How to pay affiliates on Shopify: PayPal, store credit, bank & Wise
June 5, 2026 · 5 min read
Paying affiliates reliably is what keeps them promoting. Get the mechanics right and it's almost hands-off; get them wrong and you'll drown in spreadsheets and disputes.
Set a hold period and a minimum
Hold commissions until your return window passes (e.g. 30 days) so you don't pay out on orders that get refunded. Set a payout minimum so you're not sending tiny transfers. Both protect your margin and your time.
Pick payout rails that fit
- PayPal — fast, one-click, great for most creators.
- Store credit — issue a one-time discount code; keeps the money in your store.
- Bank / Wise — export a batch CSV for high-volume or international affiliates.
Automate the boring parts
Commissions should clear automatically after the hold, group into payouts above your minimum, and let you settle in a click. Refunds should claw back commissions automatically so you're never out of pocket.
Override handles all of it — hold-then-approve, PayPal / store-credit / bank-Wise payouts, automatic clawbacks, and affiliate emails on every step — so paying your affiliates is a couple of clicks, not an afternoon.
