Top Free Tools for Affiliate Link Tracking
Tracking your affiliate links doesn't have to be expensive. Whether you're just starting or want to keep costs low, there are plenty of free tools that give you everything you need to manage and monitor your affiliate links.
In this article, we’ll explore the top free tools for affiliate link tracking, what they offer, and how to use them effectively.
1. URLShortly (Recommended)
URLShortly is a powerful yet simple link shortener designed for affiliate marketers. You can shorten long affiliate URLs, track the number of clicks, and even analyze where your traffic is coming from.
Features:
Click analytics (location, device, referrer)
Clean, short URLs
Easy to organize and manage
Dashboard for real-time tracking
Best For: Beginners and pros who want a fast and clean solution to shorten and monitor affiliate links.
2. Bitly
Bitly is one of the most popular link shorteners worldwide. Its free version allows link shortening and basic analytics.
Features:
Real-time click tracking
Referrer data
Location of visitors
Custom short URLs
Best For: Users looking for a simple and widely trusted option.
3. Pretty Links (Free WordPress Plugin)
Pretty Links is a free WordPress plugin that helps you cloak, organize, and track affiliate links directly from your WordPress dashboard.
Features:
Cloaked affiliate links
Basic click stats
Automatic keyword replacement
Custom slugs
Best For: Bloggers and WordPress site owners.
4. Google Analytics (with UTM Tags)
Google Analytics is completely free and provides in-depth data. When paired with UTM parameters, it becomes a powerful affiliate tracking tool.
Features:
Deep traffic insights
Device, location, and source data
Conversion tracking
Custom goals setup
Best For: Marketers who want detailed analytics and already use GA for their website.
5. TinyURL
TinyURL is another long-standing link shortener. While it’s very basic, it’s useful for fast and reliable link shortening.
Features:
Simple to use
No account required
Custom aliases available
Best For: Quick, one-time shortening needs.
Tips for Using Free Tools Wisely
Label Your Links: Use a naming system to differentiate campaigns.
Test All Links: Check links before publishing to ensure they work.
Track by Source: Use UTM codes when promoting links across platforms.
Export Data: If the tool allows, export click data weekly for backup and deeper analysis.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a premium plan to start tracking affiliate links. These free tools provide all the essentials to help you grow your affiliate business, track performance, and optimize campaigns.
Start with one or two tools and master them. As your earnings grow, you can explore more advanced (paid) options.