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Updated January 19, 2026

The Stripe-First Alternative to Swaarm

Swaarm is a robust performance marketing tracking and attribution platform built for networks and high-volume campaigns. For SaaS teams that want Stripe-first affiliate tracking with simpler pricing, Referello is usually the better fit.

High Minimum

Swaarm pricing and packaging are built for networks and high-volume performance teams, which can mean a high monthly starting point that feels disproportionate for early-stage SaaS affiliate programs.

Not Stripe-First

Because Swaarm is centered on tracking links, SDKs, and postbacks instead of Stripe subscription events, SaaS teams can end up doing extra engineering work to align referrals with trials, upgrades, refunds, and recurring revenue.

Affiliate UX

Swaarm includes a Partner Platform for publishers, but the workflows are optimized for offers and traffic operations, which can feel heavy compared to a lightweight branded affiliate portal designed for SaaS referrals.

If you are searching for a Swaarm alternative, you are probably trying to answer a simple question: “Is Swaarm the right affiliate tracking software for my SaaS business, or is there a Stripe-first tool that is faster to launch and easier to scale?” Swaarm is positioned as a performance marketing tracking platform for managing, tracking, and optimizing campaigns with real-time reporting and fraud prevention—great for networks and performance teams running lots of offers and traffic sources. But many SaaS founders looking for an “affiliate software for Stripe” or “Swaarm alternative for SaaS” actually need a different workflow: subscription-ready referral tracking, straightforward partner onboarding, and clean attribution tied to recurring revenue. Swaarm’s strengths are in the performance marketing world: flexible plans aimed at networks (with pricing that can start at a high monthly minimum), custom domains, a publisher-facing Partner Platform, coupon tracking tied to publisher source reporting, and SDK-based web/app attribution. That feature set is powerful, but it often comes with extra setup overhead (domains, tracking links, postbacks/SDK events, offer structures), and it is not natively designed around Stripe subscription lifecycle events like trials, upgrades, prorations, refunds, and churn. Referello is built for SaaS affiliate tracking with a Stripe-first approach: connect Stripe, launch your affiliate program quickly, and track referrals with reliable last-touch attribution—without complex network-style configuration. If your main goal is ranking growth from “Swaarm alternative” searches, the key difference is this: Swaarm is a broad performance tracking platform, while Referello is the focused, modern affiliate tracking alternative for Stripe-based SaaS teams that want flat pricing and fewer moving parts.

Feature Breakdown

Core FeaturesSwaarmReferello
Flat monthly pricing
Tiered plans with higher minimums.
Missing
Instant Stripe referral tracking
No native Stripe subscription event sync.
Missing
Reliable last-touch attribution
Supports last-click attribution models.
Included
Unlimited revenue tracking
Revenue reporting tied to tracked events.
Missing
Drop-in tracking script
Web SDK script via CDN or npm.
Included
Auto-generate referral codes
Built around tracking links, not codes.
Missing
Real-time conversion feed
Real-time tracking dashboards and reports.
Included
0% revenue share
Subscription pricing, no take-rate.
Included
Unlimited affiliates
Publisher management at scale; contract based.
Usage-based
Easy setup effort
Setup involves domains, offers, postbacks.
High
No campaign limits
Campaign volume depends on plan/usage.
Plan-based
No team member limits
User roles; limits not transparent.
Plan-based
Branded affiliate portal
Partner Platform provides publisher-facing dashboard.
Included
Custom domain
Custom domain setup included in plans.
Included
Coupon code tracking
Coupons supported for publisher source tracking.
Included
Automatic payouts
Payments can be sent through Tipalti.
Via Tipalti
Self-referral abuse prevention
Fraud tools focus on traffic, not self-referrals.
Partial

Which tool is right for you?

Choose Swaarm if you operate like a performance network (offers, traffic sources, postbacks/SDK attribution, and complex publisher operations) and you are comfortable with a heavier configuration and higher minimum pricing. Choose Referello if you are a Stripe-based SaaS team that wants an affiliate platform purpose-built for subscriptions, reliable referral attribution, and a straightforward flat-price plan that does not get more painful as your program grows.
The Referello Difference

Built specifically for Stripe SaaS Founders.

We focus on one thing: Making affiliate tracking seamless for Stripe. No clunky integrations, no enterprise bloat.

  • 2-Minute Setup
  • Automatic Commissions
  • Simple Flat Pricing ($29/mo)
Get Started Free

No credit card required · 14-day free trial

"I switched from Swaarm because I was tired of paying monthly fees for features I didn't use. Referello is exactly what I needed."
SaaS Founder
SaaS Founder
Verified User

Final Verdict

Swaarm is a strong choice for performance marketing networks that need a broad tracking stack, publisher operations tooling, and high-volume campaign optimization. But if you are a SaaS business searching for a Swaarm alternative because you want affiliate tracking that is simple, Stripe-first, and built around subscription revenue, Referello is the better solution—faster to launch, easier for partners to use, and far more predictable to scale with a flat plan that includes the essentials.

Migration Steps

  1. Inventory your current Swaarm setup (tracking domains, offers, publishers, and any coupon workflows) and document the fields you rely on for reporting.
  2. Export your partner list (publishers/affiliates) and normalize identifiers (email, name, payout preference, and any custom labels) so it imports cleanly into Referello.
  3. Create your program structure in Referello (commission rules, attribution window, and partner-facing settings) and connect Stripe so products and revenue events can be tracked immediately.
  4. Replace or supplement your existing tracking implementation by adding the Referello snippet and updating referral link destinations so new clicks and conversions attribute correctly going forward.
  5. Run a short parallel period where you validate attribution, reconcile a handful of test conversions, and confirm partner portal experience before fully sunsetting Swaarm links for the SaaS program.

Historical clicks/cookies and existing Swaarm tracking links do not transfer, so plan a short overlap period and set expectations with partners that new referrals will be tracked in Referello going forward.

Frequently Asked Questions