> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://agentref.co/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Welcome to AgentRef

> Affiliate tracking for SaaS – agent-compatible from day one.<br />Pay nothing until you earn.

AgentRef is affiliate tracking software for SaaS. It connects your Stripe account, tracks referral clicks, attributes conversions, and pays affiliates – all with zero upfront cost.

Start free, then upgrade when your program needs higher limits.<br />
No per-seat pricing.

## Get started

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Quickstart" icon="rocket" href="/getting-started/quickstart">
    Set up your first affiliate program in 5 minutes.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Agent Setup" icon="robot" href="/getting-started/agent-setup">
    Connect AgentRef to Claude, Codex, Cursor, OpenClaw, or any AI agent via MCP.
  </Card>

  <Card title="API Reference" icon="code" href="/api-reference/authentication">
    Explore the REST API, SDKs, and authentication.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Why AgentRef?

Most affiliate platforms charge \$50–500/month before you have a single affiliate. AgentRef flips that model:

* **\$0 to start.** No credit card required. Create your program, invite affiliates, and go live immediately.
* **Program-friendly pricing.** Start free and move to a paid plan when your affiliate program needs higher limits.
* **Agent-compatible.** Manage your affiliate program through AI assistants using the MCP server, SDKs, or REST API when it fits your workflow.

## Core concepts

Before diving in, here are the terms you'll see throughout these docs:

| Concept                | What it means                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| ---------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Program**            | Your affiliate program. It defines commission rates, cookie duration, payout rules, and tracking settings. One merchant can run multiple programs.                                             |
| **Affiliate**          | A partner who promotes your product using unique referral links. They earn commissions on conversions they drive.                                                                              |
| **Click**              | A tracked visit through an affiliate's referral link. AgentRef records the click and drops a first-party cookie for attribution.                                                               |
| **Conversion**         | A successful sale or signup attributed to an affiliate. Created automatically from supported attribution sources such as Stripe metadata, Stripe `client_reference_id`, or coupon attribution. |
| **Commission**         | The amount an affiliate earns for a conversion. Can be a percentage of revenue, a fixed amount, or recurring for subscription products.                                                        |
| **Payout**             | The transfer of accumulated commissions to an affiliate once they hit the payout threshold.                                                                                                    |
| **Marketing Resource** | Merchant-published campaign material such as files, social posts, swipe copy, external links, and collections.                                                                                 |

## How it fits together

```mermaid theme={null}
graph LR
    A[Affiliate shares link] --> B[Visitor clicks link]
    B --> C[AgentRef tracks click]
    C --> D[Visitor buys on your site]
    D --> E[Stripe webhook fires]
    E --> F[AgentRef creates conversion]
    F --> G[Commission attributed]
    G --> H[Payout when threshold met]
```

1. You create a **program** with your commission structure.
2. **Affiliates** join and share referral links.
3. AgentRef's tracking script captures **clicks** and sets attribution cookies.
4. When a visitor converts (via Stripe), AgentRef matches the **conversion** to the affiliate.
5. **Commissions** accumulate until the payout threshold is reached.
6. **Payouts** are processed on your chosen schedule.

## What makes AgentRef different

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Agent-Compatible" icon="robot">
    OAuth-ready MCP server with setup, growth, payout, marketing resources, and affiliate workspace tools. Your AI assistant can operate AgentRef through natural language.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Zero-Cost Start" icon="circle-dollar-to-slot">
    No monthly fees, no setup costs. You only pay when affiliates actually drive revenue for your business.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Stripe-Native" icon="stripe-s">
    Connects directly to your Stripe account. Conversions are tracked automatically through webhooks – no manual reporting.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Built for SaaS" icon="cloud">
    Supports recurring commissions for subscriptions, handles refunds and chargebacks, and scales from day one.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="How It Works" icon="diagram-project" href="/getting-started/how-it-works">
    Understand the full attribution chain from click to payout.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Quickstart Guide" icon="rocket" href="/getting-started/quickstart">
    Get your first program running in under 5 minutes.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Choose your integration surface

| Surface          | Use it when                                        | Notes                                                                                                                            |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Dashboard        | You are launching or operating a program manually. | Best for setup, visual review, billing, and day-to-day operations.                                                               |
| REST API         | You are building a server-side integration.        | Stable public API v1 with OpenAPI reference, API keys, scopes, idempotency, and webhooks.                                        |
| Node/Python SDKs | You want typed REST clients in application code.   | Mirrors the REST API surface and handles auth, retries, errors, and pagination helpers.                                          |
| MCP Server       | You want an AI agent to run AgentRef workflows.    | Broadest automation surface; includes setup, payout, and Marketing Resources workflows that are not all exposed in REST/SDK yet. |

<Info>
  If you are unsure, start with the dashboard and tracking quickstart. Use REST or an SDK for app code, and MCP when an AI assistant should operate AgentRef directly.
</Info>