Also known as:Cookie Life, Cookie Expiration, Cookie Window
What is Cookie Duration?
Cookie Duration is the length of time a tracking cookie set when a user clicks your affiliate link stays valid in their browser. If that user registers and funds within the window, the conversion is attributed to you; if the cookie expires first, the commission is lost.
It exists because buying decisions are rarely instant—especially in trading, a high-consideration, high-risk product. A prospect typically clicks your link, then researches spreads, reads reviews, watches a webinar, and compares regulators before funding an account days or weeks later. The cookie is the memory that bridges that gap between first click and eventual deposit.
Key takeaways
The cookie window is the deadline between click and funded signup for you to still get credited.
Forex/CFD programs commonly run 30–90 days; confirm the exact number before you promote.
"Last click wins" lets a competitor overwrite your cookie; "first click wins" protects the original referrer.
Cleared cookies, private browsing, and device switching break tracking no matter how long the window.
A long window matters less if the program also runs lifetime RevShare on linked traders.
Durations vary widely across programs. Many forex and CFD affiliate programs sit in the 30-to-90-day range; some offer a 45- or 60-day window; a few advertise "lifetime" cookies or, more meaningfully, lifetime revenue share once a trader is linked to you. A concrete case: a broker offers a 30-day cookie. A user clicks your IB link on 1 January, deliberates, and finally registers on 28 January—inside the window, so you are credited. Had they signed up on 5 February, the cookie would have expired and the referral would go unattributed.
Cookie duration is only as strong as the tracking behind it. Cookies live in one browser on one device, and users routinely clear cookies, switch from phone to laptop, or browse in private mode—each of which can silently destroy the link between click and conversion regardless of the stated window. This is why serious programs increasingly pair cookie windows with server-side click IDs and cross-device matching.
How it works
When a user clicks your tracking link, the broker's system writes a small cookie into their browser containing your affiliate ID and a timestamp, with an expiry set to the program's duration. As the user browses and returns later, that cookie persists until it expires or is deleted.
If the user completes the payable action—usually registration then funding—while the cookie is still valid, the broker reads your affiliate ID from it and attributes the conversion to you. Two attribution rules decide contested cases. Under "last click wins," the most recent affiliate cookie overwrites earlier ones, so a competitor's later click can displace yours. Under "first click wins," the earliest referrer keeps the credit for the window.
Because cookies are per-browser and per-device, clearing them, switching devices, or blocking third-party cookies breaks the chain—which is why cookie duration increasingly works alongside server-side tracking rather than on its own.
Why it matters for partnership: Traders research before they deposit, so a longer cookie window—60 or 90 days versus 24 hours—means you still get paid when a prospect funds weeks after clicking. It directly affects how much of your slow-converting traffic actually turns into attributed commission.
Real World Example
Pepperstone's partner program advertises a long attribution window. A trader clicks your review link, spends three weeks comparing spreads, then funds on day 22. Because that sits inside the stated window, the funded account is attributed to you and starts generating rebate revenue—whereas a 24-hour cookie would have expired long before the deposit and left you unpaid.
Short vs. long cookie duration
Aspect
Short window (e.g. 24h–7d)
Long window (e.g. 60–90d)
Slow researchers
Usually lost
Still attributed
Best traffic fit
Urgent, bottom-funnel intent
Review/comparison content
Overwrite risk (last-click)
Lower exposure window
Longer exposure to competitors
Partner advantage
Minimal
Meaningful for considered products
Pro Tip
Always ask whether the program is first-click or last-click: under last-cookie-wins a long duration matters less, because a competitor's later click can overwrite yours before the user deposits.
Common Pitfalls
Assuming the cookie lasts forever or is unbreakable—once it expires, or the moment the user clears their cache or switches to another device, your tracking vanishes and the conversion goes unattributed.
FAQ
What is a typical cookie duration for forex brokers?
Most sit between 30 and 90 days, though some offer shorter windows and a few advertise lifetime cookies or lifetime revenue share on linked traders. Always confirm the exact figure in the partner terms.
What happens if the user clears their cookies?
Clearing cookies deletes the tracking record immediately, so a later signup will not be attributed to you even if it falls inside the stated window. Server-side tracking mitigates this but does not fully eliminate it.
Does a longer cookie duration guarantee more commission?
No. It improves your chances of capturing slow converters, but attribution rules, cross-device journeys, and traffic quality all affect outcomes. It is an advantage, not a guarantee.
What is the difference between first-click and last-click attribution?
First-click credits the earliest referrer within the window; last-click credits the most recent. Under last-click, a competitor's later click can overwrite your cookie.
Do cookies track users across their phone and laptop?
Standard browser cookies do not—they are tied to one browser on one device. Cross-device attribution requires additional server-side or login-based matching by the broker.
Are third-party cookie changes killing affiliate tracking?
They weaken browser-cookie tracking, which is why programs increasingly rely on server-side click IDs and postbacks alongside the cookie window rather than depending on the cookie alone.
A practical comparison of leading crypto exchange affiliate programs, covering commission structure, cookie windows, payout terms, and how to vet a program before sending it your …
A practical ranking of partner program types and evaluation criteria for a brand-new IB with no existing audience, focused on approval odds, payout structure, and realistic …
How to structure, track, and disclose two or more broker sponsorships at once so each partnership reads as deliberate, not scattered, to your audience.
A practical framework for choosing which brokers to onboard onto a multi-broker rebate site, from tracking compatibility to payout reliability and long-term reputation risk.
EPC, conversion rate, and payout are one equation, not three dashboards. Here's how to use them to compare broker offers and catch a partner quietly degrading …
