What a network gives you
A network brings reach: thousands of publishers already onboarded and paid through one system. For brands without recruitment capacity that is a fast start.
The trade-off is cost and dependency: a percentage on top of commission, less direct contact and sometimes limited visibility into who actually sells.
What own software gives you
With your own software you pay a fixed amount, keep all data and speak to partners directly. That works well when you recruit deliberately and maintain personal relationships.
It does require someone to do the recruiting and management. Without active effort, partner numbers stay low.
The combination across countries
In practice many brands choose a mix: own software as the base, plus a network in markets where reach is hard to build.
The key is that tracking and attribution are correct in both tracks, so you never pay twice for the same order.
What to check technically
Review server-side tracking, consent handling, deduplication with other channels and how cancellations are processed. That decides whether your numbers hold.
Ask about export options too. You want to be able to take publisher and transaction data with you.