Updated September 28, 2026 · AffCue Editorial Team
1-800 Contacts vs AliExpress
Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Facts checked September 26, 2026.
What sets them apart
| Compare |  1-800 Contacts | AliExpress ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Commission terms | 14% new orders, 1% returning | Up to 9% per sale |
| Cookie window | 45 daysHigher | 3 days |
| Networks | Impact | AliExpress Portals, Awin, FlexOffers, Sovrn |
| Commission (%) | 1% to 14%Higher | 3% to 9% |
| Verticals | Health, RetailCovers more | Retail |
| Payout threshold | Not confirmed | $16 |
| Payout frequency | Not confirmed | Monthly, net 60 |
Same on both: Recurring commission (No).
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Key differences
- Cookie window is higher at 1-800 Contacts: 45 days vs 3 days.
- Commission (%) is higher at 1-800 Contacts: 1% to 14% vs 3% to 9%.
- Networks: only 1-800 Contacts offers Impact.
- Networks: only AliExpress offers AliExpress Portals, Awin, FlexOffers.
- Features: only 1-800 Contacts offers Referral.
- Verticals: only 1-800 Contacts offers Health.
Our verdict on each
1-800 Contacts
1-800 Contacts pays a solid retail rate on new orders with a 45 day window, which suits publishers selling contacts and eyewear. Recurring commission is no and only Impact is listed, so the deal rewards first-time buyers more than repeat ones.
AliExpress
AliExpress runs a direct sales-based programme paying Up to 9% per sale with a 3 day cookie window, so it suits publishers whose readers buy in the same session. Payouts are Monthly, net 60, which puts the weight on cleared earnings rather than headline rate.
Area by area
- 1-800 Contacts edges AliExpress on cost, 1 facts to 0.
- 1-800 Contacts leads narrowly on offer.
Licences and countries
| Country | 1-800 Contacts | AliExpress |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Not confirmed | Global |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | 1-800 Contacts | AliExpress |
|---|---|---|
| Ecommerce and retail programs | 59 of 151 | 39 of 151 |
Earnings on 10 sales of 100
1-800 Contacts
10 to 140
1% to 14% of 1,000
AliExpress
30 to 90
3% to 9% of 1,000
1-800 Contacts comes out 50 higher in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | 1-800 Contacts | AliExpress |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | CPS | CPS |
| Features | Direct, ReferralCovers more | Direct |
| Region | Not confirmed | Global |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | China |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2010 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | 1-800 Contacts | AliExpress | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cookie window | 45 daysabove the median | 3 dayslowest quarter | 30 days |
| Payout threshold | Not confirmed | $16lowest quarter | $50 |
| Commission (%) | 1% to 14%above the median | 3% to 9%below the median | 12 |
Median across 177 listed affiliate programs.
Pros and cons
1-800 Contacts
Pros
- The top of the range is 1% to 14%, which is a strong retail rate for a product most audiences buy once or twice a year.
- A 45 day window gives readers time to think over a contact lens order, and it outlasts the 30 upper quartile in the ecommerce and retail group.
- Two entry routes are open, direct and referral, so you can promote the brand directly and also earn from referrals.
Cons
- Recurring commission is no, so every payout depends on a fresh sale and a repeat contact lens buyer leaves the programme's earnings behind.
- Only Impact is listed, so there is no second network to switch to if approvals or tracking shift.
- Returning orders fall to 14% new orders, 1% returning at the low end, well below the headline rate, which limits repeat value.
AliExpress
Pros
- Joining is direct and the offer also sits on AliExpress Portals, Awin and FlexOffers.
- Commission runs 3% to 9% on a retail catalogue, with global reach.
- The payout threshold of $16 is close to the ecommerce-retail median of €14.33.
Cons
- The cookie window of 3 ranks 117 of 129 on cookie window, so anything past the buying session is lost.
- Recurring commission is no, so repeat orders from a reader earn nothing further.
- Payouts are Monthly, net 60, which stretches the wait for earned money.
Who each suits
1-800 Contacts
Who it suits
- Publishers with an eyewear, contact lens or vision care audience, since health and retail is where this programme operates.
- Writers who need a long window for considered purchases, because the cookie lasts 45 days.
- People already inside the Impact network who want a retail offer on repeat purchase categories.
Who should look elsewhere
- EarnKaro, if you want a profit share, since it pays Up to 50% profit, 10% lifetime referral instead of a percentage of the order.
- Influenciador Magalu, if you work in a marketplace and want a per sale rate, because it pays Up to 12% per sale.
- CashKaro, if you want to be paid on cashback your audience already earned, which it shares at 10% of friend's cashback.
AliExpress
Who it suits
- Publishers whose readers buy straight away rather than researching over days.
- Sites covering bargain goods, gadgets and general retail with traffic from several markets.
- Publishers already signed up to a network listed in AliExpress Portals, Awin and FlexOffers.
Who should look elsewhere
- Cashback-first publishers, since CashKaro pays 10% of friend's cashback on a friend's cashback rather than on product sales.
- Publishors chasing profit share, since EarnKaro lists Up to 50% profit, 10% lifetime referral rather than a flat sales rate.
- Anyone who picks a programme on the headline rate alone, since Influenciador Magalu lists Up to 12% per sale and the short window matters as much.
Questions about each
1-800 Contacts
How much does the programme pay on an order?+
Commission runs 1% to 14%, with the published terms reading 14% new orders, 1% returning. Payments sit on a CPS model, so a sale has to complete inside the window before anything is earned. The headline rate applies to a new order, while returning buyers are worth a fraction of it.
How long do I have to convert a click?+
The cookie window is 45 days from the click. That is generous for a considered purchase such as a contact lens order, where readers often check prescription details and compare lens options first. It also runs past the 30 upper quartile across the ecommerce and retail group.
AliExpress
How much commission does AliExpress pay?+
AliExpress pays Up to 9% per sale and commission runs 3% to 9% depending on the order. The model is cps, so the rate applies once a sale completes rather than on the click or on the basket. Orders sit at different points in that range, so product choice affects what a link earns.
How long is the cookie window and how does it compare?+
The cookie window is 3, which is short for a retail programme. AliExpress sits 117 of 129 on cookie window, well behind the ecommerce-retail median of 30. The practical effect is that the reader has to complete the order in the same session.
AliExpress
Higher score in this comparison