If you’re a SaaS company, do not use Impact - there's a very practical reason why. Impact uses third-party cookies that browsers and iPhones block, so a lot of referrals simply never track. Dub uses first-party cookies that browsers actually allow, giving you accurate results and ensuring your partners get credit for the content they create. Why trust us? We've been an affiliate partner for over 100+ companies and Impact is the platform we most consistently have issues with. All but two of our core partners have switched off of Impact to a better platform.
We believe there are better options available in this category, read below to learn what this software does well, and what they could do better. ⤵
If you're a SaaS company trying to build a high-performing partner or affiliate program, choosing the right platform matters more than ever. Most brands default to Impact because it's been around for a long time, but modern browsers, privacy rules, and the way people use the internet today have changed everything.
This is a practical, straightforward comparison of Impact vs Dub Partners, and why one works for SaaS and the other simply doesn't.
Impact was built in 2008, when third-party cookies were standard. This type of tracking: shares data across multiple brands, relies on redirect links, is classified as "ad-tech" by browsers gets blocked by iPhones, Safari, and privacy tools.
This means: referrals go unattributed, users hit blocked or warning pages, creators don't get credit, your affiliate channel underperforms.
We've seen it happen dozens of times: SaaS companies move their program to Impact, and performance is mediocre. Because browsers are actively blocking the tech Impact runs on.
And Impact can't fix this. The entire platform is built on third-party tracking.
Dub Partners uses first-party tracking (modern + reliable). Dub was built after browsers banned third-party cookies, so its infrastructure is the opposite. Dub uses: first-party cookies, brand-isolated tracking, no cross-site redirects, server-first attribution.
This matters because first-party cookies are the type that browsers actually allow.
This means referrals track accurately, partners always get credit, nothing gets blocked, programs works smoothly across all devices, especially iPhones, and more importantly higher overall program performance!
This is why nearly every SaaS company that starts with Impact ends up migrating off and why partners prefer Dub.
Impact oversells its marketplace as a major advantage, but for SaaS companies it rarely delivers real value. The majority of partners inside it are coupon and deal sites...not the creators, consultants, or industry experts that actually move the needle for SaaS. Impact’s marketplace sounds compelling in theory, but in practice it isn't where the best SaaS partners are. The best SaaS partners are the ones you have a direct relationship with.
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The referral category deserves a bit of an explanation because we continually see confusion arise when it comes to the competitors in this space. You'll often hear terms like "affiliate", "referral", "link tracking", and "partner portals" all used interchangeably.
And with that, not all referral tracking tools are created equal, nor are they focused on the same needs. They can actually be broken up more into 5 main sub-categories:
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Dub is the modern link attribution platform for affiliate programs.
Dub Partners is the most modern affiliate and partnership tracking platform on the market. Unlike older affiliate tools built for eCommerce or coupon sites, Dub Partners was built directly alongside creators, influencers, and real affiliate partners. The result is a platform that shows exactly which content, pages, and channels drive revenue with accurate, first-party attribution that actually works across modern browsers (including iPhones and Safari).
An affiliate tracking tool for large B2C eCommerce businesses like GAP and Honey (not for B2B SaaS companies)
Impact is an affiliate tracking platform built in 2008, when third-party cookies were the standard method of tracking referrals. Modern browsers (especially Safari, iPhones, and privacy-first browsers)now block third-party cookies by default. Because Impact relies on cross-site redirects and shared third-party cookies, its tracking frequently breaks, leading to unattributed referrals and partners not getting credit.
Impact is one of the most expensive affiliate platforms in the industry. Most SaaS companies pay between $10,000–$30,000/year, despite the platform being built for enterprise eCommerce rather than SaaS. More modern, SaaS-native platforms like Dub Partners or PartnerStack often cost less and provide more accurate, dependable tracking thanks to first-party cookies.
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