AffiliateWP External Referral Links Add-On
100% Original fileUnmodified copy of the developer's release
DeveloperAffiliateWP
Up to dateFile last updated Oct 23, 2026
About this product
AffiliateWP External Referral Links 1.2.2 lets your affiliates promote a separate WordPress site, such as a product landing page or a marketing site on another domain, and still earn commission on the sales your main store makes. It is built for sellers who run AffiliateWP on the shop but send visitors through a second site first, where AffiliateWP is not installed. The add-on goes on that external site and passes each affiliate's referral on to the store when the visitor clicks across.
What's in the AffiliateWP External Referral Links download
Our download is the original AffiliateWP External Referral Links ZIP for version 1.2.2. It holds only this add-on, which you install on the external site. AffiliateWP itself is not in this file: it is a separate product and has to run on your main store, together with the shop or membership plugin that takes the orders.
Good to know
On the external site this version needs WordPress 5.0 or newer and PHP 5.6 or newer, and AffiliateWP does not have to be installed there. Only plain referral links such as ?ref=123 or ?ref=john work, not pretty links like /ref/123. Enter the Site URL exactly as your store uses it, with the same http or https on both sites, or tracking can fail. Visits are recorded only once the customer reaches the store, and the Credit Last Referrer setting has no effect here.
How to install AffiliateWP External Referral Links
- Install and activate AffiliateWP on your main store site, where orders and commissions are recorded. This add-on does not go on that site.
- Log in to GPLGuide, open this product and click Download under Your downloads.
- On the external WordPress site, go to Plugins, Add New Plugin, Upload Plugin, choose the ZIP, click Install Now, then Activate.
- Open Settings, External Referral Links on the external site, enter your store's Site URL, the Referral Variable exactly as AffiliateWP uses it and a Cookie Expiration in days, then click Save Changes.
Features & capabilities
- Reads the affiliate ID or username from the referral variable in the visitor's URL.
- Keeps the referral in a cookie on the external site for the number of days you choose.
- Adds the referral only to links that start with your store's Site URL and leaves other links alone.
- Keeps the first referral: a later referral link does not replace the cookie before it expires.
- Referral Variable field, pre-filled with ref, so a custom variable on the store still matches.
- One short settings page with three fields: Site URL, Referral Variable and Cookie Expiration.
- Detects sites hosted on Pantheon and adjusts its cookie name for that platform.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the original file?
Yes. Every product on GPLGuide is the developer’s own release, unchanged. The license key comes already activated. If a product does ask for a key, the activation steps appear on its page once you have it.
Is it legal to use a GPL plugin or theme from GPLGuide?
Yes. WordPress plugins and themes are released under the GPL, which lets anyone use, share and change the code. The developer’s support desk and the developer’s own update service are not part of the file; those stay with the developer.
How do I install it?
Log in, open the product page and click Download under Your downloads. For a plugin go to Plugins, Add New Plugin, Upload Plugin, choose the ZIP, then Install Now and Activate. For a theme go to Appearance, Themes, Add New Theme, Upload Theme.
How do updates work?
When a newer version is listed on GPLGuide, download it from the product page and upload it over the installed copy; WordPress offers to replace the old version. Updates are manual.
Can I use it on more than one site?
Yes. The GPL lets you use it on as many of your own sites as you like.
What if the file does not work or a newer version is out?
Tell us on the Request Item page or through Support. We check the file and add the newer version when we have it.
