PayPal’s Honey Browser Extension Under Fire for Alleged Affiliate Revenue Hijacking
PayPal’s popular Honey browser extension, designed to help online shoppers find better deals and promo codes, has come under scrutiny following allegations of unethical practices. The extension, which has been widely promoted as a tool to discover every working promo code on the internet, is now facing accusations of “scamming” users and stealing revenue from influencers.
YouTuber MegaLag recently raised concerns about Honey’s practices, claiming that the extension fails to find better deals and sometimes offers Honey-branded codes despite better options being available. The content creator also suggested that Honey’s partnerships may be influencing the deals it presents to users.
At the heart of the controversy is the alleged hijacking of affiliate revenue from influencers. According to the accusations, Honey replaces influencers’ tracking links with its own during the checkout process, resulting in Honey receiving credit for sales instead of the original content creators.
In response to these allegations, PayPal VP Josh Criscoe issued a statement asserting that Honey adheres to industry rules. The company cited “last-click attribution” as a standard practice in the affiliate marketing industry.
This is not the first time Honey has faced such complaints. In 2021, a Twitter post suggested using alternative browsers to avoid affiliate credit issues. Additionally, Linus Media Group, a prominent tech content creator, decided to drop Honey as a sponsor due to similar concerns.
Despite these controversies, Honey remains widely recommended for its convenience. The extension has been featured in nearly 5,000 sponsored videos across approximately 1,000 YouTube channels. However, some previous endorsements, including one from *The Verge*, have since been retracted.
PayPal continues to defend Honey, emphasizing that the extension is free and aims to provide savings to shoppers. The company also claims that Honey benefits merchants by reducing cart abandonment and increasing sales conversion rates.
As the debate surrounding Honey’s practices continues, online shoppers and content creators alike are left to weigh the convenience of the extension against the ethical concerns raised by its critics.
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