Affiliate Payout Stages Explained: Pending, Approved, Payable and Paid

Your dashboard shows numbers in different states, and it is easy to confuse them. Here is what each stage means and how money moves from one to the next.

The stages

Pending validation

Every new conversion starts here. The campaign’s validation period has to pass so the advertiser can check for returns, failed KYC, duplicates and fraud. Your statistics show this as pending revenue. See conversion validation explained.

On hold

Some conversions need more checking. On hold is not a rejection, but it is not money yet either.

Approved

The advertiser confirmed the conversion. Your earnings for it are calculated from the campaign’s published payout terms. On M2E, the amount always comes from the campaign terms you accepted.

Payable

Approved earnings become payable once your payment details are verified: a bank account or a UPI ID in your name. If approved earnings are stuck, verifying your payment details is usually the fix.

Paid

Our finance team pays payable earnings and records each payment with a payment reference so you can match it to your bank or UPI statement.

Why the stages exist

Separating these stages protects everyone:

• Advertisers do not pay for conversions that turn out to be invalid.
• Publishers can see exactly where each rupee is, instead of a single mysterious balance.
• Payments are only sent to verified accounts, which reduces fraud and mistakes.

Planning around timing

1. Budget on payable and paid amounts, not on pending.
2. Check validation periods before joining a campaign if cash flow matters to you.
3. Verify payment details early so nothing is held up later.
4. Watch rejections. A rising rejection rate reduces what reaches payable.

Statistics vs earnings

The Statistics page on M2E shows revenue (approved, payable and paid) and pending revenue (pending validation and on hold) by day, campaign and sub ID. Your earnings view shows each stage in detail. Use statistics to improve your promotion and the earnings view to follow your money.

Key takeaway

Pending means recorded, approved means confirmed, payable means ready, paid means received. Keep your payment details verified and plan around confirmed money.