If you’ve ever heard the advice that you could create a blog, YouTube channel, or social media profile and make money in your sleep, one of the best ways to do that is with affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing is a passive revenue stream that can be highly lucrative. It’s currently a $17 billion industry that continues to grow.
You can use affiliate marketing to monetize content and networks, from podcasts and webinars to newsletters or websites. When your readers or viewers are looking for trusted recommendations, you can earn a commission by referring them to products and services you use and love.
Let’s dive into the 14 best affiliate marketing programs (hint: many of them are ideal for beginners too!)
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What is an affiliate marketing program?
An affiliate marketing program is a partnership between a company and affiliates (also known as publishers) where the company pays commissions to the affiliates for generating sales or leads from promotional efforts.
Affiliates are provided with tracking links to promote the company’s products or services, and they earn a percentage of the revenue from any successful conversions driven through their unique affiliate links.
Anyone can take advantage of affiliate marketing and promote products to earn a commission. There’s also no shortage of affiliate marketing programs for beginners out there – ensuring lots of people can get their fair share of earning passive income.
Affiliate marketing is performance-based, so there’s no upper revenue limit. In addition, you don’t need millions of followers to start affiliate marketing. Even a small, dedicated following may engage with affiliate links and help you start earning affiliate income.
Recommended: How to get started in affiliate marketing for beginners
6 Types of affiliate marketing programs
There are different types of affiliate marketing programs you can choose from, including:
- Affiliate networks: These are large networks you may have to apply to join that include sometimes hundreds or thousands of brands.
- Influencer programs: Special incentive programs for influencers that may include exclusive discounts or other bonuses for followers.
- Search affiliates: Search engine-oriented affiliate marketers are set up to offer rewards to people searching for specific coupon codes. This is a low-effort form of affiliate marketing.
- Email marketing: With email marketing, you’ll send out a newsletter with regular updates and information as well as affiliate links to products or services you believe in.
- Coupon sites: Coupon sites capitalize on merchant website traffic by offering coupon codes for various merchants. Usually, users navigate to coupon sites while searching for a specific coupon code.
- Review sites: Similar to coupon sites but requiring more effort, review sites provide in-depth reviews of products or services with coupon codes or affiliate links throughout. The best review sites are niche-specific and in-depth, and provide sufficient information to guide decision-making.
- Free affiliate programs: Most affiliate marketing networks and programs won’t charge you to join, instead, they’ll pay you with a commission from each sale you help generate. However, this isn’t always the case. You may come across some affiliate programs that aren’t free. So do your research and stick to the recommendations in this guide.
6 Key factors to consider when choosing an affiliate marketing program
When choosing an affiliate marketing program, consider:
- High commission rates: You could earn between 1% to 10% or more.
- Quality products or services to promote: Ideally, only promote products or services you actually like or use to offer authentic marketing.
- Reliable tracking and reporting tools: You need to be able to see how much you are earning, and which posts are performing well.
- Support: Look for an affiliate program with strong support and resources for affiliates.
- Clear and fair terms and conditions: For example, clarity on cookie duration and payment terms.
- Good reputation: Some companies have an excellent track record in the industry and for their affiliates.
14 best affiliate marketing programs for beginners
Ready to get started with affiliate marketing? We’ve reviewed and compiled the 14 best affiliate marketing programs for beginners. Get scrolling!
1. ClickBank
Clickbank is one of the largest affiliate marketing programs and e-commerce platforms. You can choose to market over 4,000 unique products. At the same time, Clickbank provides digital content creators and affiliate marketers the opportunity to earn commissions by promoting those products. Choose from a wide range of digital and physical products from various niches to promote. There is no limit on the amount of products you can promote.
Best for: Bloggers, websites, newsletters, content creators
Type: Affiliate network
Commission: Can be up to 90% commission, but varies depending on product
Cookie duration: 60 days
Payout methods: Check, direct deposit, wire transfer, and Payoneer
Payment threshold: Can set it as low as $10
2. ShareASale
ShareASale is one of the oldest affiliate marketing networks having existed since 2000 and generated $200 million in sales in 2023. It helps you find, manage, and build relevant brand partnerships. As an affiliate, you can track your campaign performance, see which transactions earn commissions, access reporting and analytics tools, and receive earnings each month.
Best for: Content creators, social influencers, bloggers, publishers, and review sites
Type: Affiliate network
Commission: Varies depending on the merchant
Cookie duration: Varies by the merchant
Payout methods: Wire transfer, direct deposit, or check
Payment threshold: $50 minimum
3. Fiverr
Fiverr is an online marketplace that allows freelancers to find work from other individuals and businesses. Freelancers can both bid on jobs and post job offerings. With Fiverr’s affiliate program, you can earn commissions by directing buyers to Fiverr’s services. No matter the service or the merchant, you can receive a percentage for every first-time buyer referral with no limit.
Best for: Bloggers, websites, newsletters, content creators
Type: Company affiliate program
Commission: Ranging from 25% to 100% of the customer’s first order, plus 10% revenue share from all future orders placed by the customer in the first 12 months
Cookie duration: 30 days for first-time buyers
Payment threshold: $100 minimum
4. CJ Affiliate
Commission Junction (CJ Affiliate) is a large global affiliate marketing program spanning various industries, with over 14 billion annual customer interactions. Brands include well-known names such as Barnes & Noble, Office Depot, Zappos, Verizon, and more. You can use your online presence to promote products and services you love from these leading brands and more. Benefits include a robust suite of tools, in-depth reporting, and cutting-edge tracking technology.
Best for: Bloggers, websites, newsletters, content creators
Type: Affiliate network
Commission: Varies depending on the merchant
Cookie duration: Varies based on the merchant
Payout methods: Not specified
Payment threshold: $100 minimum
5. Target’s Affiliate Program
Creator Michelle Garabito explains how you can easily get into affiliate marketing with products you already know and love from Target. They will pay you 8% to promote your favorite Target products. Go to Target’s official affiliate program to sign up. You’ll be able to get extra content and deals to help you promote. Your social media is tracked from the product sales.
Best for: Bloggers, content creators, influencers, newsletters, individuals starting out
Type: Company affiliate program
Commission: up to 8%
Cookie duration: 7 days
Payout methods: Not specified
Payment threshold: Not specified
6. Rakuten
Rakuten is a technology conglomerate with an e-commerce marketplace and cashback site. Users can earn cashback while shopping at 3500 brands of major brands, like Forever 21, Estee Lauder, Dyson, Estee Lauder, and more.
Rakuten has over 25 years of expertise in the industry and affiliate marketers can get started in as soon as one month.
Best for: Content creators, bloggers, social influencers, publishers, review sites
Type: Affiliate network/company affiliate program
Commission: Varies depending on the merchant
Cookie duration: Varies by the merchant
Payout methods: PayPal, direct deposit, or ACH
Payment threshold: $50 minimum
7. FlexOffers
FlexOffers is a large affiliate marketing network that connects publishers and advertisers. With the comprehensive platform and vast network of affiliate programs across industries, FlexOffers gives you access to an affiliate network of over 10,000 affiliate programs. It includes advanced payment options and strong average commissions.
Best for: Content creators, bloggers, social influencers, publishers, review sites
Type: Affiliate network
Commission: 5%-7% average, some over 10%
Cookie duration: Varies by the merchant
Payout methods: PayPal, wire transfer, bank transfer, check
Payment threshold: $100 minimum
8. ConvertKit
ConvertKit is a well-reputed email marketing platform. Its affiliate program allows you to promote the platform while helping businesses and creators grow their audience and boost engagement. With an impressive 30% recurring commission for 24 months for every new customer referred, ConvertKit is also one of the most generous commissions. As an affiliate, you will have access to dozens of resources to help promote the platform.
Best for: Digital marketers, web educators, digital entrepreneurs, bloggers, social influencers, publishers, review sites, content creators
Type: Company affiliate program
Commission: 30% commission for 24 months for every sign-up
Cookie duration: 90 days
Payout methods: PayPal
Payment threshold: None
9. Impact
Impact is an affiliate marketing and performance marketing platform. It includes a suite of tools for tracking, reporting, and managing campaigns. You can join Impact’s affiliate program to promote products and services from major companies like Levi’s, L’Oreal, Backcountry, and many others.
Best for: Publishers, review sites, content creators, bloggers, social influencers
Type: Affiliate network
Commission: Varies by merchant
Cookie duration: Varies by the merchant
Payout methods: PayPal
Payment threshold: $10 minimum
10. eBay
eBay is an online auction and e-commerce company where people and businesses buy and sell directly worldwide, with over 132 million users. You can join the eBay Partner Network as an affiliate to earn commissions if a referral makes a purchase or wins an auction within 24 hours after clicking your affiliate link.
Since you can buy nearly anything on eBay, you can promote a wide range of items from brand-new electronics to vintage cars or used clothes.
Best for: Content creators, bloggers, social influencers, digital marketers, digital influencers
Type: Company affiliate program
Commission: 2.5% to 4% of purchase price
Cookie duration: 24 hours
Payout methods: PayPal or wire transfer
Payment threshold: $10 minimum
11. Elementor
Elementor is a drag-and-drop page builder for WordPress. As an Elementor affiliate, you can promote products you use and love. Elementor already powers 8% of the world’s websites and offers one of the highest commissions on new sales. The company offers its customers several paid plans, from $59/year to $399/year. You’ll get up to 50% commission on every new sale.
Best for: Digital marketers, WordPress developers, content creators, web educators, digital entrepreneurs
Type: Company affiliate program
Commission: Up to 50% commission on every new sale
Cookie duration: 90 days
Payout methods: A minimum commission of $200 is required for payout.
Payment threshold: PayPal account or other payment methods
12. Shopify
Shopify is an e-commerce platform that can help companies or individuals start, grow, and manage an online business. Its impressive features make it popular with entrepreneurs. You could join its affiliate program and promote its widely popular and versatile e-commerce solution. You can earn commissions on all of Shopify’s standard plans, from free to $69/month.
Best for: Digital marketers, WordPress developers, content creators, web educators, digital entrepreneurs
Type: Company affiliate program
Commission: Depends on the merchant
Cookie duration: 30 days
Payout methods: PayPal or direct deposit
Payment threshold: $10 minimum
13. Bluehost
Bluehost is a web hosting company that provides shared hosting, WordPress hosting, WooCommerce hosting, and more for individuals and companies of all sizes. You can join Bluehost’s affiliate program and earn a flat $65 commission for every qualified purchase of their monthly subscription plans. With plans that cost as little as $4.95 per month, this is a good place to start earning.
Best for: Content creators, bloggers, web educators, digital entrepreneurs, web developers, digital marketers, consultants
Type: Company affiliate program
Commission: $65 per purchase
Cookie duration: Not specified
Payout methods: PayPal or wire transfer
Payment threshold: $100 minimum
14. Hubspot
HubSpot is a widely popular CRM platform for marketing, sales, and customer service. It also has a very generous affiliate program.
HubSpot offers a welcome bonus of up to $80 for affiliates in your first 30 days of the program. In addition, you can earn a 30% recurring commission for up to a year on any qualified HubSpot plan signups. Plans range from $45 per month to over $10,000 per month. You’ll also get access to resources and promotional materials to help you promote Hubspot.
Best for: Content creators, bloggers, web educators, digital entrepreneurs, web developers, digital marketers, consultants
Type: Company affiliate program
Commission: 30% recurring commission for up to one year
Cookie duration: 180 days
Payout methods: PayPal or direct deposit
Payment threshold: None
How do you choose the best affiliate marketing programs?
Selecting the right affiliate program can be the difference between lackluster earnings and a steady passive income stream.
The best affiliate marketing programs offer generous commissions, long cookie duration so you get credit even days later, and simple payouts.
Ideally, you also want to look out for affiliate marketing websites with an intuitive interface that easily allows you to track the performance of your ads or links. This is a major bonus, as it can help you grow affiliate commissions even more.
Need more ideas? Learn to make $500 a week fast!
FAQ
What is the highest-paying affiliate program?
Some of the highest-paying affiliate programs include Shopify, Rakuten, and Hubspot offer some of the highest-paying affiliate programs.
Can you make $100 a day with affiliate marketing?
Yes, you can make $100 or more per day with affiliate marketing. However, you’ll need to build your following or website traffic and gain your audience’s trust to earn that much.
Do you need a website to do affiliate marketing?
No, you don’t need a website to do affiliate marketing. You can use social media, newsletters, or other options to make affiliate marketing commissions.
Where should a beginner start in affiliate marketing?
A beginner can start affiliate marketing with some of the networks or programs above, such as Target’s affiliate program. You can also learn more about how affiliate marketing works, and get other ideas to boost your income or get money fast.
How do I choose the best affiliate marketing program?
Look for programs with products/services relevant to your niche, competitive commission rates, good tracking/reporting capabilities, regular payouts, quality marketing assets, and helpful affiliate management teams.
