ShareASale, now owned by Awin, is one of the largest affiliate marketplaces in the world with over 16,000 merchant programs. RevBoost is a curated CPA network with 200-plus high-converting campaigns and a dedication to personal publisher service. Research from Insider Intelligence shows that affiliate marketing now accounts for a significant share of digital ad spending, and these two platforms represent fundamentally different approaches to capturing that opportunity. The right choice depends entirely on your business model, traffic type, and what you need from a network partner.
In this guide, we compare every aspect that matters: commission models, offer types, payment logistics, support, and overall publisher experience.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | RevBoost | ShareASale |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 | 2000 |
| Parent Company | Independent (RevBoost LLC) | Awin (acquired 2017) |
| Network Type | CPA/CPL Performance Network | Affiliate Marketplace |
| Commission Models | CPA, CPL, Revenue Share | CPS, CPA, CPL, Pay-per-click (select) |
| Number of Merchants/Campaigns | 200+ active campaigns | 16,000+ merchant programs |
| Key Verticals | Fintech, Insurance, Health, Subscriptions, E-commerce, Lead Gen | Fashion, Home & Garden, SaaS, Food & Drink, Retail, Business Services |
| Payment Terms | Net-30 | Net-60 (20th of month following lock) |
| Minimum Payout | $50 | $50 |
| Payout Methods | ACH, Wire, Check, Bitcoin, Ethereum | Direct Deposit, Check, Wire (international) |
| Incent Traffic Allowed | Yes (on select offers) | Merchant dependent (mostly no) |
| Dedicated Account Managers | Yes (all publishers) | No (self-serve platform) |
| Publisher Approval | Network-level review | Per-merchant approval |
About RevBoost
RevBoost has operated as a focused performance affiliate network since 2008. Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, RevBoost curates approximately 200-plus active campaigns across fintech, insurance, health, subscriptions, e-commerce, and lead generation verticals. The network supports CPA, CPL, and revenue-share models and assigns a dedicated account manager to every publisher regardless of volume.
RevBoost distinguishes itself through its acceptance of incentivized traffic, cryptocurrency payout options (Bitcoin and Ethereum), and an 18-year track record of never missing a single payment. The network's intentionally smaller scale means publishers receive genuinely personalized attention and can negotiate custom deal structures.
RevBoost Strengths
- Managed experience: RevBoost is a managed network, not a self-serve marketplace. Your account manager actively recommends offers, negotiates payout bumps, and helps optimize your campaigns.
- Faster payments: Net-30 terms mean you receive payment roughly 30 days faster than ShareASale's Net-60 schedule.
- Crypto payouts: Bitcoin and Ethereum options are ideal for international publishers or anyone who prefers decentralized payments.
- Incent-friendly: RevBoost openly supports incentivized traffic on qualifying campaigns, a rarity among performance networks.
- Zero missed payments: Eighteen years of perfect payment reliability is a track record that speaks for itself.
RevBoost Limitations
- Limited merchant selection: With 200-plus campaigns versus ShareASale's 16,000-plus, RevBoost offers far less variety.
- No self-serve browsing: Publishers cannot browse a public catalog and self-apply to programs the way they can on ShareASale.
- Fewer retail and physical-product offers: RevBoost focuses on performance verticals like fintech and insurance rather than physical-product retail.
About ShareASale
ShareASale was founded in 2000 and acquired by Awin (itself owned by Axel Springer) in 2017. It is one of the largest affiliate marketplaces in North America, hosting over 16,000 merchant programs across virtually every vertical imaginable. ShareASale operates primarily as a self-serve platform where publishers browse merchant programs, apply individually, and manage their own campaigns through a comprehensive dashboard.
ShareASale is particularly popular with bloggers, content creators, and niche website owners who promote physical and digital products through content marketing, SEO, and social media.
ShareASale Strengths
- Enormous merchant selection: With 16,000-plus merchants, ShareASale offers unparalleled choice. Whatever niche you operate in, from organic pet food to enterprise SaaS, there is likely a relevant program.
- Transparent merchant data: ShareASale provides public EPC (earnings per click), conversion rates, reversal rates, and average commission data for every merchant. This transparency helps publishers make informed decisions before applying to programs.
- Content-creator friendly: The platform is especially well-suited for bloggers, YouTubers, and social media influencers who monetize content through product recommendations.
- Deep linking tools: ShareASale makes it easy to create deep links to specific product pages, which is valuable for content publishers writing product reviews.
- Established ecosystem: The integration with Awin gives publishers access to a broader global network if they want to expand internationally.
ShareASale Limitations
- Net-60 payments: ShareASale's payment schedule is one of the slowest in the industry. Commissions earned in January are not paid until the 20th of March. This two-month delay can be painful for affiliates managing cash flow.
- Self-serve only: There are no dedicated account managers for regular publishers. You manage everything yourself, from finding offers to troubleshooting tracking issues.
- Per-merchant applications: You must apply to each merchant individually, and many applications are ignored or rejected without explanation.
- Predominantly CPS: Most ShareASale programs pay on a cost-per-sale basis with commission percentages, which means you earn nothing unless the referred visitor makes a purchase.
- Aging platform interface: While functional, ShareASale's dashboard is often criticized for feeling dated compared to more modern affiliate platforms.
- No crypto payouts: Traditional payment methods only.
Head-to-Head: Key Differences
Managed Network vs. Self-Serve Marketplace
This is the core distinction. RevBoost provides a managed experience where your account manager is an active partner in your success. ShareASale provides a self-serve marketplace where you have thousands of options but must navigate them independently. For affiliates who want guidance, recommendations, and someone to negotiate on their behalf, RevBoost delivers. For affiliates who prefer total autonomy and massive selection, ShareASale fits better.
Payment Speed
RevBoost's Net-30 terms are roughly twice as fast as ShareASale's Net-60 schedule. For affiliates who invest in paid media, this 30-day difference has real financial implications. RevBoost's faster payment cycle means you reinvest earnings sooner and grow faster.
Commission Models
RevBoost focuses on CPA and CPL, meaning you get paid when a lead or action is completed regardless of whether a sale happens. ShareASale is predominantly CPS (cost per sale), meaning the referred visitor must make a purchase. The Performance Marketing Association notes that both CPA/CPL and CPS models continue to thrive across different publisher types. CPA/CPL offers generally convert at higher rates because the barrier is lower (email submit, form completion) compared to requiring a credit card purchase.
Traffic Types
RevBoost accepts incentivized traffic on qualifying offers. ShareASale merchants almost universally prohibit it. Regardless of traffic source, the FTC's endorsement guidelines require clear and conspicuous disclosure of affiliate relationships. If you operate an offerwall, a rewards app, or any incentive-driven platform, RevBoost is one of the few established networks that will work with you. ShareASale is built for organic, content-driven, and SEO traffic.
Who Should Choose RevBoost?
- Affiliates who prefer a managed CPA/CPL network over a self-serve marketplace
- Publishers who need faster payments (Net-30 vs. Net-60)
- Incent-traffic operators (offerwalls, rewards programs)
- Lead-generation specialists in fintech, insurance, or health
- Publishers who want crypto payout options
- Affiliates who value dedicated account management and personal support
Who Should Choose ShareASale?
- Content creators, bloggers, and niche website owners
- Publishers who want access to thousands of retail and SaaS merchant programs
- Affiliates who prefer self-serve control over a managed experience
- Product-review sites that need deep linking to specific product pages
- Publishers focused on fashion, home and garden, food, or physical product verticals
- Affiliates who value transparent merchant performance data before applying
The Complementary Approach
RevBoost and ShareASale serve such different purposes that using both is almost a no-brainer for any serious affiliate. Use ShareASale for content-driven product promotions and retail commissions. Use RevBoost for high-converting CPA and CPL campaigns with personal support and faster payments. The two networks cover entirely different offer types and traffic strategies, making them natural complements rather than competitors.
Want faster payments and dedicated support?
RevBoost pays Net-30 with zero missed payments since 2008. Every publisher gets a dedicated account manager, crypto payout options, and access to high-converting offers in fintech, insurance, health, and more.
Apply to RevBoost