Circle vs LearnDash
Two education & courses affiliate programs, compared side by side on what a referral is worth, how each pays, the cookie window, and how to get approved. Every figure is verified to its source.
Two different kinds of payout
Circle pays recurring ($100 one-time per customer + 10% / 15% / 20% recurring on Standard plans (tiered), no cap), so it keeps earning for as long as the referred customer stays, while LearnDash pays once per conversion (up to $1,500 per sale). On a single paid referral the modelled value is ~$1000 for LearnDash and ~$150 for Circle, but those are not comparable head-to-head: Circle compounds across renewals and LearnDash is banked immediately. Pick Circle if your audience converts into lasting subscriptions, LearnDash if you want the larger up-front payout.
| Program | ||
|---|---|---|
| Value / referral | $150recurring modelled | $1,000 modelled |
| Payout shape | Recurring $100 bounty plus up to 20% recurring over a 12-month rolling period, no cap. | One-time Paid through Impact under the brand's own affiliate program terms. |
| Commission | $100 one-time per customer + 10% / 15% / 20% recurring on Standard plans (tiered), no cap Verified | up to $1,500 per sale Network rate |
| Cookie window | 90 days | Not posted |
| Network | PartnerStack | Impact |
| Requirements to join | Free to join the PartnerStack network, then apply to this specific SaaS program in the marketplace. Vendor approval required; a relevant B2B/software audience helps. | Free to join Impact's marketplace, then apply to this brand's campaign. Brand approval required. Requires a legitimate promotional property (site, social, or app). |
| Verified | Aug 18, 2026 · 2 sources | Aug 20, 2026 · 2 sources |
| Apply |
Value per referral is a modelled estimate reasoned from each program's published terms, not a guaranteed payout. A recurring cut and a one-time bounty are different kinds of money, so the payout shape is shown for each. How we verify & model value.
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Frequently asked
- Is Circle or LearnDash the better affiliate program?
- Neither is simply "better": Circle pays recurring ($100 one-time per customer + 10% / 15% / 20% recurring on Standard plans (tiered), no cap) and compounds while the customer stays, whereas LearnDash pays once per conversion (up to $1,500 per sale). Choose by whether your referrals become lasting subscribers or one-time buyers.
- How much does the Circle affiliate program pay compared to LearnDash?
- Circle pays $100 one-time per customer + 10% / 15% / 20% recurring on Standard plans (tiered), no cap. It has a 90-day cookie and is modelled at ~$150 per paid referral. LearnDash pays up to $1,500 per sale. It has no published cookie window and is modelled at ~$1,000 per paid referral. Both figures are modelled comparison aids reasoned from published terms, not guaranteed earnings.
- Which has the longer cookie window, Circle or LearnDash?
- Circle has a 90-day cookie window, while LearnDash does not publish a fixed cookie window (it is set per advertiser inside its network).
Terms for both programs verified against their own sources. How we verify