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CAM ON BRO · PARTNER GUIDE
Affiliate Payment Models: CPA, PPS and RevShare
Affiliate programmes do not all pay in the same way. The right model depends on the action being measured, the value of the audience, the programme rules and the partner's approach to long-term growth. This guide explains common models and shows how BongaCash describes its current options.
Why payment models matter
A payment model defines what event earns a commission and how the amount is calculated. Some programmes pay for a confirmed action, others for a sale, and others give the partner a share of qualifying customer spending. A hybrid can combine more than one approach. The model name alone is not enough: the programme agreement determines which actions count, which traffic is accepted and when a commission becomes payable.
CPA: Cost Per Action
CPA means Cost Per Action. The advertiser pays a predefined amount when a visitor completes a specified qualifying action. Depending on the programme, this might be a verified registration, a submitted lead, an application or a purchase. CPA is a broad term, not a promise that every click or registration will be paid. The programme defines the required action, approval process, exclusions and payment amount. Before comparing CPA offers, make sure they measure the same type of action.
Pay Per Signup and PPS are not the same term
Pay Per Signup pays for a qualifying registration, subject to the programme's confirmation rules. PPS commonly means Pay Per Sale: a commission is earned when a referred customer makes a qualifying purchase. These terms should not be used interchangeably. A free registration is not a sale, and a sale-based commission may depend on the order being completed and not refunded. Always check the exact wording used by the programme. BongaCash calls its free-registration option Pay Per Signup and separately uses the name PPS + RevShare for a hybrid option.
RevShare: a share of customer spending
Revenue Share, usually shortened to RevShare, gives the partner a percentage of qualifying customer spending or revenue as defined by the programme. It can continue while referred customers remain active and generate eligible transactions, but the agreement may include conditions, limits or an end point. The calculation may be affected by refunds, chargebacks, excluded transactions, fees and programme-specific accounting rules. A percentage is meaningful only when you understand what amount it applies to and for how long.
Hybrid models: PPS + RevShare
A hybrid model combines a fixed payment for a qualifying purchase with a percentage of later customer spending, or another combination defined by the advertiser. It can balance an initial payment with the possibility of continued earnings. The details matter: check whether the percentage starts immediately or only after a spending threshold, whether the initial payment is limited to the first purchase, which countries qualify and whether later transactions can be reversed. Do not assume that a hybrid model is automatically more profitable than CPA or RevShare.
What BongaCash currently publishes
The official BongaCash FAQ describes several options. Pay Per Signup offers up to $4.50 for a confirmed free registration (SOI); the amount depends on the visitor's country, and the published tables distinguish desktop, mobile and social traffic. RevShare is listed as up to 25% of referred users' spending while an effective BongaCash Services Agreement remains in place. The PPS + RevShare option is described as $40 for the first purchase of a referred user, plus 15% of that user's purchases once the user has spent $375. The FAQ lists country exclusions for this hybrid option, including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and several other countries. It says another option, PPS or RevShare, should be selected for traffic from the excluded countries. These are published programme examples, not guaranteed earnings. Rates, eligibility and terms can change; check the official FAQ and your account agreement before choosing.
A separate reward for referring webmasters
BongaCash also describes an Affiliate Referral Programme for inviting other webmasters. Its FAQ states that a partner can receive 5% of the earnings of referred webmasters while an effective BongaCash Services Agreement is in place. This is a separate referral reward. It is not the same as CPA, PPS or RevShare earnings generated by visitors from the partner's own website. Keep the two activities and their tracking links separate.
How to compare models responsibly
Start with your actual audience: its countries, interests, devices and source of traffic. Then consider the action visitors are realistically likely to complete. A confirmed registration, a first purchase and long-term customer spending are different events and should not be compared as if they were identical. Review the attribution period, validation rules, reversals, country restrictions, allowed promotional methods, payment threshold, payout schedule and fees. Estimate possible results using conservative assumptions rather than the highest advertised rate. No model guarantees income.
Questions to check before choosing
What exact action earns the commission? Is the action confirmed automatically or reviewed? Does the programme pay for a signup, a sale or a share of spending? Is the rate different by country, device or traffic source? Are there excluded countries or prohibited placements? How long is a referral attributed to your link? Can commissions be reversed? What are the payment threshold, schedule, methods and fees? Is a current agreement required? Keep the answers and the applicable programme terms for your records.
Do not choose a programme only because its headline rate looks high. Compare the qualifying action, calculation rules, audience restrictions, approval process and payment conditions. For BongaCash, use its official programme information and the agreement attached to your own account as the final reference.