Trackli
Use Case|Paddle Subscriptions

Affiliate Tracking for Paddle Subscriptions

Paddle's Merchant of Record model handles tax, compliance, and payments — but it complicates affiliate tracking because you don't receive gross revenue. Trackli solves this by tracking Paddle subscription events and calculating commissions on your actual net payout amount.

How to Set Up Paddle Subscriptions Affiliate Tracking

Get up and running in minutes with these simple steps.

1

Connect Paddle Subscription Products

Link your Paddle account and select subscription products for affiliate tracking. Trackli pulls product details and pricing information.

2

Register Subscription Event Webhooks

Add Trackli's endpoint for subscription_created, subscription_payment_succeeded, subscription_updated, and subscription_cancelled events.

3

Configure Net Revenue Commissions

Set commission rates based on your net payout from Paddle after their fees and taxes. Trackli calculates this automatically from webhook data.

4

Handle Paddle's Pricing Tiers

Map commission rates to Paddle's pricing plans. Support for different rates on monthly vs annual plans processed through Paddle.

5

Reconcile with Paddle Payouts

Trackli's reporting aligns with Paddle's payout reports. Compare affiliate commission totals against your actual Paddle revenue received.

How It Works

From referral link to commission payout — fully automated with Paddle Subscriptions.

Affiliate tracking flow diagram for Paddle Subscriptions

Trackli vs Traditional Affiliate Tracking

See how Trackli compares to manual or legacy affiliate solutions.

FeatureTrackliTraditional
Net Revenue AwarenessCommissions on payout amount after Paddle fees and taxesCommissions on gross price leading to overpayment
Subscription Lifecycle EventsFull lifecycle: create, pay, update, pause, cancelPurchase event only, no subscription awareness
Paddle Billing v2 SupportSupports both Paddle Classic and new Billing APIOnly supports one version, requires migration
Geographic PricingHandles Paddle's country-specific pricing correctlySingle price assumption regardless of buyer location
Payout ReconciliationReports align with Paddle payout statementsSeparate tracking system with reconciliation gaps
Subscription Pause HandlingPauses commission tracking during subscription pausesContinues counting commission during paused periods

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is affiliate tracking different with Paddle subscriptions?
Paddle is a Merchant of Record, meaning they handle payments, taxes, and compliance. You receive net payouts, not gross revenue. Trackli understands this and calculates commissions on what you actually receive, not the customer's payment amount.
Does Trackli support Paddle's subscription pause feature?
Yes. When a referred customer pauses their subscription, Trackli automatically pauses commission tracking. When the subscription resumes, recurring commissions pick back up from the next successful payment.
How does Paddle's geographic pricing affect commissions?
Paddle allows different prices for different countries. Trackli uses the actual transaction amount and your net payout for each specific transaction, so commissions correctly reflect the buyer's actual payment regardless of their location.
Does Trackli work with both Paddle Classic and Paddle Billing?
Yes. Trackli supports both Paddle's classic API and the newer Paddle Billing (v2) API. During setup, you select which version you're using and Trackli configures the appropriate webhook events and data formats.
How do I reconcile Trackli commissions with Paddle payouts?
Trackli's reports are designed to align with Paddle's payout statements. You can export commission reports by date range and compare them directly against your Paddle earnings dashboard for easy reconciliation.

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