Definition
The duration from when a customer clicks an affiliate link until the deadline for a tracked action to count as a conversion. Often the same as cookie duration, but sometimes different (e.g., 180-day cookie but 90-day conversion window).
Examples
A 90-day conversion window means actions taken up to 90 days after the click count toward the affiliate's commission.
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Why the conversion window matters for affiliates
The conversion window is your countdown to credit. From the moment someone clicks, the clock runs until the program's deadline for a qualifying action. Convert inside the window and you get paid; miss it and the sale slips away.
This is critical for offers with delays built in, like free trials, demos, or purchase approvals. If the action that triggers your commission happens after the window, the longer wait costs you the commission.
Conversion window vs cookie duration
People treat these as the same thing, and often they are. But they can differ:
- Cookie duration: how long the tracking cookie stays alive on the visitor.
- Conversion window: how long a tracked action still counts toward your payout.
A program might run a 180-day cookie but only a 90-day conversion window. In that case the visitor stays "tagged" longer than the period in which their action actually earns you money, so read both numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Is the conversion window the same as cookie duration?
Usually they match, but not always. Cookie duration is how long the tracking cookie persists, while the conversion window is the deadline for an action to count as a commissionable conversion. Some programs deliberately set a shorter conversion window than the cookie life, so check both figures in the program terms.
What counts as a conversion?
It depends on the program. A conversion might be a purchase, a paid signup, a qualified lead, a completed demo, or a trial that turns paid. The conversion window measures the time from the click until that specific defined action must occur for you to earn. Always confirm which action the program rewards.
What happens if a customer converts after the window closes?
You earn nothing. Once the conversion window expires, the action no longer ties back to your click, even if the customer originally found the product through your link. This is why offers with slow trials or long approval processes benefit from longer conversion windows.