How to Track Affiliate Links Using Free Tools in 2025

1. Google Analytics + UTM Parameters

Best for: Website owners who want detailed traffic analysis.

Google Analytics (GA4) is one of the most powerful free tools you can use to track traffic. When combined with UTM parameters, it becomes a robust affiliate link tracking system.

👉 How It Works:

UTM (Urchin Tracking Module) parameters are short tags added to the end of your URLs. These tags tell Google Analytics where traffic is coming from, which campaign it belongs to, and how users arrived at your content.

✅ How to Set It Up:

1. Go to the Google Campaign URL Builder.
2. Paste your affiliate link.
3. Add UTM fields like:
   • Source – e.g., facebook, blog, email
   • Medium – e.g., social, organic, referral
   • Campaign – e.g., spring_sale, newsletter_cta
4. Use the generated link wherever you promote your affiliate offer.
5. Track performance in Google Analytics under Acquisition > Campaigns.

⭐ Pros:

• Completely free and widely trusted
• Provides in-depth insights
• Helps track traffic sources across multiple platforms

⚠️ Cons:

• Slight learning curve for beginners
• Doesn’t track affiliate conversions from the networks directly

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2. Bitly

Best for: Social media links and real-time performance snapshots.

Bitly is a simple yet effective URL shortener that also offers basic link analytics. It’s ideal for affiliate marketers who promote links on social platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or YouTube.

✅ How to Use Bitly:

1. Create a free account at bitly.com.
2. Paste your affiliate URL.
3. Bitly will shorten it. You can also customize the link for branding.
4. Share the link in your posts, bios, or descriptions.
5. Monitor link performance in your Bitly dashboard.

⭐ Pros:

• Very beginner-friendly
• Real-time click tracking
• Clean, short links for social media

⚠️ Cons:

• Limited data in the free plan
• Doesn’t show detailed user behavior

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3. ThirstyAffiliates (WordPress Plugin)

Best for: Bloggers and niche site owners using WordPress.

ThirstyAffiliates is a free WordPress plugin that helps you cloak long affiliate links into clean, branded ones. It also provides built-in click tracking so you can monitor which links are performing well.

✅ How to Use It:

1. Install and activate the plugin on your WordPress site.
2. Go to ThirstyAffiliates > New Affiliate Link.
3. Add your raw affiliate URL, assign a name, and choose a slug (e.g., yourdomain.com/go/tool).
4. Insert the link into blog posts using the built-in block.
5. View detailed reports on link clicks inside the dashboard.

⭐ Pros:

• Makes affiliate links look professional
• Tracks clicks without extra coding
• Free version covers basic needs

⚠️ Cons:

• Only works with WordPress
• Pro features (like geographic reports) require paid version

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4. Google Tag Manager + Event Tracking (Advanced Users)

Best for: Marketers with basic technical skills who want custom tracking.

Google Tag Manager (GTM) allows you to track custom events—like clicks on specific links or buttons—without editing your website’s code every time. When combined with Google Analytics, it gives you a deeper understanding of how users interact with your affiliate links.

✅ Steps to Set It Up:

1. Create a free Google Tag Manager account and install the GTM code on your site.
2. Set up a Click Trigger that fires when someone clicks on a specific affiliate link.
3. Create a Tag that sends this click event data to Google Analytics.
4. View these events under the Events section in GA4.

⭐ Pros:

• Highly customizable
• Works on any website (not just WordPress)
• Free and scalable

⚠️ Cons:

• Requires a bit of setup time
• More advanced than the other tools listed

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🧭 Conclusion: Start Simple, Track Smart

Affiliate marketing success is all about measuring what works. Whether you’re promoting products on your blog, social media, or email list, using free tracking tools helps you fine-tune your strategy, improve your content, and ultimately—earn more commissions.

🔁 Recap: Which Tool Should You Use?

Scenario	Best Tool
You’re a blogger on WordPress	ThirstyAffiliates
You promote on social media	Bitly
You want campaign-level tracking	Google Analytics + UTM
You want custom, event-level tracking	Google Tag Manager

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✅ Extra Tips for AdSense Approval:

If you’re planning to monetize your affiliate site with Google AdSense, combining affiliate content with informative articles (like this one) improves your chances. Make sure to:

• Use original content (check ✅)
• Avoid excessive affiliate links—balance with informational value
• Create key legal pages:
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Affiliate Disclosure
• Optimize for mobile and ensure your site loads fast
• Maintain a clean layout and easy navigation