Best affiliate platforms for PR under £100/month: Awin vs. Skimlinks explained

If you’re an eCommerce brand securing press coverage, there’s a good chance you’ve been asked this question: “Do you have an affiliate link?”

In 2025, online press and media increasingly rely on affiliate revenue, and platforms like Skimlinks, Awin and Everflow are at the heart of this shift.

But which platform should you use? What does it cost? And how do you make sure your affiliate setup helps you land and leverage PR coverage?

We sat down with affiliate expert Jason Hulott, founder of Speedie Consulting, to break it all down.

What is Skimlinks and how does it work?

Skimlinks is a tool used by over 65,000 content publishers, including major titles like The Daily Mail, The Guardian and House Beautiful.

It allows publishers to automatically monetise their content by turning product mentions into affiliate links, using a piece of installed code that scans for relevant keywords.

Here’s the key: if your product has an affiliate setup through Skimlinks, any time it’s mentioned on a publisher’s site, it can be monetised, making it far more likely to be featured.

Why this matters for PR

Journalists and editors, especially in digital media, increasingly prefer linking to brands that are part of affiliate platforms. It’s a revenue stream for them, and a major reason why having an affiliate link is now PR-critical.

Without one, your pitch may still be accepted, but you’re far less likely to land consistent, high-impact online coverage.

The affiliate platform breakdown: Skimlinks vs Awin vs Everflow

1. Awin (via Awin Access)

 – Best for Small Brands & Startups

• Cost: £89/month
  

• Ideal for: eCommerce brands on Shopify or similar platforms
  

• What you get: Access to Skimlinks, simple Shopify integration, and full control of your affiliate commission rates.
  

• Best part: You only pay for results — it’s commission-based. You set the commission (typically 5–20%), plus a small override (approx. 3%) to the platform.
  

💡 Want help setting it up? Jason offers a full onboarding service for £495 + VAT, including setup and connecting to Skimlinks.

2. Skimlinks Direct

 – Great for Free Entry

• Cost: Free to join (with optional paid tiers for more exposure)
  

• How it works: Skimlinks picks up your links passively, but you have little control unless you upgrade.
  

• Tiers:
  
  

• Free: Limited exposure
  

• Preferred: £150/month – access to more keywords and greater visibility
  

• Premium: £800/month – stronger placement in publisher content
  

• VIP: £1,450/month – dedicated account management and direct publisher outreach
  

💬 Note: Brands on Awin are automatically picked up by Skimlinks, but you may not see which publishers are driving traffic.

3. Everflow

 – For Advanced Tracking & Transparency

• Cost: £750/month+
  

• Ideal for: Data-driven brands who want full visibility
  

• Benefits:
  
  

• See exactly which media sites are driving clicks and conversions
  

• Manage multi-step conversion funnels
  

• Integrate with social and search analytics
  

Great for brands needing cross-channel attribution or selling high-ticket or subscription products.

How much commission should you offer?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but here’s a rough guide:

• Retail average: 5%–20%
  

• High-converting products: May need to offer more to attract affiliates
  

• Subscription or high-margin products: Often offer tiered commissions (e.g., for leads, calls, and purchases)
  

Tip: Know your margins. Calculate what you can afford to pay based on average order value and conversion rate, because this will impact your success.

What if you’re on Shopify?

Good news — both Awin and Everflow integrate with Shopify.

Awin offers a simplified, self-serve option via Awin Access specifically designed for smaller stores, making it easy to set up tracking and start your program without needing a developer.

Affiliate platforms as PR tools

Once you’re set up:

• Mention in your pitches: “We’re on Skimlinks” or “Our affiliate program is live on Awin”
  

• Include a direct affiliate link if you’re emailing journalists
  

• Add a dedicated affiliate page on your website
  

Journalists are more likely to feature products they can monetise. If your product converts well and you offer a fair commission, you’ll get featured more often and drive more sales.

Want expert help?

Jason Hulott offers:

• Free 15-minute consultation: Speedie Consulting
  

• Awin setup + affiliate onboarding for £495 + VAT
  

• 1-hour consulting calls for £99 + VAT
  

• Hands-on support with affiliate strategy, setup and optimisation
  

Final takeaway

Affiliate platforms are no longer just for the “big brands.” With tools like Awin Access and Skimlinks, product-based businesses of all sizes can tap into the power of affiliate-linked press.

If you’re serious about getting consistent online coverage, setting up your affiliate program is a must, not just for visibility, but for boosting results from your PR efforts.

---