How to Track Affiliate Commissions with Stripe (Without Writing Code)

If you’re running a SaaS or online business and using Stripe to process payments, you might be wondering:

• How do I track affiliate commissions through Stripe?
• Can I automate affiliate payouts?
• Is there a way to integrate Stripe with affiliate software without writing code?
  

You’re not alone; these are some of the most commonly searched questions by marketing teams, sales teams, and founders. 

In this article, we’ll explain exactly how to set up affiliate tracking with Stripe, no developers or tracking scripts required, and show why Referral Factory is the best solution if you want an automated, no-code setup.

Why Stripe Alone Can’t Track Affiliate Commissions

While Stripe is an incredibly powerful payment processor, it doesn’t natively support affiliate tracking. 

Stripe tracks payments, not relationships.

Here’s what that means:

• It can process payments, subscriptions, and refunds.
• But it doesn’t track where a customer came from, or
• Whether they clicked on an affiliate link, or
• Who should be rewarded for the referral.
  

So if you’re trying to run an affiliate program using just Stripe, you’re left with two choices:

1. Manual tracking: Spreadsheets, export logs, copy-pasting data.
2. Affiliate software: A tool that tracks referrals, calculates commissions, and connects with Stripe.
   

Manual tracking might work when you only have a handful of affiliates, but it quickly becomes a nightmare as your program scales.

If you want to run an affiliate program using Stripe, you’ll need affiliate tracking software to bridge the gap, preferably one that doesn’t require custom code or technical setup.

That’s where Referral Factory comes in.

The Smarter Way: Use Affiliate Software That Integrates With Stripe

To automate your affiliate program and accurately pay commissions, you need affiliate tracking software that plugs into Stripe seamlessly.

But here’s the problem: many affiliate tools out there are either:
– Built for developers (you need to install scripts, configure webhooks, etc.), or
– Too limited in features (can’t handle refunds, recurring commissions, etc.)

You want a tool that:

✅ Works with Stripe out of the box
✅ Doesn’t require you to write code
✅ Can track revenue and automate payouts
✅ Supports both SaaS and eCommerce use cases

That’s exactly where Referral Factory shines.

How Referral Factory Integrates With Stripe (No Developers Required)

Referral Factory is a no-code affiliate and referral tracking platform designed for companies that use Stripe. Here’s how it works:

1. Track Affiliate Referrals Linked to Stripe Transactions

When a customer clicks an affiliate link and signs up, Referral Factory tracks that referral. When they later make a purchase via Stripe whether it’s a one-time payment or a subscription, Referral Factory records the transaction and ties it to the affiliate who referred them.

You can:

• Set the rules for how much a person must spend in order for the referral to be considered successful.
• Reward based on total spend, or subscription tiers or offer a fixed amount reward.
• Adjust rewards for refunded payments (no more paying out commissions on canceled deals)

💡 Want to see it in action? Check out our Stripe integration guide to get started.

2. Automate Affiliate Rewards Through Stripe

Referral Factory supports automated cash rewards, perfect for people with a Stripe account who want to:

• Pay affiliates via Stripe directly (cash rewards preferred by most affiliates)
• Apply discounts or coupons to referred customers automatically
• Customize reward logic based on customer spend, plans, or product types

This flexibility lets you build an affiliate program that aligns with your business model, especially if you sell subscriptions or have multiple pricing tiers.

3. Support for Refund Policies and Subscription Logic

Affiliate tracking gets tricky when customers churn, refund, or downgrade. Fortunately, Referral Factory has built-in support for:

• Refund-aware payouts: Automatically revoke or withhold rewards if a customer gets refunded.
• Tier-based rewards: Reward more for customers who buy higher plans or stick around longer.
• Recurring commissions: Pay affiliates every time a customer is billed again via Stripe.
  

This means your program rewards quality, not just quantity, a major step up from simpler solutions.

Bonus Features You’ll Love

Referral Factory also comes with features designed to help you launch and grow faster:

💡 AI-Powered Affiliate Program Builder: Just enter your website URL, and Referral Factory will generate a complete affiliate program for you, including messaging, rewards, and tracking setup.
🧩 Drag-and-Drop Campaign Builder: Customize emails, landing pages, and reward rules in minutes, no code required.
🌍 Affiliate Discovery Network: Tap into Referral Factory’s growing network of affiliates who match your industry and audience, a great way to grow your program beyond your own users.

🧠 Want help choosing rewards? Read our guide on how to reward your affiliates for smart ideas.

Real Example: A SaaS Business That Scales Affiliate Commissions with Stripe

Imagine you’re running a SaaS platform that offers 3 pricing tiers:

• $19/month Starter
  
• $49/month Growth
  
• $99/month Pro
  

With Referral Factory + Stripe, you can:

• Give each affiliate a unique tracking link
• Track each signup and when the customer spends more than a predetermined amount, qualify the referral.
• Offer a commission reward based on the total spend so when customers purchase a higher plan, the affiliate gets a higher amount.
• Automatically trigger rewards and skip any that cancel during the trial, or ask for a refund.
  

And you did it all without writing a single line of code.

Final Thoughts: Stripe + Referral Factory = Affiliate Program Superpowers

Running a successful affiliate program with Stripe doesn’t have to be complicated.

With Referral Factory, you can:

✅ Set up tracking in minutes
✅ Automate Stripe-linked payouts
✅ Customize reward logic
✅ Build trust with affiliates
✅ Scale without engineering help

There are other tools out there (like Rewardful, ReferralHero, and MentionMe), but few offer this level of flexibility, no-code simplicity, and Stripe-first integration.

Ready to Start?

Start your affiliate program today with Referral Factory and Stripe,  no developers required. Book a demo or try it free to get started in minutes.