RetailMeNot is one of the most recognizable names in the global coupon and cashback industry. Founded in 2009 and acquired by J2 Global (Ziff Davis) in 2020, RetailMeNot transformed the simple idea of sharing promo codes into a multi-million-dollar affiliate marketing business.
For affiliates and entrepreneurs looking to build a similar platform, RetailMeNot is an excellent case study in monetization, scalability, and brand-merchant partnerships. Its success lies in combining affiliate marketing commissions, sponsored campaigns, and advertising — all backed by data-driven deal management.
Let’s explore how RetailMeNot works, how it earns, and what makes RetailMeNot business model so effective.
What Is RetailMeNot? #
RetailMeNot is a digital savings and coupon aggregation platform that connects millions of shoppers with discount codes, cashback offers, and brand promotions. It operates globally, with partnerships spanning 5,000+ online and in-store retailers including Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Macy’s.
Its core purpose is simple: help users save money while helping merchants increase conversions. But underneath this consumer-friendly idea is a powerful affiliate-driven business model built for performance marketing.
| Year / Metric | Value |
| Estimate current annual revenue | US $154 million (approx.) |
| Monthly average unique users (2024) | ~15.4 million |
| Last-click sales driven to advertisers (2024) | US $1.85 billion |
| Total retailers partnered | 5,000+ |
How Does RetailMeNot Work? #
RetailMeNot acts as an intermediary between shoppers and merchants through affiliate marketing. Here’s how the flow works:
- Affiliate Partnerships – RetailMeNot integrates with affiliate networks like CJ, Rakuten Advertising, Awin, and Impact Radius to source coupons and track sales.
Related: Global Affiliate Networks For The International Cashback Websites & Mobile Apps
- User Engagement – Shoppers visit RetailMeNot, search for a store, and click through to shop via affiliate links.
- Tracking and Attribution – When a purchase is completed, the affiliate network credits RetailMeNot with a commission.
- Revenue Distribution – RetailMeNot keeps the commission or shares a portion with users as cashback (depending on the campaign type).
This model ensures every transaction is trackable, performance-based, and scalable.
RetailMeNot Business Model #
The RetailMeNot business model is based on affiliate marketing and performance advertising. The company earns revenue whenever a user clicks a coupon or completes a purchase through its links.
Here’s a breakdown of how RetailMeNot monetizes its operations:
| Revenue Stream | Description | Revenue Type |
| Affiliate Commissions | RetailMeNot earns commissions from retailers for every tracked sale generated through its platform. | Recurring, performance-based |
| Sponsored Listings | Brands pay for premium visibility (e.g., top placements or featured banners) to increase exposure during high-traffic sales seasons. | High-margin, campaign-based |
| Cashback Margin | When offering cashback, RetailMeNot keeps a percentage of the merchant’s commission as profit while crediting the rest to users. | Controlled, scalable margin |
| Display & Native Advertising | RetailMeNot earns CPM revenue through display ads placed across high-traffic pages. | Passive, recurring |
| Data Insights & Partner Campaigns | The company sells anonymized behavioral insights to help brands plan promotional campaigns. | B2B revenue stream |
By combining these five channels, RetailMeNot has built a diversified, high-volume affiliate ecosystem that consistently delivers conversions for merchants and cashback value for shoppers.
Affiliate Marketing Business Model in Action #
RetailMeNot’s foundation is its affiliate marketing business model — a structure that rewards performance, not impressions.
- Merchants pay only for actual sales or verified leads.
- RetailMeNot earns affiliate commissions each time a user completes a transaction.
- The system is automated using affiliate APIs, tracking pixels, and cookies that verify sales activity.
This model scales quickly because it’s low-risk for merchants and high-reward for publishers. RetailMeNot leverages this balance by onboarding thousands of retailers through major affiliate networks and continuously optimizing high-conversion deals.
RetailMeNot Affiliate Commissions #
RetailMeNot’s revenue from affiliate commissions varies by brand and category.
- Average commission rate: 3%–10% of the order value.
- High-value categories: travel, electronics, fashion, and software often yield higher payouts.
- Volume multiplier: RetailMeNot’s high traffic and repeat users mean it drives millions in transactions each month, multiplying even small commissions into significant revenue.
This “volume-based scaling” is what allows RetailMeNot to maintain profitability while keeping the platform free for users.
CTA #
Want to build your own coupon or cashback platform like RetailMeNot — complete with affiliate tracking, campaign automation, and scalable monetization?
At EnactSoft, we’ve helped 350+ affiliates launch 500+ performance-driven platforms across 65+ countries, powered by real-time offer automation, tracking APIs, and merchant analytics.
Our RetailMeNot-style platform solution includes:
✅ Affiliate & cashback management system
✅ Coupon automation and scheduling
✅ Multi-network integrations (CJ, Rakuten, Awin, Impact)
✅ Analytics dashboard for merchants and affiliates
Build a smarter, scalable affiliate ecosystem inspired by RetailMeNot’s success — with everything you need to monetize at scale.
👉 Start building your affiliate business with EnactSoft today.
Why RetailMeNot’s Model Works #
RetailMeNot’s business model is successful because it delivers measurable ROI to all stakeholders:
- Merchants get guaranteed conversions.
- Users enjoy instant savings or cashback.
- RetailMeNot earns commission revenue and brand visibility.
By leveraging performance-based partnerships, RetailMeNot minimizes dependency on ads alone. Its continuous stream of affiliate commissions and brand campaigns creates recurring revenue with high scalability potential — a model any affiliate entrepreneur can learn from.
Conclusion #
RetailMeNot stands as a leader in the affiliate marketing industry because it blends automation, partnerships, and consumer engagement into a single ecosystem.
It earns primarily through affiliate commissions, but also monetizes through sponsored placements, data insights, and advertising. This multi-layered structure makes RetailMeNot both profitable and resilient — even as digital marketing trends evolve.
For entrepreneurs, the key takeaway is simple:
To succeed in affiliate marketing, build a platform that adds real value to merchants and users, and automate everything else.
With the right technology stack, you can create a RetailMeNot-inspired platform that generates consistent, trackable, and scalable affiliate income.
FAQs #
1. What is RetailMeNot’s main business model?
RetailMeNot operates on an affiliate marketing business model, earning commissions from merchants for every sale completed through its platform. It also generates income through sponsored deals, advertising, and data insights.
2. How does RetailMeNot make money from affiliates?
RetailMeNot earns affiliate commissions via partnerships with thousands of online retailers. When users shop through its tracked links, retailers pay a commission that RetailMeNot retains or partially shares as cashback.
3. What networks does RetailMeNot use for affiliate tracking?
RetailMeNot works with leading networks like CJ, Rakuten Advertising, Awin, and Impact, ensuring accurate tracking, reporting, and merchant integrations.
4. Is RetailMeNot profitable?
Yes. RetailMeNot consistently reports strong affiliate revenue, estimated between $100 million and $150 million annually, driven by high transaction volume and premium brand partnerships.
5. Can I build a platform like RetailMeNot?
Absolutely. EnactSoft provides complete affiliate and coupon platform solutions that mirror RetailMeNot’s functionalities — from affiliate management to cashback modules and merchant dashboards — helping you launch your own scalable affiliate business.
