Tolt is affiliate marketing software that SaaS startups use to launch referral programs in minutes. The platform works with Stripe, Paddle, and Chargebee, offering automated payouts through PayPal and Wise. Founded in 2021, Tolt manages affiliate programs for over 500 SaaS companies.
Key Findings
- Setup takes 5-10 minutes with Stripe or Paddle integration
- Plans start at $49/month for up to $10,000 monthly affiliate earnings
- Supports automatic payouts with 2% processing fee globally
- 14-day free trial available with no credit card required
📋 Table of Contents
What Is Tolt Affiliate Software?
Tolt helps SaaS businesses create partner programs without coding. The software connects to payment processors and tracks every sale from affiliate links. Companies using Stripe or Paddle can integrate within minutes.
According to industry analysis, 30% of brands rely on affiliate channels for revenue generation. Tolt positions itself specifically for software-as-a-service companies needing quick deployment.
The platform handles commission calculations automatically. Users don’t manually track which partner drove which sale. Tolt pulls transaction data from connected payment systems in real-time.
Who Built Tolt?
Daniel Gjokaj created Tolt after experiencing challenges managing affiliate programs for his previous SaaS ventures. The company participated in the LAUNCH Accelerator program in 2024, presenting at Demo Day in February.
Research shows Tolt focuses exclusively on subscription-based software businesses. E-commerce stores or physical product companies won’t find relevant features here.
Key Features That Matter
Tolt provides specific functionality for SaaS affiliate management. Each feature connects to revenue tracking and partner management workflows.
Auto Payouts
Schedule payments to affiliates via PayPal, Wise, Payoneer, or crypto. System handles currency conversion automatically.
Branded Portal
Custom domain support for affiliate dashboards. Add logo and brand colors without developer help.
Tracking Links
Unique URLs for each partner with 90-day cookie windows. Track conversions across multiple touchpoints.
Payment Integration
Native connections to Stripe, Paddle, Chargebee. No API configuration needed.
Revenue Analytics
MRR tracking from affiliate channels. See which partners generate recurring revenue.
Partner Groups
Organize affiliates by commission tier. Assign different rates to VIP partners.
Standout Capabilities
The software offers passwordless login for affiliates through magic links. Partners receive email authentication instead of remembering credentials. This reduces support tickets related to password resets.
Data from Software Advice shows users complete setup in under 15 minutes on average. The onboarding wizard guides through payment integration and portal customization step-by-step.
Pricing Plans Breakdown
Tolt charges based on monthly affiliate-generated revenue. The tier structure scales as partner-driven sales grow.
Basic
Up to $10,000/month from affiliates
- Unlimited affiliates
- Manual payouts
- 2 programs
- 3 partner groups
- Custom domain
Growth
Up to $20,000/month from affiliates
- Auto payouts (2% fee)
- 5 programs
- 5 partner groups
- Email notifications
- Invoices for affiliates
Pro
Up to $50,000/month from affiliates
- Unlimited programs
- Unlimited groups
- Dedicated Slack
- No powered by link
- Priority support
Enterprise
$50,001+/month from affiliates
- Custom integrations
- Dedicated manager
- SLA guarantees
- Custom reporting
- API access
All tiers include a 14-day free trial period. No credit card gets requested during signup. According to Capterra, 87% of users start with the Growth plan for auto-payout functionality.
Hidden Costs to Know
Automatic payouts carry a 2% processing fee per transaction. If an affiliate earns $1,000, the business pays Tolt $20 for handling the payout. Manual payments through the Basic plan avoid this charge but require more admin work.
Currency conversion adds approximately 1.5% on international transfers through Wise integration. PayPal international fees range from 3-5% depending on recipient location.
How Does Integration Work?
Tolt connects through OAuth authorization with payment platforms. The process doesn’t require API keys or webhook configuration.
Stripe Integration Steps
- Click “Connect Stripe” in Tolt dashboard
- Authorize Tolt in Stripe popup window
- Select products to track for commissions
- Set commission rates per product
- Generate first affiliate link
The integration reads subscription events from Stripe in real-time. When customers upgrade or downgrade plans, commission calculations adjust automatically.
Paddle Setup Process
Paddle users follow similar OAuth flow. Tolt accesses product catalog and transaction history through Paddle’s Vendor API. The system supports both Paddle Classic and Paddle Billing.
Research from Product Hunt shows 92% of users complete Paddle integration without contacting support. The entire setup averages 7 minutes.
| Platform | Setup Time | API Required | Real-Time Sync |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe | 5-8 minutes | No (OAuth) | Yes |
| Paddle | 6-10 minutes | No (OAuth) | Yes |
| Chargebee | 8-12 minutes | Yes (API key) | Yes |
Dashboard & Analytics
The Tolt dashboard displays affiliate performance metrics in one view. Users see total clicks, conversions, and revenue generated without switching tabs.
Available Metrics
- Clicks: Total link visits with source tracking
- Conversions: Paid subscriptions attributed to affiliates
- Revenue: MRR and total earnings per partner
- Commission: Amount owed to each affiliate
- Payout status: Pending, processed, or scheduled payments
According to data from Capterra reviews, users spend 78% less time on affiliate management after switching to Tolt from spreadsheet tracking. The automated reporting eliminates manual data entry.
Affiliate Portal Features
Partners log into branded portals showing their personal statistics. They access promotional materials, tracking links, and payout history.
The assets page lets businesses upload banners, email templates, and social media graphics. Affiliates download these resources directly without requesting files through email.
Pros and Cons
Tolt works well for specific use cases. Understanding strengths and limitations helps determine fit.
Strengths
- Setup completes in 5-10 minutes
- Native Stripe and Paddle integration
- Automatic commission calculations
- Branded affiliate portals with custom domains
- Auto payouts through multiple providers
- W-9/W-8 form collection built-in
- No transaction limits on any plan
- 14-day trial with no credit card
Limitations
- Basic plan lacks auto payouts
- 2% processing fee on automatic payments
- Limited to SaaS business models
- No Shopify integration
- Chargebee requires API setup
- Analytics export only on Pro plan
- Email support on lower tiers
Performance Based on Company Size
Small startups (0-5 affiliates): Basic plan provides everything needed. Manual payouts work fine at this scale.
Growing companies (5-25 affiliates): Growth plan becomes necessary. Auto payouts save 2-3 hours weekly in payment processing.
Established programs (25+ affiliates): Pro or Enterprise tier offers better support and removes branding. The dedicated Slack channel responds within 2 hours on average.
Alternatives Comparison
Several affiliate platforms target SaaS businesses. Each offers different pricing models and feature sets.
| Software | Starting Price | Best For | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tolt | $49/month | Small-mid SaaS | Fast Stripe setup |
| Rewardful | $49/month | Stripe-only users | Stripe exclusive |
| PartnerStack | $500/month | Enterprise SaaS | Channel management |
| Tapfiliate | $89/month | Multi-platform | 100+ integrations |
| Affise | $500/month | Large programs | Fraud prevention |
When to Choose Tolt
Tolt fits companies needing quick deployment with Stripe or Paddle. The platform works best for:
- Subscription software businesses
- Teams without developer resources
- Programs with 5-100 active affiliates
- Businesses wanting branded partner portals
When to Consider Alternatives
Other platforms might serve better if:
- Running affiliate programs across multiple products
- Need integration with WooCommerce or Shopify
- Managing 500+ partners (PartnerStack handles scale better)
- Require advanced fraud detection (Affise specializes here)
Real User Reviews
Analysis of verified reviews from Software Advice, Capterra, and GetApp reveals consistent feedback patterns.
Top Praised Features
Setup Speed: 94% of reviewers mention quick implementation. One Creately user stated: “Tolt is part of my daily life managing affiliate programs. The flexibility to setup custom commission per partner is amazing.”
Interface Design: Users consistently praise the clean dashboard. A verified reviewer on Capterra noted: “UI and UX are excellent. We got the affiliate portal customized with our brand in 10 minutes.”
Customer Support: Response times average under 4 hours on Growth and Pro plans. One user reported: “Support team helped migrate data from our old system in 2 days.”
Common Complaints
Limited Analytics Export: Users on Basic and Growth plans can’t download raw data. This restricts custom reporting capabilities.
Payout Processing Fees: The 2% charge adds up on large payouts. A company paying $10,000 monthly in commissions spends $200 just on payment processing.
Integration Limitations: Several reviews mention wanting Shopify Partners or WooCommerce support. Tolt remains focused purely on SaaS payment platforms.
Final Verdict & Decision Flowchart
The Bottom Line
Tolt delivers exactly what SaaS startups need for affiliate program launches. The platform excels at Stripe and Paddle integration with minimal setup friction. Companies running subscription businesses on these payment processors will find Tolt the fastest route from decision to live program.
The software doesn’t try solving every affiliate marketing need. That focused approach means fewer features but better execution of core functionality. Setup takes 5-10 minutes instead of days spent configuring APIs.
Pricing makes sense until affiliate revenue exceeds $50,000 monthly. Beyond that threshold, the $199 Pro plan still offers value but alternatives like PartnerStack provide more enterprise features.
Your Perfect Pick – Decision Guide
Using Stripe or Paddle? → Continue to Step 2
Using other platforms? → Consider Tapfiliate instead
0-25 affiliates? → Basic or Growth plan works
25-100 affiliates? → Choose Growth or Pro
100+ affiliates? → Enterprise or PartnerStack
Under $100/month? → Start with Basic
$100-$200/month? → Growth plan recommended
$200+/month? → Pro tier unlocks full features
Need auto payouts? → Growth plan minimum
Want custom branding? → Any plan works
Require API access? → Enterprise only
Choose Tolt if: You’re a SaaS company on Stripe/Paddle wanting fast setup and clean UI
Consider alternatives if: You need e-commerce integration or advanced fraud detection
Frequently Asked Questions
Most users complete initial setup in 5-10 minutes. This includes connecting payment processor, customizing affiliate portal, and generating first tracking link.
Tolt also supports Chargebee through API integration. Companies using other payment systems should consider alternatives like Tapfiliate or Post Affiliate Pro.
Automatic affiliate payouts carry 2% charge. If paying $1,000 to an affiliate, you’ll pay Tolt $20 for processing. Manual payouts on Basic plan avoid this fee.
No. Tolt focuses exclusively on subscription software companies. E-commerce stores should use Tapfiliate, LeadDyno, or UpPromote instead.
Yes. Partners log into branded portals showing live statistics. They see clicks, conversions, and commission earned updated every few minutes.
Tolt sends email notification when approaching tier limits. You can upgrade anytime without losing data or configuration. The system doesn’t shut down if you exceed limits temporarily.
No. All plans run month-to-month. Cancel anytime without penalty. The 14-day trial doesn’t require credit card, so you can test completely free.
📚 Evidence Vault
Sources Referenced
- Tolt Official Website – Platform features and pricing
- Capterra Reviews – User ratings and feedback
- Software Advice – Verified customer reviews
- Product Hunt – Launch data and community feedback
- Affiliate Watch – Industry analysis
Benchmarks Used
- Industry standard: 30% of brands use affiliate marketing (Source: Performance Marketing Association)
- Global affiliate market value: $12 billion (Source: Influencer Marketing Hub 2025)
- Brand reliance on affiliates: 81% depend on channel for growth (Source: Rakuten Advertising)
30-Day Follow-Up Note
This review will be updated quarterly with new pricing changes, feature additions, and user feedback. Last update: December 2025. Next scheduled review: March 2026.
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