Amazon Associates vs Skimlinks
Amazon Associates
The world's largest affiliate marketing program providing creators and publishers global product monetization
Publishers using it: 14 · incl. OnlineBookClub, TechCrunch, BroadwayWorld
Skimlinks
The leading commerce content platform that automatically monetizes editorial content through affiliate link automation. (Now: Acquired by Connexity in 2020, which was then acquired by Taboola in 2021; it continues to operate under the Skimlinks brand.)
Publishers using it: 24 · incl. BuzzFeed, CBS News, Condé Nast
Publishers running both: 2
Last verified Oct 19, 2026
At a glance
- Amazon Associates scores 4.0/5 and Skimlinks scores 4.3/5 in Benchmark Grid's independent affiliate networks benchmark, both assessed on the same 10 criteria.
- The widest gaps are commission rates & payout terms (Amazon Associates 2.2, Skimlinks 3.2) and disclosure & compliance tools (Amazon Associates 3.5, Skimlinks 2.5); they are within 0.3 on 4 of 10 criteria.
- Amazon Associates is built for small and mid-market publishers; Skimlinks for small, mid-market and enterprise.
- On total cost of ownership Amazon Associates scores 4.2 and Skimlinks 4.0 (higher means better value, not a lower price).
- In our tracking 14 publishers use Amazon Associates and 24 use Skimlinks; 2 run both.
- Scores last verified 19 Oct 2026. Vendors cannot pay for a score or a position.
Where they differ
Amazon Associates is stronger on disclosure & compliance tools (3.5 vs 2.5) and payment reliability & thresholds (3.8 vs 3.0).
Skimlinks is stronger on commission rates & payout terms (3.2 vs 2.2) and integration (4.5 vs 3.8).
Which one fits
Choose Amazon Associates if…
- You publish at small and mid-market scale.
- You weight disclosure & compliance tools, payment reliability & thresholds and product feeds & price comparison heavily — Amazon Associates leads on those in this benchmark.
Choose Skimlinks if…
- You publish at small, mid-market and enterprise scale.
- You weight commission rates & payout terms, integration and publisher approval & programme access heavily — Skimlinks leads on those in this benchmark.
Also weighing these
The nearest-scored tools to Amazon Associates and Skimlinks in this benchmark, listed A to Z.
- 3.8AwinA global affiliate marketing platform connecting publishers with diverse advertisers to drive performanceRead review
- 3.9ImpactComprehensive partnership management platform for automating affiliate, influencer, and creator growthRead review
- 3.8RakutenA global performance marketing network connecting brands with premium publishers via affiliate and media solutions, in a strategic alliance with impact.com (April 2026).Read review
- 3.8Stay22AI-powered monetization platform helping publishers and creators turn travel intent into booking revenue.Read review
All 12 scored tools are in Best Affiliate Networks for Publishers.
Who uses them
Publishers we have detected running each tool, from ads.txt, site code and published case studies. Agencies, brands and vendors are excluded.
Running both (2): PCWorld, MacRumors
Amazon Associates only · 12
Head to head
| Criterion | Amazon Associates | Skimlinks |
|---|---|---|
| Commission rates & payout terms14% of capability | 2.2 | 3.2 |
| Merchant & programme coverage14% of capability | 4.9 | 4.8 |
| Tracking accuracy & attribution14% of capability | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Link automation & commerce content tools12% of capability | 4.5 | 4.8 |
| Payment reliability & thresholds10% of capability | 3.8 | 3.0 |
| Reporting & API10% of capability | 4.4 | 4.3 |
| Product feeds & price comparison8% of capability | 4.3 | 3.7 |
| Disclosure & compliance tools6% of capability | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Integration6% of capability | 3.8 | 4.5 |
| Publisher approval & programme access6% of capability | 3.0 | 3.5 |
| Capability45% of composite | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| Publisher fit40% of composite | 4.0 | 4.9 |
| Total cost of ownership15% of composite | 4.2 | 4.0 |
Cost of ownership
| Sub-score | Amazon Associates | Skimlinks |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | 4.3 | 4.1 |
| Entry cost | 4.4 | 4.5 |
| Implementation cost | 4.0 | 4.2 |
| Hidden-fee risk | 4.4 | 4.3 |
| Ongoing cost | 3.9 | 3.0 |
Amazon Associates pricing
Free to join; performance-based commission model with rates typically between 1% and 20% depending on product category.
Skimlinks pricing
Free for publishers to join; operates on a 75/25 revenue share model where the publisher retains 75% of earned commissions.
What users say
Amazon Associates
25 positive · 23 neutral · 14 negative
Skimlinks
14 positive · 13 neutral · 7 negative
Mentions we could not tie to a real user, and those flagged as promotional, are excluded. Sentiment is opinion, and is independent of the verified publisher adoptions above.
Amazon Associates scores 4.0 and Skimlinks scores 4.3 in Benchmark Grid's independent Best Affiliate Networks for Publishers benchmark (benchmarkgrid.com/vs/amazon-associates/skimlinks, verified Oct 19, 2026)
Common questions
How do Amazon Associates and Skimlinks differ?
Amazon Associates is stronger on disclosure & compliance tools (3.5 vs 2.5) and payment reliability & thresholds (3.8 vs 3.0). Skimlinks is stronger on commission rates & payout terms (3.2 vs 2.2) and integration (4.5 vs 3.8). Neither is better in the abstract — which one suits you depends on which of those dimensions carries the most weight in your operation.
Which is cheaper, Amazon Associates or Skimlinks?
On total cost of ownership — pricing transparency, entry cost, implementation, hidden-fee risk and ongoing cost — Amazon Associates scores 4.2/5 and Skimlinks scores 4.0/5. A higher score means better value, not a lower sticker price.
How are these scores calculated?
Each tool is assessed against its category's published criteria (10 in this benchmark), which make up Capability (45% of the composite), Publisher fit (40%) and Total cost of ownership (15%). Assessment is carried out by SODP's editorial team against a published methodology. Vendors cannot pay for inclusion, scores or positions.
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Both tools are scored in Best Affiliate Networks for Publishers. See alternatives to Amazon Associates or alternatives to Skimlinks.
Weighing a third option? Add a tool to this comparison.
Where to next
Four questions, and a scored stack across every benchmark — not just Best Affiliate Networks for Publishers
Every scored tool in Best Affiliate Networks for Publishers, with the criteria behind each number
Every category, independently scored
Related comparisons
Other head-to-heads publishers look at in Best Affiliate Networks for Publishers.
