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Refer a friend vs the affiliate program: which one fits you

Refer a friend vs the affiliate program: which one fits you


SimplyPrint runs two referral programs, side by side, sharing the same panel page. Refer a friend is open to everyone with an account. The affiliate program is a curated tier for creators with a real audience. This article explains the differences and helps you pick the right one.


If you already have a SimplyPrint account, you're already in the refer a friend program (or one click away). The affiliate program is opt-in and requires an application.


Table of contents

  • The short version
  • Side-by-side comparison
  • When to stay on refer a friend
  • When to apply to the affiliate program
  • How to apply for the affiliate program
  • What happens to your refer a friend stats if you become an affiliate
  • Related articles


The short version

  • Refer a friend rewards everyone for personal recommendations. You get invoice credit at fixed milestones (1, 2, 10, 20, 50 paying referrals). Self-serve, no approval.
  • Affiliate program rewards approved creators with cash commission on every referred subscription, paid out via PayPal (with Wise and bank transfer planned). Application + manual approval required.


If you're casually telling friends and colleagues about SimplyPrint, refer a friend is the right home. If you make 3D printing content that reaches an audience, the affiliate program is built for you.


Side-by-side comparison


Feature

Refer a friend

Affiliate program

Who can join

Anyone with an account

Approved creators only

Application required

No

Yes (manual review)

Reward type

Invoice credit at fixed tiers

Cash commission per referral

First-month commission

n/a

70% (40% if yearly)

Months 2-12 commission

n/a

30% (40% yearly)

Year 2+ commission

n/a

15% (recurring)

Attribution window

Standard tracking

16 months

Number of referral codes

One personal link

Multiple codes per affiliate

Custom landing pages

No

Yes (per code)

Payout method

Invoice credit

PayPal (Wise, bank transfer coming)

Payout schedule

Applied on next invoice

Every 14 days (configurable)

Promotional asset pack

Badges only

Banners, copy snippets, full pack

Commission calculator

n/a

Built-in

Stats shown

Referrals, link visits, rewards, money saved

All of the above + conversion rate, time to signup, time to first value


Both programs use the same tracking. Once you're an approved affiliate, your existing refer a friend signups don't get reassigned, but new clicks on your link count toward your affiliate commission.


When to stay on refer a friend

The refer a friend program is the right fit if:


  • You're recommending SimplyPrint to people you actually know: friends, colleagues, classmates, your local makerspace.
  • You're posting in a small community (a private Discord, a hobby group, a class) where the audience is in the dozens, not thousands.
  • You want a set-and-forget approach: get your link, share it occasionally, watch the credit accumulate.
  • You don't care about cash payouts and would rather see the credit reduce your own SimplyPrint bill.


There's no application, no minimum performance, and no risk of being removed for inactivity. It's the no-fuss option.


The "join affiliate program" banner shown on the refer a friend page


When to apply to the affiliate program

The affiliate program is the right fit if:


  • You run a YouTube channel, blog, podcast, newsletter, Twitch / TikTok presence, or website with a real audience in 3D printing or maker content.
  • You're a business owner in the 3D printing industry whose customers might benefit from SimplyPrint.
  • You can show at least 1,000 subscribers / followers / monthly visitors on your main platform.
  • You'd rather get paid cash than account credit.


The application form asks for your channel link, subscriber count, average views or interactions, and how you've used SimplyPrint before. SimplyPrint reviews each application manually.


How to apply for the affiliate program

There are two entry points to the application:


  1. From the refer a friend page, click the "Get paid: join our affiliate partner program" banner near the top.
  2. From the affiliate landing page or any "become an affiliate" CTA on the SimplyPrint website.


Either route opens a popup that explains the program and links into the application form.


Affiliate program join popup explaining the curated program


For a full walkthrough of the application, what to include, and what reviewers look at, see How to apply for the affiliate program.


What happens to your refer a friend stats if you become an affiliate

Once you're approved, the page changes: instead of the lightweight refer a friend UI, you see the full affiliate dashboard with commission tracking, payouts, balances, multiple codes, and the promotional asset pack. A few things to know:


  • Existing referrals stay attributed to you. You don't lose anyone you've already referred.
  • The reward credit program (the 1 / 2 / 10 / 20 / 50 tiers) is disabled for approved affiliates by default. The affiliate program pays a different way (commission per referral), and the two are designed not to stack.
  • Future commission is earned on the standard commission schedule starting from the date you're approved.


If you applied and got rejected, you stay in the refer a friend program with full access to invoice credit. Applying doesn't put your existing program at risk.



Updated on: 24/05/2026

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