Affiliate and Referral Program for WooCommerce runs three programs from one plugin: an affiliate program with links, coupons and QR codes; a customer refer-a-friend program with two-sided rewards; and an optional multi-tier (MLM) network with per-level commissions, ranks and bonuses — with wallets, PayPal and Stripe payouts, and reporting built in.
This documentation is organized by the job you are doing. Start with the Getting Started guide, then pick the area you are configuring below.
Requirements
↑ Back to top- WooCommerce 4.0+
- WordPress 5.0+
- PHP 7.0+
Installation
↑ Back to topTo start using a product from WooCommerce.com, you can use the “Add to store” functionality on the order confirmation page or the My subscriptions section in your account.
- Navigate to My subscriptions.
- Find the Add to store button next to the product you’re planning to install.
- Follow the instructions on the screen, and the product will be automatically added to your store.
Alternative options and more information at: Managing WooCommerce.com subscriptions.
Start here
↑ Back to top- Getting Started with Affiliate and Referral Program – from activation to your first paid commission: pages, joining rules, a first commission rule, and the first payout.
Set up signup and the dashboard
↑ Back to top- Affiliate Registration Form Setup in WooCommerce – the signup form, its four designs, and adding your own questions.
- Affiliate Dashboard and Affiliate Area Guide – what affiliates see, the two layouts, renaming menu items and announcements.
- How to Approve and Manage Your Affiliates – vet applicants, review each affiliate in detail, and broadcast announcements.
Configure commissions
↑ Back to topDirect commission — what an affiliate earns on their own referred orders — has two modes: product-based rules (the first guides below) or performance-based rates set by affiliate level (the last). Multi-tier (MLM) network commission is separate and has its own group further down.
- How to Set Up Referral Commission Rules – how commission is calculated, all six rule types, and which rule wins when they overlap.
- Commission per Product or Category – rates on individual products and whole categories, and which one wins.
- Two-Way Commission and Referral Discounts – give the referred customer a discount while the affiliate earns.
- How to Set Up Lifetime Commissions for Affiliates – keep paying the affiliate who introduced a customer, on every later order.
- Recurring Commissions on Subscription Renewals – pay commission each time a referred subscription renews.
- Performance-Based Direct Commission with Affiliate Levels – the second direct commission mode: each affiliate’s own rate rises automatically as they hit referral and sales targets. Not MLM.
Build a multi-tier network
↑ Back to top- How to Set Up MLM in Your Affiliate Program – plan types, per-level rates, the genealogy tree, and how the commission chain pays.
- MLM Plan Types: Binary, Unilevel and Forced Matrix – compare the four network shapes and what each one asks of a member.
Track referrals and coupons
↑ Back to top- How Referral Tracking and Attribution Work – which affiliate gets the credit, for how long, and who wins when signals disagree.
- How to Track Affiliate Sales with Coupon Codes – credit an affiliate when a shopper uses their code instead of their link.
- Approve, Reject and Manage Referrals – the commission ledger: statuses, bulk actions, automation, manual entries and refunds.
- Troubleshooting: Referrals Not Tracking – a step-by-step checklist for the sale that earned no commission.
Motivate with ranks and bonuses
↑ Back to top- Affiliate Ranks and Rank Bonuses – reward milestones with named tiers and a one-off bonus.
- Affiliate Bonuses and Incentives – pay for signups, clicks, shares, leads and sales milestones — not just sales.
Pay your affiliates
↑ Back to top- Pay Affiliates via PayPal, Stripe and Bank – set up each payout method and pay pending requests in bulk.
- Pay Affiliates with Store Credit and Wallets – the wallet lifecycle, withdrawal limits, and turning balance into store coupons.
Run a customer refer-a-friend program
↑ Back to top- Set Up a Refer a Friend Program in WooCommerce – two-sided rewards for ordinary customers, separate from the affiliate program.
Promotion tools and emails
↑ Back to top- How to Create and Share Referral Links – personal links to any page or product, with built-in sharing.
- How to Create Affiliate Banners and Creatives – ready-made ad creatives with each affiliate’s link built in.
- QR Codes for Referral Links – let affiliates promote offline with downloadable QR codes.
- Customize Affiliate and Referral Emails – edit the emails the plugin sends and choose which ones go out.
Measure your program
↑ Back to top- Affiliate Reports and CSV Exports – the figures on your program dashboard, what each one counts, and how to export affiliates and commissions.
Moving from another platform
↑ Back to top- Switching from Another Affiliate Plugin – import your affiliates in one click, keep their links working, and re-create your commission rules.
Frequently asked questions
↑ Back to top- Affiliate and Referral Program: FAQ – short answers on joining, tracking, payments, compatibility and data.
Questions and Feedback
↑ Back to topHave a question before you buy? Please fill out this pre-sales form.
Already purchased and need some assistance? Get in touch with a Happiness Engineer via the Help Desk.
