The Best Affiliate Networks for Chinese Brands

The affiliate network you choose decides which publishers you can reach, how sales are tracked, how partners get paid, and what you pay on top of commission. Pick the wrong one and you can spend months recruiting partners who never promote you.

There is no single best network for every Chinese brand. The right choice depends on where you are launching, how big your programme will be, which partners you want to work with, and how you plan to pay them. At Red Thread we’re network-agnostic: we work with all the major platforms and choose one based on each brand’s goals, target markets, reach, commercial model and size.

This guide compares the eight platforms we’re asked about most often, and explains how to choose between them. For the bigger picture on launching a programme, read our complete guide to affiliate marketing for Chinese brands.

At a glance

Platform	Type	Strongest in	Best for	Pricing model
Awin	Network with open publisher marketplace	UK, Germany, France, wider Europe; US via ShareASale	Brands starting in Europe; small to mid-size programmes	Published plans: US from $49/month plus a 3.5% tracking fee on sales, or $99/month plus 2.5%
impact.com	Partnership platform with a large partner marketplace	US and Canada	Brands managing publishers, creators and other partner types in one place	Published plans from $30/month (Starter) to $2,500/month (Pro), plus 2.5% of partner-driven sales and a setup fee
CJ Affiliate	Network	US, with global reach	Larger retail brands wanting established, high-volume publishers	Custom quote; typically a setup fee, network fees and an upfront deposit
Rakuten Advertising	Network	US, UK, Japan, Australia	Retail brands focused on cashback, loyalty and premium publishers	Custom quote
Tradedoubler	Network	Western Europe, especially France, Spain, the Nordics and Poland	Brands expanding across continental Europe	Custom quote
Webgains	Network with a service-first, managed approach	UK and Europe	Brands that want hands-on support from the network team	Custom quote
Partnerize	Enterprise partnership platform	Global	Large brands running complex, multi-market programmes	Custom quote
Everflow	Tracking and partner management software (no open marketplace)	US-based, used globally	Brands or agencies that already have partner relationships and want full control	Custom quote, usually on a fixed monthly fee

Sources: Awin pricing and impact.com pricing, both checked against each company’s own pricing page in October 2026; CJ fee structure; Everflow plans. Prices change often, so confirm with each platform before you sign.

The key difference is network versus software. Awin, CJ, Rakuten, Tradedoubler and Webgains are networks: they bring a marketplace of publishers you can recruit from. Everflow is software: it tracks and pays partners brilliantly, but you (or your agency) bring the partners. impact.com and Partnerize sit in between, with strong software and large partner marketplaces.

The networks, one by one

Awin

Awin is the dominant affiliate network in the UK and much of Europe, and since absorbing ShareASale it has a large US presence too. It describes its marketplace as over a million partners, from big editorial sites to small niche blogs.

Why Chinese brands choose it: published pricing, a low entry cost and a huge open marketplace make it the easiest way to test the UK or Europe.
Best for: brands launching in the UK, Germany or France, and small to mid-size programmes.
Watch out for: the tracking fee is a percentage of sale value, not of commission, so it grows with revenue whatever your margin. A big marketplace also means more low-quality applicants to filter out.

impact.com

impact.com is a partnership platform rather than a classic network. It handles affiliates, creators, B2B referral partners and strategic partnerships in one system, and has a large partner marketplace of its own. In April 2026 it announced a strategic alliance with Rakuten, combining its technology with Rakuten’s publisher network and cashback platform.

Why Chinese brands choose it: strong in the US, flexible enough for creators and content partners, and plans that scale from small to enterprise.
Best for: brands focused on the US and Canada, or running a mix of publishers and creators.
Watch out for: setup and onboarding take real work without someone who knows the platform; budget for the setup fee and the 2.5% transaction fee.

CJ Affiliate

CJ is one of the oldest and largest US networks, with long-standing relationships with major publishers and retailers.

Why Chinese brands choose it: access to established, high-volume US publishers that some newer platforms don’t reach as easily.
Best for: larger retail brands with the budget to commit.
Watch out for: pricing isn’t published, and the mix of setup fees, network fees and an upfront deposit makes the total cost harder to forecast.

Rakuten Advertising

Rakuten Advertising runs a curated network rather than an open marketplace, and it sits alongside Rakuten Rewards, one of the biggest cashback programmes in the US.

Why Chinese brands choose it: strong cashback and loyalty reach, premium retail publishers, and a managed-services team.
Best for: retail brands where cashback and loyalty drive conversions, in the US, UK, Japan or Australia.
Watch out for: quote-only pricing and a more selective approach to which brands it takes on.

Tradedoubler

Founded in Sweden in 1999, Tradedoubler was one of the first affiliate networks to operate across Europe, and it remains strong in Western Europe, particularly France, Spain, the Nordics and Poland. It is also paying close attention to Chinese brands: after the PartnerBoost EVOLVE summit in Shenzhen in 2026, it wrote that affiliate is becoming a strategic growth lever for Chinese brands.

Why Chinese brands choose it: local publisher relationships across continental European markets that UK- and US-centred networks reach less well.
Best for: brands expanding beyond the UK into France, Spain, the Nordics or Central Europe.
Watch out for: less reach in North America, so US-focused brands usually pair it with another platform.

Webgains

Webgains describes itself as a service-first network, with more than 1,800 advertisers and 250,000 publishers and teams across the UK and Europe. It already has Chinese brands on its network, is familiar with the China market, and sponsors the PartnerBoost summit in Shenzhen.

Why Chinese brands choose it: hands-on support from a network team that already works with Chinese brands.
Best for: brands launching in the UK or Europe that want more guidance than a self-serve marketplace offers.
Watch out for: a smaller US footprint than impact.com or CJ.

Partnerize

Partnerize is an enterprise partnership automation platform used by large brands in retail, travel and finance. It is built for programmes with negotiated terms, many markets and complex payments.

Why Chinese brands choose it: global payments, detailed commission rules and enterprise-grade reporting.
Best for: large brands running multi-market programmes with dedicated partnership teams.
Watch out for: priced for enterprise budgets, and usually more platform than a brand testing its first market needs.

Everflow

Everflow is partner marketing software: it tracks clicks and sales, manages partners, detects fraud and handles payouts, across affiliates, influencers and referral partners. Unlike Awin or CJ, it doesn’t come with an open marketplace of publishers to recruit from.

Why Chinese brands choose it: full control of data and tracking, flexible commission models, and strong fraud protection.
Best for: brands, or agencies acting for them, that already have partner relationships and want to own the programme.
Watch out for: you need a way to recruit partners, either your own network or an agency’s, because the platform won’t bring them to you.

How to choose the right network

Start with your market and your partners, not the platform’s feature list. These five questions narrow it down quickly.

Where are you launching first? Awin leads in the UK and Europe, with Tradedoubler and Webgains also strong there. impact.com, CJ and Rakuten are strongest in the US. Many brands end up on one platform per region.
Which partners do you need? If you want cashback and loyalty, Rakuten and CJ are strong. For creators and content partners, impact.com is flexible. For a wide spread of European publishers, Awin.
How big will the programme be? Testing one market with a modest budget suits Awin’s entry plans or impact.com’s lower tiers. Multi-market enterprise programmes suit Partnerize, CJ or Rakuten.
How will you pay partners? If you plan lots of fixed-fee placements, hybrid deals or custom commission rules, check the platform handles them cleanly before you sign.
Do you already have partner relationships? If you, or your agency, can bring partners, software like Everflow gives you more control at a predictable cost. If you’re starting from zero, a network’s marketplace helps you get going.

If you are…	Start by looking at
Testing the UK or Europe on a modest budget	Awin
Launching in the US with publishers and creators	impact.com
A large retail brand wanting established US publishers	CJ Affiliate
Relying on cashback and loyalty to convert	Rakuten Advertising
Expanding into France, Spain, the Nordics or Central Europe	Tradedoubler
Wanting hands-on network support in the UK or Europe	Webgains
Running a big, multi-market programme	Partnerize
Bringing your own partners and wanting full control	Everflow

Whichever you choose, the network is only the plumbing. Results come from recruiting the right partners and keeping them active, which is where most programmes succeed or fail.

Practical tips for Chinese brands joining a Western network

Prepare a localised brand profile. Your network listing is the first thing publishers see. Write it for Western partners in fluent English (or the local language), with clear product benefits, commission and contact details.
Have your website and checkout ready first. Networks review your site before approving you. A local-language site, local payment methods and clear returns and shipping information all help.
Budget for more than commission. Include platform fees, tracking fees, setup costs, fixed-fee placements and management time.
Test tracking end to end. Place a real order through a test link before you invite partners, and check it shows in the network dashboard.
Plan for time zones. Publishers expect quick answers to applications and questions. Make sure someone can respond during their working day.
Don’t rely on the marketplace alone. Joining a network gives you access to publishers; it doesn’t make them promote you. Active recruitment and regular contact are what drive sales.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best affiliate network for a Chinese brand?

There isn’t one best network for every brand. Awin is usually the easiest start for the UK and Europe, and impact.com is a strong choice for the US. The right answer depends on your market, size, partners and budget.

Can a Chinese company join Western affiliate networks?

Yes. The networks in this guide work with brands from many countries. You’ll need a website or store that sells to shoppers in the target market, a way to pay network invoices, and someone who can manage the programme in English.

How much does an affiliate network cost?

It varies widely. Awin and impact.com publish entry plans starting at tens of dollars a month plus a percentage fee on sales, while CJ, Rakuten, Tradedoubler, Webgains, Partnerize and Everflow quote individually. Commission to partners comes on top.

Should we use more than one network?

Often, yes, especially if you sell in both North America and Europe. Avoid running the same partners on two platforms, which can lead to paying commission twice.

What’s the difference between a network and a platform like Everflow?

A network brings a marketplace of publishers you can recruit from. Software like Everflow handles tracking, partner management and payments, but you bring the partners yourself.

Can we switch networks later?

Yes, but it takes planning. Partners have to rejoin your programme on the new platform and update their links, so expect some disruption.

How Red Thread helps

Choosing a network is one decision; making it pay off is the hard part. Red Thread is network-agnostic, so we recommend the platform that fits your goals, set it up, and recruit and manage the partners who drive sales, in English and Mandarin.

Affiliate marketing for Chinese brands: network selection, setup, commission structure and tracking
Affiliate programme management: recruitment, partner communications, payments and bilingual reporting
The complete guide to affiliate marketing for Chinese brands: the bigger picture, from markets to commissions

Not sure which network fits? Tell us about your brand and we’ll recommend one within 48 hours.