Subastian / Tool stacks / Affiliate Marketing
Niche stack · Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate Marketing Tool Stack: What It Costs in 2026 (and What to Cut)
A typical affiliate site needs five jobs covered: keyword research, an email list, link tracking, graphics and a writing assistant. Here's what each tool costs, which ones do the same job, and the leanest version of the stack.
Prices checked October 19, 2026 on each vendor's own page- Lean stack
- ≈ $157.30/mo
- Paying for the overlaps too
- + $139.95/mo
Ahrefs Lite, Kit free plan, Pretty Links (year one), Canva free plan and ChatGPT Plus. Yearly prices divided by 12.
What the tools marked “Overlaps” add on top, for jobs the lean stack already covers.
The stack, tool by tool
Prices are in USD before tax, exactly as each vendor listed them. Some only show yearly billing; the per-month column divides those by 12.
| Tool and job | Price as listed | ≈ per month | Free plan or trial | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs LiteKeyword and backlink research | $129/mo, billed monthly | $129 | No trial. Ahrefs Free gives limited Site Explorer and Site Audit. | In lean stack |
| Semrush ProKeyword and competitor research | $139.95/mo | — | 7-day free trial | Overlaps Ahrefs Lite |
| Kit (formerly ConvertKit)Email list and automations | Free up to 1,000 subscribers. Creator $390/yr | $0 | Free plan. 14-day trial on paid plans. | In lean stack |
| Pretty Links BeginnerCloak and track affiliate links (WordPress) | $99.60/yr first year, renews at full price ($249/yr) | $8.30 | 14-day money-back guarantee | In lean stack |
| CanvaGraphics, pins and thumbnails | Free. Pro $144/yr | $0 | Free plan | In lean stack |
| ChatGPT PlusOutlines and first drafts | $20/mo, billed monthly | $20 | Free plan | In lean stack |
What to cut
- Semrush and Ahrefs do the same core job.Both are keyword and backlink research suites. Paying for both adds $139.95 a month for one job. Keep the one you open most; use Semrush's 7-day trial to compare before you commit, since Ahrefs has no trial.
- Start Kit on the free plan.Kit is free up to 1,000 subscribers, so an early list doesn't need the $390/yr Creator plan yet.
- Watch the Pretty Links renewal.The $99.60 price is first-year only. It renews at $249/yr, which is about $20.75 a month from year two.
Track this stack automatically
Subastian is subscription management software in development. Its Niche Stacks feature is being built to put together a list like this for your work, then warn you before you pay for a job you already cover. Join the free Founding Roster for early access and the launch rate.
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Sources
Every price above was read on the vendor's own website on October 19, 2026. Plans and prices change, so check before you buy. This page has no affiliate links, and Subastian isn't paid by any tool listed.