Affiliate payout software for Stripe businesses
AffiliateBase turns approved commissions into payouts. Pay affiliates by Stripe transfer from your own Stripe balance, or prepare PayPal and Wise payout files. Then reconcile every payment in one place.
This page is for businesses running their own affiliate program. AffiliateBase tracks referred Stripe payments and creates commissions. When those commissions are due, you choose who to pay and how.
Three ways to pay affiliates
| Method | How the money moves | Affiliate provides |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe payouts | AffiliateBase sends one Stripe transfer per payout from your Stripe balance to the affiliate’s Stripe account. Stripe pays out to their bank on its usual schedule. | A Stripe account, connected once from the affiliate portal |
| PayPal | AffiliateBase prepares a PayPal payout file. You send the payments in PayPal, then settle the export. | PayPal email |
| Wise | AffiliateBase prepares a Wise batch file. You send the payments in Wise, then settle the export. | Wise email |
Paid someone another way, such as a bank transfer? Use Record external payment to mark those commissions paid with your payment reference. It records the payment; it doesn’t send money.
How a payout run works
- A commission becomes due after the campaign’s commission delay. An active affiliate is ready to pay once their due commissions meet the campaign’s minimum payout and their payout details are in place.
- In Payouts, choose New Payouts. Review eligible affiliates, their commission counts and totals, and anyone missing payout details.
- Select affiliates and create the payouts. Only commissions in the due state are included.
- For Stripe payouts, send the transfers right away or later from the payout run. For PayPal or Wise, download the export, pay in the provider, then choose Settle payouts.
- Each paid payout gets a PDF statement that you and the affiliate can download.
- Use Reconcile to find unpaid or failed payouts, payouts stuck in processing, and missing recipient details.
AffiliateBase doesn’t pay on a fixed schedule; you choose when to run payouts. Most teams pick a weekly, biweekly or monthly cadence. See payout schedules and payout runs and reconciliation.
Controls that keep payouts accurate
- A delay before commissions are due. The commission delay gives refunds and disputes time to arrive before you pay. Review flagged commissions in commission and fraud review first.
- Refunds follow the money. A voided commission leaves an unsent payout. After a payout is sent, the void becomes a deduction from the affiliate’s future payouts.
- No double payments. PayPal and Wise exports leave out payouts that already have a Stripe payment attempt or a recorded external payment. AffiliateBase never sends an exported payout to Stripe.
- Balance checks before Stripe transfers. If your available Stripe balance doesn’t cover the whole run, nothing is sent and AffiliateBase tells you how much to add.
- Safe retries. A Stripe transfer that doesn’t go through returns to due. Fix the cause and retry; AffiliateBase checks with Stripe before sending again.
What Stripe payouts need from you
Stripe payouts use your own Stripe Connect platform. You set it up once: register for Connect in the Stripe Dashboard, get your platform profile approved, create a restricted key for AffiliateBase, and complete the checklist in Settings → Stripe Payouts. Each affiliate then connects their own Stripe account from the affiliate portal.
Stripe charges its Connect fees for those accounts and transfers; AffiliateBase adds no markup. You are responsible for filing 1099 forms for US affiliates and for negative balances on the affiliate accounts you are liable for. The full setup is in Pay affiliates through Stripe, and affiliates can follow Get paid through Stripe.
If you’d rather not run a Connect platform, PayPal and Wise exports work without it. Follow the bulk PayPal and Wise payout guide.
Where payouts fit in your program
Payouts are the last step after tracking. Connect Stripe and verify that referrals become attributed payments with the Stripe affiliate program guide. Plan commission rules and payout terms with the SaaS affiliate program launch guide. See everything else in features and pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Does AffiliateBase hold the money it pays to affiliates?
No. With Stripe payouts, AffiliateBase sends Stripe transfers from your own Stripe balance to each affiliate’s Stripe account. With PayPal and Wise, you send the money in those tools. AffiliateBase never holds your funds.
Can AffiliateBase send PayPal or Wise payouts automatically?
No. PayPal and Wise are export-assisted: AffiliateBase prepares the payout file, you send the payments in PayPal or Wise, then you settle the export in AffiliateBase. Only Stripe payouts are sent from AffiliateBase.
What if an affiliate is in a country Stripe can’t pay?
Stripe can pay affiliates in your Stripe account’s country, or across the US, UK, EEA, Canada and Switzerland when your account is in one of them. Affiliates elsewhere choose PayPal or Wise, and you pay them through an export or by recording the payment.
What happens when a referred customer refunds after a payout?
If the refund voids a commission before its payout is submitted, AffiliateBase removes it from that payout. After a payout is exported or sent to Stripe, the void creates a negative adjustment that is deducted from the affiliate’s future payouts.
Can I set a minimum payout or a holding period?
Yes. Each campaign has a minimum payout and a number of days until commissions are due. The default commission delay is 30 days; set it to cover your refund and dispute risk.
Does AffiliateBase file tax forms for affiliates?
No. Paid payouts include a PDF statement that serves as proof of payment, not a tax invoice. With Stripe payouts, you are responsible for filing 1099 forms for US affiliates.
Set up payouts before commissions come due
Create your program, connect Stripe, and choose a payout method before your first affiliate earns.