Software A vs Pretty Links
Easy Affiliate and Pretty Links often confuse new marketers. Easy Affiliate creates and manages your own self-hosted affiliate program. Pretty Links manages and optimizes existing affiliate links for conversions. You must choose if you need an affiliate manager or a link optimization expert.
Pros
Cons
Solid WordPress link toolkit
We see Pretty Links as a solid WordPress-based tool for managing and monetizing links, centralizing your affiliate strategy with auto-linking and branded cloaks. Overall, it offers strong value for content creators who want control and insight, though a limited public review base means some features require hands-on testing.
Pros
- Centralized dashboard to manage unlimited links
- Auto-link product mentions to affiliate URLs
- Cloak links into branded, professional URLs
- Real-time tracking with custom reports and GA integrations
Cons
- Annual billing only (no monthly option)
- Limited external review data (Trustpilot shows only 1 review, rating 3.7)
- No Capterra data available in the provided inputs
- Some features may require setup and hands-on testing to gauge value
AboutSoftware A
AboutPretty Links
PrettyLinks is a WordPress plugin for link management. It centralizes your affiliate strategy in WordPress, so you can optimize URLs before sharing them across blogs, emails, podcasts, and social feeds to drive more earnings. 💡 It’s built for content creators who want control over their links, including affiliates, bloggers, podcasters, course creators, and YouTubers.
Highlights
Feature Comparison
Features Overview
We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.
Core Functionality
Easy Affiliate runs your entire affiliate infrastructure, not just the links. Pretty Links optimizes individual links for branding and performance.
Easy Affiliate is designed to be the all-in-one platform for merchants. It handles affiliate recruiting, tracking, and complex commission rules within WordPress. Easy Affiliate focuses on security, system maintenance, and ensuring your affiliates are managed properly. Pretty Links is a URL management tool for heavy affiliate users. It shortens, brands, and tracks link performance across all your channels. Pretty Links acts as mission control for maximizing click efficiency and brand trust. If you sell products and need a team, choose Easy Affiliate for program management. If you promote others’ products and need link power, use Pretty Links. The difference is managing people versus managing links.
Affiliate Payouts
Easy Affiliate manages all payouts internally with one click; Pretty Links offers no payment tools.
Easy Affiliate streamlines the critical task of paying your external sales team. It includes PayPal 1-Click Payouts directly from the WordPress dashboard. This ensures your affiliates are paid quickly and efficiently every month. Pretty Links does not include any comprehensive affiliate payout management features. It is purely focused on shortening and tracking the links themselves. Pretty Links assumes you are using an external platform for commission payments. Easy Affiliate is the clear winner for merchants who want to reduce administrative burden. Pretty Links requires a separate solution for commission payment processing. This feature alone saves considerable time for business owners running high-volume programs every month.
Link Automation & Branding
Pretty Links automatically links keywords and provides custom branding; Easy Affiliate focuses on tracking accuracy.
Pretty Links lets you automate affiliate link placement across your entire site. The Auto-Link Keywords feature replaces designated phrases with branded links instantly. Pretty Links makes long, messy URLs into short, professional, and memorable 'pretty links.' Easy Affiliate allows affiliates to create custom tracking links from their dashboard. Its primary focus is on reliable first-party tracking, not link shortening or keyword automation. Easy Affiliate ensures secure tracking back to the original affiliate. For high-volume content creators, Pretty Links’ automation saves immense manual time. Easy Affiliate is more focused on secure infrastructure than link marketing efficiency. Using Pretty Links, you ensure brand alignment and never miss a product mention earning commission.
Conversion Optimization
Only Pretty Links offers A/B split-testing and advanced conversion reports for links. Easy Affiliate offers high-level performance reporting.
Pretty Links includes crucial strategic tools like Split-Test Links. Marketers can easily fine-tune their link strategy by testing different offers. Advanced Conversion Reports provide key data to maximize revenue per click. Easy Affiliate provides real-time reports on affiliate clicks and sales performance. Its main job is quantifying the commission, not optimizing the click path itself. Easy Affiliate reports help you track your affiliate team's success. If testing effectiveness is essential to your monetization strategy, Pretty Links is necessary. Easy Affiliate offers comprehensive reporting but lacks optimization features like link split-testing. Pretty Links allows savvy affiliates to continuously improve their conversion rates from the same traffic volume.
Data Security & Reliability
Easy Affiliate includes Fraud Detection and uses more reliable tracking technology. Pretty Links is focused on link health.
Easy Affiliate proactively protects merchant revenue using Advanced Fraud Detection. It alerts you to suspicious activity before you pay invalid commissions. Easy Affiliate uses first-party cookies for tracking, which is more reliable today. Pretty Links offers a Broken Links Finder to help maintain website health. It helps streamline your link infrastructure, but it lacks fraud monitoring capabilities. Pretty Links is not designed to prevent commission cheating. For protecting your bottom line and ensuring tracking longevity, Easy Affiliate is the best choice. Pretty Links focuses on the external presentation and function of the URL. Easy Affiliate’s reliable tracking is crucial as third-party cookies globally disappear across browsers.
Direct Selling Capability
Pretty Links lets you sell your own products via Stripe integration; Easy Affiliate manages external sales teams.
Pretty Links introduced PrettyPay™ Links with seamless Stripe integration. This allows users to sell digital products directly using short, branded payment links. You can turn clicks into sales by sharing custom payment links in emails. Easy Affiliate is designed exclusively for managing commissions for third-party affiliates. It does not contain any features intended for direct digital product sales. Its integration focus is on e-commerce platforms like WooCommerce. If you are an entrepreneur selling your own products, Pretty Links offers unique value. Easy Affiliate is built purely for running an affiliate rewards system. Pretty Links offers a lightweight method for monetization beyond simple link tracking or commission management.
Compliance & Reporting
Easy Affiliate handles US tax reports; Pretty Links includes automatic link disclosures.
Easy Affiliate (Pro plan) includes a Tax Reports Add-on for US compliance. This tool collects W9 information and helps generate necessary tax documents. This significantly simplifies end-of-year administrative tasks for the merchant. Pretty Links (Marketer plan) includes Automatic Link Disclosures for trust and clarity. This feature helps ensure your monetized content meets necessary compliance requirements. Pretty Links helps you transparently interact with your audience. Merchants worrying about affiliate taxes should choose Easy Affiliate for its specific add-on. Marketers needing better link transparency should consider Pretty Links. Both solve compliance problems, but at different regulatory points.
Pretty Links costs between $99.60/year and $199.60/year with 3 plans: Beginner at $99.60/year, Marketer at $149.60/year, Super Affiliate at $199.60/year. Here's a quick look at the plans.
Beginner
Price: $99.60/year Websites Supported: 1 Site Best For: Designed for first-time affiliates who want a simple way to start earning Refund Policy: 14-day money-back Other Features:
- Use on 1 Site
- No Transaction Fees with PrettyPayTM
- Advanced Redirect Types
- Auto-Create PrettyLinks
- Import and Export Links
If you're starting out, Beginner offers a straightforward path to earning and keeps setup simple.
- Use on 1 Site
- No Transaction Fees with PrettyPayTM
- Advanced Redirect Types
- Auto-Create PrettyLinks
- Import and Export Links
- Use on up to 2 Sites
- All Beginner Features
- NEW: Link in Bio add-on
- Auto-Link Keywords
- Split-Test Links
- Use on up to 5 Sites
- All Beginner and Marketer Features
- Product Displays add-on
- Developer Tools add-on
- Generate QR Codes
Pricing Notes
- The introductory pricing structure is identical for Easy Affiliate and Pretty Links.
- Renewal prices for both Easy Affiliate and Pretty Links jump to the full standard rate, up to $499 per year.
- Both Easy Affiliate and Pretty Links offer a 14-day money-back guarantee instead of a traditional free trial period.
- Pricing for both plugins is based solely on the number of websites managed, not user count or click volume.
Pricing Head-to-Head
User Reviews
Trustpilot shows PrettyLinks as a powerful WordPress link management and tracking tool with a 3.7 average from a small number of reviews. Reviewers praise features like customizable Product Displays, automatic link insertion, and robust tracking that helps startups and small entrepreneurs organize and monetize links.
The tone on Trustpilot suggests real benefits for WordPress creators, with users noting ease of use and tangible improvements in engagement, while the overall volume of reviews remains modest. 🤝 For a more complete picture, Capterra data is sparse, but the combination of WordPress focus and a strong feature set positions Pretty Links as a solid option for growing affiliates.
One of the best marketing and organisation tools out there. It provides options for startups and small entrepreneurs.
Our Verdict
Choosing between Easy Affiliate and Pretty Links is not a difficult comparison. They are built for two distinct audiences. Easy Affiliate is the definitive winner if you are running your own affiliate program. Easy Affiliate's superpower is infrastructure management and financial control. Its strength lies in PayPal 1-Click Payouts and advanced fraud detection. You get reliable first-party tracking plus the ability to manage affiliate taxes and applications. Pretty Links's specialty is optimizing clicks and link performance. Only Pretty Links offers crucial features like keyword auto-linking and link split-testing. It turns messy URLs into branded paths and even lets you sell products directly using PrettyPay™. The deciding factor is your role: merchant or marketer? If you are paying affiliates, you need Easy Affiliate to run the platform. If you are promoting products and optimizing affiliate links, Pretty Links is uniquely positioned. If you sell products like software or courses, go with Easy Affiliate immediately. If you are an experienced content marketer focused on high conversions, unlock the power of Pretty Links.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for paying monthly commissions: Easy Affiliate or Pretty Links?
Easy Affiliate is built for commission management and includes PayPal 1-Click Payouts. Pretty Links is a link management tool and requires an external system for affiliate payments. Easy Affiliate is the clear choice for merchant payout needs.
Does Pretty Links offer fraud protection like Easy Affiliate?
No, Pretty Links does not include built-in fraud detection or prevention features. Easy Affiliate offers Advanced Fraud Detection starting with its Plus plan. If security against false commissions is vital, choose Easy Affiliate.
Can Easy Affiliate shorten branded links and auto-link keywords like Pretty Links?
Easy Affiliate focuses on tracking integrity and does not feature link branding or shortening. Pretty Links excels at link optimization and provides the essential Auto-Link Keywords feature. Pretty Links is superior for high-volume link management automation.
Which plugin includes A/B testing functions for affiliate links?
Pretty Links provides Split-Test Links starting in its Marketer plan for conversion optimization. Easy Affiliate does not include any specific A/B testing capability for links. Pretty Links is necessary for fine-tuning your marketing performance.
Are the steep renewal prices for Easy Affiliate and Pretty Links the same?
Yes, both Easy Affiliate and Pretty Links increase their pricing substantially after the introductory year. The standard renewal rates for both plugins range from $249 up to $499 annually. Budget for the higher renewal fee regardless of your choice.
Is Pretty Links suitable for managing my own first-party affiliate program?
No, Pretty Links lacks core features needed to run a program, like affiliate application management and fraud detection. Easy Affiliate is specifically designed to handle the entire self-hosted first-party program, sign-ups to payouts.
Ready to Choose?
Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.