Brandreward vs Skimlinks
Brandreward
Automated affiliate marketing platform with high-commission payouts and global brand access
Publishers using it: —
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
Last verified Oct 19, 2026
At a glance
- Brandreward scores 3.4/5 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 product feeds & price comparison (Brandreward 1.6, Skimlinks 3.7) and integration (Brandreward 2.5, Skimlinks 4.5); they are within 0.3 on 3 of 10 criteria.
- Brandreward is built for small and mid-market publishers; Skimlinks for small, mid-market and enterprise.
- On total cost of ownership Brandreward scores 3.6 and Skimlinks 4.0 (higher means better value, not a lower price).
- In our tracking 0 publishers use Brandreward and 24 use Skimlinks.
- Scores last verified 19 Oct 2026. Vendors cannot pay for a score or a position.
Where they differ
Skimlinks is stronger on product feeds & price comparison (3.7 vs 1.6), integration (4.5 vs 2.5), link automation & commerce content tools (4.8 vs 3.0) and reporting & API (4.3 vs 2.5).
Which one fits
Choose Brandreward if…
- You publish at small and mid-market scale.
- You weight commission rates & payout terms heavily — Brandreward leads on it in this benchmark.
Choose Skimlinks if…
- You publish at small, mid-market and enterprise scale.
- You weight product feeds & price comparison, integration and link automation & commerce content tools heavily — Skimlinks leads on those in this benchmark.
Also weighing these
The nearest-scored tools to Brandreward 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.
Brandreward · 0
No publisher adoption verified yet.
Head to head
| Criterion | Brandreward | Skimlinks |
|---|---|---|
| Commission rates & payout terms14% of capability | 4.6 | 3.2 |
| Merchant & programme coverage14% of capability | 4.5 | 4.8 |
| Tracking accuracy & attribution14% of capability | 3.0 | 4.2 |
| Link automation & commerce content tools12% of capability | 3.0 | 4.8 |
| Payment reliability & thresholds10% of capability | 2.8 | 3.0 |
| Reporting & API10% of capability | 2.5 | 4.3 |
| Product feeds & price comparison8% of capability | 1.6 | 3.7 |
| Disclosure & compliance tools6% of capability | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Integration6% of capability | 2.5 | 4.5 |
| Publisher approval & programme access6% of capability | 3.0 | 3.5 |
| Capability45% of composite | 3.2 | 3.9 |
| Publisher fit40% of composite | 3.5 | 4.9 |
| Total cost of ownership15% of composite | 3.6 | 4.0 |
Cost of ownership
| Sub-score | Brandreward | Skimlinks |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | 4.5 | 4.1 |
| Entry cost | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Implementation cost | 2.5 | 4.2 |
| Hidden-fee risk | 3.0 | 4.3 |
| Ongoing cost | 3.5 | 3.0 |
Brandreward pricing
Free for publishers to join; operates on a performance-based revenue share model where publishers receive 85% of generated commissions.
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
Brandreward
3 positive · 1 neutral · 3 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.
Brandreward scores 3.4 and Skimlinks scores 4.3 in Benchmark Grid's independent Best Affiliate Networks for Publishers benchmark (benchmarkgrid.com/vs/brandreward/skimlinks, verified Oct 19, 2026)
Common questions
How do Brandreward and Skimlinks differ?
Skimlinks is stronger on product feeds & price comparison (3.7 vs 1.6), integration (4.5 vs 2.5), link automation & commerce content tools (4.8 vs 3.0) and reporting & API (4.3 vs 2.5). 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, Brandreward or Skimlinks?
On total cost of ownership — pricing transparency, entry cost, implementation, hidden-fee risk and ongoing cost — Brandreward scores 3.6/5 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 Brandreward 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.
