Affiliate marketing is quickly becoming a very popular way for beginner and budding entrepreneurs to make money online.

If you don’t know much about affiliate marketing, that’s OK. The affiliate marketing programs in this article are the easiest ones to use and feature products that are among the easiest to get clicks for.

So first, let’s ensure you know exactly what affiliate marketing is and how it works. Then we will dive into the 17 best affiliate marketing programs for beginners.

What is affiliate marketing?

Affiliate marketing is performance-based marketing in which a business rewards one or more affiliates for each visitor or customer brought by the affiliate’s marketing efforts.

It is a process where you promote someone else’s product or service and earn a commission when someone decides to purchase by clicking on your link. The affiliate partner then rewards a payout for a specific result to the retailer or advertiser, typically a sale. But some affiliate marketing programs can reward you for providing them with leads, a free trial, user clicks to a website, or getting downloads of an app.

Most affiliate programs are usually free to join, and there are usually no high startup costs. If you have an effective affiliate marketing strategy, you can go from this being a side hustle to a profitable online business idea and earn a healthy monthly income.

What is an affiliate marketing program?

Affiliate marketing programs are a way for merchants to promote their products and services. Affiliates (or associates) are websites that agree to promote the merchant’s products and services in exchange for a commission on sales.

The commission can be based on several factors, such as the number of people the affiliate sends to the merchant’s site or people who buy something or perform some other action.

How do affiliate marketing programs work?

Affiliate marketing programs connect businesses with potential customers through online platforms such as social media, blogs, and email newsletters. When someone clicks on an affiliate link, they are taken to the business’s website. The affiliate gets a commission from the sale if they purchase a product or service within a specific timeframe.

Affiliate marketing programs offer you the chance to promote brands that sell online business tools such as VPNs and other software, pharmaceutical items, digital products such as e-books, and anything else you can buy online.

What is the commission rate?

The commission rate is the percentage of the sale that the affiliate receives. It can range from a few per cent to 50% or more. The average commission rate is around 20%. Some programs also offer recurring affiliate commissions and they pay you a commission for every month a customer uses their product.

What is the cookie duration?

The cookie duration is the amount of time an affiliate has to generate a sale for the merchant before the affiliate’s cookie expires. The average cookie duration is 30 days, but some affiliate programs have shorter or longer periods.

What are the 17 best affiliate marketing programs?

Affiliate marketing is a great way to make some money. Even if you are a beginner, you can make some money by signing up to be an affiliate with an affiliate marketing program.

We have selected the most popular ones for beginners based on the size of the program, how popular it is, how easy it is to get clicks, and the size of the payouts.

ClickBank affiliate program

ClickBank is one of the oldest and most popular affiliate programs. ClickBank is a marketplace for digital products, such as e-books, software, and membership sites. Most of the products are in the digital information marketing and health supplement niches.

Pros

• You don’t need to have your own website to promote programs
• The average commission is high compared to many other affiliate marketing programs
• There are many programs with recurring commissions
• The pre-selling is already done for you by the merchant’s landing page
• Digital products can be quickly promoted through email marketing and social media
• Creating an affiliate link is easy

Cons

• The Marketplace is functional but hasn’t been updated in nearly two decades
• Some programs have resulted in high refund rates

Payment details

• The commission rate varies
• The cookie duration is 60 days

Rakuten advertising affiliate program

Rakuten Advertising is one of the largest affiliate networks, with over 12,000 affiliate programs. Rakuten has a wide variety of products and services, ranging from books and music to fashion and electronics.

Pros

• The affiliate network is extensive and has many well-known brands
• Affiliates can earn cash back as well as commissions
• There are many tools available to help affiliates succeed
• Handles over $100M a year in sales yearly

Cons

• The user interface could be more user-friendly
• It can take a long time to get approved for some programs

Payment details

• The commission rate varies
• The cookie duration varies

Impact affiliate program

The Impact affiliate program is a performance-based marketing platform that connects businesses with affiliates who promote their products and services. Impact offers various affiliate marketing tools to help affiliates succeed, including an affiliate network, tracking software, and creative resources.

Pros

• Instant approval of brands
• Wide choice of affiliate programs
• Intuitive interface
• Home to big-name brands
• Choice of categories
• Multiple ways to cash out earnings

Cons

• Slightly fewer features than some other affiliate programs
• It has a wealth of features, which is a good thing, but they can be too much for some beginners

Payment details

• The commission rate varies
• The cookie duration varies

Awin affiliate program

Awin is a global affiliate network with over 13,000 active affiliates. Awin has a wide range of products, including fashion, beauty, and home goods. It offers a vast selection of affiliate marketing programs, and with its accelerated payment system, you don’t have to wait long for payments.

Pros

• The network is extensive and has many well-known brands
• Affiliates can earn cash back, as well as commissions
• There are many tools available to help affiliates succeed
• Many big-name brands to work with

Cons

• This program is top-rated, which means you will have a lot of competition
• Operates mainly in the EU and UK, although it is a global company

Payment details

• The commission rate varies
• The cookie duration varies

Etsy affiliate program

Etsy is an online marketplace where people can buy and sell handmade and vintage items, among other things. Etsy has a wide variety of products, including art, home decor, jewelry, and clothing. It offers a vast selection of affiliate marketing programs.

Pros

• Commission rates are high compared to other affiliate programs
• Etsy offers a wide range of products that can be promoted
• The site is well-known and popular, which could result in increased traffic and sales
• Etsy is a trusted brand with a loyal following, which could result in higher conversion rates

Cons

• Sometimes, they change the algorithm rules of the platform
• Popular vendors sometimes leave the platform

Payment details

• The commission rate is 4% per sale
• The cookie duration is 30 days

eBay partner network affiliate program

The eBay Partner Network is an affiliate marketing program run by eBay. It offers various products, including electronics, fashion, and home goods. With over 12,000 active affiliates, the eBay Partner Network is one of the largest affiliate networks.

Pros

• Wide variety of products to promote
• Low barrier to entry, so it’s great for beginners
• High commission rates
• Global brand name
• PayPal payments

Cons

• Short cookie rate
• Many knock-offs on their site

Payment details

• The commission rate is up to 4% per sale
• The cookie duration is only 24 hours

Fiverr affiliate program

Fiverr is an online marketplace for services. Fiverr has a wide range of services, including graphic design, web development, and video editing. It offers a vast selection of affiliate marketing programs.

Pros

• You can make a lot of money through their high commissions
• The interface is user-friendly and easy to navigate
• They are a market leader, so there is no real competition
• New services become available to sell all the time, so you’ll always have something to promote

Cons

• You don’t get paid for sales to existing customers
• Some of the popular programs leave the site

Payment details

• The commission rate is up to $150 per sale
• The cookie duration is for 30 days

FanFuel

FanFuel is an affiliate marketing program for sports fans. It offers various products to make commissions on, including tickets, apparel, and memorabilia. FanFuel has a massive selection of affiliate marketing programs.

Pros

• Commission on repeat customers for life
• Real-time data
• Retargeting campaigns and funnel optimization
• Good referral bonuses

Cons

• Not all countries can participate
• It doesn’t associate itself with the offshore gambling websites

Payment details

• The commission rate is 40% per sale
• The cookie duration is 90 days

ShareASale affiliate program

If you’re looking for a well-rounded and reliable affiliate marketing program, ShareASale is a great option. With over 5,000 different affiliate programs to choose from, you’re sure to find something to match your interests and skills.

The interface may be outdated compared to some flashy programs, but it’s simple and easy to use. And most importantly, the programs offered through ShareASale are high quality and profitable.

Pros

• ShareASale has a comprehensive database of products and services to promote, much larger than many other affiliate marketing programs.
• It also includes more minor, unknown, but worthwhile affiliate programs that can be a great source of income.
• The “Search for Merchants” function is far superior to Commission Junction, for example, in terms of usability and finding relevant programs.
• Their “PowerRank” metric shows you where an affiliate program sits in the top 1000 on ShareASale, which is a valuable tool for determining whether or not a program is worth signing up for.
• Payments are processed quickly and efficiently when you don’t have to wait months to get paid using ShareASale.

Cons

• The interface is quite old
• Its approval process for affiliate programs is unpredictable

Payment details

• The commission rate varies
• The cookie duration varies

FlexOffers affiliate program

If you’re looking for an affiliate marketing program with a massive pool of quality advertisers, FlexOffers is an excellent option.

They have 12,000 merchants to choose from but only consider 500 of these to be “premium” merchants. This gives affiliates access to some of the biggest brands in the world.

FlexOffers is one of the most reputable affiliate marketing programs, which helps build consumer trust.

Pros

• Great way to monetize your website or blog traffic
• Efficient and easy-to-use filtering system for finding relevant advertisers
• Generous commission rates
• The flexible Rev$hare program allows you to earn additional revenue from your sub-affiliates

Cons

• Limited customer support options
• They have a complex interface to focus on

Payment details

• The commission rate varies
• The cookie duration varies

Market Health affiliate program

The Market Health Affiliate Program is a great way to monetize your health and wellness website or blog.

They offer a wide range of products, including fitness equipment, supplements, men’s health, teeth whitening, and skincare products.

Plus, the Market Health affiliate program is one of the most reputable programs around, which helps build trust with consumers.

Pros

• The Market Health affiliate marketing program constantly adds new products to its lineup, so you’ll always have something fresh and new to pitch to your audience.
• The team at Market Health has over two decades of experience in the affiliate marketing industry, so they know what they’re doing and are interested in helping you make as much money as possible.
• You get a wide range of products to pitch
• They have excellent commission rates
• Are an established company with a proven track record

Cons

• Cookie duration could be longer
• They sometimes change the commission rates

Payment details

• The commission rate is up to 60% or $75 per sale
• The cookie duration is 30 days

CJ Affiliate network

CJ Affiliate is one of the oldest and most reputable affiliate marketing programs. They have a wide range of advertisers, including major brands like Nike, Target, and Best Buy.

Plus, CJ Affiliate is an excellent resource for finding high-quality affiliate programs to promote.

Pros

• The intuitive user interface and dashboard make it ideal for affiliate marketing beginners.
• Many big brand names are under one roof, leading to more commissions and opportunities.
• Direct display advertising opportunities, which offer a flat fee or commission.
• You can find profitable affiliate programs without guessing, as CJ Affiliate provides helpful support and tutorials.

Cons

• There’s a revolving door with the big brands
• It will take a bit longer to learn than some other programs

Payment details

• The commission rate varies
• The cookie duration varies

NordVPN affiliate program

NordVPN is one of the most popular VPN services on the market, and its affiliate program is a great way to monetize your website or blog traffic.

They offer a wide range of plans so that you can tailor your pitch to your audience. Plus, NordVPN is an established company with a proven track record.

Pros

• The affiliate marketing program offers a 40% commission for all new accounts that sign-up through your affiliate link, but you can also earn 30% on renewals
• One of the best VPN services on the market
• Big influencers typically only promote products that convert well, i.e. they make money from the promotion.

Cons

• Deep linking is not available
• Only available in English

Payment details

• The commission rate is 30% – 40%
• The cookie duration is 30 days

Bluehost affiliate program

The Bluehost affiliate marketing program is a great way to earn commission by promoting one of the many web hosting companies operating under the banner of EIG.

Since 2003, this company has established itself as a solid choice for affiliates and small businesses looking for affordable hosting and a lucrative affiliate offer.

Bluehost is one of the best affiliate programs in this roundup by earning potential, paying at least $65 per referral. You’ll see Bluehost mentioned and recommended on many marketing blogs.

Pros

• Associates earn $65 for each referral that signs up for a hosting plan, making it an excellent offer for bloggers and small businesses
• A reliable web hosting provider that is ideal for beginner bloggers
• Established and trusted name in web hosting
• Their affiliate program converts lots of traffic into sales

Cons

• There is a high threshold to getting paid
• You need to make two sales and have $100 to withdraw funds

Payment details

• The commission rate is $65 per sale
• The cookie duration is 120 days

AppSumo affiliate program

If you’re familiar with online marketing, you’ve probably heard of AppSumo. It’s a site that offers deals on the latest tech products and ongoing discounted plans or packages for more established brands in the tech space.

This means you can get a lifetime license for a software product and pay a one-time fee instead of a monthly subscription fee.

This can save you thousands of dollars annually in membership and licensing costs for software that directly benefits your online or offline business.

AppSumo’s product offerings are varied. They have programs for products like marketing and analytics tools, stock photo sites, productivity tools, and much more. This makes it an excellent option for affiliates because there’s something for everyone.

Pros

• Pay-per-sale on each initial transaction
• You get a unique URL to track all of your sales and referrals
• A custom dashboard with real-time stats
• Unlimited commissions and a 30-day cookie

Cons

• Lower cookie duration than other programs
• Higher payout threshold ($100) than other programs

Payment details

• The commission rate pays up to 100%
• The cookie duration is 30 days

Semrush affiliate program

Semrush has an affiliate marketing program that rewards you with $10 for every referral that signs up for a free trial and $200 for any referral that chooses a paid account. This is a great way to make some extra money, and the program is simple to participate in.

They have a suite of tools to help you do everything from backlink and keyword research to optimizing your content pages.

Pros

• They enjoy rewarding their affiliates with cash
• The most successful affiliates claim to earn 6-figures monthly
• One of the best SEO tools on the market, so it is a highly respected brand
• One of the highest-paying affiliate programs

Cons

• Limited payout options (PayPal and wire transfer)
• At $99.95 for the lowest-priced option, it may be high for some people

Payment details

• The commission rate is $10 per trial and $200 per sale
• The cookie duration is 120 days

Shopify affiliate program

The Shopify affiliate marketing program is an excellent way for people to earn income by promoting the Shopify platform. Participants in the program are given a unique referral URL, which they can use to promote Shopify.

The participant earns a commission through this referral link when someone signs up for Shopify.

Pros

• Solid reputation as a global brand
• A high commission rate of 200%, including up to 100% on the first two payments of a new customer
• Recurring commissions available and bonus options
• A simplified way to start an e-commerce store

Cons

• Relatively short cookie duration compared to other programs
• A bounty commission isn’t as good as a recurring commission based on a visitor’s high monthly subscription fee for a premium package

Payment details

• The commission rate is 100% for the first two payments
• The cookie duration is for 30 days

Wrapping it up

The best affiliate marketing programs for beginners are ClickBank, Rakuten Advertising, Impact, Awin, Etsy, eBay Partner Network, and Fiverr. These programs offer high commission rates, lifetime licenses, and access to a suite of tools that can help you optimize your content pages.

Semrush also has a terrific affiliate marketing program that pays you $200 per sale and offers a 120-day cookie duration.

Shopify’s affiliate program is also a great option, with a 100% commission rate for the first two payments and a 30-day cookie duration.

NordVPN and Bluehost are also excellent choices, as they offer high commissions and unlimited monthly income potential.

In conclusion, these are the 17 best affiliate marketing programs for beginners. Each program has its pros and cons, so be sure to choose the one that is right for you.

With so many great options available, there is no reason not to start making money today.

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