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FirstPromoter alternatives for SaaS teams

These FirstPromoter alternatives are the seven tools SaaS teams weigh when revenue caps or tax paperwork push them to look around. Each one is scored on the same checklist from its own pricing pages.

Switching from FirstPromoter

Partners and codesImported
Old ?fpr= linksKeep working
Fee on payouts0%
Self-host$0

We make OpenPromoter. This list follows a checklist we applied to every tool, ours included. Competitor facts are as of November 2026 and come from each vendor's own pages in the sources below.

FirstPromoter alternatives at a glance

OpenPromoter scores highest of the alternatives at 8.5 of 10. Refgrow follows at 8 and Tolt at 7. FirstPromoter itself scores 8. Look elsewhere for 1099s on the entry plan, a higher entry cap or a partner network.

FirstPromoter alternatives compared
ToolScoreStarts atFee on payoutsBest for
OpenPromoter8.5/10$00%Teams that want 0% payout fees, several billing systems at once or the code on their own server.
FirstPromoter (current)8/10$49/moNone listed (affiliates pay withdrawal fees on managed payouts)Teams on Recurly or Braintree and programs that pay partners for recruiting other partners.
Refgrow8/10$49/mo0%Teams that want referrals inside their own app and no fee on payouts.
Tolt7/10$99/mo2% of what is paid outTeams that want the vendor to send every payout and file 1099s for them.
Rewardful6/10$49/mo0% (3% with Managed Payouts)Stripe or Paddle teams that want a hosted tool and pay affiliates through PayPal or Wise.
PromoteKit6/10$29/mo5% bank or 8% card on one-click payoutsStripe-only startups that want the lowest paid entry price.
PartnerStack5/10QuoteNot publishedB2B SaaS teams that run resellers, referral partners and affiliates together.
Tapfiliate5/10$89/moTrolley billed separatelyTeams that sell through online store platforms as well as SaaS billing.
Checklist score out of 10
  • OpenPromoter8.5
  • FirstPromoter8
  • Refgrow8
  • Tolt7
  • Rewardful6
  • PromoteKit6
  • PartnerStack5
  • Tapfiliate5

Why teams look for a FirstPromoter alternative

Teams look for a FirstPromoter alternative for three reasons. Revenue caps grow the bill, 1099s sit behind managed payouts on Enterprise or they want the code. The four reasons below each pair a sourced FirstPromoter fact with what OpenPromoter does.

  • Revenue caps and affiliate limits

    FirstPromoter caps revenue at $5k, $15k and above $15k a month. Starter allows 1,000 affiliates.[1]

    Self-hosted OpenPromoter has no caps. Every Cloud plan has unlimited partners.

  • 1099s tied to managed payouts

    FirstPromoter issues 1099s only under managed payouts. Those need a US company and bank.[2]

    OpenPromoter collects W-9 and W-8 forms and exports a 1099-NEC report on every plan.

  • Withdrawal fees for affiliates

    Affiliates pay withdrawal fees on managed payouts. One example is $0.75 to a US bank.[2]

    OpenPromoter takes 0% of payouts. Only the rail's own fee applies.

  • Code you can run yourself

    We found no public source code or self-host option for FirstPromoter.[1]

    OpenPromoter is AGPL-3.0 and self-hosts with one docker compose command.

What FirstPromoter does well

FirstPromoter scores 8 of 10 on our checklist, half a point behind the top alternative on this page. It connects five billing systems, runs fraud controls on every plan and pays commissions up to 3 levels deep. Those are real reasons to stay.

  • Multi-level commissions up to 3 levels. OpenPromoter pays one level up only.[1]
  • Recurly and Braintree connections alongside Stripe, Paddle and Chargebee.[3]
  • Fraud controls and W-9 and W-8BEN collection on every plan.[1]

Pricing: Starter $49, Business $99 and Enterprise $149 a month. Caps of $5k, $15k and above $15k a month. Starter allows 1,000 affiliates.[1] Checked November 2026.

How we ranked these FirstPromoter alternatives

We wrote ten jobs before scoring any tool and applied them the same way to all of them, OpenPromoter included. Each job scores 1 when the vendor's own page states it, 0.5 when it is partial and 0 when it is not mentioned.

The entry plan is the cheapest plan that runs a live program. Ties go to the tool with the longer track record. MCP servers and self-hosting appear as facts in each entry and are not scored.

The ten jobs and how each one scores
JobHow it scores
A published price of $50 a month or less1 when the entry plan is published at $50 a month or less. 0.5 when it is published above $50. 0 when it is quote only.
No percentage fee on payouts1 when the vendor states no fee. 0.5 when a fee applies only to an optional managed service. 0 for a percentage on standard payouts or no fee stated.
Stripe plus another billing system1 when Stripe and at least one more billing system are named. 0.5 when one is named. 0 when none is named.
Pays partners from the tool1 when the entry plan pays through PayPal, Wise, Stripe or bank. 0.5 for manual or CSV only or a higher plan only.
Fraud checks on the entry plan1 for several named checks on the entry plan. 0.5 for one check, unnamed checks or a higher plan only.
W-9, W-8 and 1099 support1 for W-9 and W-8 collection plus a 1099 report or filing on the entry plan. 0.5 for part of that or a higher plan only.
REST API and webhooks1 when both are stated. 0.5 when one is stated or it sits on a higher plan.
Vendor handles payouts and 1099 filing for you1 when the vendor sends payouts and files or issues 1099s itself. 0.5 for one of the two.
Multi-level commissions1 when stated with no higher plan named. 0.5 for a higher plan only or partner referral rewards.
Partner marketplace to find new partners1 for a stated marketplace or network where partners discover programs. 0.5 for a small directory or opt-in listing.
Each tool's score on every job
ToolPricePayout feeBillingPayoutsFraudTaxAPIManagedMulti-levelMarketplaceTotal
OpenPromoter111111101½8.5
FirstPromoter1½111½11108
Refgrow1111½½10118
Tolt½011½111107
Rewardful1½11½½1½006
PromoteKit1½½1½½11006
PartnerStack00½1101½015
Tapfiliate½½1½½01½½05

What the checklist leaves out

A score is only as good as its jobs. These matter to many buyers and are not in the total.

  • Track record

    Years in market and the size of each customer base.

  • Reviews

    We did not score G2, Capterra or Trustpilot ratings.

  • Integration depth

    Recurly, Braintree, CRMs and store platforms count only through the billing job. FirstPromoter, PartnerStack and Tapfiliate go deeper here.

  • AI agents

    Most tools here ship an MCP server. We list it as a fact and do not score it. Rules differ on whether an agent may move money.

  • Self-hosting

    Only OpenPromoter publishes its source code to run on your own server. We list it as a fact and leave it out of the total.

The 7 best FirstPromoter alternatives ranked

Each tool below has a short summary, key features from its own site and pricing checked in November 2026. Each also names who it suits and one real limitation. The score is out of 10 on the checklist above and sources are numbered at the end.

  1. 1. OpenPromoter

    8.5/10

    OpenPromoter is an open-source (AGPL-3.0) affiliate and partner program tool for SaaS. Self-hosting is free with every feature. Cloud is free up to $1k a month of partner revenue and takes 0% of payouts on every plan.

    Against FirstPromoter: a 1099-NEC export on every plan, 0% of payouts and a self-host option with no caps.

    Key features

    • Stripe, Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, Polar and Chargebee connected side by side in one workspace.
    • Ten published fraud signals on every plan with a hold above the risk score you set.
    • W-9 and W-8 collection with a 1099-NEC export on every plan.
    • Payouts by Stripe Connect, PayPal or Wise once a person approves them.
    • REST API, signed webhooks, a TypeScript SDK and an MCP server.
    • AGPL-3.0 source code that self-hosts with one docker compose command.
    Pricing
    Self-host for $0. Cloud is free up to $1k a month of partner revenue. Paid plans cost $29, $79 or $199 a month. See pricing. Checked November 2026.
    Best for
    Teams that want 0% payout fees, several billing systems at once or the code on their own server.
    Limitation
    Two-tier commissions pay one level up only.

  2. 2. Refgrow

    8/10

    Refgrow is a hosted affiliate tool for SaaS with an in-app widget and a hosted portal. Pro costs $49 a month up to $10k of affiliate revenue. It takes 0% of payouts and connects Stripe, Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, Polar and Dodo Payments.

    Against FirstPromoter: the same $49 start with a $10k cap and Lemon Squeezy and Polar support.

    Key features

    • An affiliate widget inside your app plus a hosted portal.[4]
    • Auto payouts by PayPal and Wise on both plans.[4]
    • An MCP server, REST API, CLI and outgoing webhooks.[5]
    • Multi-level commissions on paid plans and EU self-billing invoices.[5][4]
    Pricing
    Pro $49 and Business $99 a month with caps of $10k and $25k. Each extra $25k costs $99 a month.[4] Checked November 2026.
    Best for
    Teams that want referrals inside their own app and no fee on payouts.
    Limitation
    The 7-day trial needs a card and new subscriptions are non-refundable. W-9 and 1099 support is not listed.[4]

  3. 3. Tolt

    7/10

    Tolt is a hosted affiliate platform for SaaS with plans from $99 a month. It sends payouts by PayPal, Wise, bank and wire for 2% of what is paid out. W-9 and W-8 forms and 1099 filing come with every plan.

    Against FirstPromoter: 1099 filing on the entry plan at a $99 start and 2% of payouts.

    Key features

    • W-9 and W-8 forms with 1099 filing from the Growth plan.[6]
    • A hosted MCP server on every plan.[7]
    • Stripe, Paddle and Chargebee with billing that syncs both ways.[6]
    • Multi-level commissions and a referral program inside your app.[8]
    Pricing
    Growth $99 and Pro $199 a month with Enterprise on request. Caps of $20k and $50k of partner revenue a month. Payouts cost 2% of what is paid out.[6] Checked November 2026.
    Best for
    Teams that want the vendor to send every payout and file 1099s for them.
    Limitation
    Radar fraud protection starts on Pro at $199 a month. The first attribution binding is permanent.[6][9]

  4. 4. Rewardful

    6/10

    Rewardful is a hosted affiliate tool for SaaS that bills through Stripe or Paddle. Plans run from $49 to $149+ a month and are priced by affiliate revenue. It charges no platform fee on payouts unless you pick Managed Payouts at 3%.

    Against FirstPromoter: a higher $7.5k cap on Starter and fewer billing systems.

    Key features

    • Unlimited affiliates, double-sided incentives and coupon tracking on all plans.[11]
    • First-touch or last-touch attribution with a 60-day cookie you can change.[12][13]
    • PayPal mass payouts and Wise bulk payouts on every plan.[11]
    • A REST API and webhooks.[14]
    Pricing
    Starter $49, Growth $99 and Enterprise from $149 a month. Caps of $7.5k, $15k and $30k of affiliate revenue a month.[11] Checked November 2026.
    Best for
    Stripe or Paddle teams that want a hosted tool and pay affiliates through PayPal or Wise.
    Limitation
    Stripe and Paddle cannot run at the same time. Fraud detection covers self-referrals and the methods are not disclosed.[15][16]

  5. 5. PromoteKit

    6/10

    PromoteKit is a Stripe-only affiliate tool for SaaS. Pro costs $29 a month up to $10k of affiliate revenue. One-click payouts through Stripe add 5% for bank-funded or 8% for card-funded payments, and PayPal or Wise exports carry no fee.

    Against FirstPromoter: a lower $29 start for teams that bill only through Stripe.

    Key features

    • An affiliate portal and coupon tracking on every plan.[18]
    • One-click payouts to bank accounts in 100+ countries.[18]
    • 1099 forms for US affiliates paid through the platform.[18][19]
    • API access and webhooks on Pro.[18]
    Pricing
    Free for up to 3 referrals. Pro $29 a month up to $10k of affiliate revenue. Enterprise on request.[18] Checked November 2026.
    Best for
    Stripe-only startups that want the lowest paid entry price.
    Limitation
    It works with Stripe only and lists no MCP server. Fraud detection covers self-referrals.[18][20]

  6. 6. PartnerStack

    5/10

    PartnerStack is a B2B partner platform for SaaS with link tracking, deal registration and a partner marketplace. Prices are quoted after a demo. It runs Sift-based fraud monitoring on all programs and offers an MCP connector for AI assistants.

    Against FirstPromoter: a B2B marketplace and deal registration. Pricing is by quote only.

    Key features

    • Access to the PartnerStack Marketplace of B2B partners on Launch.[21]
    • Lead and deal registration with CRM sync.[21]
    • Sift-based fraud monitoring.[22]
    • A REST API, webhooks and an MCP connector.[23][21]
    Pricing
    Launch, Growth and Enterprise. Prices are not published and depend on program size and support.[21] Checked November 2026.
    Best for
    B2B SaaS teams that run resellers, referral partners and affiliates together.
    Limitation
    Pricing is by quote only. Partners pay their own payout fees, such as 2% on PayPal capped at $20.[21][24]

  7. 7. Tapfiliate

    5/10

    Tapfiliate is a hosted affiliate tracker for SaaS and online stores with more than 30 integrations. Launch costs $89 a month for 50 affiliates and 500 conversions. Automated payouts run through Trolley on Scale and are billed separately.

    Against FirstPromoter: more store integrations and no tax features.

    Key features

    • 30+ integrations including Stripe and Paddle.[26][27]
    • MLM commissions, deeplinks and short links on Scale.[26]
    • Triggers and webhooks for new conversions and affiliates.[28]
    • An MCP server that answers questions from your live account.[29]
    Pricing
    Launch $89 and Scale $179 a month ($74 and $149 billed yearly) with Enterprise on request. Launch allows 50 affiliates and Scale allows 150.[26] Checked November 2026.
    Best for
    Teams that sell through online store platforms as well as SaaS billing.
    Limitation
    The fraud check compares the affiliate's IP with the conversion IP. Tapfiliate says it is not tax software.[30][31]

What moves over when you switch

When you move from FirstPromoter to OpenPromoter, export your partners as CSV and drop the file into Settings > Import. OpenPromoter reads the column names and brings in up to 5,000 partners per file. Past commissions and payouts stay in the old tool.

  • Partners

    Name, email, website and country from the CSV export.

  • Referral codes

    Each partner keeps their code. A taken code gets a short suffix.

  • PayPal emails

    Imported as the partner's payout method.

  • Coupon codes

    Imported and tied to the partner.

op.js reads ?fpr= links, as the tracking docs explain. Links your partners already posted keep attributing once their codes are imported.

How to switch from FirstPromoter

Moving from FirstPromoter to OpenPromoter takes seven steps. You export partners, connect billing, import the file, swap the tracking script and test one purchase. Then you tell partners about the new portal and settle what the old tool still owes them.

  1. 1Export your promoters from FirstPromoter as CSV.
  2. 2Connect your billing system in OpenPromoter and match your current commission terms.
  3. 3Drop the CSV into Settings > Import. Partners arrive approved with their codes.
  4. 4Replace the FirstPromoter script with op.js. It reads ?fpr= links.
  5. 5Run a test-mode purchase to check the commission. Delete the test data after.
  6. 6Tell partners about the new portal. Their old links keep working.
  7. 7Pay the commissions you still owe in the old tool. Keep its export of past commissions for your records.

The getting started guide covers each step in the app. Pricing, payouts, tax and fraud sit side by side in the OpenPromoter vs FirstPromoter table.

Questions

Will my promoters' FirstPromoter links keep working?
Yes, after you import them with their codes. op.js reads ?fpr= along with your own parameter.
Does OpenPromoter support multi-level commissions?
It supports two-tier commissions. A recruiter earns a set share of what each recruited partner earns, one level up only. For 3 levels look at FirstPromoter, Tolt or Refgrow.
Does it work with Recurly or Braintree?
There is no built-in handler for them. You can report payments and refunds through the REST API.
What is a cheaper alternative to FirstPromoter?
OpenPromoter is free to self-host and free on Cloud up to $1k a month of partner revenue. PromoteKit Pro costs $29 a month for Stripe-only teams.
Does FirstPromoter file 1099s?
Only for programs on managed payouts, which is an Enterprise feature for US companies with a US bank. Every plan collects W-9 and W-8BEN forms.
Is FirstPromoter open source?
No. We found no public source code or self-host option. OpenPromoter is AGPL-3.0 on GitHub.
Sources32 vendor pages, checked November 2026
  1. 1FirstPromoter · Pricing
  2. 2FirstPromoter · How managed auto payouts work
  3. 3FirstPromoter · how-it-works.md
  4. 4Refgrow · Pricing
  5. 5Refgrow · llms.txt
  6. 6Tolt · Pricing
  7. 7Tolt · Mcp
  8. 8Tolt · llms.txt
  9. 9Tolt · Attribution
  10. 10Tolt · llms.txt
  11. 11Rewardful · Pricing
  12. 12Rewardful · First or last touch attribution
  13. 13Rewardful · How long are referral cookies valid
  14. 14Developers
  15. 15Rewardful · Integrating rewardful with paddle
  16. 16Rewardful · Dealing with self referrals
  17. 17Rewardful · Merchants faq managed payouts
  18. 18Promotekit · Pricing
  19. 19Promotekit · Tax forms
  20. 20Promotekit · llms-full.txt
  21. 21PartnerStack · Pricing
  22. 22PartnerStack · Fraud monitoring
  23. 23PartnerStack · llms.txt
  24. 24PartnerStack · How do I get paid
  25. 25PartnerStack · Stripe payment tracking
  26. 26Tapfiliate · Pricing
  27. 27Tapfiliate · Integrating with paddle
  28. 28Tapfiliate · Webhooks and event driven workflows
  29. 29Tapfiliate · How to use your new affiliate analyst the tapfiliate mcp server
  30. 30Tapfiliate · How does tapfiliate prevent fraud
  31. 31Tapfiliate · How is invoicing for affiliate payouts dealt with
  32. 32Tapfiliate · Choose your payout methods

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