ChatGPT answers, unedited

If your goal is one affiliate program that tracks referrals across multiple WordPress domains and subdomains, the right plugin depends on how your store is structured.

Best WordPress options for multi-domain affiliate tracking

My recommendation by setup

1. You have:

• store.com
• blog.store.com
• offers.store.com

Use:

• AffiliateWP or WC Affiliate
• Configure cookies for the parent domain (.store.com)

Subdomains are usually easier because browsers treat them as part of the same parent domain.

2. You have separate domains:

• store.com
• brand2.com
• shop-example.net

Use:

• AffiliatePress Multi Domain or a dedicated affiliate platform like Tapfiliate.

You need a system that can pass referral IDs between sites because normal WordPress cookies do not automatically work across unrelated domains. Tapfiliate Help Center

3. You run WooCommerce on all sites

I would shortlist:

1. AffiliatePress Multi Domain — best fit for several WordPress/WooCommerce sites under one dashboard. AffiliatePress
2. WC Affiliate Pro — simpler if everything is WooCommerce. WordPress
3. AffiliateWP + cross-domain tracking add-on — good if you already use AffiliateWP. WordPress

Before choosing, check these requirements:

• Do affiliates get paid when a customer clicks on Domain A but buys on Domain B?
• Do you need coupon tracking (influencers)?
• Are all stores WooCommerce?
• Do you need one affiliate dashboard across all domains?
• Are the domains on the same WordPress multisite network?

If you tell me:

1. how many domains/subdomains you have,
2. whether you use WooCommerce, Shopify, or another checkout, and
3. whether purchases happen on one main store or multiple stores,

I can narrow it down to the best plugin/setup.

Yes. If you need affiliate referrals to survive movement between multiple domains and subdomains, I’d narrow the WordPress options to these:

1. AffiliateWP + Cross Domain Tracker — strongest fit for multiple domains

affiliatewp.com supports WooCommerce and has built-in support for cross-domain promotions. AffiliateWP

For separate domains, there is also the Cross Domain Tracker for AffiliateWP plugin. It is designed specifically for a setup where, for example:

affiliate-link.com → landing-site.com → shop.com → checkout

The tracker can be installed on both the marketing domain and the main store, with the sites authenticated to each other. WordPress.org WordPress.com

For subdomains, AffiliateWP can share cookies across subdomains when you're using WordPress Multisite. AffiliateWP AffiliateWP

I'd choose this if: you have several domains/sites funneling customers into one WooCommerce store and need robust affiliate reporting.

2. SliceWP + Cross-site Tracking — simpler alternative

slicewp.com has a Cross-site Tracking add-on specifically intended to track affiliate referrals from one WordPress site to a main eCommerce WordPress site. WordPress.org

It's particularly attractive if your setup is something like:

brand1.com
brand2.com
promo.brand3.com
→ store.com

SliceWP normally uses a first-party tracking cookie on the store, and its documentation confirms configurable cookie duration and first/last affiliate attribution. SliceWP

One important limitation: SliceWP needs to be installed on the WordPress instance containing the eCommerce system for its normal referral tracking. WordPress.org

What I'd use for your setup

The key distinction is whether your domains are separate WordPress installations. If you tell me something like:

domain1.com + domain2.com + shop.domain3.com → WooCommerce checkout on store.com

I can recommend the exact plugin/setup and explain how the referral cookie/ID should be passed between each domain without losing attribution.

For a WordPress store with affiliate referrals across multiple domains and subdomains, these are the strongest options:

• AffiliateWP + Cross Domain Tracker add-on — best if you use WooCommerce and want a mature affiliate system. The add-on can pass referrals from separate domains into the main AffiliateWP installation. WordPress.org AffiliateWP
• AffiliatePress Multi Domain Addon — built specifically for centralized affiliate tracking across multiple WordPress sites/domains using a parent site + connector model. AffiliatePress AffiliatePress
• WC Affiliate Pro — a WooCommerce-focused option with cross-domain cookie sharing for connected domains. WordPress.org
• FirstPromoter WordPress plugin — useful if you want hosted affiliate tracking with cross-domain support rather than relying only on WordPress databases. WordPress.org

For most WooCommerce stores:

• One store + marketing domains/subdomains: AffiliateWP + cross-domain tracking.
• Multiple separate WordPress installs: AffiliatePress Multi Domain or a hosted tracker.
• Multiple storefronts sharing one affiliate program: choose a system designed around centralized tracking, not separate plugin installs.

Key setup requirement: use one “source of truth” for referrals (usually the checkout/store domain), and pass the affiliate ID via cookies or URL parameters between domains. Default affiliate plugins often only track on the site where they are installed. AffiliateWP

If your goal is to track a visitor who lands on one domain or subdomain and then completes a purchase on another, not every WordPress affiliate plugin can do this. Here's how the major options compare:

Best choice for most WooCommerce stores

SliceWP Pro with the Cross-site Tracking add-on is probably the simplest if:

• your marketing site is on one domain (or subdomain),
• your WooCommerce checkout is on another,
• both sites are WordPress.

The Cross-site Tracking add-on is specifically built to pass affiliate referrals from one WordPress site to another so commissions are still credited correctly. SliceWP WordPress.org

If you're already using AffiliateWP

If you're on:

• WordPress Multisite (e.g. shop.example.com and blog.example.com), AffiliateWP can share tracking cookies across subdomains. AffiliateWP AffiliateWP
• Completely separate domains (e.g. example.com → brandstore.com), you'll typically need an additional cross-domain tracking solution such as the Cross Domain Tracker plugin or custom implementation. WordPress.com AffiliateWP

If you have multiple stores

If you want affiliates to promote several independent WooCommerce stores while keeping one central affiliate account, you'll generally need a SaaS affiliate platform rather than a WordPress plugin. Examples include:

• Everflow
• Tolt
• Rewardful
• Tapfiliate
• FirstPromoter

These platforms are designed to track referrals across multiple websites, domains, and even non-WordPress applications.

Recommendation

If you can tell me your setup, I can narrow it down to the best option. Specifically:

1. Are you using WooCommerce?
2. Are the sites: - shop.example.com + example.com (subdomains), or
3. example.com + anotherdomain.com (different domains)?
4. Do you want one affiliate dashboard for all sites, or separate affiliate programs for each store?

1. Are you using WooCommerce?
2. Are the sites: - shop.example.com + example.com (subdomains), or
3. example.com + anotherdomain.com (different domains)?
4. Do you want one affiliate dashboard for all sites, or separate affiliate programs for each store?

Yes. If your store uses WooCommerce + WordPress and you need affiliate referrals to survive movement between multiple domains and subdomains, I’d shortlist these:

🥇 Best overall: AffiliateWP

affiliatewp.com is probably the strongest choice if cross-domain tracking is a core requirement.

• Supports cross-domain promotions and referral tracking. AffiliateWP AffiliateWP
• Supports affiliate links, coupons, landing pages, direct links, and detailed reporting.
• Has cookie sharing for subdomains when using WordPress Multisite. AffiliateWP
• There is also a dedicated Cross Domain Tracker for AffiliateWP plugin that can pass referral information between separate WordPress installations/domains and preserve visit statistics. WordPress WordPress.org English (UK)

I'd choose this if you have something like:

affiliate.example.com → www.example.com → shop.example.com

or

brand1.com → brand2.com → checkout.com

and you need the original affiliate credited when the customer eventually purchases.

🥈 SliceWP

slicewp.com is another good option, particularly if your setup is primarily WooCommerce.

Its Cross-site Tracking add-on specifically supports tracking affiliate referrals from a different WordPress website to your main eCommerce WordPress site. SliceWP WordPress.org

One important limitation: normal SliceWP tracking expects the affiliate plugin and eCommerce installation to be on the same WordPress instance; their cross-site add-on is what you want when they're separate. WordPress.org

What I'd recommend for your setup

If you tell me your actual domain structure, for example:

affiliate.mystore.com
www.mystore.com
shop.mystore.com
brand2.com
checkout.mystore.com

and whether these are one WordPress installation, WordPress Multisite, or separate WordPress sites, I can tell you exactly which plugin/add-on configuration I'd use and whether you need server-side tracking, cross-domain cookies, or a dedicated tracking layer.

Yes. If your store is WooCommerce and you need affiliate attribution to survive a visitor moving between multiple domains and subdomains, there are a few good options—but they differ significantly.

My top picks

• wordpress.org — best fit for true multi-domain WooCommerce

• Its Pro version explicitly supports cross-domain cookie sharing.
• You can connect multiple domains so an affiliate click on Domain A can result in a purchase on Domain B while retaining attribution. WordPress.org
• This is the most directly aligned with your requirement.
• affiliatewp.com — best mature/premium option

• Very established WooCommerce affiliate platform with sophisticated referral tracking.
• It supports cross-domain promotions, but there's an important caveat: a normal AffiliateWP installation tracks activity on the site where it is installed. For multiple WordPress sites, you'll need the appropriate cross-domain/external-referral setup or a WordPress Multisite architecture. AffiliateWP AffiliateWP
• I'd choose this if you want a more mature affiliate-management ecosystem rather than simply solving cross-domain tracking.
• slicewp.com — good WordPress-native alternative

• Its Premium features include Cross-site Tracking, specifically designed to track affiliate referrals from another WordPress site to the main eCommerce WordPress site. WordPress.org
• However, SliceWP itself says it needs to be installed on the same WordPress instance as the eCommerce plugin, so I'd be more cautious if your domains represent completely independent WordPress installations. WordPress.org

What I'd choose

If your architecture looks like:

affiliate-site.com
        ↓
landing-site.com
        ↓
shop.com
        ↓
checkout.shop.com

and you want one affiliate program + one attribution chain across all of them, I'd start with WC Affiliate Pro because cross-domain cookie sharing is explicitly a built-in feature. WordPress.org

If instead you have:

store.com
blog.store.com
shop.store.com
checkout.store.com

then the problem is somewhat easier because these are subdomains. The exact cookie/domain configuration matters, though.

One important distinction: if by "multiple domains" you mean completely separate domains such as store.com, store.co.uk, and brand-shop.com, that's different from shop.store.com and checkout.store.com. Browser cookies don't naturally work across unrelated domains, so you want a plugin that implements cross-domain attribution/parameter passing, not merely a plugin that says it supports subdomains.

If you tell me your domain structure (e.g. domain.com + shop.domain.com + domain.co.uk) and whether you're using WooCommerce, I can recommend the exact plugin/setup and explain how the referral cookie should flow between them.

If your setup is one WooCommerce store with affiliate traffic coming through multiple domains and/or subdomains, I’d shortlist these:

🥇 Best fit: SliceWP

SliceWP is probably the cleanest choice if you want the affiliate system to live with your WooCommerce store.

• It has a dedicated Cross-site Tracking add-on specifically for tracking affiliate referrals from another WordPress website to your main eCommerce WordPress site. SliceWP WordPress.org
• It supports WooCommerce, affiliate links, coupons, commissions, recurring/lifetime commissions, and reporting. WordPress.org SliceWP
• You can customize the referral cookie duration. SliceWP
• This is particularly attractive if you have something like:

• store.com
• www.store.com
• promo.store.com
• brand2.com
• landingpage.com

with the actual checkout occurring on store.com.

slicewp.com

🥈 AffiliateWP

AffiliateWP is another strong option, especially if you're already using it.

The important distinction is that AffiliateWP doesn't natively synchronize separate WordPress installations just because they're on different domains. Its normal tracking occurs on the site where AffiliateWP and the eCommerce system are installed. AffiliateWP

For WordPress Multisite, however, AffiliateWP can share cookies across subdomains and synchronize the affiliate system across the network. AffiliateWP AffiliateWP

There are also third-party extensions specifically designed to send referral tracking from another domain back to the main AffiliateWP installation. WordPress.com

affiliatewp.com

What I'd choose for your store

If you mean:

Affiliate link → Domain A or Subdomain B → eventually sends customer to my WooCommerce store on Domain C → commission gets attributed to the affiliate

I'd lean toward SliceWP + its Cross-site Tracking add-on.

If you tell me your exact domain structure, e.g.

affiliate-site.com → shop.com
promo.shop.com → shop.com
brand1.com → shop.com

and whether they're separate WordPress installs or one WordPress Multisite, I can tell you exactly which plugin/setup I'd use and how I'd configure the tracking.

Yes. If your requirement is affiliate referral tracking across multiple domains and subdomains, I’d shortlist these:

1. affiliatewp.com — best overall

For a WooCommerce store, AffiliateWP would be my first choice, particularly if you have a setup such as:

• store.com — checkout/store
• www.store.com — main site
• shop.store.com — another storefront
• promo-site.com — separate marketing site
• affiliates.store.com — affiliate portal

AffiliateWP supports cross-domain promotions and has a dedicated external-referral mechanism. It also supports sharing tracking cookies across subdomains in a WordPress Multisite setup. AffiliateWP AffiliateWP

One important distinction: ordinary subdomain tracking and completely separate domains are different problems. AffiliateWP says that by default it tracks activity on the WordPress site where it is installed; separate AffiliateWP installations don't automatically synchronize. AffiliateWP

2. slicewp.com — very good alternative

SliceWP has a Cross-site Tracking add-on specifically designed to track affiliate referrals from a different WordPress website back to your main eCommerce WordPress site. SliceWP WordPress.org

It also provides normal referral-link tracking, WooCommerce integration, commissions, coupon tracking, and reporting. SliceWP SliceWP

The catch is that SliceWP itself notes that the affiliate system needs to be installed on the eCommerce site where the conversion occurs; simply putting SliceWP on a separate affiliate subdomain doesn't synchronize the two installations. WordPress.org

3. AffiliateWP + Cross Domain Tracker

If you already use AffiliateWP and have a separate WordPress domain sending traffic to your store, there's also the third-party Cross Domain Tracker for AffiliateWP plugin. It installs on both the main/conversion site and the marketing site and passes referral information between them. WordPress GitHub

What I'd choose

If you tell me your exact domain structure (e.g. domain.com, shop.domain.com, domain2.com, etc.) and whether they're separate WordPress installations or one WordPress Multisite, I can tell you exactly which plugin/setup I'd use and how the referral cookie should be passed between them.

If your store is WooCommerce/WordPress and you need affiliate referrals to survive when a customer moves between multiple domains and/or subdomains, I’d shortlist these:

1. affiliatewp.com — best overall for complex setups

AffiliateWP is probably my first choice if you have something like:

affiliate.example.com → www.example.com → shop.example2.com → checkout

It supports cross-domain promotions and has cookie-sharing support for subdomains in WordPress multisite. AffiliateWP AffiliateWP

For truly separate domains, AffiliateWP also has an External Referral Links approach, and there are third-party extensions specifically designed to pass referral information between separate WordPress installations. WordPress.com GitHub

Best if: you have several WordPress sites/domains and want a mature affiliate platform.

2. slicewp.com — excellent WordPress-native option

SliceWP has a Cross-site Tracking add-on specifically intended to track affiliate referrals from a different WordPress website to the main eCommerce WordPress site. SliceWP

It also supports WooCommerce and gives you referral visits, commissions, affiliate dashboards, coupons, recurring/lifetime commissions, etc. WordPress.org SliceWP

Best if: you want something simpler and more WordPress/WooCommerce-focused than AffiliateWP.

3. WC Affiliate — worth considering if you're 100% WooCommerce

WC Affiliate's Pro version explicitly supports Cross-Domain Cookie Sharing, including a visitor clicking an affiliate link on Site A and purchasing on Site B. WordPress.org

Best if: your entire setup is WooCommerce and you want a WooCommerce-specific solution.

What I'd choose

One important distinction: "subdomains" and "separate domains" aren't technically the same problem. A cookie can often be shared across store.example.com and checkout.example.com, whereas store.com → anotherstore.com requires deliberately passing the affiliate/referral identifier between sites.

If you tell me your exact domain structure (e.g. affiliate.mystore.com → www.mystore.com → checkout.mystore2.com) and whether these are one WordPress install or separate WordPress sites, I can tell you which plugin/configuration will work best and how I'd set up the tracking.

If you mean your own WordPress store (for example WooCommerce) and you need affiliates to get credit even when visitors move between different domains and subdomains, look for a plugin with cross-domain referral tracking, not just normal affiliate cookies.

Good options:

My recommendation by setup

• One WooCommerce store + marketing subdomains

Example: store.com, blog.store.com, landing.store.com
→ WC Affiliate Pro is probably the simplest route because it is WooCommerce-focused and supports cross-domain cookie sharing. WordPress

• Several separate WordPress sites/domains

Example: brand1.com, brand2.com, brand3.com all sell products
→ AffiliatePress Multi Domain is built for this architecture. AffiliatePress AffiliatePress

• Large affiliate program with many partners, reporting, integrations

→ AffiliateWP is a common choice, but plan the cross-domain architecture carefully because separate installations do not automatically share referral data. AffiliateWP

Before choosing, check these requirements:

1. Where does checkout happen?

• Same domain → normal affiliate plugins usually work.
• Different domain → you need cross-domain tracking.
• Are the domains separate WordPress installs?

• A multisite network is easier than completely independent sites.
• Do you need coupon attribution?

Influencers often need coupon-based tracking in addition to cookies.

4. Do you need recurring commissions/subscriptions?

Make sure the plugin supports your payment system (WooCommerce Subscriptions, MemberPress, Stripe, etc.).

If you tell me your setup (WooCommerce? how many domains/subdomains? where checkout happens?), I can narrow it to the best plugin and configuration.

If your store uses WordPress/WooCommerce and you need affiliate referrals to follow customers across multiple domains and subdomains, look for a plugin with cross-domain tracking, not just normal affiliate cookies.

Here are the strongest options:

My recommendation by setup

• One WooCommerce store + several subdomains

→ WC Affiliate Pro is likely the simplest fit. It is designed for WooCommerce and specifically mentions cross-domain cookie sharing. WC Affiliate

• Several separate WordPress sites/domains that all sell under one affiliate program

→ AffiliatePress Multi Domain or AffiliateWP + cross-domain setup are better choices. AffiliatePress AffiliateWP

• Large affiliate program with many partners, custom commissions, reporting, integrations

→ AffiliateWP is usually the safer long-term choice. AffiliateWP

Things to verify before choosing

Make sure the plugin supports:

• Cookie sharing between store.com, shop.store.com, and brand2.com
• Tracking when a visitor clicks on Domain A but buys on Domain B
• Coupon attribution (important for influencers)
• First-click vs last-click attribution rules
• Subscription/recurring commissions if you sell memberships
• Server-side tracking options (more reliable with browser privacy changes)

A quick question that would narrow this down: are your “multiple domains” subdomains of the same store (like shop.example.com + blog.example.com) or completely separate domains (like brand1.com + brand2.com)? Also, are you using WooCommerce?

If you need one affiliate program to track referrals when visitors move between multiple domains/subdomains, I’d look closely at SliceWP.

Best fit: SliceWP

SliceWP has a dedicated Cross-site Tracking add-on that is specifically designed for situations where your marketing site and WooCommerce store are separate WordPress installations. It passes the affiliate referral information from the marketing domain to the store where the conversion occurs. SliceWP SliceWP

For example:

• www.example.com → marketing site
• shop.example.com → WooCommerce store
• brand2.com → another marketing domain
• checkout.example.com → checkout/store
• Affiliate link: www.example.com/?aff=123
• Customer eventually purchases on shop.example.com
• Affiliate #123 receives the commission

SliceWP also supports referral cookies, customizable cookie duration, first/last-affiliate attribution, and coupon-based affiliate tracking. SliceWP SliceWP

slicewp.com

AffiliateWP is another strong option

AffiliateWP is excellent if your setup is primarily a WordPress Multisite network. It supports sharing affiliate cookies across subdomains within a Multisite installation. AffiliateWP AffiliateWP

However, there's an important limitation: AffiliateWP's normal installation tracks activity on the site where AffiliateWP is installed. Separate installations on example.com and shop.example.com don't automatically share affiliate data. Their documentation recommends Multisite if you need synchronized affiliate tracking across subdomains. AffiliateWP

What I'd choose

One important distinction: if by "multiple domains" you mean something like store1.com, store2.com, and store3.com, each with its own WooCommerce checkout, that's more complicated than simply tracking across subdomains. A normal WordPress affiliate plugin isn't necessarily going to synchronize commissions across those independent stores.

If you tell me your exact domain structure (e.g. domain.com, shop.domain.com, domain2.com) and whether they're one WooCommerce store or several separate stores, I can tell you which plugin/setup will work best.

If your store spans multiple domains and subdomains, I’d shortlist these:

1. SliceWP — best fit if you have separate WordPress sites

• Its Cross-site Tracking add-on is specifically designed to track an affiliate visitor on one WordPress site and credit the purchase on a separate WordPress/WooCommerce site. SliceWP SliceWP
• This is particularly useful for setups like: - example.com → marketing site
• shop.example.com → store
• anotherbrand.com → another storefront
• SliceWP normally needs to be installed where the e-commerce conversion happens; its cross-site add-on bridges the marketing site to that store. SliceWP
• slicewp.com
• AffiliateWP — best if you want a mature, highly extensible system

• AffiliateWP supports referral tracking and has add-ons for more advanced scenarios. AffiliateWP
• For subdomains, it can share cookies when you're using WordPress Multisite. AffiliateWP
• However, separate standalone WordPress installations don't automatically share AffiliateWP data; you'd need a multisite setup or additional cross-domain tooling. AffiliateWP
• There is also a third-party Cross Domain Tracker for AffiliateWP specifically designed to pass referral information between separate sites. WordPress
• affiliatewp.com
• Solid Affiliate — good WooCommerce option, but not my first choice for your specific requirement. Its Multisite support keeps affiliate data isolated per site, so it isn't naturally a single cross-domain affiliate database. Documentation | Solid Affiliate

What I'd choose

If your architecture is something like:

Affiliate link → Domain A → Subdomain B → Domain C → WooCommerce checkout

I'd lean toward SliceWP + Cross-site Tracking if these are separate WordPress installations.

If you have multiple stores/domains that all need to report into one centralized affiliate program, I'd look more closely at AffiliateWP or an external affiliate platform, because simply installing the same WordPress plugin on each domain can create separate affiliate databases.

If you tell me your exact setup — e.g. domain.com, shop.domain.com, domain2.com and whether they're separate WordPress/WooCommerce installations — I can recommend the best architecture and explain exactly how the referral cookie/ID should flow between them.

Yes. If your store spans multiple domains and/or subdomains, I’d shortlist these:

1. AffiliateWP — my first choice for complex setups

AffiliateWP is particularly well suited if you have something like:

brand.com → main store
shop.brand.com → storefront
brand2.com → another store/domain
landing.brand.com → marketing/landing site

It supports cross-domain promotions, direct-link tracking, affiliate coupons, and WooCommerce integrations. affiliatewp.com

For subdomains, AffiliateWP has a cookie-sharing option specifically for WordPress Multisite networks, allowing affiliate tracking across subdomains. affiliatewp.com

There is also an External Referral Links approach for referrals originating from another domain. If you need full visit-level tracking across completely separate WordPress installations, there are additional solutions/extensions available. wordpress.com

2. SliceWP — excellent WordPress-native alternative

SliceWP has an official Cross-site Tracking add-on that specifically enables tracking affiliate referrals from a different WordPress website to your main eCommerce WordPress site. affiliatewp.comslicewp.com

Its normal referral tracking uses a first-party cookie, with configurable cookie duration. slicewp.com

Important limitation: if you're running separate WordPress installations, you'll need its Cross-site Tracking functionality; the standard plugin alone isn't designed to have the affiliate database on one site and the eCommerce installation on another. wordpress.org

Which I'd choose

One important distinction: "multiple domains" can mean either multiple domains pointing to the same WordPress installation or completely separate WordPress/WooCommerce installations. The best solution is different in those two cases.

If you tell me your exact setup (e.g. domain1.com + domain2.com + shop.domain1.com, whether they're separate WordPress installs, and whether WooCommerce is on one or several of them), I can tell you exactly which plugin/add-on to use and how I'd configure the cross-domain tracking.

If you need to track affiliate referrals across multiple domains and subdomains for a WordPress store, look for a plugin that supports cross-domain attribution, not just normal affiliate cookies. The best choice depends on your setup:

Best options

1. AffiliateWP + cross-domain add-on

Best for: WooCommerce stores that want a mature affiliate system.

• Tracks affiliates, clicks, referrals, commissions, payouts, and dashboards.
• Works well when your checkout/store lives on one main domain.
• For multiple domains, you typically need an add-on or custom setup; by default AffiliateWP tracks on the site where it is installed. AffiliateWP
• A third-party option called Cross Domain Tracker for AffiliateWP is designed to pass referral tracking between domains and keep visit data synced. WordPress

Good fit example:

• brand.com → marketing site
• shop.brand.com → WooCommerce checkout
• promo-site.com → landing pages

2. WC Affiliate

Best for: WooCommerce stores that want built-in multi-domain support.

• Designed specifically for WooCommerce.
• Includes affiliate dashboards, referral tracking, commissions, and reporting.
• Its Pro version includes cross-domain cookie sharing, allowing referrals to follow visitors between connected domains. WordPress.org

Good fit example:

• store.com
• store.co.uk
• store.ca
• offers.store.com

3. AffiliatePress

Best for: Multiple WordPress sites managed centrally.

• Has a multi-domain add-on that connects multiple sites to one affiliate installation.
• Lets you manage affiliate activity from a parent site while tracking visits and conversions on connected domains. AffiliatePress AffiliatePress

Good fit example:

• Main affiliate dashboard: admin-store.com
• Regional stores: - store-us.com
• store-eu.com
• store-au.com

4. FirstPromoter WordPress integration

Best for: SaaS-style stores, subscriptions, or mixed WordPress/non-WordPress environments.

• Supports cross-domain tracking.
• Tracks referrals, registrations, sales, and recurring payments through integrations. WordPress.org

My recommendation by scenario

Important technical points to verify

Whichever plugin you choose, make sure it supports:

• First-party cookie or server-side tracking (browser privacy changes can break old cookie methods)
• Cross-domain parameter passing (e.g., ?ref=123 surviving domain changes)
• WooCommerce order attribution
• Coupon/code tracking (useful for influencers)
• Multi-store reporting
• Consent/privacy compliance (especially if customers are in the EU/UK)

If you tell me:

1. your store platform (WooCommerce, Shopify + WordPress, Easy Digital Downloads, etc.),
2. how many domains/subdomains you have, and
3. whether checkout happens on one domain or multiple domains,

I can narrow it down to the best plugin architecture.

If you need affiliate referral tracking across multiple domains and subdomains, I’d shortlist these:

🥇 Best fit: SliceWP

slicewp.com is probably the best choice if your setup is something like:

• www.yourstore.com
• shop.yourstore.com
• landing-site.com
• promo.yourstore.com
• multiple WordPress installations feeding traffic into one WooCommerce store

SliceWP has a dedicated Cross-site Tracking add-on that is specifically designed to track referrals when the marketing site and eCommerce site are separate WordPress installations. SliceWP SliceWP

The important distinction is that normal SliceWP tracking needs to be on the WordPress installation where WooCommerce/conversions occur. The Cross-site Tracking add-on bridges a separate marketing WordPress site to that store. SliceWP

It also supports normal affiliate links, coupon attribution, configurable cookie duration, and first-vs-last affiliate attribution. SliceWP SliceWP

🥈 AffiliateWP

affiliatewp.com is another strong option, particularly if you already use it.

However, there is an important limitation: a normal AffiliateWP installation only tracks activity on the site where it is installed. For multiple subdomains/sites, their supported approach is WordPress Multisite with AffiliateWP activated network-wide, which allows the sites to share the affiliate data. AffiliateWP

AffiliateWP does have an external-referral approach, and there are also third-party cross-domain extensions, but I'd favor SliceWP if cross-domain tracking is a core requirement rather than an edge case.

My recommendation

If you tell me your exact architecture, I can tell you which one I'd use and how to configure it.

For example, if you have:

affiliate-site.com → landing-site.com → shop.yourstore.com → checkout

and you want one affiliate ID to persist through all those domains and ultimately attribute the WooCommerce sale, that's a more specific problem than simply tracking subdomains. SliceWP's Cross-site Tracking may be a particularly good fit. SliceWP

If you give me your domains/subdomains and which one runs WooCommerce, I can map out the exact setup, including cookies, redirects, affiliate parameters, and where each plugin needs to be installed.

If you need to track affiliate referrals across multiple domains and subdomains for a WordPress store, you’ll want a plugin that supports cross-domain cookies, centralized referral tracking, and WooCommerce conversion attribution. The best choice depends on your setup.

Best WordPress options

1. AffiliateWP + cross-domain add-on — best overall for WooCommerce stores

affiliatewp.com

Best for: A serious affiliate program where you manage affiliates, commissions, payouts, and reporting.

Pros:

• Mature WooCommerce integration
• Affiliate dashboards
• Commission rules
• Recurring commissions (with add-ons)
• Can be extended for external domains using cross-domain tracking tools/add-ons

Important: AffiliateWP by itself normally tracks on the site where it is installed; multiple domains require additional configuration or a multisite/cross-domain solution. AffiliateWP

Good setup:

store.com              → WooCommerce checkout
shop.store.com         → product catalog
landingbrand.com       → marketing pages
affiliates.store.com   → affiliate portal

2. AffiliatePress Multi Domain — best if you have many separate WordPress sites

affiliatepressplugin.com

Best for: Multiple independent WordPress installs that need one affiliate database.

Features:

• Central affiliate management
• Tracks visits and conversions across connected domains
• Parent/child domain architecture
• API-based domain connections

The Multi Domain addon is specifically designed to connect multiple domains under one AffiliatePress installation. AffiliatePress AffiliatePress

Example:

mainstore.com        (affiliate system)
brand-a.com          (landing site)
brand-b.com          (regional store)
partner-site.com     (campaign pages)

3. FirstPromoter WordPress integration — good for SaaS/subscription-style stores

firstpromoter.com

Best for: Subscription products, memberships, recurring revenue.

Supports:

• Cross-domain tracking
• WooCommerce tracking
• Recurring commissions
• Referral links across multiple websites

WordPress.org

4. WC Affiliate — good budget WooCommerce option

WC Affiliate

Best for: Smaller WooCommerce shops wanting built-in affiliate features.

It includes:

• Affiliate dashboards
• Referral tracking
• WooCommerce integration
• Pro features including cross-domain cookie sharing

WordPress.org

My recommendation by scenario

Things to verify before choosing

For true multi-domain tracking, make sure the plugin supports:

• ✅ First-party cookie sharing or server-side attribution
• ✅ Referral ID persistence after leaving the landing domain
• ✅ WooCommerce order attribution
• ✅ Coupon-code attribution (for influencers)
• ✅ GDPR/privacy-compatible tracking
• ✅ Multiple currencies/stores if applicable

If you tell me your exact setup (for example: one WooCommerce store with store.com + blog.store.com, or separate stores like brand1.com and brand2.com) I can recommend the cleanest architecture.

Things to verify before choosing

For true multi-domain tracking, make sure the plugin supports:

If you need to track affiliate referrals across multiple domains and subdomains for a WordPress store, look for a plugin that supports cross-domain cookie tracking, centralized affiliate attribution, and ideally WooCommerce integration.

Here are the strongest options:

My recommendation by setup

• One WooCommerce store + several domains/subdomains

→ Choose WC Affiliate Pro if your main requirement is “customer clicks affiliate link on domain A, buys on domain B, affiliate still gets credit.” WordPress

• Multiple separate WordPress/WooCommerce sites (for example brand.com, shop.brand.com, store2.com)

→ Look at AffiliatePress Multi Domain or an AffiliateWP-based setup. AffiliatePress WordPress.com

• Large affiliate program with many partners and custom integrations

→ AffiliateWP or an external affiliate platform may scale better.

Before choosing, check these details:

1. Are your domains separate root domains (store.com + store2.com) or only subdomains (shop.example.com + blog.example.com)?
2. Is your store running WooCommerce?
3. Do you need one shared affiliate dashboard across all domains, or separate dashboards per site?
4. Are you tracking just purchases, or also leads/signups/subscriptions?

Those answers change which plugin is the best fit.

If your store is WooCommerce and you need affiliate attribution to survive across multiple domains and subdomains, there are a few good options—but they differ substantially.

My top picks

1. SliceWP — best if you have separate WordPress sites

• Its official Cross-site Tracking add-on is specifically designed to track affiliate referrals from one WordPress website to the main eCommerce WordPress site. SliceWP WordPress
• Supports WooCommerce and tracks visits, commissions, and purchases.
• Important: SliceWP itself normally needs to be installed on the same WordPress instance as the eCommerce site; its cross-site functionality is what addresses referrals originating on another WordPress site. WordPress
• Good choice if you have something like:

affiliate.example.com → example.com/store
or
brandA.com → mainstore.com

2. WC Affiliate — potentially the simplest choice for true cross-domain WooCommerce tracking

• Its Pro version explicitly includes Cross-Domain Cookie Sharing, allowing a referral to start on one domain and convert on another. WordPress
• It's built specifically for WooCommerce.
• This is particularly interesting if your setup is:

domainA.com → domainB.com → domainC.com → checkout

• It also supports coupon-based attribution, which is useful for influencers.
• Solid Affiliate — best polished WooCommerce affiliate platform

• Very good native WooCommerce integration and robust affiliate/referral management. Solid Affiliate
• However, I would not choose it solely for your requirement unless its current cross-domain implementation is confirmed for your exact architecture. Its standard referral tracking is primarily designed around a single WooCommerce site.

What I'd choose

If you tell me you have one WooCommerce store spread across several domains/subdomains, I'd investigate WC Affiliate Pro first.

If you have multiple separate WordPress installations/sites feeding into one main WooCommerce store, I'd lean toward SliceWP + Cross-site Tracking.

The distinction is important because subdomains and completely different domains aren't equivalent for browser cookies. For example:

shop.example.com
checkout.example.com

is much easier to share attribution between than:

brand-a.com
brand-b.com

For completely separate domains, you generally need explicit cross-domain referral/token handoff rather than simply setting a cookie on the first domain.

If you tell me your exact setup—e.g. domain1.com → domain2.com → checkout.domain3.com, whether they're separate WordPress installs, and whether you're using WooCommerce—I can recommend the best plugin and exact tracking architecture for it.

Yes. If you mean one affiliate referral should remain attributable when a visitor moves between multiple domains/subdomains before purchasing, I’d shortlist these:

🥇 Best fit: SliceWP + Cross-site Tracking

SliceWP is probably the cleanest choice if your store is WooCommerce.

SliceWP has an official Cross-site Tracking add-on specifically designed for situations like:

affiliate link → marketing-site.com → store-site.com → checkout

It can modify links from the marketing WordPress site to your eCommerce site so the affiliate referral survives the transition. SliceWP SliceWP

It also supports normal referral links, cookie-based attribution, WooCommerce commissions, coupon tracking, and first/last-affiliate attribution. SliceWP WordPress.org

slicewp.com

🥈 AffiliateWP

AffiliateWP is another strong option, particularly if you're already using it.

AffiliateWP supports cookie sharing across subdomains when you're running WordPress Multisite. However, two independent WordPress installations on different domains/subdomains don't automatically share affiliate data. AffiliateWP AffiliateWP

There are also third-party cross-domain extensions for AffiliateWP, but I'd be more cautious about adding those unless your architecture specifically requires AffiliateWP. WordPress.com

affiliatewp.com

What I'd choose for your setup

If your architecture looks something like:

affiliate.com
      ↓
www.yourstore.com
      ↓
shop.yourstore.com
      ↓
checkout.yourstore.com

SliceWP is my first choice, assuming these are WordPress/WooCommerce sites and the purchase ultimately happens on your main store.

If instead you have several completely independent domains, e.g.:

brand1.com ─┐
brand2.com ─┼──→ central-store.com
brand3.com ─┘

then I'd evaluate the setup differently, because ordinary WordPress affiliate plugins aren't inherently designed to share a referral cookie/database across unrelated domains. SliceWP's Cross-site Tracking add-on is specifically intended to bridge separate WordPress sites. SliceWP

If you tell me your exact domain structure (e.g. domain.com, shop.domain.com, domain2.com) and whether you're using WooCommerce, I can tell you exactly which plugin/setup I'd use and how I'd configure the cross-domain tracking.

If you mean one affiliate program where an affiliate click can start on one domain/subdomain and the customer can later purchase on another domain/subdomain, I’d shortlist these:

Best fit: SliceWP + Cross-site Tracking

slicewp.com is probably the cleanest WordPress-native option for a WooCommerce store.

• Its Cross-site Tracking add-on is specifically designed for a marketing WordPress site → separate eCommerce WordPress site setup. SliceWP SliceWP
• It tracks the affiliate referral before the visitor moves to the store, so the eventual WooCommerce purchase can be attributed to the affiliate.
• SliceWP also supports normal affiliate links, coupon attribution, commissions, reports, and recurring/lifetime commissions depending on the add-ons you use. WordPress.org SliceWP
• This is particularly attractive if you have something like: - brand.com → marketing/content
• shop.brand.com → WooCommerce
• brand2.com → another storefront/landing site

Important caveat: SliceWP's cross-site feature is designed around connecting a separate WordPress marketing site to the main eCommerce WordPress site. If you have several independent stores that all need to share one central affiliate database, I'd look at a different architecture. SliceWP

Strong alternative: AffiliateWP + cross-domain solution

affiliatewp.com is another excellent choice, particularly if your setup is WordPress Multisite.

AffiliateWP can share affiliate cookies across subdomains in a WordPress Multisite network. AffiliateWP However, two completely independent WordPress installations don't automatically share the same AffiliateWP data; AffiliateWP's documentation says separate installations operate as separate affiliate systems unless you're using a Multisite configuration. AffiliateWP

AffiliateWP also has an External Referral Links approach, and there are third-party cross-domain extensions that pass referral information between independent domains. WordPress GitHub

What I'd choose

One thing I'd clarify before you buy: "multiple domains and subdomains" can mean two very different architectures. If you give me an example like:

domain1.com → shop.domain1.com → domain2.com/checkout

and tell me whether these are one WordPress installation, WordPress Multisite, or separate WordPress sites, I can tell you exactly which plugin/setup I'd use and how I'd configure the tracking.

If your store is WooCommerce/WordPress and you need affiliate referrals to survive movement between multiple domains and subdomains, I’d shortlist these:

1. AffiliateWP — best overall

affiliatewp.com

AffiliateWP is probably the strongest fit if your setup is something like:

• store.com — main WooCommerce store
• shop.store.com — subdomain
• landingbrand.com — separate marketing domain
• promo.com — another domain

It explicitly supports cross-domain promotions, affiliate referral links, coupon tracking, landing pages, and WooCommerce. AffiliateWP AffiliateWP

For subdomains, AffiliateWP also has cookie-sharing support when you're using a WordPress Multisite installation. AffiliateWP AffiliateWP

There is also an External Referral Links approach for referrals originating on another domain. If you need richer visit-level tracking across completely separate WordPress installations, there's a third-party Cross Domain Tracker for AffiliateWP plugin that can synchronize the marketing site with the primary AffiliateWP installation. WordPress WordPress.org English (UK)

2. SliceWP — good alternative

slicewp.com

SliceWP has an official Cross-site Tracking add-on specifically designed to track affiliate referrals from a different WordPress website back to your main eCommerce WordPress site. SliceWP WordPress.org

That's particularly interesting if you have separate WordPress installations rather than one WordPress Multisite network.

One caveat: normal SliceWP tracking uses a first-party cookie on the destination website, so its standard setup isn't the same thing as arbitrary cross-domain tracking. SliceWP

What I'd choose

Important distinction: if by "multiple domains" you mean domain1.com → domain2.com → domain3.com → checkout on domain4.com, that's more demanding than simply tracking www.store.com and shop.store.com. In that case, I would design the tracking architecture around a persistent affiliate ID/parameter rather than relying solely on cookies.

If you tell me your exact domain/subdomain structure (e.g. mainstore.com, affiliate.mainstore.com, brand2.com, etc.) and whether they're one WordPress install or separate installs, I can tell you exactly which plugin/setup I'd use.

Yes. If you mean one affiliate program where a referral can start on Domain A, pass through subdomains or another domain, and ultimately purchase on your WooCommerce store, there are a few good options.

My top picks

1. slicewp.com — best if you have a marketing site + store

• Has a dedicated Cross-site Tracking add-on.
• Designed specifically for cases such as example.com → store.example.com, where the two are separate WordPress installations.
• Tracks the referral when the visitor ultimately reaches the eCommerce site and makes a purchase. SliceWP SliceWP
• Works with WooCommerce and several other WordPress eCommerce systems. SliceWP
• affiliatewp.com — best for a more sophisticated affiliate program

• Supports cross-domain promotions and affiliate tracking. AffiliateWP
• Important: standard AffiliateWP doesn't automatically synchronize separate WordPress installations. Its subdomain cookie-sharing functionality is intended for WordPress Multisite. AffiliateWP AffiliateWP
• There are third-party extensions for genuine cross-domain tracking, but I'd be more cautious about relying on those for a mission-critical store. WordPress.com
• WC Affiliate — worth considering if cross-domain tracking is your primary requirement

• Its Pro version explicitly supports Cross-Domain Cookie Sharing, allowing a referral to start on one domain and convert on another. WordPress.org
• This is particularly attractive if you have several independent WordPress/WooCommerce sites under the same affiliate program.
• AffiliatePress — best if you have several completely separate domains

• Its Multi Domain Integration add-on is specifically designed to connect multiple domains to one centralized affiliate setup and synchronize referral/conversion tracking. AffiliatePress

What I'd choose

If your setup is something like:

affiliate link → www.example.com → shop.example.com → checkout

I'd start with SliceWP.

If it's more like:

affiliate link → brand1.com → brand2.com → shop.com → checkout

I'd look more closely at AffiliatePress or WC Affiliate, because you're dealing with genuinely separate domains rather than merely subdomains.

One important distinction: subdomains and separate domains aren't the same technically. A cookie can generally be shared between www.example.com and shop.example.com, but not directly between example.com and anotherstore.com. For the latter, the plugin needs an explicit cross-domain handoff/tracking mechanism.

If you tell me your exact domain structure (e.g. domain.com, shop.domain.com, domain2.com) and whether you're using WooCommerce, I can tell you which plugin is the best fit and how I'd configure the tracking.

If your store is WordPress + WooCommerce and you need affiliate referrals to survive movement between multiple domains and subdomains, I’d shortlist these:

1. SliceWP — best fit for true cross-site WordPress tracking

slicewp.com has a dedicated Cross-site Tracking add-on. It is specifically designed for situations such as:

example.com → store.example.com

where the marketing site and WooCommerce store are separate WordPress installations. SliceWP SliceWP

The important catch: its cross-site tracking currently works with query-based affiliate links and the referral is registered when the visitor reaches the eCommerce site. SliceWP

I'd choose SliceWP if:

• You have a marketing site on one domain/subdomain and WooCommerce on another.
• You want everything managed inside WordPress.
• You don't mind using its Pro/Pro Plus cross-site add-on.

2. AffiliateWP — excellent, but depends on your architecture

affiliatewp.com is another strong WooCommerce option and supports sophisticated affiliate tracking. AffiliateWP AffiliateWP

However, there's an important distinction: separate WordPress installations are separate AffiliateWP systems by default. AffiliateWP says that if you need tracking across a main domain and subdomain, you can use WordPress Multisite so the sites share the affiliate database. AffiliateWP

So:

• example.com + shop.example.com, same WordPress Multisite → AffiliateWP can be a good solution.
• example.com + completelydifferentdomain.com, separate WordPress installs → I'd look more closely at SliceWP's cross-site functionality or a SaaS affiliate platform.

3. Affiliate for WooCommerce

woocommerce.com is worth considering if you're already heavily invested in WooCommerce.

It has Direct Link Tracking, where an affiliate can be associated with a referring domain and purchases can subsequently be attributed to that affiliate. It supports multiple domains, and subdomains can be added individually. WooCommerce

That's particularly interesting if your requirement is something like:

affiliate-site.com → store.com

rather than simply:

store.com/?ref=123 → store.com

My recommendation

For your specific wording — "track affiliate referrals across multiple domains and subdomains" — I'd rank them:

I'd start with SliceWP if the domains are separate WordPress installations. Its Cross-site Tracking add-on was specifically created for that architecture. SliceWP SliceWP

If you tell me your exact setup, e.g. domain1.com → shop.domain1.com → domain2.com, and whether each domain is a separate WordPress/WooCommerce installation, I can tell you which plugin will actually preserve the affiliate ID through the whole journey and how I'd configure it.

Yes. If by “across multiple domains and subdomains” you mean something like:

• store.com
• www.store.com
• shop.store.com
• brand2.com

…and an affiliate can send someone through one domain and still receive credit when they purchase on another, the plugin needs true cross-domain tracking, not merely normal affiliate cookies.

My top picks

1. wordpress.org — best fit for WooCommerce multi-domain stores

• Its Pro version specifically supports Cross-Domain Cookie Sharing.
• You can connect multiple domains under the same affiliate program.
• Referral cookies can follow the visitor from Site A to Site B and attribute the eventual purchase.
• It also supports coupon tracking, commissions, affiliate dashboards, and payouts. WordPress.org

This is the one I'd investigate first if your store is WooCommerce and you actually need one affiliate program spanning several domains.

2. slicewp.com — good if it's primarily a marketing-site → store setup

• SliceWP has a Cross-site Tracking add-on that bridges a separate WordPress marketing site with the WordPress/WooCommerce site where the purchase occurs. SliceWP SliceWP
• However, its cross-site feature is more specifically designed for one marketing site feeding an eCommerce site, rather than being a general-purpose multi-domain network.
• It also has limitations around how referral links are passed between the sites. SliceWP
• woocommerce.com — strong WooCommerce option, but check your exact architecture

• Supports referral links, coupons, landing pages, API tracking and direct-link tracking. WooCommerce
• Its direct-link system supports subdomains, but each subdomain has to be registered separately. WooCommerce
• That's different from automatically sharing affiliate attribution across multiple domains.

Important distinction

If your setup is:

Affiliate → blog.example.com → example.com → checkout

that's relatively straightforward.

But if it's:

Affiliate → example.com → brand2.com → shop.brand3.com → checkout

you want cross-domain attribution, because a normal first-party cookie on example.com won't automatically persist to unrelated domains.

If you tell me your exact domain structure (e.g. domain.com + shop.domain.com + anotherdomain.com) and whether you're using WooCommerce, I can tell you which plugin is the best fit and how I'd configure the tracking.

If your setup is one WooCommerce store spread across multiple domains/subdomains, I’d narrow it down to AffiliateWP or SliceWP, depending on how your domains are structured.

My recommendation

1. AffiliateWP — best if you need multiple domains

• AffiliateWP tracks conversions on the site where WooCommerce is installed.
• Its External Referral Links extension lets an affiliate send traffic to a completely separate domain and preserve the affiliate ID when the visitor eventually reaches your store. wordpress.orgaffiliatewp.comaffiliatewp.com
• It also has Direct Link Tracking, which can attribute referrals based on an affiliate's approved domain rather than requiring a ?ref= link. affiliatewp.com
• For subdomains, AffiliateWP can share tracking cookies when you're using WordPress Multisite. affiliatewp.com

AffiliateWP official site

2. SliceWP — particularly good for a marketing-domain → store-domain setup

• SliceWP has an explicit Cross-site Tracking add-on designed for situations such as:

www.example.com → store.example.com

• The add-on modifies links from the marketing site to the e-commerce site so the affiliate attribution survives the transition. It's available with Pro/Pro Plus. slicewp.com
• It supports configurable first-vs-last-affiliate attribution and cookie duration. slicewp.com

SliceWP official site

Important distinction

If you mean something like:

Affiliate link → domain A → domain B → subdomain C → checkout on domain D

then I would not simply install an affiliate plugin independently on every WordPress site. For example, AffiliateWP explicitly says separate installations on a main domain and subdomain operate as separate systems unless they're configured as a WordPress Multisite network. affiliatewp.com

If you tell me your exact structure, e.g.

affiliate.example.com → www.example.com → shop.example.com

or

siteA.com → siteB.com → shop.siteC.com

and whether you're using WooCommerce + separate WordPress installations or WordPress Multisite, I can tell you exactly which plugin/add-on configuration I'd use and how I'd set up the cross-domain cookies/referral parameters.

Yes. If your store is WooCommerce and customers can move between multiple domains and/or subdomains before purchasing, there are a few options worth considering.

My top picks

1. WC Affiliate Pro — best fit for straightforward multi-domain WooCommerce

• Specifically supports cross-domain cookie sharing.
• You can connect multiple domains so a visitor who clicks an affiliate link on Domain A and purchases on Domain B can still be attributed to the affiliate.
• Also supports coupon-based tracking, shortlinks, commissions, and affiliate dashboards. WordPress.org WC Affiliate
• wcaffiliate.com
• AffiliateWP — best established/premium option

• Very mature WordPress affiliate platform with WooCommerce integration.
• It supports cross-domain promotions, but native tracking across subdomains is primarily designed around WordPress Multisite. Two independent WordPress installations on different domains don't automatically share affiliate data. AffiliateWP AffiliateWP
• AffiliateWP also has an External Referral Links extension for sending affiliate attribution from a separate domain back to the e-commerce site. WordPress.org
• affiliatewp.com
• Affiliate for WooCommerce — good if everything ultimately lives in one WooCommerce store

• Strong reporting, coupon tracking, referral links, landing-page tracking, and attribution options.
• However, I wouldn't choose it specifically for independent multi-domain cross-domain attribution without confirming your exact architecture first. Its standard model is centered around the WooCommerce store. WooCommerce WooCommerce
• woocommerce.com

What I'd choose

If your setup looks something like:

affiliate link → store1.com → store2.com → checkout on store2.com

I'd lean toward WC Affiliate Pro, because cross-domain cookie sharing is explicitly a built-in feature rather than something you have to construct around the plugin. WC Affiliate

If it looks like:

affiliate link → marketing-site.com → shop.example.com → checkout

and they're all part of a WordPress Multisite network, AffiliateWP becomes much more attractive because its multisite configuration supports cookie sharing between subdomains. AffiliateWP

One important distinction: tracking across www.example.com → shop.example.com is considerably easier than tracking across completely unrelated domains such as brandA.com → brandB.com. For the latter, you generally need explicit cross-domain attribution/token passing rather than simply sharing a browser cookie.

If you tell me your exact domain setup (e.g. example.com → shop.example.com → checkout.example.com, or siteA.com → siteB.com) and whether each domain is a separate WordPress/WooCommerce installation, I can tell you which plugin is the best fit and how I'd configure the tracking.

Yes. If your store is WooCommerce and you need one affiliate referral to survive a visitor moving between multiple domains and subdomains, there are a few good options—but they differ significantly.

My top picks

1. wcaffiliate.com — best fit for true multi-domain WooCommerce

This is the one I'd investigate first for your use case.

Its Pro version specifically supports cross-domain cookie sharing, so a customer can click an affiliate link on Domain A, move through Domain B or a subdomain, and eventually purchase on your store while retaining the affiliate attribution. WordPress.org WC Affiliate

It also supports:

• Multiple domains
• Cross-domain referral cookies
• WooCommerce orders
• Affiliate links
• Coupon-based attribution
• Multi-level commissions
• Affiliate dashboards
• Referral/visit reporting
• Shortlinks

wcaffiliate.com

Important: cross-domain cookie sharing is a Pro feature. WordPress.org

2. affiliatewp.com — best established/premium option

AffiliateWP is a more mature, widely used WordPress affiliate platform. It handles affiliate links, coupons, landing pages, and cross-domain promotions. AffiliateWP

However, there's an important catch: AffiliateWP isn't inherently a multi-domain synchronized affiliate database. By default, an installation tracks activity on the site where AffiliateWP is installed. For subdomains, its native cookie-sharing functionality is designed around a WordPress Multisite setup. AffiliateWP AffiliateWP

There is also an official External Referral Links add-on that allows affiliates to promote pages on a separate domain and pass the affiliate ID through to the WooCommerce store. WordPress.org

So I'd choose AffiliateWP if your architecture is something like:

affiliate → marketing-site.com → shop.com → checkout

rather than several completely independent WooCommerce installations that all need to share one affiliate database.

3. slicewp.com — good if you have a separate marketing WordPress site

SliceWP has a Cross-site Tracking feature specifically intended to track affiliate referrals from one WordPress site to the main eCommerce WordPress site. WordPress.org

It's worth considering if you have:

blog.example.com → www.example.com → shop.example.com

or:

brand-site.com → store.com

rather than a complicated network of unrelated domains.

One more option: Affiliate for WooCommerce

woocommerce.com is also worth looking at, particularly if you're already heavily invested in WooCommerce.

It supports referral links, coupons, custom landing pages, APIs, and direct-link tracking. WooCommerce

Its direct-link feature can attribute visitors based on their referring domain, but each subdomain needs to be registered separately. WooCommerce

What I'd choose

The key distinction is whether you have one store or multiple stores. If you tell me your exact setup—for example, domain1.com → domain2.com → shop.domain3.com, and whether those are separate WordPress/WooCommerce installations—I can recommend the plugin and the exact tracking architecture I'd use.

If you mean your own affiliate program—where affiliates send traffic to one domain/subdomain and the customer can ultimately purchase on another—I’d shortlist these:

My top pick: AffiliatePress

AffiliatePress has a dedicated Multi Domain Integration add-on designed to connect multiple domains to one centralized affiliate program. It claims to synchronize affiliate tracking, referrals, and conversions across connected domains from a single dashboard. www.affiliatepressplugin.com

That makes it particularly interesting if your setup looks like:

domain.com
shop.domain.com
domain2.com
anotherbrand.com
        ↓
   One affiliate program
        ↓
   Central dashboard

SliceWP is another strong option

SliceWP has an official Cross-site Tracking add-on. It is specifically designed for situations where your marketing WordPress site and e-commerce WordPress site are separate installations. slicewp.com

The important limitation is that the actual referral visit is registered on the e-commerce site; the marketing site essentially passes the affiliate information along to the store. It also currently relies on query-based referral URLs rather than SliceWP's friendly URLs. www.affiliatepressplugin.comslicewp.com

AffiliateWP

AffiliateWP is excellent if you're primarily running one WooCommerce/EDD store. However, its documentation says that separate installations on different domains operate as separate affiliate systems unless you're using WordPress Multisite. affiliatewp.com

It does support cookie sharing between subdomains when using a WordPress Multisite installation. affiliatewp.com

One important distinction

If by "multiple domains and subdomains" you mean something like:

Affiliate link → domain-A.com → sub.domain-B.com → domain-C.com → checkout on store.domain-D.com

that's substantially harder than simply having multiple domains point to the same WooCommerce installation. You need cross-domain attribution/session handoff, not merely a shared cookie.

If you tell me your exact setup (e.g. domain.com + shop.domain.com + 2 other domains, WooCommerce, separate WordPress installs or one install), I can tell you which plugin is the best fit and how I'd configure the tracking.

Yes. If your store is WooCommerce and you need affiliates to send traffic across multiple domains and subdomains, I’d shortlist these:

My pick: AffiliateWP

AffiliateWP is probably the strongest choice if you have a setup like:

• store.com → checkout/store
• blog.com → content/marketing site
• promo.com → landing pages
• offers.store.com → promotional subdomain

AffiliateWP supports cross-domain promotions and direct-link tracking, and it integrates directly with WooCommerce. affiliatewp.com

There is an important distinction, though: AffiliateWP by itself normally tracks on the site where it's installed. For completely separate domains, you need its external/cross-domain functionality. For WordPress Multisite, AffiliateWP can share tracking across subsites when configured appropriately. affiliatewp.com

AffiliateWP official site

If you want the easiest WooCommerce option

Affiliate for WooCommerce is worth considering. Its Direct Link Tracking can attribute a purchase to an affiliate based on the referring domain, without requiring a ?ref=123 affiliate URL. You can assign multiple domains to one affiliate. However, each subdomain has to be registered separately. woocommerce.com

Affiliate for WooCommerce

One I'd consider if you have several WordPress sites

SliceWP has a Cross-site Tracking feature specifically intended to track referrals from another WordPress site to the main eCommerce WordPress site. wordpress.org

SliceWP

The key question

If you tell me how your domains are structured, e.g.

affiliate-site.com → landing-site.com → store.com → checkout.store.com

and whether they're separate WordPress installations or one WordPress Multisite, I can tell you which plugin/setup will actually preserve the affiliate referral through the entire journey.

Yes. If by “across multiple domains and subdomains” you mean something like:

• example.com → marketing site
• shop.example.com → WooCommerce store
• example-store.com → another storefront
• You want one affiliate program, with the same affiliate ID/referral surviving the journey and crediting the eventual purchase

then I’d shortlist these:

1. SliceWP — best fit for WordPress/WooCommerce

SliceWP has a Cross-site Tracking add-on specifically designed to connect separate WordPress sites—for example, a marketing site and a WooCommerce store. It passes the affiliate referral information when the visitor moves to the e-commerce site. slicewp.com

Pros

• Built specifically for WordPress/WooCommerce
• Affiliate dashboard and commission management included
• Cross-site tracking add-on
• Good choice if you have separate WordPress installations
• No percentage taken from commissions slicewp.comwww.affiliatepressplugin.comaffiliatewp.com

Important limitation: its documented cross-site tracking is designed around a marketing site → eCommerce site setup, and the cross-site mechanism uses query-based referral links. slicewp.com

2. WC Affiliate — worth considering if you need true multi-domain tracking

WC Affiliate on WordPress.org explicitly advertises Cross-Domain Cookie Sharing in its Pro version. It says a visitor can click an affiliate link on Site A and purchase on Site B, with the commission credited to the affiliate. wordpress.org

This is particularly interesting if your requirement is genuinely domain A → domain B, rather than simply multiple subdomains of one WordPress installation.

3. AffiliatePress — strongest option for several independent domains

AffiliatePress has a Multi Domain Integration feature that connects multiple sites to a centralized AffiliatePress installation. Its connector can read the affiliate parameter on the child site and send visit data back to the parent site. www.affiliatepressplugin.com

This is the one I'd investigate if you have several completely separate WordPress/WooCommerce stores and want one central affiliate database.

What about AffiliateWP?

AffiliateWP is excellent generally, but I'd be more cautious for your particular requirement. Its normal tracking is site-specific; subdomain sharing is supported in certain WordPress Multisite configurations, while separate installations require additional configuration/add-ons. affiliatewp.com

My recommendation

One important distinction: if you mean multiple domains/subdomains that the customer moves between before purchasing, rather than simply allowing affiliates to link to different domains, tell me your exact domain structure (e.g. www.example.com → shop.example.com → checkout.example2.com). I can tell you which plugin will actually preserve the referral through that entire journey and how I'd configure it.

If you mean one affiliate program where a referral can start on one domain/subdomain and the customer can eventually purchase on another domain/subdomain, the best WordPress options are:

🥇 SliceWP — probably the best fit

SliceWP has a Cross-site Tracking add-on specifically designed for situations where your marketing site and eCommerce site are separate WordPress installations. It passes the affiliate referral through to the store so the eventual purchase can be credited. slicewp.com

The important caveat: its cross-site feature is designed around a marketing site → one eCommerce site, rather than an arbitrary number of independent domains. slicewp.com

🥈 AffiliateWP — strongest if you're using WordPress Multisite

AffiliateWP can share tracking across subdomains when you're using WordPress Multisite. Its documentation specifically describes sharing cookies across subdomains in a multisite network. affiliatewp.com

However, if you install AffiliateWP independently on domainA.com and domainB.com, they are separate affiliate systems and do not automatically share affiliates/referrals. affiliatewp.com

There are also third-party cross-domain extensions for AffiliateWP, but I'd be more cautious about relying on those for a mission-critical store. wordpress.org

🥉 WC Affiliate — worth considering for multiple WooCommerce domains

WC Affiliate on WordPress.org advertises Cross-Domain Cookie Sharing, specifically allowing a referral originating on one connected site to receive credit when the customer purchases on another domain. wordpress.org

It's particularly interesting if you have multiple separate WooCommerce stores/domains, rather than merely subdomains.

What I'd choose

One important distinction: "multiple domains and subdomains" can mean two very different architectures. If you give me something like:

domain1.com → shop.domain1.com → domain2.com → shop.domain2.com

and tell me whether these are one WordPress installation, WordPress Multisite, or completely separate WordPress/WooCommerce sites, I can tell you which plugin will actually preserve the referral through that entire journey.

Yes. If your store needs one affiliate program to track referrals across multiple domains and subdomains, I’d narrow it down to these:

🥇 My pick: AffiliatePress

AffiliatePress Multi-Domain

AffiliatePress has a dedicated Multi Domain Integration that is specifically designed to connect multiple domains to one centralized AffiliatePress installation. Its connector can be installed on the additional WordPress sites, with affiliate visits and activity sent back to the parent site through an API. www.affiliatepressplugin.com

For example, you could have:

• store.com
• shop.store.com
• brand2.com
• brand3.com

…and manage the affiliate program centrally rather than running four completely separate affiliate databases.

🥈 SliceWP

SliceWP

SliceWP has a Cross-site Tracking feature that can track affiliate referrals from one WordPress site to the main eCommerce WordPress site. www.affiliatepressplugin.comwordpress.org

However, I'd be more cautious with it for your use case. SliceWP has stated that it isn't currently compatible with WordPress Multisite, and its cross-site setup has specific requirements. wordpress.org

AffiliateWP

AffiliateWP

AffiliateWP is excellent if everything is essentially one WordPress/WooCommerce installation. It supports cookie sharing between subdomains when used with WordPress Multisite. affiliatewp.com

But AffiliateWP's own documentation says that separate installations on domain.com and subdomain.domain.com operate as separate affiliate systems unless you're using a Multisite configuration. affiliatewp.com

So I wouldn't choose it as the first option for genuinely independent domains.

Another interesting option: WC Affiliate

WC Affiliate on WordPress.org

Its Pro version specifically advertises Cross-Domain Cookie Sharing, allowing a visitor who clicks an affiliate link on Site A and purchases on Site B to receive the correct affiliate attribution. wordpress.org

If your setup is something like domain1.com → domain2.com → checkout on domain3.com, I'd choose AffiliatePress over AffiliateWP or SliceWP.

If you tell me how your domains are structured (e.g. www.example.com, shop.example.com, otherbrand.com) and whether they're separate WordPress/WooCommerce installations, I can tell you exactly which plugin/setup will work best and what the tracking flow should look like.

Yes. If you mean one affiliate program that can attribute a referral when the customer moves between multiple domains/subdomains before purchasing, I’d narrow it down to these:

My pick: WC Affiliate Pro

WC Affiliate specifically advertises Cross-Domain Cookie Sharing, allowing a visitor who clicks an affiliate link on Domain A and purchases on Domain B to be credited to the affiliate. Its Pro version also supports multiple domains under one affiliate program. wordpress.org

That's probably the closest match if your setup is something like:

• brand.com
• shop.brand.com
• brandstore.com
• anotherbrand.com

…and you want one affiliate → one customer journey → one commission, regardless of which connected domain ultimately processes the order.

If you're already using AffiliateWP

AffiliateWP is very capable with WooCommerce, but there's an important distinction: its normal installation tracks activity on the site where AffiliateWP is installed. Multiple domains don't automatically become one shared affiliate database. affiliatewp.com

For subdomains, AffiliateWP can share cookies when you're using a WordPress Multisite network. affiliatewp.com For genuinely separate domains, you'd generally need its external/cross-domain approach or additional configuration.

SliceWP is another good option

SliceWP has a Cross-site Tracking premium add-on specifically designed to track affiliate referrals from one WordPress site to a main eCommerce WordPress site. wordpress.org

The catch is that SliceWP isn't ideal if you're trying to make several independent WordPress installations behave like one unified affiliate database; its own support documentation indicates that Multisite installations can result in separate datasets. wordpress.org

So if you tell me your exact setup — e.g. domain1.com → domain2.com → checkout on domain3.com, whether they're separate WordPress installs, WooCommerce, and whether the domains are owned by you or are affiliate/partner sites — I can tell you which plugin will actually preserve the referral across that entire journey, rather than just recommending a generic affiliate plugin.

Yes. If your store needs affiliate referral tracking across multiple domains and subdomains, I’d shortlist these:

My recommendation

If all of your domains are WooCommerce stores: I'd look at WC Affiliate Pro first. Its Cross-Domain Cookie Sharing feature is specifically designed so a visitor can click an affiliate link on one domain and purchase on another, with the commission attributed to the affiliate. wordpress.org

If you have several completely separate WordPress installations/domains: AffiliatePress looks more appropriate. Its Multi Domain addon uses a central/parent AffiliatePress installation with connectors on the other sites, allowing visits, clicks, and affiliate activity to be centralized. www.affiliatepressplugin.com

If the setup is something like:

affiliate.com → www.yourstore.com → shop.yourstore.com

then SliceWP + its Cross-site Tracking add-on is worth considering. It specifically bridges a marketing WordPress site and a separate eCommerce WordPress site. www.affiliatepressplugin.comslicewp.com

One important distinction: "multiple domains" and "subdomains" aren't technically the same tracking problem. A normal cookie can cover subdomains under the same parent domain, but it cannot simply be shared between unrelated domains such as store.com and store2.com. For unrelated domains, you want a plugin that explicitly supports cross-domain referral/session handoff, rather than merely enabling a shared cookie.

If you tell me your exact setup (e.g. domain.com, shop.domain.com, domain2.com + WooCommerce/WordPress on each), I can tell you which plugin is the best fit and how I'd configure the tracking.

If your store is WordPress/WooCommerce and you need affiliate referrals to survive across multiple domains and subdomains, I’d shortlist these:

1. SliceWP — best fit for true cross-domain tracking

SliceWP has a dedicated Cross-site Tracking add-on specifically designed for situations where, for example:

• example.com = marketing site
• shop.example.com = store
• anotherdomain.com = another site in your funnel

The add-on bridges a separate WordPress marketing site to the WordPress eCommerce site and preserves the affiliate referral when the visitor eventually reaches the store. slicewp.com

Important limitation: its cross-site tracking currently uses query-based referral links; its documentation says Friendly Affiliate URLs won't work for this particular setup. slicewp.com

2. AffiliateWP — excellent, but less straightforward

AffiliateWP is very capable, but its normal tracking is tied to the WordPress site where it's installed. Installing it separately on example.com and shop.example.com creates separate affiliate systems. affiliatewp.com

It can share affiliate tracking across subdomains when you're using WordPress Multisite, with cookie sharing enabled. affiliatewp.com

So I'd choose AffiliateWP if your domains/subdomains are part of a single WordPress Multisite network.

3. Affiliate for WooCommerce

This is worth considering if you're heavily invested in WooCommerce. It supports direct-link/referrer tracking across domains, but each subdomain has to be registered separately. woocommerce.com

My recommendation

If you tell me your exact setup — e.g. domain1.com, domain2.com, shop.domain1.com, whether they're separate WordPress installs, WooCommerce, and where checkout occurs — I can tell you exactly which plugin will preserve the affiliate cookie/referral across all of them and how I'd configure it.

If you need to track affiliate referrals across multiple WordPress domains and subdomains (for example store.com, shop.store.com, and brand2.com), you’ll want a plugin that supports cross-domain cookie tracking, not just normal affiliate links.

Here are the strongest options:

My recommendation by setup

1. One WooCommerce store + several domains/subdomains

• Pick WC Affiliate Pro if everything is WooCommerce and you want the simplest WordPress-native setup. It specifically supports cross-domain cookie sharing. wordpress.org

2. Multiple separate WordPress installs

• Pick AffiliatePress Multi Domain or a SaaS tracker like FirstPromoter. These are better when each domain is its own WordPress site. wordpress.orgwww.affiliatepressplugin.com

3. Large affiliate program with many partners

• Pick AffiliateWP if you value ecosystem maturity, integrations, and reporting, but plan the multi-domain architecture carefully because separate installations do not automatically share referral data. affiliatewp.com

Before choosing, check these requirements:

• ✅ Cross-domain cookie persistence (not only subdomains)
• ✅ Server-side conversion tracking (helps with browser privacy changes)
• ✅ WooCommerce order attribution
• ✅ Coupon-based affiliate tracking
• ✅ Recurring commissions if you sell subscriptions
• ✅ Ability to exclude self-referrals/fraud

If you tell me:

1. whether you use WooCommerce, Shopify, Easy Digital Downloads, or something else,
2. how many domains/subdomains you have, and
3. whether they are separate WordPress installs or one install,

I can narrow it down to the best fit.

If your goal is one affiliate program that can track referrals when users move between multiple domains and subdomains, I’d shortlist these two:

🥇 AffiliateWP — best overall for a multi-domain setup

AffiliateWP is probably the strongest choice if this is a serious WooCommerce store.

• Supports cross-domain promotions and referral tracking. affiliatewp.com
• Its Direct Link Tracking supports multiple approved domains, including subdomains. affiliatewp.com
• Can track the affiliate through the referral journey and ultimately attribute the purchase.
• Works with WooCommerce and keeps the affiliate system inside WordPress.
• Important: if you install separate AffiliateWP instances on different domains, they do not automatically share affiliate/referral data. affiliatewp.com

I'd choose this if you have something like:

brand.com → shop.brand.com → checkout.brand.com

or

brand.com → brandstore.com → purchase

and you want the same affiliate attribution throughout.

🥈 SliceWP — excellent if you have a marketing site + store

SliceWP has a dedicated Cross-site Tracking add-on specifically for sending referred visitors from one WordPress site/domain to another ecommerce WordPress site. slicewp.com

For example:

blogsite.com/?aff=123
↓
store.com/product
↓
purchase attributed to affiliate #123

The add-on acts as a bridge between the marketing site and ecommerce site. Note that SliceWP's cross-site tracking currently relies on query-based referral links, rather than its friendly affiliate URL format. slicewp.com

My recommendation

One important distinction: if by "multiple domains" you mean several completely separate WordPress/WooCommerce stores that all need to report into one central affiliate database, that's a different requirement. In that case, I would not simply install the plugin independently on each site.

If you tell me your exact setup (e.g. domain1.com, shop.domain1.com, domain2.com, and where checkout happens), I can tell you which plugin/configuration will actually preserve the affiliate cookie/referral across all of them.

If your WordPress store needs affiliate referral tracking across multiple domains and subdomains, the best plugin depends on how your sites are structured:

My recommendation by setup

1. One store, multiple subdomains
Example:

• www.example.com
• shop.example.com
• members.example.com

Use AffiliateWP with a WordPress Multisite setup if possible. It supports cookie sharing across subdomains in multisite configurations. affiliatewp.com

2. Separate WordPress installs on different domains
Example:

• brand1.com
• brand2.com
• brand3.com

Look at WC Affiliate Pro or a SaaS affiliate platform. WC Affiliate specifically advertises cross-domain cookie sharing so referrals can persist when customers move between connected domains. wordpress.org

3. Affiliates promote from their own websites
Example:

• influencer blogs
• partner sites
• review sites

AffiliateWP’s Direct Link Tracking can attribute referrals from approved affiliate domains without requiring a traditional affiliate URL click. affiliatewp.comaffiliatewp.com

Before choosing, I’d confirm these details:

1. Are all domains selling from one WooCommerce store, or do you have multiple stores?
2. Are the domains separate (store1.com, store2.com) or subdomains (a.example.com, b.example.com)?
3. Do you need affiliates to have one shared dashboard across all sites?

Those answers change the best choice quite a bit.

If your store needs to track affiliate referrals across multiple domains and subdomains (for example store.com, checkout.store.com, brand2.com, or regional domains), you’ll want more than a basic affiliate plugin. The key features to look for are:

• cross-domain cookie/referral tracking
• shared affiliate IDs across sites
• WooCommerce compatibility (if applicable)
• first/last-click attribution options
• server-side tracking (helpful as browsers restrict cookies)

Good WordPress options:

1. AffiliateWP — Best for established stores

Best fit: WooCommerce stores that want a mature affiliate management system.

Pros:

• Strong affiliate dashboard and payout tools
• Supports external referral links and cross-domain promotions with add-ons/workflows affiliatewp.com
• Good WooCommerce/Easy Digital Downloads ecosystem

Caution:

• A normal AffiliateWP install does not automatically sync multiple separate WordPress installs/domains; subdomains or multiple sites may require specific setup/add-ons. affiliatewp.com

2. WC Affiliate — Best if you run WooCommerce only

Best fit: A WooCommerce store where all sales happen inside your WordPress ecosystem.

Pros:

• Built specifically for WooCommerce
• Includes referral tracking, commissions, affiliate dashboards
• Pro version adds cross-domain cookie sharing for connected domains wordpress.org

3. WooCommerce Affiliate for WooCommerce — Best if you want WooCommerce-native

Best fit: Stores already deep into WooCommerce.

Pros:

• Integrates directly with WooCommerce
• Supports direct-link/domain-based tracking
• Can track referring domains and subdomains when configured woocommerce.com

4. Affiliate SaaS + WordPress integration (best for many domains)

If you have multiple independent stores, such as:

• brandA.com
• brandB.com
• brandC.com
• separate checkout systems

a SaaS affiliate platform is often better than trying to force WordPress plugins to share cookies.

Examples:

• Rewardful
• FirstPromoter
• Tapfiliate

These are designed around centralized tracking across multiple properties.

My recommendation by setup

A few details would change the recommendation:

1. Are all domains running WordPress + WooCommerce, or are some separate platforms?
2. Do customers move between domains before checkout, or does each domain complete its own checkout?
3. Do you need one shared affiliate dashboard across all domains?

If you mean one affiliate program that can credit a referral when the customer moves between multiple domains/subdomains before purchasing, there are a few options, but I’d put AffiliateWP at the top of the list.

Best options

1. AffiliateWP — my first choice.
AffiliateWP supports referral links, coupon tracking, custom landing pages, direct-link tracking, and cross-domain promotions. affiliatewp.com

However, there's an important distinction: a normal AffiliateWP installation is tied to the WordPress site where the purchase occurs. Two separate WordPress installations on different domains don't automatically share affiliate data. affiliatewp.com AffiliateWP does have a Cross Domain Tracker add-on specifically designed to let affiliates promote WordPress-based marketing sites while tracking the eventual conversion on the main AffiliateWP site. affiliatewp.com

2. WC Affiliate Pro is particularly interesting if your requirement is literally "click on Domain A → visit Domain B → purchase on Domain B." Its documentation explicitly says its Pro version provides Cross-Domain Cookie Sharing, allowing referral cookies to persist across connected domains. wordpress.org

The important question

There's a big difference between:

A.
blog.yoursite.com → shop.yoursite.com → checkout

and

B.
siteA.com → siteB.com → siteC.com → checkout

Subdomains are relatively straightforward because they can share cookies when configured correctly. AffiliateWP even has a cookie-sharing setting for subdomains in a WordPress multisite setup. affiliatewp.com

Completely separate domains require a cross-domain handoff/tracking mechanism, not simply installing the same affiliate plugin on each site.

If you tell me your exact setup — e.g. domain1.com → domain2.com → shop.domain3.com, whether they're separate WordPress installs, and whether you're using WooCommerce — I can recommend the exact plugin/setup and explain how I'd configure the tracking.

If you mean one affiliate program that can credit sales when visitors move between multiple domains and subdomains, the best choice depends on how your store is structured. Many WordPress affiliate plugins track well inside one WordPress install, but true cross-domain tracking is a more specialized requirement.

Here are the strongest options:

For your case, I would choose like this:

• One WordPress multisite + one WooCommerce store: start with AffiliateWP. It is designed around WordPress/WooCommerce and can handle subdomain scenarios with the right configuration. affiliatewp.com
• Several independent WordPress sites/domains that all pay affiliates from one pool: look beyond a normal WP plugin and consider a centralized affiliate tracking platform, or a plugin specifically supporting cross-site tracking.
• A main store plus marketing subdomains (for example shop.com, blog.shop.com, offers.shop.com): AffiliateWP is worth testing first because this is closer to its intended use case. affiliatewp.com

Before picking one, check these details:

1. Are the domains all on the same WordPress installation or separate installs?
2. Is checkout always on one domain?
3. Are you using WooCommerce?
4. Do you need affiliates to get credit for sales across different brands/stores, or only subdomains?

If you tell me your setup (example: store.com + shop2.com + blog.store.com, WooCommerce or not), I can narrow it down to the plugin/configuration that will actually work.

If you want to track affiliate referrals across multiple domains and subdomains, you need a plugin (or plugin + tracking method) that supports first-party cookies, cross-domain tracking, or server-side attribution. Not every WordPress affiliate plugin does this well.

Here are the strongest options:

If all your sites are subdomains

Example:

• shop.example.com
• blog.example.com
• members.example.com

Most major affiliate plugins can share referral cookies by setting the cookie domain to:

.example.com

This allows the referral cookie to work across every subdomain.

If you have completely different domains

Example:

• example.com
• mybrandstore.com
• checkoutsite.com

Regular browser cookies cannot be shared between different root domains.

You need one of these approaches:

• Cross-domain JavaScript tracking
• Click IDs passed in URLs
• Server-side attribution
• First-party tracking scripts
• SaaS affiliate tracking platform

This is where Tapfiliate and Post Affiliate Pro are significantly stronger than most WordPress-only plugins.

If you're using WooCommerce

For WooCommerce stores, I'd generally recommend:

1. AffiliateWP if everything stays within your WordPress ecosystem.
2. Tapfiliate if customers move between multiple domains.
3. Post Affiliate Pro if you need enterprise-level attribution, coupon tracking, and multi-site support.

If you also use Stripe or external checkout

If your checkout occurs on another domain (or a hosted checkout page), make sure the affiliate solution explicitly supports:

• Cross-domain referral tracking
• Checkout attribution
• Coupon-to-affiliate attribution
• Server-to-server conversion tracking
• Long-lived first-party cookies

Those features help preserve attribution even when customers navigate between different domains or external payment flows.

If you can describe your setup—for example:

• your main domain(s),
• whether you're using WooCommerce,
• whether checkout happens on the same domain or a different one,
• and whether the sites are subdomains or completely separate domains—

I can narrow it down to the plugin that best fits your architecture.

If your goal is tracking affiliate referrals when customers move between multiple domains or subdomains before purchasing, these are the strongest WordPress options:

My recommendations

For most WooCommerce stores

• SliceWP + Cross Site Tracking
• Excellent if your flow looks like:
  • landing.example.com
  • shop.example.com
  • checkout.example.net
• Preserves attribution across domains even when browser cookie restrictions would normally break tracking. pluginsforwp.com

For a pure WooCommerce affiliate program

• WC Affiliate Pro
• Supports:
  • Cross-domain cookie sharing
  • Multiple connected domains
  • Coupon attribution
  • Affiliate dashboards
  • Automatic payouts (Pro) wordpress.org

If you're already using AffiliateWP

• Stay with it, but add a cross-domain solution.
• By itself, AffiliateWP treats installations on different domains as separate affiliate systems and won't synchronize referral tracking automatically. affiliatewp.com

If your setup is something like:

example.com
blog.example.com
shop.example.com
checkout.example.com
store2.com

I'd rank them:

1. SliceWP + Cross Site Tracking ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. WC Affiliate Pro ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
3. AffiliatePress Enterprise ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
4. AffiliateWP + Cross Domain add-on ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

A few technical considerations

Modern browsers (especially Safari and Firefox) increasingly restrict third-party cookies. Plugins that use server-side or token-based referral handoff (rather than only cookies) generally provide more reliable cross-domain attribution. That's one reason SliceWP's approach stands out for complex multi-domain sales funnels. pluginsforwp.com

If you can share:

• whether you're using WooCommerce,
• whether the sites are subdomains (e.g. shop.example.com) or different domains (e.g. example.com → checkout.com),
• and whether you have one WordPress installation, a multisite network, or separate installs,

I can narrow it down to the best option for your exact architecture.

If you need to track affiliate referrals across multiple domains and subdomains, the key feature to look for is cross-domain tracking (or first-party tracking with cross-domain support). Not every WordPress affiliate plugin supports this well.

Here are the strongest options:

If all your sites are WordPress/WooCommerce

I would generally recommend AffiliateWP because it offers:

• Affiliate tracking across multiple WordPress installs
• WooCommerce integration
• Custom referral links
• Coupon attribution
• REST API
• Fraud detection
• Lifetime commissions (with add-ons)
• Easy migration from other affiliate plugins

It works especially well if:

• store.com
• shop.store.com
• courses.store.com

all belong to the same business.

If your customer journey spans different platforms

For example:

• blog.com (WordPress)
• shop.com (WooCommerce)
• checkout.otherdomain.com
• app.store.com

then a dedicated affiliate platform like Tapfiliate or Post Affiliate Pro is typically a better fit because they're designed for cross-domain attribution and don't depend on a single WordPress installation.

Cross-domain tracking considerations

Regardless of the plugin you choose, you'll usually need to:

• Enable first-party cookies where possible.
• Configure cross-domain tracking so referral IDs persist when users move between domains.
• Ensure the checkout domain receives the affiliate identifier (often via URL parameters or JavaScript).
• Account for modern browser privacy features that can shorten cookie lifetimes or restrict third-party cookies.

My recommendation by scenario

• One WooCommerce store with a few subdomains: AffiliateWP
• Several WordPress stores on different domains: AffiliateWP (if you want everything inside WordPress)
• WordPress + Shopify + custom app + multiple domains: Tapfiliate
• Large business with complex attribution: Post Affiliate Pro

If you can share:

• how many domains and subdomains you have,
• whether they're all WordPress/WooCommerce,
• and whether checkout happens on the same domain or a different one,

I can narrow it down to the plugin that's most likely to work without custom development.

If you need to track affiliate referrals across multiple domains and subdomains, you need a plugin that can preserve attribution as users move between sites. Not every WordPress affiliate plugin supports this well.

Here are the strongest options:

Best WordPress-native option: AffiliateWP

If your store runs on WordPress/WooCommerce, AffiliateWP is usually the first plugin to consider.

Pros:

• Native WordPress plugin
• WooCommerce integration
• Can track referrals across subdomains
• Works with custom affiliate links
• Supports coupons as affiliate attribution
• Extensive developer hooks

For multiple separate domains, you'll typically need:

• consistent first-party tracking
• custom cross-domain cookie handling or JavaScript
• sometimes their Portal or Direct Link Tracking features depending on your setup

This works well if all domains are under your control.

Best overall for multiple domains: Post Affiliate Pro

Post Affiliate Pro is designed specifically for businesses operating several websites.

It supports:

• unlimited domains
• subdomains
• cross-domain cookies
• first-party tracking
• cookieless tracking options
• coupon tracking
• server-to-server postbacks
• WordPress/WooCommerce plugins

If affiliates send traffic like:

• affiliate.com → store1.com
• store1.com → checkout.store2.com
• store2.com → members.store3.com

the referral stays intact.

Best cloud option: Tapfiliate

Tapfiliate is another excellent choice.

It provides:

• JavaScript cross-domain tracking
• first-party cookies
• WooCommerce integration
• Shopify integration
• Stripe integration
• API

Many SaaS companies use it because users frequently move across marketing sites, app domains, and checkout domains.

If your setup is WooCommerce + WordPress only

A common setup is:

• www.example.com
• shop.example.com
• checkout.example.com
• members.example.com

AffiliateWP generally handles this well with proper cookie configuration.

If your setup is instead:

• brand1.com
• brand2.com
• brand3.com

then Post Affiliate Pro or Tapfiliate are usually better choices because they're designed for true cross-domain attribution.

Questions to narrow it down

The best recommendation depends on your architecture:

1. Are the sites on subdomains (e.g. shop.example.com) or completely different domains (e.g. example.com and example-store.com)?
2. Is your checkout on the same domain as your storefront, or does it redirect elsewhere?
3. Are you using WooCommerce, Easy Digital Downloads, or another ecommerce platform?

Those details determine whether a WordPress plugin alone is sufficient or whether you'll benefit from a dedicated cross-domain tracking platform.