How affiliate commission works
How affiliate commission works
This article explains what you actually get paid as an approved SimplyPrint affiliate: the default commission rates, what they apply to, the attribution window, and two worked examples so you can see how the numbers play out.
For the program overview, see The affiliate program: get paid for promoting SimplyPrint.
Table of contents
- The default commission rates
- What commission applies to
- What's excluded
- The attribution window
- The commission display card
- The commission calculator
- Worked example: monthly subscriber
- Worked example: yearly subscriber
- When commission becomes available
- Custom commission terms
- Related articles
The default commission rates
Every approved affiliate starts on these defaults:
Period | Monthly billing | Yearly billing |
|---|---|---|
First payment | 70% | 40% |
Months 2-12 | 30% | 40% |
Year 2 and onward | 15% | 15% |
In words:
- A monthly subscriber gives you 70% of their first month, 30% of months 2-12, then 15% recurring for as long as they keep paying.
- A yearly subscriber gives you 40% of their first yearly payment, 40% of the second yearly payment, then 15% on each yearly renewal after that.
The shift to 15% after year 1 is the "recurring tail" - smaller per-payment but it continues for the lifetime of the subscription.
What commission applies to
Commission is paid on the net subscription revenue SimplyPrint receives from each referred account. That means:
- Base subscription cost: yes, full commission applies.
- Added printer slots, extra GB, and other addon subscription revenue: yes, commission applies.
- Any discounts (coupon, referral discount, promotional credit) reduce the base SimplyPrint receives, so commission is calculated on what's actually paid.
What's excluded
A few things don't earn commission:
- AI Camera Detection addon revenue. This is excluded from the default commission structure because of its underlying compute cost.
- Refunded payments. If a referred customer is refunded, the corresponding commission is reversed.
- Chargebacks. Same as refunds: the commission entry is reversed and the affiliate balance is adjusted.
- One-time charges that aren't subscriptions (file print pricing, marketplace, etc).
The attribution window
The default attribution window is 16 months. That means:
- A visitor clicks your link in January 2026.
- If they sign up any time before May 2027, the signup is attributed to you.
- If they pay for a subscription in that window, you earn commission per the schedule above.
- A signup outside the window goes unattributed.
The long window reflects how 3D printing buying decisions actually work: someone watches a video, bookmarks the link, sets up their printer six months later, and finally subscribes. The commission tracks back through all of that.
The commission display card
On the dashboard, the commission display card shows your active rate alongside the standard tiers. If your account has been given custom terms (see below), they show here too. The card also has a quick link to open the commission calculator.
The commission calculator
A built-in calculator lets you model expected earnings from a given scenario: number of referrals, plan, monthly vs yearly, and how long they stay. It uses your active commission terms.
The calculator is the right tool when you want a number for a specific scenario. The rest of this article covers the underlying logic so you understand what the calculator is doing.
Worked example: monthly subscriber
Scenario: a referred user signs up for the SimplyPrint Pro plan on monthly billing at $14.99/month and stays subscribed for 18 months.
Month | Customer pays | Your commission | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | $14.99 | $10.49 (70%) | First payment, monthly |
2 | $14.99 | $4.50 (30%) | Months 2-12, monthly |
3-12 | $14.99 each | $4.50 each | Months 2-12, monthly |
13-18 | $14.99 each | $2.25 each | Year 2+ |
Total over 18 months: $10.49 + ($4.50 × 11) + ($2.25 × 6) = $73.49.
Worked example: yearly subscriber
Scenario: a referred user signs up for SimplyPrint Print Farm on yearly billing at $149/year and stays for 3 years.
Year | Customer pays | Your commission | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | $149 | $59.60 (40%) | First payment, yearly |
2 | $149 | $59.60 (40%) | Year 2, yearly |
3 | $149 | $22.35 (15%) | Year 3+ |
Total over 3 years: $59.60 + $59.60 + $22.35 = $141.55 on a single yearly subscriber.
Yearly billing pays much more upfront per payment (40% × 12 months = 4.8 months of customer payments in commission), while monthly billing has the 70% spike on the first payment and lower ongoing rates.
When commission becomes available
Each commission entry has two date markers:
- Created date - when the customer paid.
- Available after - when the commission becomes eligible for payout. This is set far enough out that any chargebacks or refunds have had time to flow through.
Until "available after" passes, the commission shows as pending. After that, it counts toward your payout balance. For more on the lifecycle, see Affiliate balances and commission history.
Custom commission terms
For high-volume affiliates, business partnerships, niche placements, or special campaigns, SimplyPrint can negotiate custom commission terms. These override the defaults for that affiliate's account.
If you think your situation warrants custom terms, reach out to contact@simplyprint.io after you've been approved on the standard schedule. Most affiliates stay on defaults; custom terms are case-by-case.
Related articles
- The affiliate program: get paid for promoting SimplyPrint
- How to apply for the affiliate program
- Affiliate balances and commission history
- Affiliate payouts: setup and schedule
- Managing your affiliate referral codes
Updated on: 24/05/2026
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