Choosing the right affiliate marketing program can be a daunting task. Some provide lifetime commissions while others offer higher payouts for a short period. Some have physical products while others are digital.
However, the good part is – you don't need to stick to one program. You can always have multiple affiliate programs running at the same time. This gives you the option to test new programs and continue with the ones that perform better for you.
In this blog post, I will list 15 of the best affiliate marketing programs in 2024, and tell you what makes these programs stand out from the rest and how they can benefit you as an affiliate marketer.
This isn't just a random list of programs, either. For the rest, my team and I have thoroughly researched and tested each program to make sure they are legitimate and worth your time.
But first – let me tell you what is an affiliate program.
Here you go:
What is an Affiliate Program?
An affiliate program is a marketing arrangement in which a business pays commissions to another business, website, or influencer for generating traffic, leads, or sales for their products or services.
The program provides a unique tracking link for the affiliate to share on their website or social media. When a user clicks on this link and visits the page or makes a purchase, the affiliate is tracked via cookies and is credited with the lead or sale.
It's a win-win situation for both parties involved. While the merchant gets more exposure and sales, the affiliate earns a commission on every successful lead or sale generated.
Affiliate marketing programs come in all shapes and sizes. Some are simple text links while others use more sophisticated tools like banners, product widgets, etc.
Now that you have a basic understanding of affiliate programs, let's move on to the different types of affiliate programs that you can join.
If you’re new to affiliate marketing, you might also want to learn more about what affiliate marketing is and how it works (I’ve explained the topic in detail).
How Does an Affiliate Program Work?
The process is quite simple.
First, you need to find a merchant with an affiliate program. Then sign up for their program and get your unique affiliate link.
Now promote this link on your blog, website, or social media profiles.
When a visitor clicks on your affiliate link and visits the merchant's site, performs an action, or makes a purchase, you earn a commission. This depends on the type of affiliate program you signed up for.
It's that simple.
Some affiliate programs also offer recurring commissions and two-tier commissions. I’ll talk about them in the coming sections of this post. So, keep reading.
Just in case you want to set up your own affiliate program – here’s how to do that.
What’s the Difference Between an Affiliate Network and an Affiliate Program?
Affiliate networks are platforms that connect merchants with affiliates. These networks have a central database of all affiliate programs offered by different merchants. This makes it easy for affiliates to find and compare different programs to join.
Affiliate programs are offered directly by individual merchants and not through an affiliate network. You can find these programs on their websites or through an online search.
Each of these has its own set of pros and cons, which you can see in the table below – Affiliate network vs. affiliate program.
Affiliate Network | Affiliate Program |
---|---|
A large database of brands from different niches that are looking for affiliates to promote their products and services | The opportunity to promote the products and services of the brand that is running the affiliate program |
Instant access to offers from various brands and niches | A limited selection of offers and niches to promote |
Quick and easy to join | The approval process may be more restrictive |
Sign-up or subscription fees | No joining cost |
Fixed deals | Deals may be negotiable |
They also take a percentage from your affiliate commission earnings | Better commission rates with no middlemen involved |
Dedicated support and technology to help you along the way | Personalized support (if the brand offers it) |
Various pricing and payout options | Fewer payout options |
There is always a third party involved, which means less control | Direct relationship with your partnering brand |
More competitive than individual merchant programs | Less competition as compared to affiliate networks |
If you're starting out as an affiliate marketer, I would recommend joining an affiliate program over an affiliate network. Once you have some experience under your belt, you can start looking into joining an affiliate network to scale up your affiliate income.
So, which type of affiliate program should you join?
Let me walk you through the different types of affiliate programs and the structure and advantages of each so that you can make an informed decision.
The Different Types of Affiliate Programs
Affiliate programs come in all shapes and sizes, each with its own benefits.
Here are some of the most popular types of affiliate programs:
1. Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Affiliate Programs
PPC affiliate programs pay affiliates for every click that their referral generates. You'll earn a fixed commission every time someone clicks on your ad or affiliate link. You basically get paid to generate traffic to the merchant's site.
Think of Google AdSense – It is the most reliable and easiest PPC affiliate program out there. You get paid every time someone clicks on an ad that appears on your website.
PPC affiliate programs are great for affiliates who want to earn money quickly. However, the commission rates are usually low, so you need a lot of traffic to generate significant income from these programs.
2. Pay-Per-Lead (PPL) Affiliate Programs
PPL affiliate programs are similar to PPC programs, but they pay affiliates for every lead that their referral generates, regardless of whether or not it results in a sale. A lead can be a sign-up, a subscription, or a form submission.
The merchant basically pays you for registering the information of a potential customer in their database. The amount of commission you earn generally depends on the conversion rate of leads to sales, for PPL affiliate models. However, it differs from program to program.
PPL affiliate programs are great for affiliates who are good at generating leads but may not be as successful at closing sales. They are most commonly used in the insurance and finance industries.
3. Pay-Per-Sale (PPS) Affiliate Programs
PPS affiliate programs are the most popular type of affiliate program. As the name suggests, they only pay affiliates a commission for every sale that their referral generates.
The commission is often a percentage of the total sale amount and is paid to the affiliate only after the customer has made a purchase.
PPS affiliate programs are great for affiliates with a large audience and a lot of influence, which makes them good at closing sales. However, the approval process is generally more stringent and the competition is higher as compared to other affiliate program types.
4. Recurring Affiliate Programs
Recurring affiliate programs are those in which affiliates earn a commission every time their referral makes a purchase, regardless of the time frame.
This means that even if your referral only buys something once, you will continue to earn a commission on every purchase they make in the future.
Recurring affiliate programs are great for generating regular passive income and they also provide merchants with a steadier stream of revenue.
However, you'll get a smaller up-front commission with recurring affiliate programs as compared to one-time payout programs. There's also a possibility that the customer could churn out quickly, which means you might not get much commission in the long run as well.
5. Two-Tier Affiliate Programs
Two-tier affiliate programs are those in which affiliates earn a commission not only on the sales that they generate but also on the sales of their sub-affiliates. In other words, you earn a commission on the sales of people who you have referred to the program.
Two-tier affiliate programs are great for affiliates who are good at recruiting other affiliates. However, they require more work and effort as you need to manage both your sales and the sales of your recruits.
6. CPA (Cost-Per-Action) Affiliate Programs
CPA affiliate programs are similar to PPS programs, but they pay affiliates for every action that their referral takes, regardless of whether or not it results in a sale. An action can be a sign-up, a subscription, a form submission, or anything else that the merchant specifies.
This type of affiliate program is best suited for affiliates with a lot of influence as they can convince people in their network to take action and do what the merchant wants.
What to Look for in a Good Affiliate Marketing Program
Now that you know the different types of affiliate marketing programs, it's time to learn what to look for in a good affiliate marketing program.
1. A Good Reputation
The first thing you need to look for in an affiliate marketing program is a good reputation.
There are a lot of scammers out there who are looking to take advantage of unsuspecting affiliates. So, it's important to do your research and make sure that the program you're interested in is legitimate and pays their affiliates on time.
The affiliate program you pick should have good reviews. There shouldn’t be any major complaints listed about payment failures, inaccurate tracking, etc. against the program.
2. A Generous Commission Structure
The second thing you need to look for in an affiliate marketing program is a generous commission structure.
As an affiliate, you should be able to earn a decent commission for the clicks, visits, leads, or sales you generate. Otherwise, there's no point in promoting the product or service.
Some programs may only offer a flat-rate commission, while others may offer a tiered commission structure. Some programs also offer increased payouts and other bonuses to their top affiliates.
3. A Higher Payment Frequency
You should also check to see how often affiliates are paid.
Some programs may only pay out their affiliates only once a month, while others may offer weekly or even daily payouts. The frequency of payments is something you should definitely take into consideration before signing up for an affiliate program.
4. A Longer Referral Cookie Duration
Referral cookies are used to track the sales and leads that you generate. They expire after a certain amount of time, which is usually set by the merchant.
A longer cookie duration means that you'll earn a commission on a sale even if the customer doesn't make the purchase instantly or within a few days of the cookie generation (their first visit to the merchant link).
If you're promoting high-ticket items that take longer to convert, having a longer cookie duration can help you maximize your earnings.
5. A Wide Range of Products or Services to Promote
As an affiliate, you should have a good selection of products or services to choose from so that you can find something that's a good fit for your website or blog.
Ideally, the affiliate program you join should be related to the niche of your website, blog, or social media account. For example, if your website is about recipes, you would want to join an affiliate program that sells kitchen appliances or cookware.
It’s also great to pick the affiliate program of a brand that offers a good selection of products or services at different price points. This way, you can find something to promote to every type of customer, regardless of their budget.
6. A User-Friendly Affiliate Dashboard
The next thing you need to look for in an affiliate marketing program is a user-friendly affiliate dashboard.
As an affiliate, you'll be using the merchant's dashboard to track your clicks, conversions, and commissions. So, it's important that the dashboard is intuitive and easy to navigate.
It should also provide you with all the information you need to track your progress and see how your campaigns are performing.
7. Multiple Payout Options
You should look for an affiliate marketing program that offers multiple payout options.
Ideally, the program should offer payouts via direct deposit, PayPal, bank transfer, or check. This way, you can choose the payment method that's most convenient for you.
8. Increased Payouts or Other Incentives Over Time
You should look for an affiliate marketing program that offers increased payouts or other incentives over time.
Many programs will offer higher commission rates to encourage their top affiliates to keep promoting their products or services. Whereas, some programs offer other bonuses and incentives, such as free products, gift cards, custom discounts, and exclusive access to events or sales.
9. Reasonable Acceptance Criteria
Finally, you should make sure that the affiliate program you're considering has reasonable acceptance criteria.
Some programs may require that you have a certain number of social media followers or website visitors before they'll approve your application. Others may require that you generate a certain amount of sales within a certain timeframe.
The bottom line is that you don't want to waste your time applying to programs that you're not likely to be accepted into.
With these factors in mind, you should be able to find a profitable affiliate program to join and start earning commissions.
To help you, my team and I have spent hours shortlisting the top affiliate marketing programs in different categories/niches.
We have considered their commission structure, the quality of their products, and reviews from their current affiliates to ensure that these are all reputable programs. So, let’s take a look at them.
The Best Business and Marketing Affiliate Programs
For someone like me who's interested in helping the SMB community grow better, finding the right business and marketing affiliate programs can be a challenge.
I want to promote products, tools, and services that will appeal to my audience and help them grow their businesses. But, at the same time, I also want to make sure that the products I'm promoting are high quality and reasonably priced.
Fortunately, many affiliate programs meet these criteria, including:
1. HubSpot’s Affiliate Program – Reputable Solutions for Beginners, Intermediates, & Experts
HubSpot is a leading CRM, marketing, and sales platform. And their affiliate program is perfect for businesses and entrepreneurs who want to promote their products and services.
As an affiliate, you'll earn a commission on every new customer you refer to HubSpot using your unique affiliate link in your content such as blog posts, emails, webinars, banner ads, and other digital content.
To join the HubSpot affiliate program, you'll need to choose your preferred commission rate (one-time or recurring) and submit your application through Impact.
HubSpot will notify you if your application is approved, typically within 3 days. If you don't receive a response within 30 days, consider your application rejected.
If selected, you can promote HubSpot's marketing hub, sales CRM, content management software (CMS), and other solutions.
Most of their SaaS products fall in the price range of $50-$3200/month and most users tend to buy more than one product. So, you can expect an average payout of $276.
Commission Rate and Type
- HubSpot offers two commission types. You can choose either of the two.
- Flat rate program: 100% of the first month's revenue
- Recurring rate program: 15% monthly commission (up to one year)
Cookie Duration
- 90-day cookie window
Payout Method and Frequency
- Flat rate program: One-time payment
- Recurring rate program: Monthly payments (up to 1 year)
- PayPal
- Direct bank transfer
More Information
- No sign-up fees
- No minimum sales required to earn a commission
- Access to specifically-curated marketing materials from HubSpot
- The customer needs to be an active customer for at least one month for you to receive the affiliate commission.
- No further payments on upgrades
- You can’t use affiliate links to refer the clients you’re servicing as a marketer, consultant, or agency. For such referrals, HubSpot has a separate Solutions Partner Program.
2. Fiverr Affiliates – Best Range of Services for You to Promote
Fiverr is the Amazon of digital services. You can find Gigs (tasks/offers) related to almost anything, from business consulting to digital marketing, video production, WordPress, SEO, writing, graphic design, and more on this platform.
This means you have a plethora of services to choose from to promote as an affiliate. The commission rate is also pretty good, ranging from $15 to $150 per sale (depending on the service your referred person purchases the first time).
Other than individual Fiverr services and Gigs, you can also promote the following to make money:
- Fiverr Business – a workspace designed for teams
- Fiverr Logo Maker – an AI tool to create logos
- Fiverr Affiliates – affiliate marketing program
- Fiverr Learn – online courses
- Fiverr Workspace – a business management suite for freelancers
And the best part?
Fiverr is trusted by over 5.5 million people, including big brands like Netflix and L’Oréal. So, you can be sure your referrals are in good hands.
To start, you just need to fill out their sign-up form.
Commission Rate and Type
- Fiverr CPA program: $15-$150 CPA (cost per action) depending on the service your referred person purchases the first time on Fiverr.
- Fiverr Hybrid program: $10 CPA per first-time purchase + 10% RevShare (revenue share) for 12 months
- 10% of every referred affiliate’s earnings for a lifetime
- $100 CPA when a Fiverr Business account hits $100 in spend + 10% RevShare for 12 months
- 30% for every course order
Cookie Duration
- 30 days from the first click
Payout Method and Frequency
- PayPal
- Payoneer
- Bank account
- You get paid once per month but only after you reach a threshold of $100. Until then, your earnings will show up in your Affiliate Commission balance.
More Information
- Access marketing materials, tools, and other creative resources
- Intuitive dashboard to monitor campaigns
- Unlimited referrals and lifetime attribution
- You can’t use paid ads (Facebook Ads, Google Ads, etc.) to drive traffic to Fiverr.
3. Grammarly’s Affiliate Program – Get Paid for New Free Sign-Ups
Grammarly is a grammar checker and proofreading tool that helps people write better. It’s used by over 30 million people every day, including students, professionals, and writers to strengthen their writing.
All of my writers use it to proofread our content and they are quite happy with Grammarly's Chrome extension as well as Google Docs support.
The company offers an affiliate program with a decent commission structure – $0.20 for every free account sign-up and $20 for every Premium plan purchase. And since their prices start at just $12/month, it's quite easy to make a sale or two.
Commission Rate and Type
- $0.20 for free account sign-up
- $20 for Premium plan purchase
- Activation bonus
- Regular performance incentives
- Increased payouts for top performers
Cookie Duration
- Long 90-day cookie window
Payout Method and Frequency
- Check (US Residents only)
- Bank wire (only in USD)
- Direct deposit
- Doesn’t support PayPal payments
More Information
- High conversion rates (20%-30%)
- Cross-device tracking
4. Semrush Affiliate Program – Best for Commissions at Every Step of a Buyer’s Journey
Semrush is my favorite online marketing toolkit that helps you research keywords, track your competitors, and optimize your website for higher search engine rankings. Plus, it offers valuable insights into how well your content is performing and how you can improve it.
Not just my team, but one in every four Fortune 500 companies also trust Semrush to empower their marketing efforts. This means you can rest assured that your referred customers are in good hands.
What’s more?
The Semrush Affiliate Program offers commissions at every step of the buying journey – from account sign-ups to free trials and subscription purchases. This makes it one of the highest-paying affiliate programs in the industry.
You can become a Semrush affiliate if you’re a:
- Content publisher
- Marketing agency
- Paid search specialist
- Course creator
- All-round marketer
To join their affiliate program, you need to go through their partner, Impact Radius.
Commission Rate and Type
- $0.01 per new sign-up
- $10 per new trial
- $200 per new subscription sale
Cookie Duration
- 120 days from the last click
Payout Method and Frequency
- PayPal (minimum threshold of $50)
- Wire transfer (minimum threshold of $1000)
More Information
- Last-click attribution
- Exclusive Semrush marketing creatives
I’m myself in a partnership with Semrush and have been using it for years now. With my link, you can get your free Semrush Pro trial for 30 days (instead of just 14 days).
If you want to learn more about Semrush and how it can make your job easier as a blogger or marketer, check out some of my detailed review and comparison guides:
5. Canva’s Affiliate Program – Best Program in the Design Niche
Canva is a design platform that’s beloved by millions of users worldwide – over 18 million users, to be precise.
From small businesses to big enterprises, everyone seems to be using Canva these days to create stunning visuals for their blog posts, social media updates, and even marketing collateral.
What’s more?
Canva is extremely easy to use, which makes it perfect for design newbies and professionals alike. Plus, it comes with a library of built-in templates, fonts, and illustrations that you can use to create your designs from scratch.
While the platform offers a free version with limited access, their affiliate program allows you to earn money for referring new Canva Pro users. You can earn up to $36 for every new user you refer.
You can join Canva's affiliate program through their partner, Impact, if you’re a design influencer, design educator, or you have a large audience (1 million+ monthly visits).
Once you become a Canva Pro affiliate, you can start promoting the latest:
- Canva Pro updates
- Canva Pro discounts
- Canva Pro deals
Are you ready? Sign up today to join their network of 8000 affiliates.
Commission Rate and Type
- Up to $36 for every new Canva Pro user
- Up to $3000/month for promoting different plans, deals, etc.
Cookie Duration
- 30 days from the first click
Payout Method and Frequency
- PayPal
- E-transfer
- Regular and flexible payment options
More Information
- Free to join
- No minimum sales
- Monthly marketing materials
- Simple, timely payments
- Priority, live chat support
- Exclusive Canva Ad templates
The Best Retail Affiliate Programs
Do you want to earn a commission by promoting physical products?
If so, here are some of the best retail affiliate programs you can consider joining. Most of these offer a plethora of products in different niches that you can promote.
6. Amazon Associates – Easiest Program to Start Making Money
As the world’s largest online retailer, it’s only natural that Amazon would have an affiliate program. And it does – the Amazon Associates program is one of the most popular ones out there.
Joining is easy and free – in fact, earning a commission by promoting Amazon's products is one of the easiest ways to start making money online.
The commission rate is pretty low, ranging from 1% to 20%, but their competitive conversion rates help you maximize your affiliate earnings. And with Amazon’s huge product catalog, finding something to promote won’t be a problem.
As a blogger, publisher, or content creator, you need a qualifying website or mobile app (original content + at least 10 posts) to be able to join Amazon Associates. If you have an established social media presence, you may sign up for the Amazon Influencer program instead.
Commission Rate and Type
- 20% for Amazon Games
- 10% for luxury beauty products
- 1%-5% for health and personal care, PC components, toys, furniture, kitchenware, handmade products, and more
Cookie Duration
- 24 hours
Payout Method and Frequency
- Deposit (minimum payment – $10 USD)
- Amazon gift card (minimum payment – $10 USD)
- Check (minimum payment – $100 USD) It charges $15 USD as check processing fee.
7. Target Partners – Best for Marketers with a US-Based Viewership
Target Partners is Target's official affiliate program. You can earn up to 8% on every qualifying purchase when you promote your favorite Target finds, including clothes, accessories, kitchenware, party props, and more.
Whether you're a blogger, influencer, or social content creator, you can join the Target Partners program to start earning commission on your online recommendations. However, you need to have a US-based viewership or audience (regardless of your own location).
It's easy to join and get started – simply fill out an application and open commission opportunities with over 1 million products and new deals each week. You can promote these using banners, in-text links, widgets, and other creatives.
Target's estimated earning per 100 clicks is about $12-$13.
Commission Rate and Type
- Up to 8% on Target products (based on product category)
- 1% on health and beauty products
- 3%-5% on furniture
- 6%-8% on apparel and accessories
- Monthly bonus payouts on multiple actions/sales
Cookie Duration
- 7 days
Payout Method and Frequency
- All payments are done in USD.
- Unclear mode of payment
The Best Web Hosting and Development Affiliate Programs
Another popular niche for affiliate marketing is web hosting and development. If you’re in this industry or have an audience interested in it, here are some of the best affiliate programs you can consider.
8. Bluehost Affiliate Program – Best Resources for Affiliate Promotions
If you're looking for a great affiliate marketing program in the web hosting niche, Bluehost is a great option. With Bluehost, you can earn a $65 commission on every new sign-up you refer to their web hosting services.
Plus, their affiliate support team also gives you great tips and suggestions to maximize your earnings.
To join Bluehost's affiliate marketing program, simply sign up for their affiliate program here. You can start promoting their:
- Shared hosting
- Website builder
- Managed WordPress hosting
- WooCommerce online store
- VPS server
- Dedicated server
What's the best part?
You can look through their wide range of banners and ads to find one that best suits your website's style. Then, simply insert the code they provide you into your website. When someone clicks on the ad and signs up for Bluehost's services, you'll earn a commission.
It's that simple.
What I like about the Bluehost affiliate program is that they provide you with plenty of resources to help you succeed. For example, they offer a dedicated affiliate support team to answer any of your questions.
Commission Rate and Type
- $65 for every qualified sign-up/referral
Cookie Duration
- 90 days
Payout Method and Frequency
- PayPal
- Electronic bank transfer
More Information
- Fast and free sign-up
9. BigCommerce Affiliate Program – Best Referral Commissions
The popular ecommerce platform, BigCommerce, has an affiliate program that pays out lucrative commissions on all successful referrals. You can earn 200% of the first monthly payment by your referred customer or $1500 for every Enterprise referral.
The BigCommerce affiliate program is designed to help you earn revenue by referring customers to the BigCommerce platform. You can use their pre-made banners and emails, or you can create your own to share with your audience.
No matter how you choose to promote BigCommerce, you can rest assured that you’ll be earning some of the highest commissions in the industry.
And the best part?
There are no commission caps, obligations, or minimum commitments.
BigCommerce paid over $1.5 million in commissions last year alone.
Commission Rate and Type
- Earn up to 200% of the first monthly payment by your referral
- $1,500 per Enterprise referral
Cookie Duration
- 90 days
Payout Method and Frequency
- Not mentioned
More Information
- Fast and free sign-up
- No commission caps, obligations, or minimum commitments
- Powerful tracking of your clicks, trials, sales, and commission
The Best Online Course Affiliate Programs
Online education is growing at a fast pace and is expected to reach $198.9 billion by 2030. You don't need to be an educator to cash in on this industry's growth. You can promote online courses as an affiliate and earn a commission when someone buys them.
To give you an idea of how big this industry is, below are some notable course providers and their affiliate programs.
10. Thinkific’s Affiliate Program – Best for Recurring Lifetime Commissions
Thinkific is one of my favorite online course platforms. It has 40,000+ course creators who have earned more than $200 million by selling their courses here.
As Thikific's affiliate partner, you can earn up to $1700 per referral, every year. It allows you to earn 30% recurring lifetime commissions on all monthly and annual paid plans.
Whether you're a content creator, business leader, or entrepreneur, you can join their program, create your unique link, and start promoting their paid plans. You can also give your audience a 1-month free trial of Thinkific’s Pro plan.
Commission Rate and Type
- $1700 per referral, every year
- 30% recurring lifetime commissions on all monthly and annual paid plans
Cookie Duration
- 90 days
Payout Method and Frequency
- PayPal
- Stripe
- Minimum $25 threshold to cash out your payment
More Information
- Ready-to-use promotional creatives
11. Coursera’s Affiliate Program – Best Range of Online Courses & Certifications
Coursera’s affiliate program brings you an opportunity to earn up to 45% commission on 4,000+ courses and specializations. You can join their program by filling out the application here.
Promoting their courses is easy – either use their custom banners and text links or create your own unique content to entice students and professionals from all around the world.
Commission Rate and Type
- 15% commission on Coursera Plus annual subscriptions
- 20% commission on the sales of courses and guided projects
- 45% commission on specializations, professional certificates, and on Coursera Plus monthly subscriptions
Cookie Duration
- 30 days
Payout Method and Frequency
- PayPal
- Bank account transfer
- Minimum threshold of $50
More Information
- Earn multiple commissions from the same user if they purchase multiple courses using your links.
- No recurring commissions on monthly payments
The Best Travel Affiliate Programs
Are you a travel blogger or influencer? Or, do you just love to explore new places and share your experiences with others through social media?
Then, these travel affiliate programs are perfect for you.
12. Tripadvisor Affiliate Program – Best Affiliate Marketing Program for Click-Through Commissions
This is one of the most popular travel affiliate programs. Tripadvisor is a platform where people can find information about different travel destinations, hotels, restaurants, and things to do. They have over 795 million reviews and 1.4 million places to stay featured on their site.
As a Tripadvisor affiliate, you can earn a minimum of 50% of the commission booking partners send to Tripadvisor, on bookings made through your affiliate links.
And the best part?
You'll receive a commission as soon as a user clicks out to their hotel booking partners, even if they don't book. The amount per click-out depends on the hotel partner, season, and length of stay.
Commission Rate and Type
- 50% of the commission booking partners send to Tripadvisor on every click-out to their hotel booking partners
Cookie Duration
- 14 days
Payout Method and Frequency
- Paycheck
- Bank deposit
More Information
- Multi-touch attribution
13. CheapFlights Affiliate Program – Best Affiliate Marketing Program or Longer Cookie Duration
CheapFights is an online search and booking platform that helps users find the best deals for flight tickets, hotel bookings, and car rentals. With over 120 million visitors each year, it connects people with airlines, hotels, and thousands of travel partners from around the world.
As a CheapFights affiliate, you can earn a 65%-75% commission on every flight, hotel, and car rental booking that's made through your links. You can also earn a commission for driving traffic to their booking partners.
Commission Rate and Type
- $0.25-$0.45 per click-out to their booking partners
- 65%-75% commission on every referred flight, hotel, and car rental booking
Cookie Duration
- 90 days
Payout Method and Frequency
- Direct deposit
- Electronic fund transfer
- Monthly payouts
The Best Beauty and Cosmetics Affiliate Programs
The beauty and cosmetics industry offers many profitable affiliate programs for those in the fashion and beauty niche. Here are some of the best affiliate programs for beauty and cosmetics.
14. Sephora’s Beauty Affiliate Program – Best for Affiliate-Only Special Offers & Promotions
Sephora is a leading global beauty retailer offering thousands of products from over 200 leading brands. They offer products for skincare, hair care, makeup, and fragrance, among others. And they have one of the most popular affiliate programs in the beauty industry.
As a Sephora affiliate, you can earn up to 8% commission on all products, without brand restrictions and also enjoy affiliate-only special offers and promotions.
To join their affiliate program, you need to submit an application through Rakuten Advertising – their affiliate program partner.
Commission Rate and Type
- Up to 8% (depending on products)
Cookie Duration
- 30 days
Payout Method and Frequency
- Minimum threshold of $50
More Information
- Free shipping over $50 and free samples with every order
- Banners and creatives
15. Ulta Beauty Affiliate Program – Best Affiliate Marketing Program for Beauty Products
Ulta Beauty is one of the largest beauty retailers in the United States, with over 1,200 stores across the country. They offer a wide range of beauty products for skincare, hair care, makeup, and fragrance, from more than 500 established and emerging beauty brands.
As an Ulta Beauty affiliate, you can earn a commission on all products sold on their website and in-store. And they also offer exclusive promotions and discounts for affiliates, including:
- Everyday free shipping offers
- Buy one, get one free promotion
- Online coupon codes
To join their affiliate program, fill out the application here.
Commission Rate and Type
- Up to 2% of the sales amount
Cookie Duration
- 30 days
Payout Method and Frequency
- PayPal
More Information
- Buy one, get one free promotion
- Special affiliate-only offers and discounts
The Top 10 Highest-Paying Affiliate Programs [Compared]
Now that we've gone over what some of the best affiliate programs out there have to offer their affiliates, let's take a look at the top 10 highest-paying programs at a quick glance.
To do this, I've put together this table to look at different criteria such as cookie durations, commission rates, cookies, other bonuses and benefits offered by each platform, and more.
Let's get started.
Name | Cookies | Commission | Other Benefits | Mode of Payment |
---|---|---|---|---|
Thinkific | 90 days | $1700 per referral, every year 30% recurring lifetime commissions | Give your audience a 1-month free trial of Thinkific’s Pro plan. | PayPal, Stripe |
Semrush | 120 days | $0.01 per new sign-up $10 per new trial $200 per new subscription sale | Last click attribution | PayPal, Wire transfer |
BigCommerce | 90 days | 200% of the first monthly payment $1,500 per Enterprise referral | No commission caps, obligations, or minimum commitments | Not found |
HubSpot | 90 days | 15% monthly commission (up to 1 year) 100% one-time commission of the first month’s revenue | No sign-up fees No minimum sales required to earn a commission | PayPal, Direct bank transfer |
Fiverr | 30 days from the first click | $15-$150 CPA $10 CPA per first-time purchase + 10% RevShare for 12 months 30% on every course order And more (see above) | No joining fee Lifetime attribution 10% of every referred affiliate’s earnings for a lifetime | PayPal, Payoneer, Bank account |
Bluehost | 90 days | $65 for every qualified sign-up/referral | Wide range of banners and ads for promotional use | PayPal, Electronic bank transfer |
Canva | 30 days from the first click | Up to $36 for every new Canva Pro user Up to $3000/month for promoting other stuff | Priority, live chat support Exclusive Canva Ad templates | PayPal, E-transfer |
Grammarly | 90 days | $0.20 for free account sign-up $20 for Premium plan purchase | Activation bonus Regular performance incentives Increased payouts for top performers | Check (US Residents only), Bank wire (only in USD) Direct deposit |
Amazon Associates | 24 hours | 1%-20% based on the products your referred person buys | Huge database of products across niches | Deposit, Amazon gift card, Check |
Coursera | 30 days | Up to 45% commission on courses and specializations | Multiple commissions from the same user if they purchase multiple courses using your links | PayPal, Bank account transfer |
FAQs
1. What is the average affiliate commission?
The average affiliate commission ranges from 5% to 30%. However, some affiliate programs offer commissions as high as 75%. Additionally, many programs have special offers and bonuses for those who generate a large number of sales.
2. Which affiliate program is the best?
The best affiliate program depends on your niche and the products or services you are promoting.
For example, if you are promoting physical goods, then a program like Amazon Associates would be a good choice. If you are promoting digital products, then Fiverr would be a good choice.
In all, the best affiliate programs are:
– Fiverr
– Amazon Associates
– BigCommerce
3. How do affiliates make money?
Affiliates make money by referring customers to businesses or products/services. When a customer makes a purchase, the affiliate earns a commission. The amount of the commission varies depending on the affiliate program they join.
Some programs also pay a commission for driving traffic to the merchant site or completing an action such as a sign-up or form submission.
4. What is the best affiliate marketing program for beginners?
The best affiliate marketing program for beginners is the Amazon Associates program. This program is free to join and it offers a wide variety of products to promote. Additionally, Amazon provides extensive training materials to help you get started.
Join Affiliate Marketing Programs Now and Start Making Money!
Affiliate marketing programs can be a great way to make money online. By finding the best program for your niche and promoting products or services that you are passionate about, you can earn a commission on every lead or sale you generate.
Additionally, many affiliate programs offer bonuses and incentive programs that can help you earn even more money. Some of them also give you commissions on the sales driven by your referred affiliates (two-tier affiliate programs).
Sounds exciting?
Research and join reputable affiliate marketing programs today to open a new revenue stream for yourself. You can start by picking one of the programs I've discussed above.
I hope you find this article useful. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment below.
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