brand association and trust signals — promoting a Ziff Davis-backed service reassures skeptical audiences 3. You run seasonal promotions — IPVanish runs periodic bonus campaigns that can boost earnings during specific periods

---

FAQ

1. Can I promote both StrongVPN and IPVanish?

Yes, affiliate terms allow it. However, best practice suggests promoting one program per page to avoid confusing readers and diluting commission share. You can feature StrongVPN on your "best VPN" page and IPVanish on a separate "alternative VPN" page, or use different traffic sources (e.g., email list vs. organic search).

2. What's the minimum traffic required to get approved?

Neither program has a minimum traffic requirement. A brand-new site with 0 visitors can be approved if the content is original and marketing practices are honest. However, you'll earn commissions only after sending actual conversions.

3. How long does it take to earn $500/month with either program?

This depends on your traffic volume and conversion rate. A publisher with 10,000 monthly visitors and a 2% conversion rate (200 customers) would earn:

• StrongVPN: ~$1,300/month (50% × $12.99 avg.) within 3–6 months
• IPVanish: ~$1,040/month (40% × $12.99 avg.) within 3–6 months

Realistic timeline: 4–8 months for a moderate-traffic publisher to reach $500/month consistently.

---

Disclosure

This article may contain affiliate links. If a reader clicks and purchases through a StrongVPN or IPVanish link, AffiliPilot may earn a commission at no extra cost to the reader. All opinions are based on publicly available program data and publisher feedback.

---

Conclusion

StrongVPN vs IPVanish: StrongVPN wins on earnings potential thanks to its 90-day cookie window and 50% recurring commission. However, IPVanish remains a solid choice for publishers with immediate-intent audiences or those valuing brand association.

Start with whichever program aligns with your traffic pattern, then test both. Most successful VPN publishers eventually run both programs on different content angles to maximize total VPN revenue.

Related: StrongVPN vs KeepSolid VPN Unlimited: affiliate program comparison