The Self-Hosted
FirstPromoter Alternative
FirstPromoter runs entirely on their servers — you pay $49/mo forever and never control the infrastructure. RefearnApp runs on your own server. Deploy it once, pay only hosting costs.
🖥️ Should You Self-Host?
Check what matters to you, then see your real cost savings vs FirstPromoter.
Your self-hosting readiness
Check what matters to you above
RefearnApp is fully self-hostable with step-by-step docs
💰 Hosting Cost vs FirstPromoter Subscription
Self-hosting RefearnApp costs roughly $10/mo in VPS hosting — here's what that means over time.
FirstPromoter (subscription)
$588
year 1 total
RefearnApp self-hosted (hosting only)
$120
year 1 total
You save
$468
in year 1 by self-hosting
Estimate based on ~$10/mo average VPS cost. Actual hosting cost depends on your provider and traffic.
FirstPromoter — Cloud-Only Problems
- ✕ Dated interface and complex setup that feels like 2015 software.
- ✕ Your affiliate and customer data lives entirely on their infrastructure.
- ✕ You pay $49/mo every month regardless of your actual usage.
- ✕ No option to run it on your own infrastructure — ever.
RefearnApp — Runs On Your Server
- ✓ Deploy on any VPS or cloud provider you already trust.
- ✓ Pay only hosting costs — typically $5-20/mo instead of a subscription.
- ✓ Full control over backups, uptime and access.
- ✓ Step-by-step docs — no dev work, just run the setup scripts.
Ready to self-host RefearnApp?
Our documentation walks you through the full setup. No dev work required — just follow the steps, run the setup scripts, and you're live on your own server.
FirstPromoter vs RefearnApp — Self-Hosting Comparison
| Feature | FirstPromoter | RefearnApp |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting Location | Their cloud only | Your own server |
| Self-Host Documentation | refearnapp.com/docs | |
| Annual Cost | $588/yr | ~$120/yr hosting only |
| Data Location | Third-party servers | |
| Backup Control | ||
| Unlimited Affiliates | Limited on lower tiers | |
| Stripe & Paddle Support | Stripe only or expensive add-on | |
| Coupon Code Tracking |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really self-host RefearnApp instead of using FirstPromoter?
Yes. RefearnApp is fully self-hostable. Follow the guide at refearnapp.com/docs, run the setup scripts, and deploy it on your own VPS. FirstPromoter only offers a cloud-hosted version with no self-hosting option.
How much does it cost to self-host RefearnApp vs FirstPromoter?
FirstPromoter costs $588 per year as a subscription. Self-hosting RefearnApp typically costs around $120 per year in VPS hosting, since there's no subscription fee — you only pay for your server.
Do I need to be a developer to self-host RefearnApp?
No. The documentation at refearnapp.com/docs walks you through every step. You just follow the guide and run the provided setup scripts. We handle all updates and improvements.
Who controls my data if I self-host?
You do, completely. Self-hosting means your affiliate and customer data lives entirely on your own server. No third party, including us, has access to it.
Can I switch from RefearnApp's managed cloud to self-hosting later?
Yes. You can start on our managed cloud for instant setup and migrate to your own server whenever you're ready, using the migration guide in our docs.
More Self-Hosted Alternatives
RefearnApp replaces every cloud-only affiliate tool
Stop Renting. Start Owning Your Infrastructure.
RefearnApp runs on your server, your rules, your control.
Self-hostable · Open source · One-time payment · No lock-in