ShareASale vs Skimlinks: Links, Tracking, and Reliability Compared
ShareASale is affiliate network (merging into awin) known for legacy mid-market retail programs — but it is merging into Awin, so treat it as transitional; Skimlinks is automatic link monetization known for zero-setup monetization of editorial content across thousands of merchants. They solve different problems, and many publishers use both at once for different merchants. Mechanically they differ in link anatomy and failure behavior — compared in detail below.
Side by side
| ShareASale | Skimlinks | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Affiliate network (merging into Awin) | Automatic link monetization |
| Link domains | shareasale.com | go.skimresources.com, go.redirectingat.com |
| Click ID on final URL | sscid | — |
| Deep-link destination param | urllink | url |
| Example link | https://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=123456&u=7890123&m=45678&urllink=merchant.com%2Fproduct | https://go.skimresources.com/?id=12345X678901&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmerchant.com%2Fproduct&xcust=my-campaign |
| Most common failure | Merchant migrated to Awin | Merchant exits the Skimlinks marketplace |
How ShareASale links fail
Merchant migrated to Awin
The defining failure of the ShareASale era’s end. Your old link may still reach the store, but attribution happens on Awin now — your ShareASale link no longer credits you. These links need to be regenerated on Awin.
Merchant closed their program
The link shows "merchant not found" or "program suspended". ShareASale historically hosted many small merchants, which churn more often than enterprise brands.
How Skimlinks links fail
Merchant exits the Skimlinks marketplace
The redirect still works — you just earn nothing on it anymore. Invisible without checking merchant status or noticing the revenue drop.
Destination page dies
The url parameter points at removed content; visitors land on a 404 or a homepage. The Skimlinks hop reports success either way.
How to choose
- ▸Choose ShareASale for legacy mid-market retail programs — but it is merging into Awin, so treat it as transitional.
- ▸Choose Skimlinks for zero-setup monetization of editorial content across thousands of merchants.
- ▸They are different kinds of platforms, so this is rarely an either/or: many publishers run both simultaneously for different merchants.
- ▸Whichever you use, the operational risk is identical: merchants leave, campaigns end, and product pages die — on both platforms — without notifying you. Monitoring matters more than network choice.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use ShareASale and Skimlinks at the same time?
Yes — publishers routinely run multiple networks side by side, since each merchant picks its own network. The cost isn't platform conflict, it's audit surface: two networks means two sets of link mechanics to monitor.
Which pays higher commissions, ShareASale or Skimlinks?
Commission rates are set per merchant program, not by the network — the same brand often pays identical rates wherever it runs. Compare specific programs, not platforms.
Do ShareASale and Skimlinks links break differently?
Yes. ShareASale: merchant migrated to awin is the most common failure. Skimlinks: merchant exits the skimlinks marketplace. Afterlink validates both with network-specific error detection.
Go deeper
Check every affiliate link you've ever published
Whichever you run, links on both ShareASale and Skimlinks break the same silent way. Afterlink scans your entire YouTube channel or website, follows every redirect chain, and alerts you the day a link breaks.
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