Affiliate Tools in Asia: 8 Platforms to Check Out
Affiliate marketing is beating ads on ROI in Asia, with 74% of marketers upping spend. Here are a few platforms to consider.
Rising customer acquisition costs are forcing Asian CMOs to rethink their marketing playbooks. While paid media inflation squeezes budgets across the region, a different channel is delivering measurable returns: affiliate marketing.
The numbers tell a compelling story. Affiliate marketing budgets are surging as brands seek cost efficiency, with 74% of marketers increasing their investment in the past year. In Southeast Asia specifically, 83% of consumers have made purchases through affiliate links, while Singaporean brands now derive 21% of their revenue from affiliate channels alone.
For CFOs and CMOs evaluating 2025 budget allocations, the question isn't whether to invest in affiliate marketing. It's which platforms deliver the best ROI for your specific market needs, whether that's cross-border ecommerce expansion, influencer-led performance campaigns, or enterprise partnership orchestration.
This list profiles eight proven platforms that Asian brands are using right now to scale efficiently while maintaining compliance across complex multi-currency, tax, and KYC requirements.
Leighton Cosseboom
Why Affiliate Marketing Works in Asia's Fragmented Digital Landscape
Asian markets present unique challenges that make affiliate marketing particularly effective. The region's digital ecosystem is fragmented across super apps, social commerce platforms, and localized marketplaces. Traditional paid advertising often struggles with attribution across these disconnected touchpoints.
Affiliate marketing solves this by shifting risk to performance-based models. Brands only pay when specific actions occur, whether that's a completed sale, a qualified lead, or a verified app install. This approach aligns perfectly with the cost discipline that finance teams demand, especially as paid media costs continue climbing across Facebook, Google, and emerging platforms like TikTok.
The data supports this shift. Brands are running affiliate marketing plays as cost-effective channels, with 37% citing this as their primary goal. Another 45% focus on increasing sales directly, while 36% use affiliate partnerships to target specific audience segments that paid media struggles to reach efficiently.
Regional adoption varies significantly. Southeast Asian markets show particularly strong engagement, driven by mobile-first consumers and integrated ecommerce platforms. Singapore leads in sophistication, with 48% of brands allocating half or more of their affiliate budgets specifically to creator partnerships. Malaysia and Thailand follow with growing adoption of data-driven affiliate campaigns that deliver measurably lower customer acquisition costs compared to traditional advertising.
Leighton Cosseboom
Enterprise Partnership Platforms for Cross-Border Scale
impact.com
impact.com operates as the infrastructure layer for global affiliate programs, supporting over 5,000 brands, including Walmart, Uber, and L'Oréal. The platform's strength lies in managing complexity at scale, particularly the multi-currency payment processing and AI-powered tracking that cross-border expansion demands.
Key Details:
- Global Reach: Over 225,000 active partnerships managed
- APAC Presence: Multi-currency support across 12+ Asian markets
- Specialization: Enterprise partnership orchestration with fraud detection
- Notable Clients: Walmart, Uber, L'Oréal
- Technology: AI-driven predictive analytics and partner performance analysis
For brands operating across multiple Asian markets, impact.com solves the operational headaches of managing different payment rails, tax compliance requirements, and attribution models. The platform's AI capabilities help identify high-performing partners and optimize budget allocation automatically, which becomes critical when managing hundreds or thousands of affiliate relationships simultaneously.
Rakuten Advertising
Rakuten Advertising brings enterprise-grade capabilities with particularly strong positioning in Japan and Hong Kong markets. The platform combines Rakuten's deep ecommerce ecosystem knowledge with AI optimization tools that help brands identify and activate the right mix of affiliate partners.
Key Details:
- Founded: 1997 (Rakuten as the parent company)
- APAC Strength: Market leader in Japan, strong Hong Kong presence
- Specialization: AI-optimized partner matching and performance forecasting
- Integration: Native connections to Rakuten's broader ecommerce ecosystem
- Enterprise Focus: Large-scale programs with sophisticated attribution needs
Brands choosing Rakuten Marketing gain access to the company's extensive publisher network across Asia, plus integration opportunities with Rakuten's loyalty programs and cashback offerings. This makes it particularly valuable for brands targeting Japanese consumers or building regional strategies that include Japan as a key market.
Leighton Cosseboom
Southeast Asian Marketplace Affiliate Programs
Shopee Affiliate Program
Shopee's affiliate program dominates Southeast Asian ecommerce with integrated tools that make it easy for creators and publishers to monetize product recommendations. Commission rates range from 4% to 13% depending on product categories, with additional bonuses for high-performing affiliates.
Key Details:
- Market Coverage: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore
- Commission Range: 4-13% based on product category
- Integration: Native TikTok Shop partnerships for social commerce
- Payment: Localized payment methods across six markets
- Tracking: Automated order tracking with real-time reporting
The platform's strength comes from its integration with TikTok Shop, which drives 37% of influencer commerce transactions in Southeast Asia. Affiliates can create shoppable content directly within TikTok, with attribution and payment handled automatically through Shopee's infrastructure. For brands already selling on Shopee, the affiliate program provides a performance-based channel to amplify existing product listings without additional inventory or logistics complexity.
Lazada Affiliate Program
Lazada's affiliate program offers similar regional coverage with particularly strong performance in markets where Alibaba's ecosystem provides additional advantages. The platform emphasizes automated tracking and transparent reporting, which reduces the operational overhead of managing affiliate relationships.
Key Details:
- Ownership: Alibaba Group (since 2016)
- Regional Presence: Six Southeast Asian markets
- Technology: Automated order tracking and commission calculation
- Payment Terms: Regular payout schedules with multi-currency support
- Merchant Tools: Self-service dashboard for campaign management
Lazada's contribution to affiliate revenue is significant, particularly in Singapore, where the platform helps drive 21% of brand revenue that comes from affiliate channels. The automated tracking eliminates common friction points around attribution disputes, while the self-service merchant dashboard lets brands launch and optimize campaigns without requiring platform support for routine tasks.
Leighton Cosseboom
Regional Affiliate Networks and Management Platforms
Commission Factory
Commission Factory focuses specifically on APAC markets with performance-based models that align brand and publisher incentives. The platform manages campaigns across Malaysia, Thailand, and other regional markets with local expertise that global platforms often lack.
Key Details:
- Regional Focus: APAC-specialized with local market knowledge
- Coverage: Malaysia, Thailand, and expanding Southeast Asian presence
- Model: Performance-based with flexible commission structures
- Support: Local account management and market-specific optimization
- Compliance: Built-in tax and regulatory compliance for regional markets
The platform's regional specialization means brands get access to publishers and creators who deeply understand local consumer behavior. This becomes particularly valuable for brands entering new Asian markets where cultural nuances significantly impact campaign performance.
Involve Asia
Involve Asia automates partner management and attribution across Southeast Asian markets, making it a preferred choice for brands that need scalable operations without large internal teams. The platform handles the technical complexity of tracking conversions across multiple touchpoints while providing clear reporting on partner performance.
Key Details:
- Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Market Focus: Southeast Asia with strong Malaysian and Singaporean presence
- Automation: Partner recruitment, tracking, and payment processing
- Analytics: Real-time performance dashboards with ROI tracking
- Scalability: Designed for brands managing 50 to 500+ active affiliates
Involve Asia's automation capabilities reduce the operational burden of running affiliate programs, which matters for mid-sized brands that lack dedicated partnership teams. The platform handles routine tasks like partner onboarding, contract management, and payment processing, letting marketing teams focus on strategy and optimization rather than administrative work.
Leighton Cosseboom
Specialized Tools for Tracking and Optimization
Trakaff
Trakaff has built a reputation as Singapore's top low-cost tracking solution with transparent pricing that makes it accessible for smaller brands and growing programs. The platform focuses on accurate attribution without the enterprise complexity that many brands don't need.
Key Details:
- Location: Singapore-based with regional support
- Pricing: Transparent, budget-friendly tiers for growing programs
- Tracking: Multi-channel attribution across web and mobile
- Integration: API connections to major ecommerce platforms
- Reporting: Real-time dashboards with customizable metrics
For brands just starting affiliate programs or those with straightforward tracking needs, Trakaff provides the essential capabilities without forcing them to pay for enterprise features they won't use. The Singapore base also means strong support for local payment methods and compliance requirements.
Zeydoo
Zeydoo positions itself as an AI monetization platform with particularly fast payout schedules that attract performance marketers across Asia. The platform emphasizes technology-driven optimization that helps both brands and affiliates improve results over time.
Key Details:
- Technology: AI-powered performance optimization
- Payments: Fast payout schedules (weekly and bi-weekly options)
- Coverage: Pan-Asian with strong Southeast Asian presence
- Partner Types: Performance marketers, media buyers, and arbitrage specialists
- Optimization: Automated bid management and traffic quality scoring
The fast payment schedules matter for attracting and retaining high-performing affiliates, particularly in markets where cash flow constraints limit affiliate participation. Zeydoo's focus on performance marketers also means brands gain access to sophisticated traffic sources beyond traditional content publishers.
Leighton Cosseboom
Real Results from Asian Brands
Danone Indonesia
Danone Indonesia won the 2025 NEXT Awards for affiliate campaigns that used micro-influencers to drive measurable sales lifts. The campaign demonstrated how localized creator partnerships could deliver results that traditional advertising struggled to achieve in Indonesia's fragmented media landscape.
Campaign Approach:
- Partner Type: Micro-influencers with 10,000 to 50,000 followers
- Market: Indonesia (Jakarta and secondary cities)
- Measurement: Direct sales attribution through unique affiliate links
- Results: Award recognition for measurable sales impact
- Insight: Micro-influencers delivered three times higher engagement than traditional ads
The success came from choosing creators whose audiences matched Danone's target demographics precisely, then giving them creative freedom to present products authentically rather than forcing scripted endorsements. The affiliate tracking proved that these partnerships drove actual purchases, not just awareness.
Singapore Brand Ecosystem
Singapore brands have become particularly sophisticated in their affiliate marketing approaches, with 48% prioritizing creator partnerships and allocating up to half their affiliate budgets to influencer-led programs. This represents a significant shift from traditional affiliate models that focused primarily on coupon sites and loyalty platforms.
Market Characteristics:
- Revenue Contribution: 21% of brand revenue from affiliate channels
- Creator Investment: 48% of brands allocate 50%+ of affiliate budgets to creators
- Platform Mix: Shopee, Lazada, and direct-to-consumer sites
- Measurement Focus: ROI and customer lifetime value over vanity metrics
- Compliance: Strong emphasis on transparent disclosure and tax compliance
The Singapore market serves as a leading indicator for regional trends, with strategies tested there often expanding to Malaysia, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian markets within 12 to 18 months.
Leighton Cosseboom
Building Your Affiliate Strategy
Choosing the right platform depends on your specific business context and growth objectives. Enterprise brands managing partnerships across multiple Asian markets need the infrastructure that impact.com or Rakuten Marketing provide, including multi-currency processing, sophisticated fraud detection, and AI-powered optimization at scale.
Ecommerce brands already selling through Shopee or Lazada should activate those platforms' native affiliate programs first. The integration is straightforward, the affiliate networks are already substantial, and the tracking works seamlessly with existing product listings. This provides quick wins while you evaluate whether additional platforms make sense.
Mid-sized brands entering affiliate marketing or expanding regional programs often find the best fit with platforms like Commission Factory or Involve Asia. These offer regional expertise and automation without forcing you to adopt enterprise complexity you don't need yet. The local market knowledge becomes particularly valuable when expanding into new countries where consumer behavior and competitive dynamics differ significantly from your home market.
Budget reallocation models vary, but the data suggests starting with 10% to 15% of digital marketing budgets shifted into affiliate channels, then scaling based on performance. Brands seeing strong results often increase this to 30% or more over 12 to 18 months, with the budget coming primarily from paid social and search campaigns that show higher customer acquisition costs.
Leighton Cosseboom
Risk Management and Compliance Considerations
Affiliate marketing introduces specific risks that require active management. Fraud remains a concern, particularly around incentivized traffic and cookie stuffing. Choose platforms with built-in fraud detection and clear policies about prohibited traffic sources. Review affiliate-generated traffic regularly for anomalies in conversion rates, average order values, or geographic patterns that suggest manipulation.
Attribution challenges multiply in Asia's mobile-first environment, where consumers often research on one device and purchase on another. Ensure your tracking can handle cross-device journeys and that you have clear policies about attribution windows. Most platforms default to 30-day cookie windows, but this may need adjustment based on your typical purchase cycle.
Marketplace policies require careful attention, especially when running affiliate programs alongside paid advertising on the same platforms. Shopee and Lazada have specific rules about promotional conflicts and customer confusion. Review these policies before launching campaigns to avoid account restrictions.
Tax and KYC compliance vary significantly across Asian markets. Platforms with strong regional presence typically handle local requirements, but verify this explicitly before onboarding affiliates in new countries. Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand each have different thresholds for tax withholding and reporting requirements that affect both brands and affiliates.
The shift to affiliate marketing represents more than tactical channel diversification. It reflects a fundamental change in how Asian brands approach customer acquisition, moving from rented attention on paid platforms to performance-based partnerships that align incentives and deliver measurable returns. The platforms profiled here provide the infrastructure to make this shift confidently.
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