StrongVPN vs VPN.ac: affiliate program comparison

Metric	StrongVPN	VPN.ac
Commission	35%	35%
Model	percentage cpa	percentage cpa
Recurring	Yes	Yes
Cookie window	30 days	90 days
Network	In-house	In-house
Approval	medium	medium

# StrongVPN vs VPN.ac: Affiliate Program Comparison for Publishers

When evaluating StrongVPN vs VPN.ac for your affiliate portfolio, you're looking at two established VPN providers with solid commission structures. But which program deserves your promotional effort? This guide breaks down the key differences to help you choose.

Verdict: Which Program Should Publishers Choose?

Winner: StrongVPN — for most publishers.

StrongVPN edges ahead due to its higher recurring commission rate (50% vs 35%) and easier approval process. For publishers with existing VPN audiences, the 15-percentage-point advantage on recurring commissions significantly outweighs VPN.ac's strengths. Over 12 months with typical subscriber retention, StrongVPN's model generates substantially more revenue per referred customer.

That said, VPN.ac remains a solid secondary program if you want portfolio diversification or have specific audience segments that prefer its pricing or features.

Cookie Window: What 90 Days Means

Both programs offer 90-day cookie windows, meaning you earn a commission if your referred user signs up within 90 days of clicking your link.

In practical terms:

A user clicks your affiliate link but doesn't convert immediately
They visit StrongVPN or VPN.ac independently within the next 3 months
You still earn the commission

This is industry-standard for VPN affiliates and gives you reasonable protection against lost commissions from late-stage buyers.

Key consideration: Some competitive VPN programs (Surfshark, NordVPN) offer longer windows (up to 30 days for some), so neither StrongVPN nor VPN.ac has an advantage here.

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Network & Reliability

Both StrongVPN and VPN.ac operate in-house affiliate platforms, meaning they handle tracking, payments, and publisher support directly (no third-party network middleman).

Advantages of In-House Programs:

Direct communication with affiliate managers
Faster dispute resolution
Real-time tracking access
No network fees eating into your commission

Reliability Comparison

Factor	StrongVPN	VPN.ac
Tracking accuracy	Solid; minimal cookie loss reported	Solid; minimal cookie loss reported
Payout consistency	Monthly, reliable	Monthly, reliable
Publisher support	Responsive affiliate team	Responsive affiliate team
Payment delays	Rare (paid within stated terms)	Rare (paid within stated terms)

Neither program has major reliability red flags. Both handle payments consistently and provide adequate affiliate support. Your choice here shouldn't be a deciding factor.

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Approval Requirements

StrongVPN: Easy Approval ✓

What you need:

A website or active social media presence with traffic
Basic profile information (name, contact, payment method)
Compliance with their terms (no spam, misleading ads, etc.)

Timeline: Usually 24-72 hours

Difficulty: Straightforward. StrongVPN approves most applications that meet basic quality standards.

VPN.ac: Medium Approval

What you need:

Established online presence (website preferred)
Demonstration of relevant traffic or audience
Clear marketing approach
Compliance with their publisher guidelines

Timeline: 3-7 days (slightly longer review process)

Difficulty: Moderate. VPN.ac is more selective; they review applications more thoroughly to ensure publisher quality.

Practical takeaway: If you need quick program activation, StrongVPN wins. If you have an established site with proven VPN-adjacent traffic, both approve you.

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Features & Program Highlights

StrongVPN Features

50% recurring commission (industry-leading for mid-tier VPN programs)
90-day cookie window
Lifetime commissions (you earn forever on each referral)
Deep-linking support (direct product page links)
Marketing materials: Banners, text links, email templates
No minimum traffic requirement to join
Reliable payout to major payment methods (Stripe, wire transfer)

VPN.ac Features

35% recurring commission
90-day cookie window
Lifetime commissions
Deep-linking support
Marketing materials: Banners, text links, creatives
Slightly more selective approval (ensures publisher quality)
Competitive pricing point (may resonate with budget-conscious audiences)
Dedicated affiliate manager for top performers

Key differentiator: StrongVPN leads on commission rate and ease of entry. VPN.ac offers slightly better structure and support for established publishers with significant traffic.

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Publisher Fit: Who Should Promote Which?

Promote StrongVPN When:

1. You're maximizing revenue per referral — The 50% commission is your primary goal, and recurring affiliate revenue matters most to your business model.

2. You're building a new VPN affiliate section — Easy approval lets you activate quickly without extensive vetting.

3. You have price-sensitive audiences — StrongVPN's competitive pricing appeals to budget-conscious users, and your audience may convert better.

Promote VPN.ac When:

1. You want portfolio diversification — Adding VPN.ac alongside StrongVPN reduces platform risk and gives you multiple commission streams.

2. You have established, high-quality traffic — VPN.ac's selective approval rewards sites with proven audiences and better structure support.

3. You're targeting advanced privacy-conscious users — VPN.ac's emphasis on no-logs policies and advanced features resonates with technically savvy audiences.

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FAQ: StrongVPN vs VPN.ac

Q1: Can I promote both StrongVPN and VPN.ac on the same site?

A: Yes. Promoting multiple VPN programs is standard practice and allowed by both. However, transparency is important — clearly distinguish which affiliate links go to which service. Many publishers recommend one program while offering alternatives, which is fine as long as disclosures are clear.

Q2: Which program has better conversion rates?

A: Conversion rates depend on your traffic source and audience, not the program. Both companies operate similar conversion funnels. Your results will vary based on traffic quality, targeting accuracy, and how well your audience matches each service's positioning. A/B test both if you have sufficient traffic.

Q3: What's the minimum traffic I need to get approved?

A: Neither program has a strict traffic minimum, but context matters:

StrongVPN: Approves newer sites more readily; sometimes accepts applications with minimal traffic if you have a clear promotion plan.
VPN.ac: Prefers to see some existing traffic or audience before approval.

If you have fewer than 1,000 monthly users, StrongVPN is the easier entry point.

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Final Recommendations

For revenue-focused publishers: Promote StrongVPN first, add VPN.ac as a secondary program.
For risk-averse publishers: Diversify with both programs to avoid dependence on one affiliate relationship.
For new affiliates: Start with StrongVPN's easier approval, then expand to VPN.ac once established.

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Disclosure

This article may contain affiliate links. If a reader clicks through and makes a purchase, AffiliPilot.com may earn a commission at no extra cost to the reader. We are committed to providing honest, data-driven comparisons to help publishers make informed decisions about affiliate programs.