34+ of the Best Affiliate Marketing Programs That Pay the Highest Commission in 2023

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Affiliate marketing programs offer opportunities for you to monetize your blog, website, or social media handle while exploring various passive income ideas. By joining affiliate marketing programs, you can earn income through commissions for driving traffic to a company’s website and receiving a commission on any purchases made.

With it, you can actually make money with little effort by simply inserting tracked affiliate links into the text of your blog or website. To get started, all you need is a captive audience and an affiliate program that allows you to earn commissions on new leads or purchases produced when readers click on the links.

Over the years, affiliate marketing has been popular among part-timers, bloggers, podcasters, and influencers as an additional source of revenue. As a marketing affiliate, you can earn quick money by recommending products and services to your followers.

This business model also allows you to generate revenue without the need for a large upfront investment. With strategic content creation and effective promotion, affiliate marketing can become a lucrative source of passive income.

In this article, we will cover the best affiliate programs that will help you earn solid commissions. Want to know more about content production, check out our article on blogging business ideas.

What is an Affiliate Program?

Affiliate marketing is a marketing strategy in which an affiliate marketer promotes a merchant’s product or service in exchange for a fee. The affiliate marketing programs will pay affiliate marketers a commission for each transaction or action brought about by their promotion of a business’s goods or services.

After registering for the program, the affiliate marketer receives a unique affiliate link or special monitoring code to use in their advertising. The affiliate will receive a commission when a customer uses the affiliate link to make a transaction or finish an activity. Each traction made through that link generates the affiliate a commission, encouraging them to market the product to their audience.

In recent years, affiliate programs have become a popular way to earn income online. Depending on the program, the affiliate income fee may be based on a percentage of the transaction or a set sum for each sale or activity. By using cookies and other monitoring technologies, the business keeps track of all transactions brought about through the affiliate’s promotions.

The affiliate marketing model works on a performance-based payment method. It means the affiliate only earns when their promotional efforts result in a transaction. The details of these transactions vary depending on the affiliate program. For instance, some programs might pay for:

• Pay Per Sale (PPS): The merchant pays the affiliate a percentage of the sale price after the consumer purchases the product as a result of the affiliate’s marketing strategies.
• Pay Per Lead (PPL): The affiliate is paid for each lead they generate. This could be a form submission, sign-up, or other pre-determined action.
• Pay Per Click (PPC): The affiliate is paid for all clicks that they generate, regardless of whether these clicks lead to a sale.

Our Methodology: The Best Affiliate Marketing Programs

In determining the best affiliate marketing programs, we considered several factors that align with the interests and needs of small business owners looking to monetize their online presence. These factors are listed below and rated on a scale of one to ten based on their importance to small business users, with ten being reserved for the most important factors.

1. Relevance to Your Niche (Importance Scale: 10/10)

• Programs should align with your business niche and audience interests.
• Programs that may appeal to small businesses in various niches are more relevant to a larger audience.

2. Commission Rates (Importance Scale: 9/10)

• Competitive commission rates.
• Clear understanding of how and when commissions are paid.

3. Cookie Duration (Importance Scale: 8/10)

• Longer cookie durations are preferable, as they offer a longer window to earn commission from a referred customer.

4. Program Reputation (Importance Scale: 9/10)

• Established programs with a good track record.
• Positive reviews from other affiliates.

5. Quality of Products or Services (Importance Scale: 10/10)

• High-quality, reputable products or services that you are comfortable recommending.

6. Support and Resources (Importance Scale: 7/10)

• Availability of promotional materials and support from the program.

Ease of Use (Importance Scale: 6/10)

• User-friendly interface for tracking sales, commissions, and performance metrics.

7. Payment Methods and Thresholds (Importance Scale: 8/10)

• Convenient payment methods.
• Reasonable payment thresholds.

8. Exclusivity Requirements (Importance Scale: 5/10)

• Understanding any exclusivity clauses that might limit your participation in other programs.

9. Flexibility and Control (Importance Scale: 6/10)

• Flexibility in how you promote products.
• Control over the types of products you promote.

By assessing these key factors, we curated a list of affiliate marketing programs that are well-suited to help small businesses and entrepreneurs effectively monetize their efforts.

Best Affiliate Marketing Programs to Join

Affiliate marketing has become an increasingly popular way for individuals and businesses to earn money online. If you’re looking to get started in the world of affiliate marketing or expand your existing portfolio of programs to join, it’s important to choose the right affiliate marketing programs.

The best affiliate programs offer a range of features and tools designed to help both merchants and affiliates succeed. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the highest-paying affiliate programs to join.

Best Affiliate Marketing Programs for eCommerce Businesses

eCommerce businesses are increasingly turning to affiliate marketing as a way to drive traffic, increase sales, and maximize revenue. However, with so many affiliate programs available, it can be difficult to know which ones are best suited for eCommerce businesses. Below are some of the highest-paying affiliate programs for eCommerce businesses

1. Shopify

Commission Rate: Affiliates earn $150 for each merchant referral.

Cookie Lifetime: Cookies last for 30 days.

Shopify is one of the biggest e-commerce platforms that lets affiliates generate regular passive revenues. The brand has a good reputation and includes vendors that are relevant to many niches. The Shopify affiliate program allows you to partner with Shopify and earn money by referring customers to Shopify. The program is free to join, and after signing up, you’ll get a unique affiliate link to use in your blog posts or social media handles.

To be eligible affiliates must own and run an active website, have an established audience, produce content such as videos, blog entries, seminars, or online courses, and have used Shopify or another e-commerce platform. For every merchant recommendation, you are qualified to receive a fixed commission of $150.

There is no cap on how many vendors you can recommend. Payment options offered by the Shopify Affiliate Program include PayPal or a straight deposit to your bank account. For more on Shopify check out our article what is Shopify.

Payment Options: PayPal

Payment Threshold: Minimum balance of $10 

2. Clickbank

Commission Rate: Average commission range between $150 and $180 per sale.

Cookie Lifetime: 60 days

ClickBank is among the oldest and most well-known affiliate programs paying out over $5 billion in commissions since 1999. It offers a high commission rate for sales generated while managing over 300,000 daily transactions and 40,000 marketplace products. ClickBank affiliate marketing program sells a few physical products but specializes in selling digital products it offers some 6 million digital products in over 20 categories that appeal to a wide range of niches, reaching 200 million people globally.

Perfect for all kinds of marketers including. bloggers, YouTubers, TikTokers, and other influencers, it offers little hassles to become an affiliate, you’ll need to start an account, fill in your personal and payment info, and then finalize your account to get started. Once you have an account, you can begin making money by creating affiliate links.

Payment Options: Check, direct deposit, wire transfer

Payment Threshold: $10

3. Semrush

Commission Rate: Affiliates can make $200 per new subscription transaction, $10 per new trial, and $0.01 per new sign-up.

Cookie Lifetime: Cookies last for 120 days

Semrush is a leading online visibility management SaaS platform that enables businesses to achieve measurable results. Semrush Affiliate Program is a well-known affiliate program that lets people and companies earn commissions by promoting Semrush’s over 40 tools that include SEO, PPC, content marketing, and social media marketing tools. The program provides associates with a variety of marketing tools, such as banners, links, and widgets, to help them promote Semrush on their websites or social media platforms.

Affiliates make a recurring commission of up to 40% on each transaction recommended to Semrush, making the compensation structure competitive. In addition, the program offers a variety of payment methods, including PayPal and bank transfer, along with reasonable payment thresholds, making it simple for affiliates to receive their earnings. With it, affiliates can earn $200 for every new subscription sale, $10 for every new trial, and $0.01 for the new sign-up

Payment Options: PayPal, electronic transfers

Payment Threshold: Affiliates can request a payout once their account hits $50.

4. AWeber

Commission Rate: Affiliates earn up to 50% commission on each sale referred to Aweber.

Cookie Lifetime: AWeber tracking cookies last 365 days

With the AWeber partner program lets affiliates companies can make fees by promoting Aweber’s email marketing software. The program provides associates with a variety of marketing tools and support, such as banners, links, and widgets, to help them refer AWeber on their websites or social media platforms.

Through the program affiliates make a recurring fee of up to 50% for each transaction recommended to AWeber, making the commission structure competitive. In addition, the program offers payment methods, including PayPal, and bank transfers. One of the most important benefits of the AWeber Affiliate program is its support as the program provides a dedicated affiliate manager and instruction to help affiliates thrive.

Payment Options: PayPal and bank transfer

Payment Threshold: Affiliates can request a payout once their account hits $30.

5. HubSpot

Commission Rate:15% monthly commission

Cookie Lifetime:90 days

HubSpot’s Affiliate Program is a well-known marketing program that allows people and companies to earn commissions by recommending HubSpot’s products and tools. Signing up and participating as an affiliate is completely free.  The program starts with a 15% commission with affiliates on average can earn between $50 to $3,000 per month. In addition, there are no minimum sales required to earn a commission.

With this program, there is no shortage of products to sell, including the company’s CRM, Marketing Hub, Sales Hub, and Service Hub. This means that affiliates can appeal to a wide range of customers with varying requirements and hobbies, increasing their chances of making purchases and earning commissions. HubSpot also has a good reputation for offering quality products and services, allowing affiliates to make recommendations that people can trust.

Payment Options: PayPal

Payment Threshold: Minimum payout is set at $10

6. Constant Contact

Commission Rate: Affiliates earn $5 for each referral that joins up for a tryout and $105 for each referral that pays for a new account.

Cookie Lifetime: Constant Contact’s tracking cookies last 30 days.

Constant Contact is an email marketing platform for companies that enables them to create and distribute newsletters, campaigns, and other marketing materials. Constant Contact has an affiliate scheme that pays affiliates who recommend new clients to the business. Affiliates make a portion of sales through commissions from the customers’ purchases.

Here promotions can be made through a variety of marketing tools such as ads, links, and pre-written emails. Constant Contact also provides affiliates with reporting tools that enable them to measure their profits and determine which marketing efforts are effective.

Payment Options: PayPal and direct deposits

Payment Threshold: No minimum payout

Best Website Tool Affiliate Programs

Below, we’ll take a look at some website tools with the best affiliate programs, based on factors like commission rates, product selection, and user-friendliness.

7. Fiverr

Commission Rate: Fiverr offers varying commissions ($15-$150) based on the area from which your buyer orders. Affiliates receive a one-time $10 CPA for a first-time purchase and 10% revenue share for one year.

Cookie Lifetime: Cookies last for 30 days from the first click.

Fiverr’s affiliate program lets affiliates make commissions by advertising services on Fiverr via a shareable link. They can promote any of Fiverr’s services, including Fiverr, Fiverr Enterprise, Fiverr Pro, and Fiverr Lear. Affiliates can advertise Fiverr on a variety of platforms, including blogs and websites, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, emails, podcasts, and more.

When it comes to supporting Fiverr Partners, receive personalized sharing links, an intuitive dashboard to launch, manage and monitor campaigns as well as a variety of marketing tools to help them boost their sales. With Fiverr there are three ways to make commissions: cost-per-action marketing, a combination of CPA and revenue share, and revenue share commission.

Payment Options: PayPal, Payoneer, or bank account deposit.

Payment Threshold: Affiliates can request a payout once their account hits $100. If they haven’t hit $100, their earnings will remain in their account.

8. Squarespace

Commission Rate: $100 to $200 per new subscription

Cookie Lifetime: 45 days

Squarespace is a website builder with an associate program that pays a commission to affiliates for each client they recommend. It offers payouts for every website or commerce subscription drive to Squarespace.  Affiliates in the program have access to marketing materials as well as specialized affiliate support staff. It provides affiliates with custom links and banners that they can post on their websites. Then when a visitor you’ve referred to us makes a purchase, we’ll keep track and give you a commission on the sale.

The Squarespace affiliate program provides its members with an opportunity to earn $100 to $200 per new subscription that users purchase after following a referral link1. Squarespace works with the affiliate marketing platform Impact to manage its affiliate marketing program. To partake you’ll have to sign up and manage your affiliate account through Impact.

Payment Options: PayPal, direct deposit

Payment Threshold: Approved transactions are compensated 30 days after the conclusion of invoices.

9. WiX

Commission Rate: Wix pays a flat commission of $100 for every customer who purchases a Wix Premium package

Cookie Lifetime: 30 days

WiX is a popular website-building tool that provides affiliates with several marketing and SEO tools to help them reach their marketing goals. Affiliates can make up to $100 per transaction as an affiliate by promoting WiX products and services on their website or social media platforms. One of the advantages of the WiX associate program is its user-friendly interface, which allows affiliates to quickly join up and begin advertising WiX products.

Here affiliates can use a variety of advertising tools such as banners, text links, and widgets for promotions. The WiX associate program’s commission system is also quite appealing, with greater payouts for affiliates who recommend more purchases. The program also provides a cookie length of 30 days.

Payment Options: Wire transfer

Payment Threshold: Affiliates must earn a minimum of $300 per month to get paid.

10. Hostinger

Commission Rate: up to 60% for each successful referral

Cookie Lifetime: 30 days

Hostinger’s affiliate marketing program offers opportunities for anyone seeking to monetize their website or blog. Its affiliate scheme one of the best commission rates in the business, offering up to 60% for each successful referral. Some advantages of their program include high conversion and commission rates, ease of joining and maintenance, and personal associate administrators.

Their affiliate program is also simple to use, with simple analytics and monitoring tools that provide comprehensive information about your success. In addition, it offers a variety of advertising materials, such as banners, links, and landing pages, to assist you in promoting their goods

Payment Options: PayPal, bank transfer

Payment Threshold: PayPal for transfers higher than $100; – Bank transfer for payments higher than $500.

11. WordPress Elementor

Commission Rate: Up to 50% commission on every new sale

Cookie Lifetime: 30 days

WordPress Elementor affiliate marketing program is a well-known program that enables people and companies to make commissions by promoting the WordPress Elementor page-building plugin. Affiliates can make 50% commissions on each transaction made through banners, videos, and text links. Once you are approved, you will receive a unique affiliate link that you can use to promote Elementor’s products on your website or blog.

Elementor uses cookies to track your referrals, so you can earn commissions for any purchases made within 30 days of clicking your affiliate link.  Affiliates can also monitor their purchases and earnings in real-time using the Elementor dashboard. This affiliate marketing program comes easy for anyone to get started and become successful.

Payment Options: PayPal

Payment Threshold: Payment will be made when affiliates earn $200.

Best Web Hosting Affiliate Marketing Programs

Whether you’re a seasoned affiliate marketer or just getting started, the following web hosting programs offer great opportunities to earn passive income and build a steady revenue stream.

12. WP Engine

Commission Rate: The program offers a minimum of $200 on every sale

Cookie Lifetime: Affiliate cookies last 30 days For WP Engine hosting referrals, cookies last 180 days. For StudioPress themes, the cookie last 60 days.

WP Engine is a website builder tool that allows users to create websites without coding. It also offers an affiliate program for promoting WP Engine plans and StudioPress themes. Both products can be tracked using the same affiliate link, making earning commissions from your promotions even simpler. Promotional tools such as banners, text links, and sample emails are available to affiliates, and affiliates can keep tabs on their referrals and earnings with real-time reporting and tracking tools.

Through it, affiliates make a minimum of $200 or the first month’s payment. If affiliates do not already have an account with ShareASale, they will need to create one. Once approved, they will receive an email with their tracking link and other useful information to get you started. ShareASale makes payments on the 20th of each month, so your commission is calculated for the first 20th date after the minimum cancellation time for each product.

Payment Options: PayPal, prepaid debit cards, gift cards, checks, or direct deposit electronic

Payment Threshold: $50

13. Bluehost

Commission Rate: $65 commission for every qualified hosting purchase.

Cookie Lifetime: 90 days

Bluehost the web hosting platform is famous among bloggers for its high-quality and low-cost offerings. After signing in affiliate marketers will get a special tracking number in a matter of minutes and once they find the banners and ads that go best with their website, they can browse through Bluehost’s extensive collection.

Affiliates will receive $65 for each successful recommendation commissions may increase depending on the number of referrals made. In addition, they can use their tracking links to evaluate campaigns, segment their referred traffic, and keep track of the effectiveness of various activities to raise their profits. Bluehost pays commissions through PayPal or electronic bank transfers 45 days after the end of the month of eligible purchase. Cookies that are dropped from affiliates’ unique link remain on customer browsers for 90 days.

Payment Options: PayPal

Payment Threshold: $100

14. HostGator

Commission Rate: Affiliates earn anywhere from $50 to $125 for each customer that signs

Cookie Lifetime: 60 days

The HostGator affiliate program allows anyone with a website or social media account to generate income by recommending HostGator to their viewers. Affiliates can post a link for followers to click, leading them to the HostGator sign-up page. Joining the HostGator affiliate program is free and allows anyone with a website or social media account to generate income by recommending HostGator to their viewers.

Affiliates can promote HostGator’s shared hosting services, Virtual Private Servers (VPS), HostGator’s managed WordPress hosting, and other services to their online followers and earn commissions from affiliate sales. Affiliates can earn anywhere from $50 to $125 for each customer that signs up each month. HostGator tracks referrals through both affiliate links and custom coupon codes.

Payment Options: PayPal. Bank transfer

Payment Threshold: Minimum $100

Best Travel Affiliate Programs

Affiliate marketing can be a great way for travel bloggers to earn passive income online, offering fixed or recurring commissions for each successful sale. Below is a list of some of the best affiliate programs for travel:

15. Booking

Commission Rate: Commissions range between 15% to 20%.

Cookie Lifetime: Booking does not track cookies it uses Affiliate ID (AID) to track reservations made through you.

Booking.com can be a great choice for those seeking to get into the travel affiliate marketing industry because it is one of the largest online travel booking sites with a solid reputation.  It offers free sign-up to its affiliate partner program and lets you make commissions by promoting flights, accommodations, and other services.

By sharing links, banners, and widgets on your site you can receive a commission when someone hits on the link and makes a reservation. You get commissions ranging from 15%-20% for each booking you get. Commission can be quite substantial if your followers book high-end accommodations.

Payment Options: Payments are made through Paypal and direct bank transfers.

Payment Threshold: When affiliates reach $ 100 worth of confirmed commission they can withdraw their commissions.

16. Tripadvisor 

Commission Rate: Minimum 50% commission

Cookie Lifetime: 14 days

The Tripadvisor affiliate program offers rewards in the form of commissions to affiliates who provide travelers with reviews. Affiliates will create content on their websites that promote TripAdvisor in exchange for a fee on the websites’ earnings. The program offers up to 50% commissions on recommended reservations made on their website.

The program includes a number of useful affiliate resources, such as the ability to deep-link to over 500,000 city and hotel sites, utilize reward programs, and gain access to a helpful team of partner managers who provide creative assets and support. Even if you’re just starting out, you can register for the Affiliate Program. When reviewing applications, TripAdvisor considers the general appearance and feel of the site to determine whether it is a good match.

Payment Options: PayPal, check, direct deposit

Payment Threshold: $100

17. InterContinental Hotel Group

Commission Rate: Base commissions start at 3%

Cookie Lifetime: 14 days

InterContinental Hotel Group collaborates with affiliates to promote 11 of its major brands, over 5,100 hotels, in almost 100 countries. Through PartnerConnect, its affiliate marketing program allows you to place customized links to IHG brands and hotels on your website, blog, or social media.

Commissions are paid as a percentage of the room cost when visitors complete their hotel stay. Affiliates by sharing customized links on your website, visitors can book hotels through that link. If an IHG hotel is reserved through a visitor linking directly to our website from yours, IHG will pay you a percentage of the total room revenue when the visitor completes their hotel stay. The program also offers regular promos and deals to boost affiliate profits as well.

Payment Options: Checks, bank Transfer

Payment Threshold: Checks will be issued for a minimum of $100. If you signed up for direct deposit, the minimum payment is $50.

18. Boatbookings

CCommission Rate: 20%

Cookie Lifetime: 30 days

Boatbookings offers a great way for anyone looking to monetize their travel-related website or blog. The company specializes in luxury yacht chartering, boat rental, and sailing and motor yacht vacations. They offer an affiliate program where affiliates can earn a base rate of 20% commission on sales referred to Boatbookings.

In addition, when an affiliate recommends multiple customers, bonus fees can apply. Additionally, when customers return to Boatbookings for a second purchase, affiliates receive an additional 10% commission on that sale. The program also stands out due to its 30-day cookie lifetime and low payment threshold.

Payment Options: Bank transfers

Payment Threshold: None, affiliates are paid on successful completion of charters

Best Big Box Store Affiliate Programs

Below are some big box stores that have affiliate marketing programs to consider.

19. The eBay Partner Network

Commission Rate: 1%-4%

Cookie Lifetime: 24 hours

Through its affiliate partner network eBay offers bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, influencers, or website owners opportunities to tap into new sources of revenue through affiliate marketing. This affiliate program is open to anyone who has an eBay account, if you do not already have an account, you will need to sign up for one to participate.

The program is free to register, without any membership requirements or affiliate costs required. Affiliates can start earning by simply adding links to their website, social media, or blog, they get paid in commissions. When it comes to commission, eBay only gives a commission on the profit made on a transaction while fees differ based on the sort of goods sold.

Payment Options: Direct deposit or PayPal

Payment Threshold: $ 10

20. Amazon Associates Affiliate Program

Commission Rate: 1% to 10%

Cookie Lifetime: 24 hours

The Amazon Associates program can be a fantastic way to earn money by recommending, reviewing products, and earning some passive income. This program is open to bloggers, publishers, and content creators with a qualifying website or mobile app. By promoting Amazon products that are included in the programs with your audience and using customized linking tools, you can sign up to be an Amazon affiliate and begin earning money from qualifying purchases.

One of the biggest affiliate networks is Amazon Associates, which has millions of projects and thousands of developers. There are millions of products you can pitch, with new ones being added every day. Commissions range from 1% to 10% based on the product category, these give you a decent selection of goods to evaluate.

The most valuable items to promote are clothes and luxury beauty products, both of which can earn you good commissions. The Amazon affiliate marketing program has a high conversion rate because it is one of the oldest partner programs and has a strong brand reputation and authority. It’s also easy to use for both affiliates and shoppers, making it more likely that you’ll close lots of sales. Want to become an affiliate for Amazon? Check out our article on how to become an Amazon affiliate.

Payment Options: Direct deposit, Amazon.com Gift Certificate, or check

Payment Threshold: $100

21. Walmart

Commission Rate: 1%-8%

Cookie Lifetime: 24 hours

Home Depot one of the largest home improvement retailers in the world offers a free-to-join affiliate marketing program. The program offers a variety of tools and resources to help affiliates succeed, including product feeds, banners, text links, and more. Affiliates can earn up to 8% commission on sales generated through their links, which is a generous rate compared to other programs in the home improvement niche.

Additionally, Home Depot provides regular promotions and discounts to increase sales, and their customer service offers advice on helping to increase customer loyalty and improve the chances of repeat sales.

Payment Options: Checks and direct bank deposit

Payment Threshold: $100 for checks and $50 for direct deposits

22. Target

Commission Rate: Up to 8%

Cookie Lifetime: 7 days

Target’s partner’s program allows participating affiliates to earn commission on sales referred to Target.com. By using specially tracked links provided via Impact Radius website owners, bloggers or influencers can earn commissions through recommending products on sale at Target.

To join the affiliate program is free provided that your website or blog is appropriate for family viewing. Commission rates for the Target affiliate program vary based on the products you advertise and how many items you sell they can earn up to 8% in commissions. In addition, cookies last for up to seven days and the average payout for every 100 clicks is between $12-$13.

Payment Options: Payments are made through PayPal and wire transfers through the impact radius platform

Payment Threshold: No minimum payout

Best Educational Affiliate Program Options

Some educational best affiliate programs to consider.

23. Teachable

Commission Rate: 30%

Cookie Lifetime: 90 days

Teachable has an affiliate program that allows users to promote the platform including its monthly and annual plans. Affiliate marketers can use a number of channels to promote Teachable and share their affiliate links, including their blog, social media page, email list, YouTube channel, and more.

When a user follows your affiliate link and purchases a monthly or annual subscription to the teachable platform, you’ll earn a commission for the referral. According to Teachable affiliate partners earn an average of $450 per month, with many earning $1,000 or more. When someone purchases a Teachable subscription, you can earn a 30% commission with a 90-day cookie.

In addition, you will continue to receive the commission as long as your referrals remain on the platform. The core product offered by Teachable is a digital platform where users can access different tools designed to help them create and promote online courses. The teachable platform also includes useful tools for managing marketing and sales.

Payment Options: Monthly payouts are made through PayPal

Payment Threshold: Due to Teachable’s 30-day refund policy, funds will be held for at least 30 days before they are released to affiliates

24. Skillshare

Commission Rate: Affiliates earn 40% in commissions for each new customer that starts a paid membership

Cookie Lifetime: Affiliate cookies last 30 days

Skillshare is an eLearning platform that has been around for several years and has a popular affiliate program that reaches out to influencers to promote thousands of classes in illustration, design, photography, and more. With Skillshare affiliates get a unique tracking code that they can use to promote the over 31000 courses available on their websites, social media, or blog.

Anyone with at least one proven platform and a following that is aligned with Skillshare’s brand can join Skillshare’s affiliate program for free. In addition, affiliates must have an Impact account as well as a free Skillshare account. Through Impact, each affiliate establishes a unique account that records their referrals in real-time.

Affiliates make 40% of revenue for each new client who begins a paid membership with Skillshare. Referrals have 30 days from using your link to join up for a Skillshare subscription in order to qualify for earning commissions. Affiliates will be paid 30 days after the month in which they are contracted ends. Payments are done using the chosen payment method set in Impact.

Payment Options: PayPal or cash deposit to your bank account

Payment Threshold: There is a payment threshold of $10.

25. Coursera

Commission Rate: Offers commissions between 15% – 45% on any eligible purchases.

Cookie Lifetime: Cookies last for 30 days

Coursera’s affiliate marketing program lets affiliate marketers earn commissions by promoting online classes and other educational resources. It has over 4,000 courses on the platform’s diverse range of courses to choose from allowing you to advertise whichever course you want. Joining the program is simple, what is required is that your blog or website must have at least 1,000 distinct users a month.

The commissions are attractive and range from 15% to 45% commission on each transaction. If you perform well, the program also rewards you with incentives. You will also receive professionally-designed Coursera banners, text links to add to your site, and a monthly affiliate newsletter with tailored content suggestions. Plus, any traffic or sales you send to Coursera can be readily monitored using the interface, which keeps you up to date on your sales success.

Payment Options: PayPal or direct deposit

Payment Threshold: Affiliates can withdraw funds once they have received a minimal payout of $50.

26. Udemy

Commission Rate: Commissions are set at 10% for each qualified sale and may increase based on performance.

Cookie Lifetime: Cookies last for seven days

Udemy is another popular online learning platform that has courses with thousands of courses. If you are passionate about learning and skill development why not promote Udemy to help people raise their skill levels? You can kick-start your campaign either with their course-specific links, or site-wide links while at the same time monitoring progress and earning good commissions.

You will also have access to special discounts, promotional materials, and unique content to help you easily convert prospects to sales. To participate in the program your website traffic will need to have at least 500 unique monthly visitors in the last three months. If you are a social media influencer you must have at least 500 followers.

Payment Options: Paypal, direct deposit, or check

Payment Threshold: $50

27. Kaplan 

Commission Rate: 20%

Cookie Lifetime: 30 days

The Kaplan Affiliate Program offers a great tool that allows people and businesses to make money by marketing Kaplan’s classes and goods. This program allows affiliates the opportunity to make commissions by referring students and workers to Kaplan’s programs, which include exam preparation, professional training, and higher education.

Kaplan Affiliate Program is completely free to enroll in and has a simple application process once approved, affiliates will have access to marketing resources, tools, and assistance to help them get started. Its referral program allows affiliates to earn additional commissions by referring new affiliates to the program. This means that you can earn a commission not only on your referrals but also on the referrals of your referrals. This program is well-suited for those who have a niche audience interested in education, testing, and professional development.

Payment Options: Payment is done through Wise

Payment Threshold: $50

Other Amazing Affiliate Marketing Programs to Join

Other affiliate marketing programs are worth considering.

 28. LeadPages

Commission Rate: 30%

Cookie Lifetime: 90 days

The Leadpages Affiliate Partner Program is free to join and offers a suite of lead generation tools. With this affiliate program, you get 30% monthly commissions for the lifetime of the customer. It also provides a 50% recurring commission on all sales generated, for as long as the referrals remain customers.

With it, affiliates earn commission on all sales made within 30 days of the initial referral, which means you can earn commission on multiple products and services offered by Leadpages. This also expands to renewals and upgrades of their Leadpages plan.  Leadpages comes with free hosting on a Leadpages domain, more than 200 mobile responsive landing page templates, text-to-Opt-in comes/ SMS campaigns and much more.

Payment Options: PayPal or Stripe

Payment Threshold: $50

29. ConvertKit

 Commission Rate: 30%

Cookie Lifetime: 90 days

ConvertKit is a popular email marketing software that is popular among bloggers, online creators, and digital creatives. Through its affiliate marketing program, it allows individuals and businesses to earn commissions for promoting ConvertKit to their audience. The program is completely free to join and offers marketers a variety of marketing tools such as banners, text links, and email templates.

Affiliates can earn up to 30% recurring commission on each transaction they recommend, which means you can make money every time a client you refer renews their membership. Because of the recurring commission plan, you can make passive income as long as your recommended clients stay subscribers.

Payment Options: PayPal

Payment Threshold: No minimum threshold limit

30. ClickFunnels

Commission Rate: 30%

Cookie Lifetime: 45 days

ClickFunnels has been a popular sales funnel builder that helps businesses in increasing their online sales. In addition, ClickFunnels provides an affiliate marketing program through which affiliates can make commissions by promoting ClickFunnels to their target audience.

The ClickFunnels partner program is completely free to join and offers marketers a variety of marketing tools such as banners, text links, and email themes. Affiliates can make up to 40% commission on each transaction referred by them, which is a substantial commission rate when compared to other partner programs.

Payment Options: PayPal

Payment Threshold: $50

31. Nord VPN

Commission Rate: 30%-40%

Cookie Lifetime: 30 days

NordVPN is a popular Virtual Private Network (VPN) service that offers its users online privacy and protection. NordVPN also provides an affiliate marketing program through which people make commissions by recommending NordVPN to their target audience.

It is free to join and offers marketers a variety of promotional tools such as banners, text links, and email themes. Affiliates can make up to 40% commission on each transaction referred by them, which is a substantial commission rate when compared to other partner programs.

 Payment Options: Paypal, Wire transfer

Payment Threshold: $50

32. BigCommerce

Commission Rate: up to 200%

Cookie Lifetime: 90 days

BigCommerce is a leading e-commerce platform that has built a robust affiliate marketing program that offers a range of benefits to both affiliates and merchants. The program provides affiliates with commissions as well as a range of promotional materials to help generate traffic and purchases.

The program also includes specialized BigCommerce team assistance and access to a comprehensive reporting dashboard with real-time insights into campaign success. Affiliates can opt to either promote individual products or entire categories to optimize their campaigns and maximize their earnings.

According to the company, affiliates can earn a 200% commission on the recommended customer’s first monthly payment. They can also earn a further $1,500 if clients join up for BigCommerce’s Enterprise package.

 Payment Options: Bank Transfer

Payment Threshold:

33. Etsy

Commission Rate: commissions vary depending on the product

Cookie Lifetime: 30 days

Etsy is an online marketplace where people can purchase and trade their one-of-a-kind handcrafted and vintage goods. A wide variety of items are sold on the platform that includes jewelry, apparel, house décor, and furniture.

The Etsy affiliate marketing program enables website owners and bloggers to make commissions by selling and promoting Etsy goods on their websites. Because Etsy has a wide variety of goods, affiliate marketers can quickly discover products that match the subject and audience of their website.

This makes it simpler for them to produce pertinent and engaging content that will appeal to their target audience. Etsy’s affiliate marketing program also provides a reasonable commission rate, which is a portion of the transaction price earned by affiliates for advertising Etsy goods.

The compensation rate is presently set at 4%, which is lower than some other associate marketing programs, but it’s still a good rate that can build up, particularly if your website receives a lot of traffic.

Payment Options: Check, money transfer, bank deposit

Payment Threshold: $20

34. GetResponse 

Commission Rate: 33%

Cookie Lifetime: 120 days

GetResponse the company that provides marketing automation, landing pages, opt-in forms, webinars, customer relationship management, and more also offers an affiliate marketing program. GetResponse offers two affiliate programs: an affiliate bounty program offering $100 for every sale referred and an affiliate recurring program that pays 33% for every sale referred every month.

The programs also offer free resources and promotional materials including banners, videos, and sales copy. This free-to-join program also offers support like real-time reporting, which allows affiliates to track their performance and monitor their earnings.

Payment Options: PayPal, check

Payment Threshold: $50

How do Affiliate Programs Work?

Simply put, Affiliate programs are marketing arrangements between a business or seller and its affiliate marketers. The affiliates promote the company’s goods or services by referring and directing prospective buyers to the company’s website to make purchases.

In return, affiliates earn a commission when one of their followers they refer makes purchases. When it comes to affiliate markets there are two types: affiliate programs and affiliate marketing networks.

Affiliate networks or affiliate platforms are third-party advertising markets that connect merchants with affiliate marketers. Affiliate marketing programs are programs run by individual companies that allow marketers to advertise their goods or services in return for a commission.

The company gives the affiliate a one-of-a-kind link or code to use in promoting the product or service. The marketer receives a commission when someone hits on the link and makes a transaction.

On the other hand, affiliate marketing networks link businesses with marketers. It helps businesses to establish an affiliate program and then provides affiliates with a collection of programs from which to choose. The affiliate network will track views and purchases and then gives a commission to the affiliates.

Here’s a breakdown of how these programs normally operate:

• The affiliate marketer joins an affiliate program offered by a merchant.
• The affiliate program provides the affiliate marketer with a unique affiliate link. This link tracks the traffic and sales the affiliate marketer sends to the merchant’s website.
• The affiliate marketer then includes this link in their promotional content, such as blog posts, social media posts, or email newsletters.
• When a potential customer clicks on the link and makes a purchase or completes an action (like signing up for a service), the affiliate marketer earns a commission.

How to Make Money as an Affiliate?

There are plenty of ways to make money as an affiliate, and here are some of the most effective methods to maximize your earnings:

Website or Blog Promotion

Website or blog promotion is one of the classic ways to monetize as an affiliate. You can create valuable content on your website or blog that focuses on a particular product or service. This can include in-depth reviews, detailed comparisons with other products, and even personal recommendations based on your experiences.

By strategically incorporating affiliate links into your content, you can direct your audience to the merchant’s website, where they can make a purchase. This method allows you to earn a commission for every sale generated through your affiliate links.

Social Media Promotion

With the widespread popularity of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and more, social media promotion has become a powerful affiliate marketing strategy. If you have a substantial following on these platforms, you can promote products and services to your audience.

Craft engaging posts, stories, or videos that showcase the benefits of the products or services you’re affiliated with. Include your unique affiliate links in your social media posts, and when your followers click on these links and make purchases, you’ll earn a commission.

Social media promotion offers a dynamic way to reach a wide audience and boost your affiliate earnings.

Email Marketing

Email marketing is a highly targeted approach to affiliate marketing. If you possess expertise in a specific niche and have built an email list of subscribers interested in that niche, you can leverage email marketing to promote affiliate products or services.

Create compelling email campaigns that highlight the value and benefits of the products you’re affiliated with. Include affiliate links within your emails, allowing subscribers to easily make purchases.

Email marketing provides a direct and personal way to connect with your audience, making it an effective method for driving affiliate sales and earning commissions.

Offer Paid Advertising

Another lucrative affiliate marketing strategy is to offer paid advertising opportunities on your platform. If you have a website with substantial traffic, companies may be interested in advertising their products or services to your audience.

You can collaborate with these businesses and offer banner ad space on your website. Negotiate a fee for displaying these ads, and ensure they are relevant to your audience’s interests. Paid advertising not only generates income from businesses but also enhances the overall user experience on your platform.

YouTube Videos

Creating YouTube videos is an engaging way to promote affiliate products and earn commissions. If you excel at video content creation, consider making videos that feature product reviews, demonstrations, and tutorials related to the products or services you’re affiliated with.

In the video description, include your affiliate links, directing viewers to the merchant’s website. YouTube’s vast user base provides a significant opportunity to reach a broad audience. As your videos gain traction and generate affiliate sales, you’ll see your earnings grow.

Explore various video formats and content ideas to cater to your viewers and maximize your affiliate marketing success.

These methods offer diverse opportunities to monetize as an affiliate marketer. Depending on your platform, niche, and audience, you can choose the strategies that align best with your strengths and goals.

By combining these approaches and consistently delivering value to your audience, you can build a sustainable income stream through affiliate marketing.

Check out our article on how to make money with affiliate marketing for more insights.

Types of Affiliate Marketing Programs

There are several ways where you can earn money as an affiliate marketer by using links, images, banners, or through content. Here are some common ways to make money as an affiliate marketer:

• Pay-per-click: In this arrangement, you place ads on your website, and you get paid every time someone clicks on the ad. Essentially, you earn a commission for every click-through to the advertiser’s website.
• Pay-Per-lead: With this method, you get paid when a visitor to your website, blog or social media clicks on an affiliate link and fills out a form, such as an email opt-in form.
• Pay-per-sale: Here you promote a product or service and earn a commission for every sale you generate through your affiliate link. You can earn a percentage of the sale price or a fixed commission amount depending on the terms of the affiliate program.
• Cost per action (CPA): In this type of affiliate marketing, affiliates receive a commission when a user performs a particular action, such as filling out a form, making a transaction, or subscribing to a service.
• Sponsored content: Some companies may use your services as a content creator and sponsor your content or pay you to promote their products in your content. This can include product reviews, testimonials, sponsored posts, or social media posts.

When signing on as an affiliate marketer it is important to carefully choose products and services that align with your brand and audience. This is because promoting products that you genuinely believe in can lead to more success and revenue in the long run.

You can earn a percentage of the customer’s purchase each time they make a purchase. In some cases, affiliate programs do offer recurring commissions for as long as the referred customer remains a customer.

Why Not Join Affiliate Networks?

If you are an affiliate marketer joining an affiliate network can be beneficial. This is because affiliate marketing networks provide you with access to a broader range of retailers and goods to promote, as well as a variety of tools and resources to help improve your campaigns and maximize their earnings.

Additionally, affiliates can tap into the knowledge of other effective affiliates and benefit from their experiences by joining an affiliate network. Below are some affiliate networks to consider joining:

CJ Affiliate Network: Commission Junction is a well-known affiliate network that offers a high commission rate for sales generated and generous bonuses for referring new customers. It partners with over 3,800 brands and touts paying over $1.8 billion in affiliate commissions annually.

It offers wide-ranging tools to help businesses increase performance and conversions, such as deep link generator and automation, mobile-friendly conversions, comprehensive reporting, an intuitive dashboard, and a monthly fee. CJ Affiliate specializes in big brand names, as well as smaller product and service suppliers, and offers direct display advertising offering flat fees and commissions. CJ is best suited to affiliate marketers with three to six months of experience and its payment options include cheques and direct deposits.

ShareASale: ShareASale is an affiliate network featuring over 2,500 different merchants to choose from. It offers a variety of commission rates based on the particular product. As an affiliate, you can choose the specific businesses you want to promote and how you want to promote them.

It is free to sign up and has thousands of merchant partners.  It is popular among marketers and merchants due to its user-friendly interface, fast free sign-up, and support for affiliates running multiple websites. The ShareASale website allows affiliates to join in and view their stats and earnings in real-time. It also provides great affiliate partner support, including affiliate marketing classes, training webinars, merchant recommendations, and marketing tools to help you grow your revenue. ShareASale promises prompt delivery of earned commissions.

Additionally, Share a Sale gives users the option to deep connect. As an affiliate, this means that you can direct visitors away from the home page and onto the merchant’s registration page. Deep linking makes it more likely that you will receive commissions for recommendations you make.

Impact Radius: Impact Radius is a popular affiliate network that provides a variety of features and tools to assist retailers and affiliates in reaching their objectives. The platform has an easy-to-use user interface (UI) that allows you to manage campaigns, monitor performance, and improve outcomes. Impact Radius’ sophisticated monitoring and reporting skills are one of its most appealing features.

Users can monitor success across multiple platforms, such as mobile, social, and email, and it offers real-time reporting and metrics to help optimize campaigns and maximize ROI. This affiliate network not only gets you access to a marketplace where you find top brands but also helps you contact your preferred brand’s affiliate manager directly.

Awin: Awin is one of the most recognized affiliate marketing networks, providing a variety of features and tools to assist merchants and affiliates in succeeding in the highly competitive world of affiliate marketing. Awin’s vast network of partners, which includes some of the world’s top companies and publishers, is one of its main advantages.

This simplifies the process of connecting businesses with high-quality associates who can help generate tailored traffic and sales. Whether you’re just starting out in the world of affiliate marketing or looking to take your campaigns to the next level, Awin is worth considering.

Partnerize: Partnerize is a prominent affiliate network that provides merchants and affiliates with a variety of tools and features to help them thrive in the highly competitive world of affiliate marketing. Partnerize is able to produce impressive outcomes for its customers by focusing on data-driven insights and advanced tracking tools.

One of Partnerize’s main advantages is its advanced monitoring and reporting features. The platform provides real-time monitoring across multiple platforms, including mobile, social, and email, as well as potent reporting and analytics tools to aid in campaign optimization and ROI maximization.

FlexOffers: FlexOffers is a well-known affiliate network that links marketers with publishers in order to boost income. It has a user-friendly interface that is simple to use for both marketers and affiliates. It also provides a variety of tools and resources to assist content creators in optimizing their affiliate efforts and increasing their profits.

One of the most appealing aspects of FlexOffers is its extensive network of advertisers, which includes well-known companies from a variety of sectors. This means that publishers can promote a wide variety of goods and services to their target community.

Key Points About Affiliate Marketing Programs:

• Affiliate marketing programs use a combination of cookies and tracking links to identify when a customer has been referred by an affiliate.
• The commission that an affiliate marketer earns can vary widely. It can be a flat rate or a percentage of the sale. Some affiliate programs offer tiered commission rates based on performance.
• Affiliate programs can be a profitable way to generate income for bloggers, influencers, and individuals who can market to a large audience.
• Most affiliate programs have rules and guidelines that affiliates must follow. It’s important to understand these rules to stay compliant and maintain good standing in the program.
• It’s important for affiliates to promote products and services that align with their brand or personal values. This can lead to higher conversions and maintain trust with their audience.

By leveraging the power of social media, blogs, and other online platforms, affiliate marketing has grown into a substantial industry, providing many with a significant source of online income.

How to Find the Best Affiliate Programs for Your Business

There are several ways to find the best affiliate programs for your business. One method is to conduct a Google search for affiliate programs in your industry. Another option is to look into affiliate networks, which contain profiles of affiliate programs.

Finding the best affiliate program for you can seem difficult, but there are several steps you can take to make the process go more smoothly:

Step 1: Research affiliate networks: Affiliate networks, such as Commission Junction, ShareASale, and ClickBank, are great places to start your search for affiliate programs. These networks offer a wide range of products and services in various niches, and they can provide you with useful tools and resources to manage your affiliate campaigns.

Step 2: Look for products and services that align with your niche: It’s essential to choose affiliate programs that align with your niche and target audience. By promoting products and services that are relevant to your audience, you’ll be more likely to generate conversions and earn commissions.

Step 3: Consider commission rates: Commission rates vary between affiliate programs, so it’s important to consider the commission rate when choosing which programs to promote. Look for programs with higher commission rates, but also consider the value and relevance of the product or service.

Step 4: Check for affiliate program restrictions: Some affiliate programs have restrictions on where and how you can promote their products. Be sure to read the program terms and conditions carefully to ensure that the program is a good fit for your marketing strategy.

Step 5: Research the reputation of the affiliate program: Before promoting any affiliate program, it’s important to research the reputation of the program and the company behind it. Look for reviews and feedback from other affiliates, and check the program’s track record of paying commissions on time.

To get to know more about affiliate marketing you can also enroll in an affiliate marketing course.

Final Words

These are some of the best and highest-earning affiliate programs. Now it’s up to you to choose the programs you believe you’ll be comfortable with and earn enough money from customers. As we all know, the affiliate marketing business is booming, and it doesn’t appear that this pattern will be stopping anytime soon. So, why not try your hand at being an affiliate marketer?

Here’s a handy summary of all the affiliate marketing programs we featured:

Which affiliate program is the best for beginners?

The best affiliate program for beginners is determined by a number of variables, such as the individual’s interests and the products or services they wish to market. However, some associate programs are more user-friendly for beginners than others.

Because of its user-friendly interface, a broad variety of goods to advertise, and comparatively cheap commission rates, Amazon Associates is considered a great affiliate program for beginners. eBay Partner Network, ShareASale, and CJ Affiliate are some of the best affiliate programs for beginners.

What is the highest-paid affiliate program?

There are many affiliate programs that offer high commission rates and it can be difficult to determine which one is the highest paying. Some affiliate programs that are often mentioned as being among the highest paying include Semrush, GetResponse, Fiverr, Bluehost, and Shopify.

What is the best-selling affiliate product?

There are many products that sell well through affiliate marketing and the best-selling product will vary depending on factors such as the target audience and marketing strategy. Tours, insurance products, online classes, virtual reality products, drones, and health supplements are some popular goods that are frequently cited as top sellers through affiliate marketing.

What are the top 10 affiliate programs?

There are many great affiliate programs available and the top 10 will vary depending on your specialization and interest. Some popular affiliate programs that are often mentioned in top 10 lists include:

1.       Amazon Associates

2.      CJ Affiliate

3.      ShareASale

4.      ClickBank

5.      GetResponse

6.      Bluehost

7.      Shopify

8.     eBay Partner Network

9.      BigCommerce

10.  NordVPN

What is the best affiliate company?

There are many great affiliate companies available and the best one for you will depend on your individual needs and goals. Some popular affiliate companies include Amazon, eBay, Shopify, and Bluehost.

Which is the best affiliate network?

There are many great affiliate networks available and the best one for you will depend on your individual needs and goals. Some popular affiliate networks include CJ Affiliate, ShareASale, ClickBank, and Amazon Associates.

Each affiliate marketing network has its own unique features and benefits. For example, CJ Affiliate is known for its wide range of products and services to promote while Amazon Associates is popular for its vast selection of products.

It’s important to research and compare the different affiliate networks to find the one that best fits your needs. Consider factors such as the types of products or services available to promote, commission rates, payment methods, and support when choosing an affiliate network.

Can you be a millionaire with affiliate marketing?

While it is possible to earn a significant amount of money through affiliate marketing, becoming a millionaire solely through affiliate marketing is rare and requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and skill. Successful affiliate marketers have built large audiences and have developed effective strategies for promoting products and engaging with their audiences.

It’s important to note that success in affiliate marketing takes time and effort. It requires consistently creating valuable content, building an engaged audience, and promoting products effectively. While it’s possible to earn a significant amount of money through affiliate marketing, it’s not a get-rich-quick scheme. For more read our article affiliate marketing myths.

Is it worth becoming an affiliate?

Becoming an affiliate can be a great way to earn extra income by promoting products or services that you believe in. However, whether or not it’s worth it for you depends on several factors such as the amount of time and effort you’re willing to put into it, the products or services you’re promoting, and your ability to effectively reach and engage with your audience.

How do I become an affiliate with no money?

Becoming an affiliate with no money is possible because most affiliate programs are free to join. Here are some steps you can follow to become an affiliate with no money:

• Research and choose an affiliate program that aligns with your specialization, interests, and audience.
• Sign up for the program and get your unique tracking link.
• Promote the products or services using your tracking link on your website, social media accounts, or other platforms where you have an audience.
• Earn commissions when someone clicks on your link and makes a purchase or completes an action.It’s important to note that while joining an affiliate program is usually free, there may be costs associated with promoting the products or services such as website hosting fees or advertising costs.

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