References

Affiliate Score

How the Affiliate Score algorithm ranks programs from 0 to 100.

Overview

The Affiliate Score is a composite metric (0-100) that ranks affiliate programs based on their value to affiliates. It is used across rankings, recommendations, and comparisons.

Every input is a structured field of the program's YAML file. The free-text rate is shown on the program's page but never read by the score, so rewording it cannot move a program.

Score Components

Component	Max	Description
Commission Value	40	A single percentage, or a flat amount in US dollars
Cookie Duration	15	How long the tracking cookie lasts, once the terms are verified
Type + Duration	25	Recurring programs score higher, especially lifetime
Verified	10	Terms checked against the program's own page
Completeness	10	Programs with full data rank higher

Commission Value (40 pts)

Read from the structured commission fields (mode, value, currency) and the program's kind. Two kinds of commission count:

Percentage-based

Mode percentage, in any currency.

formula

score = min(value / 50, 1) * 40

50%+ commission = maximum 40 points
25% commission = 20 points
10% commission = 8 points

Flat fee

Mode flat with currency set to USD.

Amount	Score
$1 - $49	8
$50 - $99	16
$100 - $499	28
$500+	40

Everything else: 0 points

Tiered and hybrid deals (mode tiered or hybrid, e.g., "$5 per lead + 30%"): no single rate to compare
No rate published (mode unknown, including "varies")
A flat amount in another currency, or with no currency set
A zero amount
Referral rewards paid in credit or gift cards (kind referral)

The program's own page shows those terms in full. The /best topic lists and the category pages count commission by the same rule.

formula

score = verified ? min(cookie_days / 90, 1) * 15 : 0

90+ days = maximum 15 points
30 days (standard) = 5 points
7 days = ~1 point

Counted only for verified programs. An unverified program's stored cookie window is often an import default, and the site does not show it, so it scores 0 until the terms are checked.

Type + Duration (25 pts)

Type	Duration	Score
One-time	—	5
Hybrid	—	5
Tiered	—	12
Recurring	Unknown	18
Recurring	12 months	21
Recurring	24 months	23
Recurring	Lifetime	25

Recurring programs are significantly more valuable because affiliates earn on every renewal, not just the initial sale.

Verified (10 pts)

Programs with the verified badge receive 10 bonus points. A verified program had its terms checked against its own affiliate page. Verification also lets the cookie window count.

Completeness (10 pts)

Field	Points
Description (21+ chars)	4
Agent prompt (11+ chars)	3
Signup URL	3

Examples

Program	Comm	Cookie	Type	Verif	Comp	Total
30% rec/lifetime, 90d, verified	24	15	25	10	10	84
50% rec/12mo, 30d, verified	40	5	21	10	10	86
Tiered 20-40%, 60d, verified	0	10	12	10	10	42
$200 gift card per referral, 30d, verified	0	5	5	10	10	30
$500 USD one-time, 30d, unverified, partial	40	0	5	0	4	49
10% one-time, 30d, unverified, minimal	8	0	5	0	0	13

Implementation

The scoring function is defined in src/lib/programs.ts as affiliateScore(). It is a pure function of the program's structured fields. The commission it counts comes from rankedCommission() in the same file, which the list pages use too. The embeddable score badge shows the same number.

TypeScript

import { affiliateScore } from "@/lib/programs";
const score = affiliateScore(program); // 0-100

Fields Read

YAML field	Used for
`commission.mode`, `commission.value`	Commission value
`commission.currency`	Flat amounts count only when it is USD
`kind`	Referral rewards earn no commission points
`commission.type`, `commission.duration`	Type + Duration
`cookie_days`	Cookie duration, verified programs only
`verified`	Verified, and whether the cookie window counts
`description`, `agents.prompt`, `signup_url`	Completeness

The rate text (commission.rate) and commission.conditions are shown on the program's page and never scored.

YAML Schema Submit a Program