# PayKickstart review for vendors · Vendor Runbook > Source: https://vendorrunbook.com/reviews/paykickstart Checkout review ## Own the checkout and still split JV payouts: PayKickstart for launch vendors PayKickstart is the checkout for a launch vendor who still pays JV partners, and who will take a monthly plan or a share of revenue to run that cart on their own gateway. By Vendor Runbook Editorial Desk. Updated 2026-10-21\. Fees taken from the company's own pages on 2026-10-23. **Disclosure:**We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never affects our rankings. [How we research](/methodology). At a glance Starts at $79/mo Free trial 14 days Best for launch vendors who want order bumps, one-click upsells and partner contracts on a processor they connect Founded 2016 Website [Official site](https://paykickstart.com/) You already run launches on JVZoo or WarriorPlus, and the hop link is the part you want to leave. You still need an order bump, a one-click upsell, and a split with a JV partner. PayKickstart is that checkout and affiliate center. The buyer's payment hits the gateway you connect, and refunds, tax and delivery stay on your side of the sale. Seller reviews describe a long setup before that cart is ready. The monthly plan and the Launch share are in the plan table below. Compare them with a network's cut on one sale before you move the order form. [Compare the monthly plan with the Launch share](#plans) ### What is PayKickstart PayKickstart is subscription billing and checkout, with affiliate management in the same account. You pay for the software, then you connect a processor. The [homepage](https://paykickstart.com/) describes checkout, recurring billing, affiliate management and retention tools on top of that gateway. A [JVZoo](/reviews/jvzoo) listing can send the sale through JVZoo processing or through a processor you attach, and the listing still carries JVZoo's platform fee. [WarriorPlus](/reviews/warrior-plus-review) is another launch marketplace vendors leave when they want the cart on their own gateway. On PayKickstart the software bill is the plan you choose, and the card is charged by the gateway on the account. [ClickBank](/reviews/clickbank) and [Digistore24](/reviews/digistore24) put their own name on the buyer's charge. They charge the buyer and pay the affiliates from the same order. [ClickBank vs JVZoo](/compare/clickbank-vs-jvzoo) is the network side of that choice. The [affiliate network fee calculator](/compare/affiliate-network-fee-calculator-what-a-vendor-keeps-per-sale) shows what you keep on a network sale, which is the number to compare with this software bill. On Reddit, users describe PayKickstart as checkout and billing software. The pitch stays on WordPress, ClickFunnels, or whatever already hosts it. PayKickstart sign-up opens a browser account at app.paykickstart.com. That is the PayKickstart application. ### Is PayKickstart safe, and who runs PayKickstart LLC? The [about page](https://paykickstart.com/about/) says the company has operated since 2016\. The about page credits Mark Thompson with product strategy and Matt Callen with marketing and product ideation. The same page cites 3,500+ customers and $1.2 billion processed. Those two figures are the company's own. The [terms](https://paykickstart.com/terms-of-use/), effective December 10, 2025, are a contract with PayKickstart, LLC. Governing law is Indiana. Legal notices go to an address in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Those terms state that PayKickstart is not the seller, not the merchant of record, and not a party to the order between you and your customer. A buyer who disputes the charge is disputing the transaction on your account. Trustpilot reviews come mostly from those buyers, including complaints about replies that never arrived. A Capterra review of the software company says support sometimes sends vendors in circles. The Trustpilot posts argue about a refund on the product the buyer purchased. The Capterra note is a support ticket about the platform itself. All PayKickstart fees are non-refundable. A subscription renews unless it is canceled at least three days before renewal. Note that deadline before the trial ends, because a subscription charge is non-refundable once it is billed. ### Checkout, order bumps and one-click upsells The [pricing page](https://app.paykickstart.com/pricing) lists one-click upsells, order bumps, coupons, cart recovery, exit intent, and more than 50 hosted checkout templates, plus embeds and pop-ups. The bump is an extra offer on the checkout step. The upsell charges the card the customer already saved. G2 reviewers talk about that second charge. One calls the flow "killer 1-click up-sells". Another lists a built-in affiliate system that can create coupons, discounts, upsells and order bumps. A Capterra review names a funnel with upsells, downsells and order bumps as the work this cart handles. The sales page stays on the host you already use. Link to a hosted template, embed the checkout, or open a pop-up on the sales page you already have. Use PayKickstart once that page exists and the missing piece is the order form and the rebill. ### The affiliate center and JV payouts The [affiliate management page](https://paykickstart.com/affiliate-management/) describes sale and lead tracking, instant or delayed commissions, first-tier and second-tier payouts, W-9 and W-8 collection, and a Wallet that sends affiliate payouts. The PayKickstart affiliate commission is a rate you set. The same page cites a marketplace of more than 100,000 affiliates. That figure is the reach they advertise. Sales still depend on the offer and on which partners choose it. Partner Contracts are how a launch splits revenue with a JV partner while the card hits your gateway. The feature list says you create the revenue-sharing contract and pay the partner according to that agreement. The [competitor comparison](https://paykickstart.com/competitor-comparison/) lists those contracts as a built-in feature, set against carts that send the same job to Refersion. Checkout can show who will be credited. The [help article](https://support.paykickstart.com/articles/9026280-how-to-confirm-correct-affiliate-is-being-credited-for-a) says the buyer will see #aid= and a code for the affiliate on that sale. Instant or delayed is a setting in the affiliate center. The gateway can still hold funds under its own rules, because the customer's money lands there first. The Wallet then pays the partner according to the arrangement you configured. ### The PayKickstart customer portal Customers get a self-serve billing portal for subscriptions, payment methods and billing details. The same feature list includes that portal with the rest of the subscription tools, on every plan. A buyer who needs a new card, or who wants to stop a rebill, can do it there. You remain the seller on the subscription. A refund or a chargeback is filed on the gateway account that took the card, under the policy you published for the product. The portal is where the buyer replaces that card. ### PayKickstart integrations: Zapier, WordPress and the API The [integrations page](https://paykickstart.com/integrations/) cites more than 60 native apps, and more than 3,000 through Zapier or Integrately. The feature tables also list membership, webinar and CRM tools, QuickBooks, Xero, and SMTP. An API and webhooks cover a custom flow beyond that directory. On WordPress, use the embed checkout or the API. The post, the menu and the offer page stay in WordPress. Zapier is the path when the next step is a tag in a mail tool, a row in a sheet, or a membership app outside the native list. Keep the page builder you already paid for, and send the buyer into this checkout for the bump and the upsell. ##### What works * Order bumps, one-click upsells, coupons and cart recovery sit on the same plans as the affiliate center. * Partner Contracts let you split launch earnings with a JV partner inside the platform. * Commissions can be instant or delayed, on the first tier and a second tier, and checkout can show the affiliate code. * Customers can update a payment card and manage a subscription in the billing portal. * You can process the sale through Connect, or link Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net, Braintree, or Easy Pay Direct. ##### What to watch * Seller reviews describe a long setup before the cart is ready for a launch. * G2 reviewers say the sales reports need an overhaul. * Refunds, tax, fulfillment and affiliate compliance stay with the vendor. * Software fees are non-refundable after a trial converts, and you must cancel at least three days before renewal. * Most Trustpilot posts come from buyers disputing a product charge, and the terms keep that dispute with the vendor. ### What a vendor gives up You are the seller on the processing account, so you handle refund disputes. The software fee is non-refundable once the trial converts, and reviews describe a long setup before the first sale. [ ](/assets/tools/paykickstart/features/entry-plan-at-79-a-month.png) Entry plan at $79 a month.A pricing card shows 14 days free, then $79 a month, up to $3k in monthly revenue, a 5.27% overage line, and a Launch plan at 6% of revenue. Screenshot: [app.paykickstart.com](https://app.paykickstart.com/pricing), Oct 2026 [ ](/assets/tools/paykickstart/features/affiliate-management.png) Affiliate management.An Affiliate Request panel lists approve and deny actions, with a note that commissions can be set to instant or delayed. Screenshot: [paykickstart.com](https://paykickstart.com/affiliate-management/), Oct 2026 [ ](/assets/tools/paykickstart/features/one-click-upsells-and-order-bumps.png) One-click upsells and order bumps.A Conversion Tools table lists one-click upsells as included, under a line that also names order bumps, coupons and cart recovery. Screenshot: [app.paykickstart.com](https://app.paykickstart.com/pricing), Oct 2026 [ ](/assets/tools/paykickstart/features/revenue-sharing-contracts.png) Revenue sharing contracts.The Partner Contracts row is checked as included, and the line next to it describes revenue-sharing contracts and partner payouts. Screenshot: [app.paykickstart.com](https://app.paykickstart.com/pricing), Oct 2026 #### What vendors say about PayKickstart Research: unverified ##### Order bumps, upsells, and the affiliate tools are ↑ frequently praised Reviewers pick PayKickstart when they want affiliate tracking, coupons, order bumps and one-click upsells in the same cart. G2 and Capterra praise the affiliate center and upsell flow. The help center shows #aid= on checkout so a buyer can see which affiliate gets credit. > “killer 1-click up-sells” Anonymous [G2: PayKickstart Reviews ](https://www.g2.com/products/paykickstart/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons) > “built-in affiliate system, can create coupons, discounts, upsells, order bumps” Anonymous [G2: PayKickstart Pros and Cons ](https://www.g2.com/products/paykickstart/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons) > “complex funnel with upsells, downsells, order bumps” Anonymous [Capterra: PayKickstart Reviews ](https://www.capterra.com/p/163329/Paykickstart/reviews/?page=2) > “they will see #aid=XXX that will confirm which affiliate will get credit for the referred sale.” Anonymous [Blog: Affiliate credit on checkout ](https://support.paykickstart.com/articles/9026280-how-to-confirm-correct-affiliate-is-being-credited-for-a) ##### A Reddit thread on the 2.0 release calls PayKickstart checkout and billing software. PayKickstart sits on sales pages from ClickFunnels, WordPress or a video host. A Reddit post on the 2.0 release calls it checkout and billing software, with the sales page built on another host. > “PayKickstart is not a funnel/page builder” Anonymous [Reddit: How good is PayKickstart 2.0? ](https://www.reddit.com/r/ShareAiPrompts/comments/1p2z6ug/how%5Fgood%5Fis%5Fpaykickstart%5F20/) ##### Setup time, along with the sales reports, is a ↓ common complaint The cost of that feature list is the setup time. G2 and Capterra call setup slow or hard, a Reddit post says the UI takes time to learn, and G2 flags sales reporting as dated. Plan the setup well before launch day. > “It is a bear to configure.” Anonymous [Capterra: PayKickstart Reviews ](https://www.capterra.com/p/163329/Paykickstart/reviews/?page=5) > “PayKickstart takes a little set-up time.” Anonymous [G2: PayKickstart Reviews ](https://www.g2.com/products/paykickstart/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons) > “sales reports... need an overhaul” Anonymous [G2: PayKickstart Reviews ](https://www.g2.com/products/paykickstart/reviews) > “UI takes time to learn.” Anonymous [Reddit: So what is PayKickstart really? ](https://www.reddit.com/r/cryptozonehub/comments/1qkpfdb/so%5Fwhat%5Fis%5Fpaykickstart%5Freally/) ##### Refunds, tax and delivery stay with the vendor who connects the gateway. PayKickstart runs on your gateway. The terms say the vendor remains the seller on the charge, so refunds, delivery and tax stay there. Trustpilot comments come mostly from buyers, and a Capterra review says support can send a vendor in circles when the charge is the product vendor's problem. > “PayKickstart is not the seller, not the merchant of record, and not a party to transactions between vendors and customers.” Anonymous [Blog: Terms of Use ](https://paykickstart.com/terms-of-use/) > “hasn't replied to negative reviews” Anonymous [Trustpilot: PayKickstart Reviews ](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/paykickstart.com) > “customer service can sometimes give you the run around” Anonymous [Capterra: PayKickstart Reviews ](https://www.capterra.com/p/163329/Paykickstart/reviews/?page=2) ##### Cancel at least three days before renewal, or the next software fee is billed and kept. December 2025 terms say PayKickstart subscription fees are non-refundable, and a subscription renews unless it is canceled at least three days before renewal. Note that deadline before the trial ends. > “ALL PAYKICKSTART FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.” Anonymous [Blog: Terms of Use ](https://paykickstart.com/terms-of-use/) > “canceled at least 3 days before renewal” Anonymous [Blog: Terms of Use ](https://paykickstart.com/terms-of-use/) ### What long-term reviews describe G2 praise focuses on the cart once it is running: the one-click upsell, the coupons, and the affiliate tools in one dashboard. The negative reviews are about the days spent configuring it before a launch. A Capterra reviewer wrote, "It is a bear to configure." A G2 review says PayKickstart needs some time to set up. A Reddit thread on the 2.0 release says the UI takes time to learn. Finish the offer while the sales copy is still being written, and leave several days before you open the cart. Reporting is the other complaint that keeps showing up. G2 reviewers say the sales reports need an overhaul. If you track earnings per click in a spreadsheet, export the sales or send them to QuickBooks or Xero through the accounting connections. Trustpilot is a weak guide to the software. The visible posts are from buyers complaining about a product charge and about missing replies. The terms already make that charge your responsibility. For the affiliate center and the upsells, the seller comments on G2 and Capterra are the useful ones. ### PayKickstart pricing Subscription tiers on the [pricing page](https://app.paykickstart.com/pricing) include every feature and add no PayKickstart transaction fee on top of the gateway. The trial lasts 14 days. Paying for a year takes 20% off the subscription. Above $1 million a month in revenue, the page uses custom pricing. | Plan | Price | What it covers | | ------------ | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------ | | Subscription | $79 a month | Up to $3,000 a month in revenue, every feature | | Overage | 5.27% | Revenue above that plan's cap | | Launch | 6% of revenue | Every feature, with no subscription fee | | Connect | 2.3% + $0.20 | In-house processing, from that rate by volume and plan | | Your gateway | The gateway's rate | Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net, Braintree, or Easy Pay Direct | The rows are the entry subscription, the overage rule, and the Launch share. Connect is optional. Bringing Stripe or PayPal means you pay that processor instead of the Connect line. The [PayKickstart fees page](/reviews/paykickstart/pricing) places this software bill next to what the networks take out of a sale. ### PayKickstart alternatives Stay on JVZoo or WarriorPlus when the partners already live on that marketplace and you want their order form to charge the card. Move to ClickBank or Digistore24 when you want another company to act as the merchant of record, handle the tax, and pay affiliates from the sale. [SamCart](/reviews/samcart) and [ThriveCart](/reviews/thrivecart) fit a vendor who recruits partners one by one and hosts the checkout. PayKickstart is the cart to open when the launch still needs those partner contracts and a marketplace listing on top of your processor. Each option on the [PayKickstart alternatives](/alternatives/paykickstart) page is matched to the reason you would leave. The [review index](/reviews) lists every network and cart covered here. ### Where to go from here * [PayKickstart fees and pricing for vendors](/reviews/paykickstart/pricing) * [PayKickstart alternatives, and who should switch](/alternatives/paykickstart) * [PayKickstart vs SamCart for vendors](/compare/paykickstart-vs-samcart) * [PayKickstart or ThriveCart for affiliates you pay yourself](/compare/paykickstart-vs-thrivecart) * [How PayKickstart ranks among affiliate networks for vendors](/best) * [ClickBank review](/reviews/clickbank) * [Digistore24 review](/reviews/digistore24) * [BuyGoods review](/reviews/buygoods) * [JVZoo review](/reviews/jvzoo) * [CopeCart review](/reviews/copecart) * [WarriorPlus review](/reviews/warrior-plus-review) * [CartPanda review](/reviews/cartpanda) * [MaxWeb review](/reviews/maxweb-affiliate-network) * [SamCart review](/reviews/samcart) * [Hotmart review](/reviews/hotmart) * [ThriveCart review](/reviews/thrivecart) * [ClickFunnels review](/reviews/clickfunnels) * [Stan Store review](/reviews/stan-store) ### Changelog * 2026-10-17: First published. Fees and terms come from the company's own seller pages. * 2026-10-21: reviewed and updated. ### Frequently asked questions Is PayKickstart safe? PayKickstart, LLC has operated since 2016\. The about page names Mark Thompson and Matt Callen. Your customer's card is charged by the gateway you connect, and a product dispute stays on your transaction. What is PayKickstart? It is checkout, subscription billing and an affiliate center in one login. You use it in the browser after sign-up. The pitch page can stay on the site you already have. How does PayKickstart pricing work? The plan table shows the entry subscription, the rate on revenue past the cap, the Launch share and Connect. Annual billing lowers the subscription. How do I cancel a PayKickstart trial? Cancel at least three days before the renewal date, or the subscription continues. A software fee that has already been billed stays billed. Do I need my own payment gateway? You can process the sale through Connect. You can also link Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net, Braintree, or Easy Pay Direct. How does a PayKickstart affiliate commission get paid? You choose an instant or a delayed commission, including a second tier. The Wallet sends the payout. The help center shows an #aid= code on checkout so the buyer can see who is credited. How is PayKickstart different from JVZoo? JVZoo is a marketplace listing with its own platform fee. PayKickstart is software on the processor you connect, with contracts for splitting a launch. The JVZoo review covers the listing path. Can I use PayKickstart with WordPress? Put the embed checkout on the post, or send the sale through the API. The article itself stays in WordPress. Zapier and Integrately cover the apps beyond the native directory. Is there a PayKickstart lifetime deal? Public pricing is the subscription and the Launch share. A one-time lifetime price is absent from that page. ### What we read #### From PayKickstart * * Entry plan at $79 a month * Affiliate management * One-click upsells and order bumps * Revenue sharing contracts #### Other sources We read 14 discussions and reviews. Quotes are excerpts; open a link to read the original in context. 1. \[pk-terms-refund\] [Terms of Use ](https://paykickstart.com/terms-of-use/) Blog 2. \[pk-terms-renewal\] [Terms of Use ](https://paykickstart.com/terms-of-use/) Blog 3. \[g2-upsells\] [PayKickstart Reviews ](https://www.g2.com/products/paykickstart/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons) G2 4. \[reddit-not-funnel\] [How good is PayKickstart 2.0? ](https://www.reddit.com/r/ShareAiPrompts/comments/1p2z6ug/how%5Fgood%5Fis%5Fpaykickstart%5F20/) Reddit 5. \[capterra-configure\] [PayKickstart Reviews ](https://www.capterra.com/p/163329/Paykickstart/reviews/?page=5) Capterra 6. \[g2-setup\] [PayKickstart Reviews ](https://www.g2.com/products/paykickstart/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons) G2 7. \[g2-reports\] [PayKickstart Reviews ](https://www.g2.com/products/paykickstart/reviews) G2 8. \[reddit-ui\] [So what is PayKickstart really? ](https://www.reddit.com/r/cryptozonehub/comments/1qkpfdb/so%5Fwhat%5Fis%5Fpaykickstart%5Freally/) Reddit 9. \[g2-affiliate-upsells\] [PayKickstart Pros and Cons ](https://www.g2.com/products/paykickstart/reviews?qs=pros-and-cons) G2 10. \[capterra-funnel\] [PayKickstart Reviews ](https://www.capterra.com/p/163329/Paykickstart/reviews/?page=2) Capterra 11. \[pk-support-aid\] [Affiliate credit on checkout ](https://support.paykickstart.com/articles/9026280-how-to-confirm-correct-affiliate-is-being-credited-for-a) Blog 12. \[pk-terms-mor\] [Terms of Use ](https://paykickstart.com/terms-of-use/) Blog 13. \[trustpilot-buyers\] [PayKickstart Reviews ](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/paykickstart.com) Trustpilot 14. \[capterra-support\] [PayKickstart Reviews ](https://www.capterra.com/p/163329/Paykickstart/reviews/?page=2) Capterra Written by Vendor Runbook Editorial Desk Editorial desk The editorial desk at Vendor Runbook. It sets the testing standard the reviews are held to, signs the pages no single writer owns, and publishes the notes and dates behind every ranking. Corrections go to the contact page and are logged on the page they change. Last checked 2026-10-21 --- [ ](/) For product owners selling through affiliate networks like ClickBank, BuyGoods, Digistore24 and JVZoo: approval, funnels, affiliates, payouts and chargebacks. 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