Which Is The Best Tracking Tools?

When it comes to affiliate marketing and campaign optimization, selecting the right tracking software is critical. A reliable tracking system can make a huge difference by providing accurate data, optimizing your campaigns, and ultimately increasing your return on investment (ROI).

Two of the most prominent tracking systems are CPV Lab and Voluum. Both have gained substantial followings, but each caters to different user needs.

This review will provide an in-depth comparison of CPV Lab and Voluum across key features, exploring why CPV Lab is the superior choice for marketers who prioritize flexibility, control, and value over time.

Why You Need a Tracking System

A tracking system is essential for monitoring online campaigns. It collects data on user interactions—clicks, conversions, and revenue—that can be used to optimize performance.

With proper tracking, marketers can refine their campaigns by targeting the right audiences, testing different offers, and ensuring efficient use of advertising budgets.

Imagine running multiple ad campaigns across platforms like Facebook or Google Ads.

Without a tracking system, you would have no visibility into which ads are converting, which traffic sources are performing well, or which user segments are most valuable. This is where CPV Lab and Voluum come in, helping marketers manage complex campaigns with precision.

CPV Lab vs Voluum 2024: Overview

What is CPV Lab?

CPV Lab is one of the oldest affiliate tracking tools available. It was one of the first I tried years ago, but it has come a long way since then.

The original company started in 2010, but new owners took over in 2018 and launched an updated version called CPV Lab Pro.

CPV Lab is not just any ad tracker; it’s a self-hosted tool designed to meet your needs. Whether you handle traffic from various sources or rely on cookies, CPV Lab can track your marketing campaigns with ease. It helps you gather essential data to fine-tune and improve your campaigns.

What is Voluum?

Voluum is an advanced ad-tracking platform developed by the founder of Zeropark, an ad network.

It was created specifically for affiliate marketers, keeping their needs and feedback in mind. Voluum evolves continuously to match new market trends, making it a popular choice in the affiliate marketing industry.

CPV Lab vs Voluum: Flexibility and Customization

CPV Lab:

CPV Lab offers a high degree of flexibility and customization, which is one of its standout features. Being a self-hosted platform, CPV Lab allows you to tailor the system to fit your specific needs.

You can track a wide variety of campaign types—direct linking, landing pages, multi-step funnels, and even email sequences—without any extra coding. Additionally, CPV Lab supports multi-variate testing through third-party add-ons, which gives you advanced testing options to optimize landing pages, offers, and ads simultaneously.

CPV Lab’s flexibility also extends to its rule-based optimization, which allows you to create custom rules for tracking and campaign management. For example, you can set conditions where ads that meet specific ROI thresholds are automatically highlighted in different colors for easy analysis.

Since it’s self-hosted, you can install CPV Lab on your preferred server, giving you full control over its performance and security.

Voluum:

Voluum, being a cloud-based platform, offers limited customization compared to CPV Lab. While it’s highly user-friendly and easy to set up, it does not provide the same level of adaptability for advanced users who need more control over their campaigns.

Voluum’s primary strength lies in its simplified interface and ease of use, rather than in offering deep customization options. The platform tracks campaigns efficiently, but it lacks advanced features like multi-variate testing, which is crucial for marketers looking to optimize multiple elements of a campaign at once.

Voluum excels at pre-configured tracking setups that streamline the campaign process, but marketers looking for in-depth campaign customization or complex testing might find it restrictive. Its rule-based optimization features are also simpler and do not offer the granular control that CPV Lab does.

CPV Lab vs Voluum: Ease of Use and Setup

CPV Lab:

Because CPV Lab is self-hosted, setting up and maintaining the software requires some technical expertise. You need to install it on a Virtual Private Server (VPS) or a dedicated server, configure it, and manage ongoing server maintenance.

While this gives you full control, it can be time-consuming and requires technical know-how, especially if you’re running high-traffic campaigns. For marketers who don’t mind managing their own server infrastructure, CPV Lab’s installation process is straightforward, but it’s not as beginner-friendly as some cloud-based solutions.

Once installed, CPV Lab provides a robust interface that allows users to set up campaigns, split test landing pages, and track multiple campaign types. However, its interface is functional rather than visually appealing, and it may take some time to get used to its layout and workflow.

Voluum:

Voluum shines in terms of ease of use and setup. Since it’s cloud-based, there’s no need to install or manage any server infrastructure. You can get started within minutes, and Voluum handles all the back-end server management, including scaling and performance optimization.

This is particularly beneficial for marketers who don’t want to deal with technical issues or server crashes. The platform’s user interface is clean, modern, and easy to navigate, making it suitable even for beginners.

Voluum’s intuitive dashboard makes it simple to create and manage campaigns. Users can set up traffic sources, offers, and landing pages quickly without needing to worry about server configurations or maintenance.

CPV Lab vs Voluum: Scalability and Performance

CPV Lab:

Scalability is one area where CPV Lab can struggle when handling very high traffic volumes. Since it’s self-hosted, you’re responsible for ensuring your server can handle the load.

CPV Lab tends to slow down or even crash when databases grow large—typically around 500,000 clicks or more—unless you invest in a high-performance VPS or dedicated server.

While this gives you control over the server environment, it also means you have to regularly maintain and optimize the server to avoid performance issues.

For marketers with smaller to mid-sized campaigns, CPV Lab performs well, but for high-volume campaigns, it requires careful server management and occasional database pruning to ensure smooth operation.

Voluum:

Voluum’s cloud-based architecture ensures that scalability and performance are never an issue. The platform is designed to handle billions of clicks per day without slowing down, thanks to its global network of servers.

Whether you’re running small campaigns or massive operations, Voluum’s infrastructure automatically scales to meet your needs, eliminating concerns about server crashes or slow performance.

Because Voluum is hosted in the cloud, it can redirect users quickly, regardless of their location, thanks to its distributed server network. This means faster redirects and improved campaign performance, especially for international traffic.

CPV Lab vs Voluum: Data Privacy and Control

CPV Lab:

One of the strongest selling points of CPV Lab is that it’s self-hosted, meaning you retain full control over your data. Since the software runs on your own server, no third party has access to your campaign data unless you grant them permission.

For marketers who prioritize privacy and data security, this is a significant advantage. You don’t need to worry about data breaches or unauthorized access, as you are the sole custodian of your data.

Additionally, because CPV Lab is self-hosted, you can implement your own security measures, such as firewalls, secure connections (SSL), and regular backups. This level of control is not possible with cloud-based solutions like Voluum.

Voluum:

Voluum, as a cloud-based platform, stores your campaign data on its servers, which raises potential data privacy concerns for some users. While Voluum employs advanced security protocols to protect user data, the fact remains that your data is stored on their servers.

For some marketers, especially those running sensitive or high-stakes campaigns, this can be a drawback. If Voluum’s servers were ever compromised, your data could be at risk.

While Voluum provides convenience by handling all the backend processes, the trade-off is that you don’t have the same level of control over your data that you would with a self-hosted solution like CPV Lab.

CPV Lab vs Voluum: Pricing Model and Long-Term Value

CPV Lab:

CPV Lab follows a one-time purchase model, with an initial cost of $297 and an annual update fee of $147 for ongoing support and updates. While there are additional costs associated with server hosting, CPV Lab provides excellent long-term value.

You pay once for the software, and after that, the only recurring cost is hosting, which can vary depending on your server setup.

For marketers running high-volume campaigns, CPV Lab’s pricing structure can save money over time, especially when compared to subscription-based services like Voluum. There are no monthly fees to worry about, which makes it a cost-effective option for serious marketers looking to minimize ongoing expenses.

Voluum:

Voluum operates on a subscription-based pricing model, which can quickly become expensive for high-volume users. The platform offers a free plan for small campaigns (up to 100,000 events), but once you exceed that limit, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan.

The mid-tier plan costs $99 per month, while larger campaigns can cost up to $999 per month, depending on the number of events tracked.

For newer affiliates or those running smaller campaigns, Voluum’s pricing might be manageable. However, as your campaign grows, the recurring costs can add up, making Voluum a more expensive option in the long run.

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Conclusion: Why CPV Lab Wins?

After thoroughly comparing CPV Lab and Voluum across various features, it’s clear that CPV Lab offers more control, flexibility, and long-term value for serious marketers.

While Voluum excels in ease of use and scalability due to its cloud-based nature, it lacks the customization options, data privacy, and cost-effectiveness that CPV Lab provides.

For marketers who prioritize flexibility, advanced testing, and complete control over their data, CPV Lab is the superior choice. Its self-hosted model ensures data privacy and security, while the one-time purchase model offers significant long-term savings compared to Voluum’s subscription fees.

While Voluum may be the easier option for beginners or those seeking a plug-and-play solution, CPV Lab is the clear winner for those looking for a powerful, customizable tracking system that can scale with their needs.