In today’s day and age of eCommerce, influencer marketing isn’t just a marketing channel to keep a backlog for future marketing experiments. It’s become a go-to channel for a brand of any size.
With the rise of ad costs, brands are turning to influencer marketing to drive brand awareness and acquire new customers. But, to make it happen, brands turn to influencer marketing tools to find, onboard, and manage all their influencers automating away the manual tasks.
Among these are Shopify Collabs and SARAL, two tools helping eCommerce brands manage influencer programs. In this blog, we’ll talk about how each tool’s capabilities, key features, pricing, user reviews, pros, and cons so that you can come to a decision on which one to choose.
1. SARAL
SARAL is a simple, affordable, and user-friendly influencer marketing tool built for eCommerce brands of all sizes. With SARAL, you actually systemize your influencer marketing efforts, which is what gets you results. We don't do unfair annual contracts, or have a month-long onboarding process.
If you're still using Google Sheets or some other tool to manage influencers, you're wasting hours each week on stuff that does not move the needle. You can use SARAL to automate the boring work and make some real money with influencers.
Who Should Use This?
Ecommerce and DTC Brands of all sizes. Influencer Marketing Agencies of any scale. We developed this platform for influencer managers, CMOs, and CEOs/Founders. Anyone can use it and build your ambassador programs.
Pricing:
SARAL offers flexible quarterly pricing to suit different stages of your influencer marketing journey:
Starter: $3.6k per quarter. Ideal for those just beginning to explore influencer marketing.
Business: $4.5K per quarter. Well-suited for businesses looking to expand their existing influencer programs.
Professional: $7.5K per quarter. Designed to help streamline large-scale influencer initiatives.
Shopify Collabs (formerly Dovetale) is a marketplace-style app by Shopify that connects Shopify merchants with creators for affiliate & influencer partnerships. Brands can invite creators, share commission offers, and manage gifting, discount codes, and payments. Creators can find products, generate commission links, and apply to affiliate programs.
Who Should Use This?
Small-to-medium-sized eCommerce businesses, exclusively Shopify merchants new to influencer and affiliate marketing.
Pricing:
Shopify Collabs is free for both merchants and creators to use. The only cost is a 2.9% fee on automated payments for sales driven through creator collaborations.
Free Trial? Yes.
Key Features:
Direct creator invitations
Instant commission offers via open access program.
Custom store page for affiliate applications.
Gift and discount code distribution
Affiliate sales tracking
Streamlined affiliate payments.
💡How To Get Started?
To join the Collabs Network, you need to complete your profile, avoid running a dropshipping store (as they aren’t accepted), add at least one product with a set price in the settings, enable auto-payments (the only payout option), and generate at least $10,000 in sales over the past year. You need to install the app from the Shopify App Store before you can start using it.
Integrations & Compatibility:
Checkout
Shopify Flow
Instagram
YouTube
Shopify Flow
Klayvio
Yotpo
Shopify Collabs Vs. SARAL - At A Glance
Getting authentic, high-converting UGC from influencers—without the high price tag is highly possible with the right tactics. Check out this FREE guide to learn proven strategies for sourcing cost-effective but authentic influencer content that feels real and drives tangible results.
SARAL - Pros & Cons
Pros:
Simple & Powerful Interface - Our user-friendly platform makes managing influencers, seeding programs, and brand ambassadors a breeze.
All-in-One Relationship Management - Keep all your creator partnerships organized in our built-in CRM system.
Dedicated Success Team - We'll guide you through onboarding and provide monthly performance reviews to maximize your results.
Time-Saving Automations - Automatically send follow-up emails, generate discount codes, and create affiliate links without the busywork.
Always-Available Support - Our helpful team is ready to assist you 24/7 whenever you need a hand.
No Commission Fees - Keep 100% of your affiliate earnings with our transparent, one-time payment model.
Massive Creator Database - Connect with over 100M+ influencers across Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
Flexible & Affordable Options - Enjoy brand-friendly contracts and scalable pricing that works with your marketing budget.
Cons:
Not A Creator Marketplace or a Limited Database.
Not Suitable For Passive Affiliate Programs.
Not Suitable To Track Conversions From Creator’s Ads.
User Reviews of SARAL on G2
Shopify Collabs - Pros & Cons
Pros:
Easier Access to Influencers – You can find and connect with creators directly through the marketplace instead of searching for them on your own.
Simple Management – Everything from influencer discovery to tracking sales and paying commissions is handled in one place.
Automated Payments & Tracking – The platform automatically tracks affiliate sales and processes payments, saving you time.
Creator Recruitment – You can set up an application page where influencers can apply to work with your brand, making it easier to find the right people.
Ideal For New Brands: Shopify Collabs is a good choice if you’re a new Shopify brand getting started with influencer marketing.
Cons:
Restricted Marketplace Network – Collabs only includes signed-up creators, limiting partnerships and increasing the risk of working with overused influencers who promote competitors
Not Suitable for Long-Term Influencer Seeding/Ambassador Programs – Great for quick UGC but lacks features for building lasting relationships with influencers.
Bulk Email Outreach Isn’t Possible – No option to send or schedule mass outreach emails, making influencer recruitment more manual.
Limited Features – No guarantee influencers will fulfill commitments after receiving free products, and customization is restricted within Shopify.
Unresponsive Customer Support – Lacks a dedicated support team, making it harder to get personalized help.
Low Rated on Shopify App Store: Shopify Collabs is rated 3.3/5 on Shopify App Store and has received a lot of negative reviews on the platform limitations. Check out the reviews here.
User Reviews of Shopify Collabs on G2
What To Choose: Shopify Collabs or SARAL?
1. If You Want a Shopify-Integrated Affiliate Program → Choose Shopify Collabs
Best for Shopify merchants looking for a basic, built-in solution.
Ideal for small businesses new to influencer marketing.
Works well if you primarily want to generate affiliate sales with minimal setup.
2. If You Need Scalable Influencer Relationship Management → Choose SARAL
Best for brands focused on long-term influencer partnerships.
SARAL allows you to automate influencer outreach, follow-ups, and post-collaboration engagement.
4. If You Need an Extensive Influencer Search Feature → Choose SARAL
Shopify Collabs only connects you with signed-up creators.
SARAL provides access to 100M+ influencers across Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
5. If You Prefer a No-Cut Commission Model → Choose SARAL
Shopify Collabs takes a 2.9% processing fee on affiliate payments.
SARAL has a flat fee with no hidden commission cuts.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the right platform is the one that aligns with your needs—whether it’s quick affiliate sales or a full-fledged influencer marketing program. Choosing between Shopify Collabs and SARAL depends on your business goals and influencer marketing strategy.
If you're a Shopify merchant looking for built-in affiliate tool, Collabs might be a good starting point. However, if you want to scale your influencer marketing with automations, long-term relationship management, and a larger creator search engine, SARAL is the better choice. It handles all the tedious work so you can focus on building genuine relationships with influencers who love your brand.
Book a free demo here, and let us show you how it can help you build a successful, profitable influencer marketing program.
Weekly Influencer Marketing Insights
Learn what’s working in real-time with influencer marketing for other brands.
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