Frequently asked questions

These are the questions founders and partners ask most often about OpenPromoter. Each answer links to the page with the full details. Partners can skip to questions from partners.

Questions from founders

Does OpenPromoter take a cut of payouts or sales?

No. Cloud plans are a flat monthly price based on the partner revenue you track, with no fee on payouts. Your payout provider (Stripe, PayPal or Wise) still charges its own fees.

Is there a free plan?

Yes. Free covers up to $1k a month in partner revenue with unlimited partners and every feature. Your partner portal shows a small OpenPromoter badge on the Free plan.

What do the paid plans cost?

Starter is $29 a month for up to $10k in monthly partner revenue. Growth is $79 for up to $50k and Scale is $199 for up to $250k. See them in Settings > Plan & billing.

What happens if I go over my plan's revenue limit?

Settings > Plan & billing shows Over limit and asks you to upgrade. Tracking and payouts keep working.

Which billing tools work with OpenPromoter?

Stripe, Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, Polar and Chargebee have built-in integrations. For anything else, send payments to the REST API with POST /conversions. See Billing providers.

What happens when a customer gets a refund?

A full refund before payout removes the commission. A partial refund lowers it by the same share. If the partner was already paid, the amount comes off their next payout.

Why is there a hold before commissions are paid?

Commissions stay pending for the refund window (30 days by default) so refunds can be taken off first. After that they turn approved and join the next payout. You can change the window in Settings > Program.

Can I change the commission rate later?

Yes, in Settings > Program. Commissions already booked keep their amount. Every payment after the change uses the new rate, renewals from existing customers included.

What if a visitor blocks cookies or uses an ad blocker?

Pass the click id to checkout and the sale is still credited. op.js adds it to Stripe Payment Links and the Pricing Table for you. Redirect links record the click on our server before your page loads, and coupon codes need no click at all. See Tracking.

Does a coupon code beat a partner link?

Yes. A coupon the customer typed at checkout is the strongest signal and wins over any click. After that come the click id, the partner code in metadata and then the visitor's clicks inside the cookie window.

Can I move my partners from another tool?

Yes. Export your affiliates as CSV from Rewardful, FirstPromoter, Tolt or PartnerStack and import them in Settings > Import. Partners keep their codes, and links they already shared keep working.

How do I pay partners in other countries?

Each partner picks a method your program offers: Stripe, PayPal, Wise or bank transfer. Wise pays into the partner's Wise account with low currency fees. Stripe Connect payouts aren't available to founders whose Stripe account is registered in some countries, India among them.

Who holds the money for payouts?

You do. Payouts go out through your own connected Stripe, PayPal or Wise account. Nothing is sent until someone on your team approves the payouts, and no API key or AI tool can approve them.

Can I self-host OpenPromoter?

The app is open source under AGPL-3.0 and runs with one docker compose up. Self-hosted instances have every feature with no revenue or partner limits. See Self-hosting.

Do I need an AI key?

No. On Cloud the AI features are included in your plan's allowance. When self-hosting, every AI feature still works in a reduced form without a key.

Can I export my data?

Yes. Settings > Account has Export my data and, for workspace owners, Export the whole workspace. Partners, customers, commissions and payouts also export as CSV from their pages.

Questions from partners

Do I need an account to be a partner?

Yes. You choose a password when you apply, or sign in with Google or GitHub. See the partner guide.

Can I join several programs?

Yes. One account can be a partner in many programs. Switch between them from the account menu in your portal under Your programs.

When do I get paid?

Each commission waits out the program's refund window first. After that it is paid in the next payout once you're owed the program's minimum. The Payouts page in your portal shows the schedule and minimum for your program.

Why did my earnings go down?

A customer you referred probably got a refund. Pending commissions shrink or disappear, and refunds after a payout come off your next one. Your Statement on the Earnings page lists each change.

Do I have to fill in a tax form?

The program needs your tax details for its invoices and tax reports. Fill in a W-9 or W-8BEN under Settings in your portal. US partners paid outside Stripe must add an SSN or EIN before passing the IRS 1099 limit in a year.

Next: Troubleshooting