Last Updated: Mar 20, 2024

What is Refer.WordPress.com?

Refer.WordPress.com (or “Automattic Affiliate Program”) is a program for affiliates to promote WordPress.com, Jetpack, and WooCommerce to earn affiliate rewards. However, please note that we are sunsetting Refer. If you’re interested, you may apply to our new program powered by Impact. You can apply here: https://automattic.com/affiliates/.

I was approved for your program but can no longer login. What happened?

Affiliates who have less than $100 in accrued rewards on a consistent basis will automatically be removed from the program. The reason for this is so that we can provide the best service and revenue earning potential for affiliates. We’d encourage you to check out our WordPress.com Refer-a-Friend program to receive rewards while at the same time offering rewards as you welcome them to WordPress.com.

How do I get my links?

Unique tracking links are available in your Refer.WordPress.com dashboard.

How do I track performance?

On your Dashboard, go to Earnings. You’ll be able to track your earnings and check your payments. Our affiliate links contain unique identifiers, allowing us to track anyone directed from your website. Please do not use UTM tags with your affiliate links as that may interfere with tracking.

How are my sales tracked?

The marketing fees are determined approximately 45 days after the end of the month in which the Qualified Purchase is recorded. Payments are then processed and sent to affiliates between the 16th of the month and the last day of the month. For example between the 16th and end of March, payments will be made for January sales.

How is my payout calculated?

Subject to the Automattic Affiliate Program Agreement, you are eligible to receive 20% of qualifying purchase amounts actually received by Automattic on purchases of annual plans of the below products and services. Products and services eligible to be qualifying purchases are:

WP.com Business or eCommerce Plans (payout of 100% of the first year plan, excluding taxes, up to $300)

WP.com all plans excluding Business or eCommerce Plans

Woocommerce.com: All

Woo Express Essential or Performance Plans (payout of 100% of the first month plan cost or 40% of the first year plan cost after users have completed any promotional introductory period and paid a full monthly or yearly price, excluding taxes).

Jetpack: Backup Daily, Backup Real-time, Anti-Spam, Scan, Security Daily, Security Real-time, Search, and Complete.

Purchases must be made within 30 days from the time a new user clicks on your affiliate link. For Jetpack purchases, new purchases made by an existing user who has not made any previous purchases may still qualify. Purchases made after a user clicks on a different affiliate link or ad are ineligible.

To be eligible to earn a Marketing Fee based on Woo Express, within 30 days of clicking on your affiliate Link, new users must enter into a 14-day Woo Express Free Trial and either: (i) enter into a paid Woo Express plan or (ii) purchase specified products listed in this Affiliate Network FAQ. For such referred users who do enter into a paid Woo Express plan within the requisite time, your Marketing Fee will be earned only after any promotional introductory period for such plan expires and the new user signs up and pays for either an annual program at full list price or at least one month of monthly service at full list price.

How are payouts issued? What is Tipalti?

We use a platform called “Tipalti” to issue payments.

Benefits include:
-A wider set of payment methods
-Easily change your payment method at any time

Tipalti is pretty flexible so it’ll allow you to choose PayPal, ACH, wire transfer, or even a check. PayPal and check have no fees – an affiliate must pay a fee for wire transfer, if preferred, to expedite payment.

Setting up a Tipalti account only needs to be completed once. When you are owed a commission, an invite link will be sent to the email on file in your profile. All information including payment method and tax information must be filled out completely in order to be payable. Payouts are sent to Tipalti and if you are payable, Tipalti issues payment to your currently selected payment method.

Where do I login to Tipalti

You can login at the following link.

https://suppliers.tipalti.com/AutomatticAffiliate/account/login

Do you accept other payouts methods than PayPal?

Yes, ever since we started using Tipalti. In your Tipalti account you can select from PayPal, ACH, wire transfer, or even a check.

Why can’t I find out the revenue from each individual client?

We do not provide this statistic as it would be a violation of client privacy.

What happens if I want to dispute the amount of my payout?

For any payment disputes, contact affiliates@wordpress.com with the full details of the issue. Please include your affiliate ID in the email.

Do I have to include any disclosures when using the links or banners? 

Generally, yes.

The FTC requires that you disclose your relationship with WordPress.com and the fact that you may earn a commission. Affiliate links will generally require disclosures. Banners may require a disclosure if your placement of the banners does not clearly convey that it is an ad (e.g., it blends in with the page’s content). 

Disclosures should be “clear and conspicuous” — meaning they shouldn’t be hidden, but rather they should be easy to find, read, and understand. More information on how to make effective disclosures can be found here. You may consider using “#ad,” “#sponsored,” or “I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post” depending on where you post the links or banners. Check out these additional resources from the FTC on endorsements and native advertising.

What were the commission rates on WordPress Pro plans?

WordPress.com introduced a new plan structure on Thursday, March 31. This affected all new users of WordPress.com.

Since this plan structure eliminated the Business and eCommerce plan, we decided to update the commission structure as well. Eligible referrals for a WordPress Pro plan were awarded 100% of the initial purchase price (exclusive of taxes).

The WordPress Pro plan was removed on Thursday, July 21 and Business and eCommerce plans are offered again.