Cookie duration is the length of time an affiliate's tracking cookie remains active after a user clicks their link. If the user converts during this window — even after leaving and returning — the affiliate receives the commission. Standard programs offer 30–90 day cookies; premium programs can run a full year.
Longer cookies reward affiliates who drive research-phase traffic that converts slowly — common in SaaS where buyers compare options for weeks before deciding. Cookie-less tracking via server-side postbacks (S2S) is becoming more important as browser privacy features and Safari ITP erode cookie-based attribution reliability.