=== Asteris Affiliates ===
Contributors: asteriscommerce
Tags: affiliate, affiliates, referral, woocommerce, commissions
Requires at least: 6.4
Tested up to: 7.0
Requires PHP: 8.1
Stable tag: 1.5.0
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Run an affiliate program on WooCommerce - click + commission tracking, a magic-link affiliate portal, coupons, and EPC analytics. No bloat.

== Description ==

**Asteris Affiliates** gives a WooCommerce store everything it needs to launch an affiliate program, free - with no limits on the number of affiliates.

= Free features =

* **Unlimited affiliates** - approve as many trade partners as you like.
* **Click + commission tracking** - accurate attribution with a configurable cookie window.
* **Magic-link affiliate portal** - affiliates log in with an emailed link; no passwords.
* **EPC + click analytics** - earnings-per-click, conversion rate, and per-creative performance.
* **Coupons** - assign coupon codes to affiliates for code-based attribution.
* **Manual payouts** - mark commissions paid and keep a clean ledger.
* **Swipe-copy library** - give affiliates ready-to-post promotional copy.
* **WYSIWYG affiliate emails** - approval, sale, and payout notifications.

Everything above is fully functional with no caps, time limits, or licence keys.

= More in Asteris Affiliates Pro =

A separate paid edition (available from [asterisaffiliates.com](https://asterisaffiliates.com), not from WordPress.org) adds automatic Stripe Connect + PayPal payouts, recurring (subscription) commissions, MLM / two-tier referrals, AI swipe-copy generation, per-product commission rates, vanity landing pages, A/B email tests, cross-site fraud detection, outbound webhooks (Zapier/Make/Slack), and EDD + Surecart support.

Learn more, compare Free vs Pro, and see live demos at **[asterisaffiliates.com](https://asterisaffiliates.com)**.

Built by an Australian team that runs WooCommerce stores for a living.

== External services ==

This free edition does not connect to any external or third-party services. All tracking, attribution, the affiliate portal, and manual payouts run entirely on your own site. No data is sent anywhere.

(The separate paid edition can optionally connect to Stripe, PayPal, and your own Anthropic/OpenAI key - those features and their data flows are documented with that edition and are not part of this plugin.)

== Installation ==

1. Upload via Plugins -> Add New -> Upload Plugin, or install from WordPress.org.
2. Activate. (WooCommerce must be active.)
3. Open the Affiliates menu to add your first affiliate.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Is it really free? =
Yes - fully functional with no affiliate cap, no time limit, and no licence key. The extra features listed above are an optional, separate paid plugin.

= Does it work without WooCommerce? =
No. Asteris Affiliates tracks WooCommerce orders, so WooCommerce must be installed and active.

= How do affiliates sign in? =
Affiliates log in to a front-end portal with a passwordless magic link emailed to them - no WordPress account or password required. Add the [asteris_aff_signup] shortcode to any page to let people apply.

= How are commissions tracked? =
Each affiliate gets a unique ?ref= link. Clicks are cookied (configurable window) and matched to WooCommerce orders, with coupon-code attribution as an alternative.

= Can affiliates be paid automatically? =
Manual payouts (mark-as-paid plus a clean ledger) are free. Automatic Stripe Connect and PayPal payouts are part of the paid upgrade.

= Is any of my data sent to a third party? =
No. The free edition makes no outbound calls - all click tracking, attribution, the affiliate portal, and payouts run entirely on your own server.

= What happens to my data if I uninstall? =
Your affiliate, click and commission data is preserved by default on both deactivate and uninstall - so nothing is lost if you reinstall. Developers who want a clean wipe can opt in by defining ASTERIS_AFFILIATES_DROP_TABLES_ON_UNINSTALL in wp-config.php before deleting.

= Can I import affiliates from another plugin? =
Not yet in the free edition - you can add affiliates manually or have them apply through the signup form. Importers for common affiliate plugins are on the roadmap.

= Where do I get the Pro edition? =
Pro is a separate plugin from [asterisaffiliates.com](https://asterisaffiliates.com) - it is not distributed through WordPress.org. Your free install keeps working exactly as-is alongside it.

== Screenshots ==

1. Affiliate portal dashboard - earnings, EPC, conversion rate and clicks at a glance.
2. Affiliate portal - tracking-link generator and merchant-curated swipe copy.
3. Affiliates admin - manage affiliates, approvals and balances.
4. Commission settings - Year 1 and Year 2+ rates, plus your payout currency.
5. Reports - top affiliates and per-creative EPC.
6. Front-end signup form via the [asteris_aff_signup] shortcode, with built-in spam protection.

== Changelog ==

= 1.5.0 =
* Initial WordPress.org release of Asteris Affiliates - a complete, unlimited-affiliate program for WooCommerce with no caps or licence keys.
