The Motley Fool vs Smartly Affiliate Program
The Motley Fool pays a higher commission at $175 per sale vs Smartly's $25 per sale. The Motley Fool has the longer cookie at 45 days compared to Smartly's 30 days. Community affiliates rate The Motley Fool 5.0/5 from 2 reviews and Smartly 5.0/5 from 1 review.
Verdict
The Motley Fool wins on higher commission ($175 per sale), longer cookie (45 days). If your audience is a strong fit, it's the better program to apply for first. That said, both programs are worth testing: promote whichever you can write about authentically.
Smartly 5.0 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Finance | Finance |
| Network | impact | direct |
| Commission Type | CPA (per sale) | CPA (per sale) |
| Commission Rate | $175 per saleBetter | $25 per sale |
| Cookie Duration | 45 daysBetter | 30 days |
| Community Rating | 5.0 / 5 (2 reviews) | 5.0 / 5 (1 reviews) |
| Tags | investingstock-pickshigh-ticketeducation-finance | robo-advisoretfpassive-investinglow-fee |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which pays more: The Motley Fool or Smartly affiliate program?
The Motley Fool pays a higher commission at $175 per sale compared to Smartly at $25 per sale.
What is the cookie duration for The Motley Fool vs Smartly?
The Motley Fool offers a 45 days cookie window, while Smartly offers 30 days.
Which is better for affiliates: The Motley Fool or Smartly?
The Motley Fool and Smartly have similar community ratings.
Does cookie duration matter when choosing between The Motley Fool and Smartly?
Cookie duration matters a lot for content that drives research-phase traffic. The Motley Fool's 45 days cookie gives more time to capture readers who browse before buying, while Smartly's 30 days window suits higher-intent traffic that converts faster. If your content attracts readers early in the decision process, the longer cookie has a meaningful advantage.
Can you promote both The Motley Fool and Smartly at the same time?
Yes — most affiliate programs allow you to promote competing programs simultaneously, unless their terms explicitly prohibit it. Promoting both lets you test which converts better for your specific audience. A common approach is to feature the higher-commission program as your primary recommendation and include the alternative for readers with different needs.
The Motley Fool: Best for
- High-intent audiences in finance, investing, or B2B where single conversions pay well
- Evergreen content with a 45-day attribution window
- Personal finance blogs, investing education, and money management content
Smartly: Best for
- Content targeting buyers with clear purchase intent
- Evergreen content with a 30-day attribution window
- Personal finance blogs, investing education, and money management content
The Motley Fool Affiliate Program
The Motley Fool is a financial media company offering stock picks, investment advice, and financial education products. Affiliates earn $100–$300+ per subscription sale via ShareASale. High-value newsletter products and strong brand recognition in personal finance drive exceptional EPC.
Read full details →Smartly Affiliate Program
Smartly is a robo-advisor offering smart ETF portfolios at one of the lowest fees in the industry. Affiliates earn $25 per referred funded account. The low-fee positioning and passive investing trend drive conversion from cost-conscious long-term investment content.
Read full details →Compare any programs side by side
This page compares The Motley Fool and Smartly. With Affiliate Pro you can compare any combination of up to 4 programs — commissions, cookie windows, ratings, and more — using the full interactive compare tool.