If you follow creator economy news, you've heard of ShopMy and LTK (formerly rewardStyle, short for LIKEtoKNOW.it). Both let creators earn commission when followers shop their recommendations, and both have paid out huge sums to creators in the US and Europe.
So why not just use them in Lagos, Nairobi or Accra? Because the details that matter most (where the products come from, how shoppers pay, and how creators get paid) were designed for a different market. This post compares them with ShopLink, the creator storefront we built at Aktivate for African creators and brands.
The quick comparison
| ShopLink | ShopMy | LTK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built for | African creators and brands | US and global retailers | US and global retailers |
| Products | African fashion, beauty, lifestyle and FMCG brands that deliver locally | Mostly US and European retailers | Mostly US and European retailers |
| Where the shopper pays | On the creator's ShopLink store | On the retailer's website, after a redirect | On the retailer's website, after a redirect |
| Shopper payment | Card, bank transfer, USSD (Paystack) | Retailer's checkout | Retailer's checkout |
| Creator payout | Local bank account, in naira | Stripe or PayPal | PayPal or direct deposit |
| When commission is paid | After a 7-day refund window, in the next daily payout | Weekly, once commission is "locked", which can take 30–120 days | Once commission is "closed", which can take months |
| Who can join | Any creator on Aktivate; brands set their own rules | Open, with referral | By application, selective |
| Commission | Set by the brand per product, 5–50% or a fixed amount | Typically 10–30%; the creator keeps 82% | Varies by retailer |
ShopMy and LTK details are from their public help pages and reviews as of October 2026; check the sources at the end for the latest.
1. Products your followers can actually buy
A follower in Ikeja who taps a US retailer link often hits a store that doesn't ship to Nigeria, prices in dollars, or adds heavy shipping and customs. That sale dies at checkout, and so does your commission.
ShopLink is filled with African brands that deliver to your followers: fashion labels, beauty and skincare brands, lifestyle products and everyday goods. Prices are in naira and the brand handles delivery.
2. Getting paid where you live
ShopMy pays through Stripe or PayPal. LTK pays through PayPal or direct deposit. Many African creators can't receive money easily through those rails, or lose a chunk to conversion and fees when they do.
ShopLink pays your commission straight into your local bank account. Add your account once, and Nigerian accounts are verified with your bank before saving.
3. Getting paid fast
On ShopMy, commissions stay "pending" until the retailer pays ShopMy, which typically takes 30 to 120 days. LTK commissions have to move from "open" to "closed" first, which can also take months.
On ShopLink the shopper pays on your store, so the money is already in the system. Your commission clears after a 7-day refund window and goes out in the next daily payout. For a creator paying rent and data bills, a week versus four months is a big difference.
4. Every sale is tracked
ShopMy and LTK send the shopper to another website and rely on tracking cookies. If the follower switches devices, clears cookies or buys a day later from a bookmark, the sale can go untracked.
With ShopLink, the follower buys on your storefront at shop.useaktivate.com/@yourname. Sale, creator and commission are recorded together at checkout.
5. Better for brands, too
ShopMy and LTK mostly work with large retailers. ShopLink is open to African businesses of any size:
- One-time $15 listing fee per business, then commission only on sales.
- Full control: brands set the commission per product, choose whether creators can join freely, apply, or be invited, and can reward top creators with a higher rate.
- Instant split: the brand's share of each sale is split at checkout and settled to their bank by Paystack.
- Access to 51,400+ verified creators in the Aktivate network across Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and South Africa.
What about other ways creators earn?
ShopMy and LTK aren't the only options. Here's how ShopLink fits next to the others African creators use:
- Link-in-bio and digital product tools (like Stan Store, Beacons or Selar) are great for selling your own e-books, courses and presets. ShopLink is for when you don't have your own product: you sell brands' products and earn commission.
- Marketplace affiliate programmes (like Amazon Associates or local e-commerce affiliate programmes) pay a small percentage, and the shopper leaves for a giant marketplace. On ShopLink your followers shop your store, curated by you, with commission rates brands set to attract creators.
- Paid brand campaigns pay a fixed fee for posts. They're a great income stream, and Aktivate runs one too: the Collaboration Hub. ShopLink adds income that keeps coming from every sale, long after the post goes up.
The verdict
If you're a creator in the US with an audience that shops at Nordstrom and Sephora, ShopMy and LTK are strong choices. If your audience is in Nigeria or elsewhere in Africa, you need products they can buy, a checkout they can use and payouts you can actually receive. That's what ShopLink was built for.
Creators: start your ShopLink store.
Brands: list your products and let creators sell for you.
New to ShopLink? Read What Is ShopLink? first.
Sources: ShopMy payment FAQ · ShopMy vs LTK 2026 review · LTK creator programme guide
