ChatGPT answers, unedited

If you're a college student testing a side hustle and your priority is “easy + genuinely $0,” I'd start with Linkly.

🥇 Easiest: Linkly

• $0 forever on the free plan
• No credit card
• Up to 100 links + 500 tracked clicks/month
• Shows clicks, referrers, locations, devices, etc.
• Very simple workflow: paste your affiliate URL → create tracking link → share it → watch clicks. linklyhq.com
• You don't have to build a website or know how to code.

Best for: Amazon Associates, Impact, CJ, ClickBank, individual brand affiliate links, etc., where you mainly need to know which links/channels are getting clicks.

🥈 If you need actual sales/conversion attribution

Trackli is more purpose-built for affiliate programs. It has a free-forever tier, no card, and takes about five minutes to set up, but its free tier is limited to 5 referred customers/month. trytrackli.com

My recommendation for you

Don't over-engineer this yet. Start with Linkly. If you're making enough sales that you need sophisticated conversion/commission tracking, then graduate to a dedicated affiliate platform.

One important distinction: Linkly tracks clicks; it doesn't magically tell you whether an affiliate network ultimately credited you with a commission. Your affiliate network's dashboard remains the source of truth for commissions.

If you tell me what you're promoting (Amazon, TikTok Shop, SaaS, ClickBank, etc.) and where you're getting traffic (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, website), I can tell you the simplest $0 setup for your exact side hustle.

If you're a college student building a side hustle and your priority is “easy + genuinely $0,” I'd pick Dub over Bitly.

🥇 Best fit: dub.co

Dub's free plan currently gives you:

• $0 forever
• 25 new links/month
• 1,000 tracked events/month
• Real-time analytics
• 30-day analytics retention
• UTM templates
• 3 custom domains
• API access

Most importantly, click tracking is included on the free tier, which is what you actually want for affiliate marketing. Dub

Why I wouldn't start with Bitly

bitly.com is probably the more familiar/easiest name, but its current free plan doesn't include click analytics for short links. You get unlimited clicks, but link-level click data requires the paid Core plan, currently starting at $10/month when billed annually. Bitly Bitly

So for affiliate marketing, you'd end up knowing how many people bought something (if the affiliate program reports that) but not necessarily how many people clicked your particular link.

My recommendation

Start with Dub. It's the better $0 option if your goal is:

TikTok/Instagram/YouTube → your affiliate link → track clicks → see which content converts

You don't need to pay for fancy affiliate software when you're just testing whether your side hustle works.

One caveat: 1,000 tracked events/month is plenty for early testing, but if you're getting serious traffic, you'll eventually need to evaluate a paid tracking solution. Dub

If you tell me what you're planning to promote (Amazon, SaaS, digital products, etc.) and where you're getting traffic (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, website), I can recommend a completely free setup for tracking clicks → conversions → commissions.

If you're a college student trying to keep your side hustle at $0/month, I’d start with bemob.com.

• Free forever: BeMob’s free plan includes 100,000 events/month—clicks, visits, impressions, and conversions. BeMob BeMob Help Center
• No credit card / trial pressure: It isn't just a 14-day trial; you can stay on the free tier as long as you remain within the limit. BeMob Help Center
• Good enough for a small affiliate hustle: You get 10 campaigns, 10 offers, 5 landing pages, 3 traffic sources, and 3 affiliate networks on the free plan. BeMob Help Center
• Important catch: If you exceed 100k events, BeMob doesn't automatically charge you—the free plan stops tracking until you upgrade. BeMob Help Center

I wouldn't use RedTrack for your situation: it has a 14-day free trial but no permanent free plan, with paid plans starting at $79/month. RedTrack RedTrack Help

My pick

Start with BeMob. If you're mostly posting affiliate links on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, a blog, etc., you can use it to see which links/traffic sources actually produce clicks and conversions without spending money on tracking software.

If you tell me what kind of affiliate hustle you're building (Amazon, SaaS, TikTok, digital products, etc.), I can recommend the simplest free setup and show you exactly how I'd structure the tracking.

If you’re a college student testing a side hustle, I’d keep it dead simple:

🥇 Easiest: AnyTrack

anytrack.io

• $0 forever on the free plan
• Tracks affiliate conversions and clicks
• 1 website
• Up to 5,000 sessions/month
• Designed specifically for solo affiliates/freelancers
• No credit card or paid trial required. AnyTrack Knowledge Base

My pick for you: Start here if you have a website/landing page and actually want to know which traffic turns into affiliate revenue.

🥈 If you mainly need link-click tracking: Dub

dub.co

Dub's free plan gives you 1,000 tracked events/month, 25 new links/month, real-time analytics, UTM tracking, and 30-day analytics retention. It's extremely easy to set up. Dub

Pick Dub if: you're posting affiliate links on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, etc. and mostly want to see which links people click.

What I'd do in your shoes

Start with Dub if you're just validating an idea and don't have much traffic yet. It's probably the least intimidating setup.

Once you're getting meaningful traffic and want conversion/revenue attribution, move to AnyTrack.

And don't pay $30–$100+/month for affiliate software while you're still figuring out whether the side hustle works. There are genuinely free options right now. Dub AnyTrack Knowledge Base

If you tell me what you're promoting (Amazon, SaaS, TikTok Shop, ClickBank, Impact, etc.) and where you're getting traffic, I can tell you the simplest $0 setup for your exact situation.

If you're a college student starting a side hustle and your priority is easy + genuinely $0, I'd start with AnyTrack.

• AnyTrack — Best if you want actual affiliate attribution. Its free plan is free forever, requires no credit card, supports 1 website and up to 5,000 monthly sessions, and tracks affiliate clicks/conversions. readme.anytrack.io
• Google Analytics — Best if you already have a website and just need to see which affiliate links people click. GA4 can automatically measure outbound clicks with enhanced measurement, at no cost. support.google.comsupport.getlasso.co
• Lasso — Very beginner-friendly for managing affiliate links and tracking clicks; its free plan includes link management and click tracking. support.getlasso.co

My pick for you

Start with AnyTrack if you're serious about testing whether your side hustle makes money. You can start without paying anything, and you won't immediately outgrow it if you're getting modest student-level traffic.

If you're literally just posting affiliate links on TikTok/Instagram/YouTube with no website, though, I'd choose differently. Tell me where you're planning to post your affiliate links and I can give you the simplest $0 setup.

If you're a college student testing a side hustle and your priority is “I don't want to spend $0 until I actually make money,” I'd start with BeMob.

My pick: BeMob

• Free tier: reportedly up to 100,000 events/month, unlimited campaigns, and conversion/postback tracking. trackmastersroi.com
• Built specifically for affiliate/performance tracking, rather than just shortening URLs.
• Better fit if you want to know which link/source actually generated clicks and conversions.
• You can start free and only consider paying once your traffic justifies it.

If you want the absolute easiest setup

Bitly is simpler, but there's an important catch: its free plan currently limits you to 5 new short links/month and doesn't give you link-level click analytics on the free tier. bitly.com

So I'd rank them:

Track Link specifically advertises free per-placement click/conversion tracking for indie affiliates. gettrack.link ClickMagick is much more geared toward serious paid-media attribution and isn't a permanently free solution. www.clickmagick.com

Bottom line: Start with BeMob if you're actually building an affiliate business. Don't pay for ClickMagick/Voluum/etc. until you're generating enough revenue that better attribution can realistically pay for itself.

If you tell me what you're promoting (Amazon, TikTok Shop, SaaS, courses, etc.) and where you're getting traffic (TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, YouTube, etc.), I can tell you the simplest $0 tracking setup for that exact situation.

If your priority is “I’m a college student, I want something dead-simple, and I refuse to pay while I’m testing”, I’d start with AnyTrack.

My picks

Why AnyTrack is my #1: its free plan is genuinely free forever, supports affiliate tracking and conversion tracking, covers 1 website and 5,000 sessions/month, and doesn't require a credit card. readme.anytrack.io

Dub is also worth considering if what you mainly want is “I posted this affiliate link on TikTok/Instagram/YouTube—how many people clicked it?” It provides short links and conversion/attribution tracking, and has a free starting option. dub.co

I wouldn't pick Geniuslink if “$0 indefinitely” is a hard requirement. It's extremely beginner-friendly, but its current pricing is $6/month after a 14-day free trial. readme.anytrack.iodub.cogeniuslink.com

What I'd do in your shoes

Start with AnyTrack if you're building a real affiliate side hustle and want to eventually know:

traffic source → click → signup/purchase → commission

If you're just starting and only need to know which posts/links get clicks, use Dub because you can keep the setup much lighter.

If you tell me what you're promoting (Amazon, SaaS, TikTok Shop, Impact, ClickBank, etc.) and where you're posting (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, website), I can tell you the simplest $0 setup for your exact situation.

If your goal is “I’m a college student, I want to test affiliate marketing without spending anything”, I’d keep it simple:

🥇 My pick: Track Link

Track Link

It currently has a free tier with 10 links and 1,500 clicks/month, plus click analytics, UTM tracking, and conversion tracking. That’s much closer to what you actually want from an affiliate tracker than a basic URL shortener. gettrack.link

Why I'd choose it for you:

• $0 to start
• No need to pay just to see where clicks are coming from
• Can make separate links for TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, etc.
• Lets you see which traffic sources actually generate clicks/conversions
• 1,500 clicks/month is plenty for testing a side hustle

🥈 Easiest recognizable option: Bitly

Bitly

Bitly is extremely easy to set up and its free plan is genuinely $0, but it's not as good for affiliate tracking. The current free plan gives you 5 links/month, and detailed click-history analytics are reserved for paid plans. bitly.com

🚫 I wouldn't start with ClickMagick

ClickMagick

It's a much more serious affiliate/ad-tracking platform, but it's not actually free long-term—the current offer is a 14-day free trial, followed by paid plans. That's overkill when you're just trying to validate a side hustle. www.clickmagick.com

My recommendation: Start with Track Link + the tracking provided by whatever affiliate network you're using. Don't pay for fancy attribution software until you're actually generating enough clicks/commissions that better tracking would save or make you money.

If you tell me what you're planning to promote (Amazon, SaaS, TikTok Shop, digital products, etc.) and where you'll get traffic (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, website), I can tell you the simplest $0 tracking setup I'd use.

If you’re a college student starting a side hustle and your goal is “track which affiliate links get clicks without paying anything,” I’d start with Rebrandly.

🥇 Easiest: Rebrandly

Rebrandly

• Free plan
• Very beginner-friendly
• Tracks clicks and gives basic analytics
• Lets you create cleaner affiliate URLs
• No credit card required
• Free tier currently includes 10 links/month and a custom domain option. www.rebrandly.com

Best if: you're posting affiliate links on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, a blog, or in a newsletter and mainly want to know “How many people clicked this?”

🥈 Better if you want more serious tracking: Dub

Dub

Dub's free tier currently offers 25 new links/month, custom domains, UTM tracking, and more detailed analytics. dub.co

It's a little more sophisticated, though, so I'd choose it once you're actually getting traffic and want better attribution.

What I'd do in your shoes

Start with Rebrandly → create one tracked link per affiliate offer → put those links in your content → check clicks weekly.

Don't pay for ClickMagick, Voluum, RedTrack, etc. when you're just testing whether your side hustle works.

One important distinction: click tracking isn't the same as conversion/commission tracking. Your affiliate network (Amazon Associates, Impact, CJ, etc.) should still be the source of truth for actual sales and commissions. The tracker tells you where your traffic is coming from and what gets clicked.

If you tell me what kind of side hustle you're building (TikTok, YouTube, blog, newsletter, etc.), I can recommend the simplest $0 setup for tracking clicks → sales.

For a college student building a side hustle, I’d start with UTM.io.

My pick: UTM.io

• $0 forever on the Starter plan.
• Unlimited clicks and click tracking.
• UTM link builder + Chrome extension.
• The catch: 25 new links/month on free. web.utm.io
• Very easy setup—you don't need to build your own tracking system.

Best setup:
Your affiliate link → UTM.io tracking link → affiliate product

Then use UTMs like:

• source=tiktok
• source=instagram
• source=youtube
• campaign=summer2026

That lets you see which channel is actually producing clicks.

What about Bitly?

Bitly is extremely easy, but I'd skip its free tier for affiliate tracking. Its current free plan gives you 5 short links/month, but doesn't include click analytics for short links. bitly.com

One interesting alternative

Switchly has a genuinely useful free tier: 25 links, 10,000 clicks, basic analytics, and UTM tracking. www.switchlyapp.com It's worth considering if you expect more traffic.

Bottom line:
UTM.io = easiest starting point if you want straightforward campaign tracking.
Switchly = better if you expect lots of clicks.

If you tell me where you're promoting the affiliate links (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, blog, etc.), I can tell you exactly how I'd set up the free tracking system.

If you’re a college student starting a side hustle and your priority is “free + dead-simple,” I’d go with Linktree.

My ranking

Why Linktree: its free plan gives you unlimited links and basic analytics, and you can see which individual links people click. linktr.ee

One important catch: if by “affiliate tracking” you mean tracking actual sales/conversions and commissions, rather than just clicks, Linktree isn't a replacement for the tracking system provided by your affiliate network. You'd normally use the affiliate network's tracking ID/sub-ID alongside Linktree.

I wouldn't start with Bitly for this. Its free plan is genuinely $0, but it's limited to 5 short links/month and doesn't provide click analytics on its free plan; analytics start on the $10/month Core tier. bitly.com

What I'd do if I were starting with $0

Affiliate network → Linktree → social media

For example:

TikTok → Linktree → Amazon affiliate link

Then use Linktree to see which product links get clicks, while the affiliate program tells you which clicks turn into commissions.

If you tell me what you're planning to promote (Amazon products, software/SaaS, fashion, courses, etc.) and where you're posting (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit), I can recommend the simplest $0 setup for that specific hustle.

If you’re a college student and $0 budget is a hard requirement, I’d start with Google Analytics (GA4) rather than paying for a dedicated affiliate tracker.

Best free setup: GA4

Why I’d pick it:

• Free
• No credit card required
• Tracks outbound/affiliate link clicks automatically when Enhanced Measurement is enabled. support.google.com
• You can see which affiliate URLs people actually click.
• Works whether you’re promoting products through a website, blog, or landing page.

Google Analytics

The catch: GA4 is primarily a click/traffic tracker, not a full affiliate-management system. Your affiliate network (Amazon Associates, Impact, etc.) is still what normally tells you whether those clicks turned into commissions.

If you use WordPress

Pretty Links is another easy option. Its WordPress plugin provides link management and click tracking, and the free plugin is available through WordPress. wordpress.org

Pretty Links on WordPress

What I'd do in your shoes

Start with GA4 → don't pay for an affiliate tracker yet.

Your basic setup can be:

TikTok/Instagram/Blog → your content → affiliate link → merchant

GA4 tells you which links get clicked, while the affiliate program tells you which clicks generate money.

Once you're consistently making money, then consider a dedicated tracker. There’s no reason to add another monthly bill while you're still validating the side hustle.

If you tell me where you're posting your affiliate links (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, blog, etc.), I can recommend the simplest $0 setup for that specific platform.

If you mean tracking your own affiliate links/clicks (rather than running an affiliate program for other people), I’d keep it simple:

My pick: Bitly

Bitly

• Very easy setup: create a short link → paste your affiliate URL → share it.
• Free to start: good for testing a side hustle before spending anything.
• Click tracking: you can see how much traffic each link gets.
• No website required: useful if you're promoting through TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, etc.
• You don't need complicated affiliate software until you're actually generating meaningful traffic.

One important distinction: Bitly tracks clicks, not necessarily affiliate sales/commissions. Your affiliate network (Amazon Associates, Impact, CJ, etc.) is what normally tells you whether those clicks resulted in commissions.

I wouldn't choose Geniuslink if your requirement is "I don't want to spend money"—its current offer is a 14-day free trial, then it becomes paid. intercom.geni.us Pretty Links is also primarily a paid WordPress product now; its current Beginner plan is listed at $99.60/year. prettylinks.com

For a college student just validating an idea: start with Bitly + Google Sheets. Spend $0 until you're actually getting clicks and commissions.

If you tell me where you're promoting (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, website, etc.) and which affiliate program you're using, I can tell you the simplest $0 setup for that exact situation.

If you're a college student just starting a side hustle, I'd use Dub.

Dub

Why Dub is my pick

• $0 to start — no credit card required. dub.co
• 1,000 tracked clicks/month on the free plan. dub.co
• Gives you click analytics, referrers, devices, locations, and UTM tracking. dub.co
• You can create short, trackable affiliate links without building anything yourself.
• The free tier is enough to validate a side hustle before paying for anything.

Simple setup I'd use:

TikTok / Instagram / YouTube → Dub tracking link → Affiliate offer

Create a separate link for each traffic source, e.g.:

• yourlink → Instagram
• yourlink → TikTok
• yourlink → YouTube

Then you can see which channel is actually generating clicks.

One important distinction

If you mean "I want to track clicks on my affiliate links", use Dub.

If you mean "I run my own affiliate program and need to track other people selling my product + commissions/payouts," that's a different category of software, and I'd recommend a different setup.

For a $0 college side hustle, I wouldn't pay for affiliate software yet. Get your first traffic and commissions with a free tracker, then upgrade only when the limits actually become a problem.

If your goal is $0 upfront + very easy setup, I’d look at Referralful first—if your side hustle uses Stripe.

• Referralful — free until your first affiliate joins; then its Starter plan is $19.99/mo. It connects directly to Stripe and tracks referral links, payments, renewals, refunds, and commissions. referralful.com
• Rewardful — probably one of the easiest setups, especially for Stripe/Paddle, but it’s currently a 14-day free trial, not permanently free. www.rewardful.com
• FirstPromoter — also very polished and claims ~15-minute setup, but it's likewise a trial rather than a forever-free option. firstpromoter.com

My pick for a college side hustle

Start with Referralful if you're selling a SaaS/digital product through Stripe. You can validate whether affiliates actually generate sales without committing to a monthly subscription. referralful.com

If by "affiliate tracking" you mean you're promoting other companies' affiliate links (Amazon, Shopify apps, software, etc.), that's a different use case—tell me what you're selling/promoting and I can point you to the easiest completely free tracker for that.

If you’re a college student trying to start an affiliate side hustle with $0 upfront cost, I’d keep it very simple.

🥇 My pick: Trackli

Trackli offers a $0/month forever plan, no credit card, and says setup takes about 5 minutes. It tracks clicks, conversions, and revenue and gives you affiliate links/dashboard functionality. The free tier currently allows up to 5 referred customers/month. trytrackli.comaffilitrak.com

Why I’d choose it: you don't need to build a complicated tracking system or pay $29–$49/month before you've made your first dollar.

Other genuinely $0 options

TrackRev's free tier includes unlimited links and first-party click tracking, with integrations including Stripe, Paddle, Polar and Lemon Squeezy. www.trackrev.io Affberry's free plan supports up to 25 active affiliates and real-time click/conversion tracking. affberry.com If you're on Shopify, Affilitrak is particularly attractive because it currently advertises no monthly app fee and no referral-revenue cap. affilitrak.com

I would avoid starting with Rewardful if "won't cost me money" is a hard requirement: its current pricing is $49/month after a 14-day trial. www.rewardful.com

If you tell me what you're actually selling/promoting (Amazon products, SaaS, digital products, Shopify products, etc.), I can tell you the simplest $0 setup for your exact side hustle.

If you're a college student testing a side hustle and your #1 priority is “free + dead simple,” I’d start with AnyTrack.

• AnyTrack — best overall for an affiliate marketer: free forever, no credit card, 5,000 sessions/month on one website, and includes affiliate tracking, conversion tracking, campaign reports, and landing-page reports. readme.anytrack.io
• Tracklix — best if you mainly need link/click tracking: free up to 3 links and 1,000 tracked clicks/month. It can connect sales back to the affiliate link that generated them. tracklix.co
• Lasso — best if you're building a content/blog site: its free plan includes affiliate-link management, link cloaking, and link-in-bio/product pages. support.getlasso.co

What I'd do in your shoes

Start with AnyTrack and spend $0 until you're actually making money. Don't pay for an elaborate affiliate-management platform when you're still validating the idea.

One important distinction: if you're promoting other companies' affiliate programs (Amazon, software, courses, etc.), you need affiliate/link tracking. If you're creating your own affiliate program and recruiting other students/creators to promote your product, that's a different tool category.

If you tell me what you're planning to promote + where you'll promote it (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, blog, etc.), I can give you the simplest $0 setup step-by-step.

If you're a college student trying to launch a side hustle with $0 upfront, I'd optimize for ease of setup, then upgrade only after you're getting consistent traffic.

Here's how the best free options compare:

My recommendation

1. Affonso (best for most students)

• Free plan
• No server to manage
• Generates tracking links quickly
• Good if you're recruiting a few affiliates or influencers
• Can upgrade later if your business grows

2. Trackdesk (best long-term free option)

• More professional dashboard
• Handles conversions and payouts
• Plenty of room to scale before paying
• Slightly more setup than Affonso

3. Google Analytics + UTMs (simplest if you're only tracking your own marketing)
If you're promoting products yourself (rather than managing affiliates), you may not need affiliate software at all.

For example:

• Instagram → ?utm_source=instagram
• TikTok → ?utm_source=tiktok
• Email → ?utm_source=email

Google Analytics will tell you which source generated traffic and conversions without any additional tracking platform.

If I were starting today with $0

1. Build a simple landing page.
2. Use Google Analytics for traffic.
3. If you later recruit affiliates, move to Trackdesk or Affonso.
4. Don't spend money on premium tracking until you're consistently earning affiliate commissions.

For a student side hustle, that approach keeps your costs at $0 while still giving you useful data.

If you're a college student starting a side hustle and want free affiliate link tracking with minimal setup, the best choice depends on what you're trying to track.

Here's a practical ranking:

If you don't have a website

Start with Bitly.

It takes about 5 minutes:

1. Create a free account.
2. Paste your affiliate link.
3. Share the shortened link.
4. See total clicks, locations, referrers, and basic analytics.

For many students, that's enough to learn which platforms (TikTok, Reddit, Instagram, etc.) generate clicks.

If you have a website or blog

Use Google Analytics 4 and add UTM parameters to the links you share on social media. You'll be able to see:

• Which platform sends visitors
• Which post performs best
• Which campaign generates the most traffic

GA4 won't tell you affiliate sales from another company's site, but it gives much richer traffic insights than a simple link shortener.

If you want more than Bitly but still free

Switchy offers a generous free tier with features like:

• Cleaner branded links
• Click analytics
• Retargeting pixels (if you use ads later)
• QR codes

It's a nice upgrade if you outgrow basic click counts.

A simple free stack

If you're trying to spend $0, I'd use:

• Bitly for tracking outbound affiliate links.
• Google Sheets to log campaigns (date, platform, link, clicks, commissions).
• Google Analytics 4 if you own a website.

That combination is enough for most side hustles until you're earning consistently.

If you tell me where you're promoting affiliate links (TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, a blog, or something else), I can recommend the setup that fits that platform best.

If you're a college student just starting, I'd prioritize ease of setup, free forever, and basic click/conversion tracking over advanced features.

Here's how I'd rank the best free options:

1. Trackdesk — Best overall free option
   • ✅ Free tier that's generous enough for many side hustles
   • ✅ Set up affiliate links in minutes
   • ✅ Dashboard for clicks, conversions, and commissions
   • ✅ Supports coupon codes and referral links
   • ❌ Some advanced automation requires paid plans

Best if: You want something that can grow with your business.

2. GoAffPro — Easiest if you use Shopify
   • ✅ Free plan
   • ✅ Very beginner-friendly
   • ✅ Simple affiliate portal
   • ❌ Mainly designed for Shopify stores

Best if: You're selling products through Shopify.

3. Google Analytics + UTM parameters — Completely free DIY tracking
   • ✅ Free forever
   • ✅ Track which affiliate links get clicks
   • ✅ No monthly limits
   • ❌ Doesn't manage affiliates or payouts

Best if: You're promoting offers yourself (Amazon Associates, software affiliate programs, etc.) and just want to know what marketing works.

4. Post Affiliate Pro
   • Has a free trial but not a permanent free plan, so I wouldn't recommend it if avoiding costs is your top priority.

If you're promoting other companies' products

You often don't need affiliate tracking software at all. Most affiliate networks already show:

• Clicks
• Sales
• Conversion rate
• Commission earned

In that case, using Google Analytics + UTM links is usually enough to see which traffic sources (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, blog posts, etc.) are producing results.

My recommendation

• Building your own affiliate program: Start with Trackdesk.
• Running a Shopify store: Use GoAffPro.
• Creating content and promoting affiliate links: Use Google Analytics with UTM parameters and let the affiliate network handle commission tracking.

If you tell me what your side hustle is (TikTok, YouTube, blog, Shopify, Etsy, SaaS, digital products, etc.), I can recommend the setup that will likely require the least work while staying free.

If you're a college student just getting started, I'd prioritize something that's:

• Free forever (or generous free tier)
• Easy to set up without coding
• Lets you track clicks and conversions
• Doesn't require you to build your own tracking infrastructure

Here are the best options:

If you're just starting: Bitly + Google Analytics

This combination is free and enough for many beginner affiliate marketers.

• Bitly tells you how many people clicked your affiliate links.
• Google Analytics 4 shows where visitors came from, what pages they visited, and which traffic sources perform best.

It's not as advanced as dedicated affiliate trackers, but it costs nothing.

If you're promoting on social media

If most of your traffic comes from TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, or X, use:

• Bitly for shortened links
• UTM parameters (built with Google Campaign URL Builder)
• Google Analytics on your website or landing page

This setup gives you a clear picture of which posts are generating clicks.

If your affiliate network has tracking built in

Many affiliate programs already report:

• Clicks
• Sales
• Conversion rate
• Commission
• EPC (earnings per click)

If you're using programs like Amazon Associates, Impact, CJ, or ShareASale, their dashboards may be sufficient when you're starting. In that case, adding Bitly for link organization is often enough.

My recommendation for a student on a $0 budget

1. Use Google Analytics 4 on your site.
2. Create Bitly links for each campaign.
3. Add UTM parameters so you know which platform and post generated the traffic.
4. Upgrade to a dedicated tracker only after you're consistently making affiliate commissions.

That approach keeps your costs at $0 while giving you the data you need to learn what works. Once you're earning a few hundred dollars per month, you can decide whether a paid tracker is worth the additional reporting and automation.

If you're just getting started and want $0/month, the easiest affiliate tracking tools depend on whether you're promoting other companies' products or running your own affiliate program.

For a college student building a side hustle and promoting affiliate offers, I'd recommend these:

My top recommendation: Bitly

If you don't have much traffic yet, Bitly is hard to beat.

Pros:

• Free plan
• Shortens ugly affiliate links
• Tracks clicks
• Shows where clicks came from
• Takes about 5 minutes to set up

It's enough for most beginners until you're getting thousands of clicks.

If you have a website: Google Analytics + UTM parameters

If you're sending traffic to your own site first, use:

• Google Analytics
• UTM parameters on your marketing links
• Event tracking for affiliate button clicks

This gives much richer data than simple click counters and costs nothing.

If you use WordPress

Install ThirstyAffiliates Lite.

It lets you:

• Organize affiliate links
• Cloak long URLs
• Replace links site-wide
• Manage everything from one dashboard

When to upgrade

Once you're consistently making around $200–500/month in affiliate commissions, tools like ClickMagick or Voluum become worth considering because they offer:

• Conversion tracking
• A/B testing
• Bot filtering
• Funnel analysis
• Multiple traffic-source attribution

For a student on a tight budget

A simple, free stack works well:

• Bitly for tracking clicks
• Google Analytics for website analytics (if you have a site)
• Google Sheets to record campaigns, clicks, and commissions

That combination is free, quick to learn, and can support your first several months of affiliate marketing before you need more advanced software.