I Tracked Every AI API Affiliate Dollar in My Spreadsheet — Here's What Actually Pays

Dev.to / 6/15/2026

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Key Points

The author tracked AI API affiliate program clicks, signups, conversions, and payouts over 90 days using a spreadsheet/Notion setup to test which programs truly pay off.
They argue that most AI API affiliate programs are not worth the effort to share referral links, mainly due to unfavorable economics or low conversion performance.
They propose an evaluation framework focused on practical, dollar-driven criteria: initial commission rate, one-time vs recurring payouts, recurring commission percentage, payout mechanics/minimums, and overall product quality.
The article includes a cautionary lesson from past promotions: high commission rates can still be ineffective if the product quality is poor and conversion rates collapse.
The author’s conclusion is that at least one AI API affiliate program can be genuinely excellent when positioned correctly, but others fail without the right fit and marketing approach.

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