Honest review of the 20 best affiliate networks for making money from content

In the world of online marketing, affiliate programs are an integral part of monetizing content and generating revenue for creators. This in-depth guide presents the top 20 affiliate networks with brief descriptions and promotion methods that can help increase your income and earnings potential. If you don’t already know what affiliate networks are, we recommend that you first read the article How to earn in affiliate marketing.

1. Amazon Associates

The world’s largest affiliate marketing program, offering millions of products across diverse categories with commissions up to 10%

Best for: Bloggers and website owners with diverse audiences

Key features:
– Commissions: Up to 10% depending on product category
– Payout threshold: $10
– Payment methods: Direct deposit, check or Amazon gift card
– Cookie expiration date: 24 hours (90 days if added to cart)

Partner requirements:
– Operational website or mobile app
– Compliance with Amazon’s operating agreement
– No fraudulent traffic or incentivized purchases

Product types:
– Physical goods of all categories
– Digital goods (e-books, music, videos)
– Amazon services (Prime, Audible, etc.)

Best promotion strategies:
– Product reviews and comparisons
– Gift guides and “best products” lists
– Natural inclusion of product links in content

2. ShareASale

A versatile affiliate network with 4,500+ merchants, known for its user-friendly interface and diverse product offerings.

Best suited for: niche marketers and content creators

Key features:
– Commissions: Average 20%, up to 50% for some programs
– Payout Threshold: $50
– Payment Methods: Direct deposit or check
– Cookie expiration date: Depends on merchant

Affiliate requirements:
– Active website or social media presence
– Quality content relevant to the products being promoted
– Compliance with ShareASale terms of service

Types of goods:
– Physical goods (fashion, home decor, electronics, etc.)
– Digital goods (software, courses, subscriptions)
– Services (travel, financial, etc.)

Best promotional strategies:
– Niche-specific product reviews
– Detailed product reviews with personal experiences
– Promotion in social networks using unique discount codes

3. CJ Affiliate Network

A global affiliate marketing network connecting advertisers with content publishers to drive sales and create consumer engagement.

Best for: Experienced affiliates looking for high quality brands

Key features:
– Commissions: 15-30% on average
– Payout Threshold: $50 ($100 for non-US affiliates)
– Payment Methods: Direct deposit or check
– Cookie expiration date: Depends on the merchant

Affiliate requirements:
– Established website or significant social media audience
– Consistent traffic or engagement
– Professional presentation and quality content

Product types:
– Retail products from major brands
– Travel services and accommodation
– Financial products and services

Best promotional strategies:
– Seasonal promotions and holiday gift guides
– Exclusive offers and coupon codes for subscribers
– Content marketing with SEO optimization

4. ClickBank

One of the most popular affiliate networks among promoters. Specializes in digital products, offering high commission rates for information products, software, and online courses.

Best for: Digital product promoters

Key features:
– Commissions: 50-75% on average
– Payout threshold: $10
– Payment methods: Direct deposit, check or bank transfer
– Cookie expiration date: 60 days

Affiliate requirements:
– Website or social media presence (recommended)
– Compliance with ClickBank advertising guidelines
– No spam or misleading advertising

Product types:
– E-books and digital guides
– Online courses and training programs
– Software and mobile apps

Best promotion strategies:
– Creating valuable content on the topic of the product
– Video reviews and demonstrations
– Email marketing campaigns to engaged subscribers

5. Awin

A global affiliate network with 16,500+ advertisers and 225,000+ publishers, known for its innovative tracking technology.

Best for: Global marketers targeting different niches

Key features:
– Commissions: Up to 50% and above
– Payout threshold: $20
– Payment methods: Direct deposit or bank transfer
– Cookie expiration date: Depends on the merchant

Affiliate requirements:
– Active website or social media channel
– Clear advertising strategy
– Compliance with Awin quality standards

Product types:
– Beauty and fashion products
– Travel & Hospitality
– Technology and gadgets

Best promotional strategies:
– Localized content for a global audience
– Partnering and collaborating with influencers
– Data-driven content creation based on partner analytics

6. Rakuten  Advertising

A leading affiliate network offering advanced targeting capabilities and a wide range of advertisers across various industries.

Best for: Affiliates looking for high-end brands

Key features:
– Commissions: Varies by seller, often competitive
– Payment threshold: $50
– Payment methods: Direct deposit or check
– Cookie expiration date: Varies by seller

Affiliate requirements:
– Established website or strong social media presence
– Quality traffic and engagement metrics
– Alignment with the sellers brand values

Product types:
– Luxury fashion and accessories
– Luxury electronics
– Premium travel services

Best promotional strategies:
– Lifestyle content featuring luxury goods
– Exclusive promotions on high-end products
– Targeted email campaigns for affluent audiences

7. Impact

An automation-driven partnership management platform. This affiliate network connects brands with affiliates, influencers and strategic business partners.

Best suited for: Tech-savvy affiliates and SaaS promoters.

Key features:
– Commission: Depends on the merchant
– Payment threshold: Depends on the merchant
– Payment methods: Direct deposit or PayPal
– Cookie duration: Depends on the merchant

Partner requirements:
– Technical understanding of tracking and analytics
– Ability to attract quality traffic
– Adherence to Impact’s affiliate guidelines

Product types:
– SaaS and technology solutions
– Digital marketing tools
– E-commerce platforms

Best promotional strategies:
– In-depth software reviews and comparisons
– Educational content that demonstrates product features
– Webinars and live demonstrations

8. PartnerStack

One of the best affiliate networks with high-ticket offers that we advise you to take a closer look at. Focused on B2B and SaaS partnerships, offering tools for managing affiliate, referral, and reseller programs.

Best suited for: B2B and SaaS affiliates

Key features:
– Commissions: Often 20-30% recurring.
– Payout threshold: Depends on the program
– Payment methods: PayPal or direct deposit
– Cookie expiration time: Often 30-90 days

Affiliate requirements:
– B2B or audience focus
– Understanding of SaaS products
– Professional networking capabilities

Product types:
– Business software solutions
– Productivity tools
– Professional services platforms

Best promotional strategies:
– Case studies that demonstrate business impact
– Content featuring leadership information in relevant industries
– Networking events and professional webinars

9. Fiverr Affiliates

Promotes Fiverr’s freelance services marketplace, offering commissions for driving new buyers to the platform.

Best for: Freelance and gig economy promoters

Key features:
– Commission: $15-150 per first-time buyer
– Payout threshold: $100
– Payment methods: PayPal or Payoneer
– Cookie expiration date: 30 days

Affiliate requirements:
– Understanding of freelancing and the gig economy
– Having an active blog or social media presence
– Adherence to Fiverr’s advertising guidelines

Product types:
– Freelance services in various categories
– Digital products created by freelancers
– Fiverr Business and Pro services

Best promotion strategies:
– Success stories of freelancers using the platform
– Guidelines on how to use the gig economy for business
– Comparative content of freelance platforms

10. Shopify Affiliates

Allows partners to earn commissions by referring new merchants to Shopify’s eCommerce platform. If your content is based on building online stores, this is a great affiliate network to promote.

Best for: Bloggers and eCommerce influencers

Key features:
– Commissions: Up to $2000 per merchant referral
– Payment threshold: $25
– Payment methods: PayPal
– Cookie expiration date: 30 days

Affiliate requirements:
– E-commerce experience or audience
– Quality content focused on online business
– Compliance with Shopify’s affiliate terms and conditions

Product types:
– Shopify e-commerce platform
– Shopify apps and themes
– Shopify educational resources

Best promotion strategies:
– Online store building tutorials
– Shopify seller success stories
– Ecommerce platform comparison

11. Bluehost Affiliates

Offers high commissions for promoting Bluehost’s web hosting services, popular among WordPress users.

Best for: Web hosting and WordPress bloggers

Key features:
– Commissions: $65+ per sale
– Payout threshold: $100
– Payment methods: PayPal
– Cookie expiration date: 90 days

Affiliate requirements:
– Web development website or blog
– Understanding of hosting services
– Compliance with Bluehost partnership rules

Product types:
– Web hosting services
– Domain registration
– Website building tools

Best promotion strategies:
– Step-by-step guides to building websites
– Hosting comparison articles
– WordPress site customization video tutorials

12. WP Engine Affiliates

Provides substantial commissions for referring customers to WP Engine’s managed WordPress hosting solutions.

Best for: WordPress developers and bloggers

Key features:
– Commission: $200+ per sale
– Payment threshold: $50
– Payment methods: PayPal
– Cookie expiration date: 180 days

Affiliate requirements:
– Experience with WordPress
– Quality traffic from an audience of web developers
– Professional presentation of affiliate content

Product types:
– Managed WordPress hosting
– WordPress themes and plugins
– Corporate WordPress solutions

Best promotion strategies:
– Comparative performance tests
– Case studies of high traffic WordPress sites
– Expert reviews of hosting options

13. ConvertKit Affiliate Network

Offers recurring commissions for promoting ConvertKit’s email marketing platform to creators and small businesses.

Best for: Email marketing and affiliate programs for bloggers

Key features:
– Commissions: 30%, recurring over the lifetime of the customer
– Payment threshold: $50
– Payment methods: PayPal
– Cookie expiration date: 90 days

Affiliate requirements:
– Experience with email marketing
– Active blog or newsletter
– Relevance to ConvertKit’s target audience

Product types:
– Email marketing platform
– Automation Tools
– Landing page builder

Best promotion strategies:
– Email marketing best practices content
– Comparison of email marketing tools
– Examples of successful email campaigns

14. SEMrush Affiliates

Rewards partners for promoting SEMrush’s comprehensive digital marketing toolset to SEO professionals and marketers.

Best for: SEO and digital marketing affiliates

Key features:
– Commissions: Up to $200 per sale
– Payout threshold: $50
– Payment methods: PayPal
– Cookie expiration date: 120 days

Affiliate requirements:
– Experience in SEO and digital marketing
– Quality traffic from marketing professionals
– Adherence to SEMrush advertising guidelines

Product types:
– SEO research tools
– Content marketing platform
– Competitive analysis tools

Best promotion strategies:
– SEO strategy guides using SEMrush
– Video tutorials on tool features
– Case studies of SEO success stories

15. Hostinger Affiliates

Provides competitive commissions for promoting Hostinger’s affordable web hosting and domain registration services.

Best for: Web hosting and domain affiliate programs

Key features:
– Commissions: Up to 60%
– Payout threshold: $100
– Payment methods: PayPal
– Cookie expiration date: 30 days

Partner requirements:
– A website or blog dedicated to hosting
– Understanding of hosting services
– Compliance with Hostinger’s affiliate terms and conditions

Product types:
– Web hosting packages
– Domain Registration
– Website Builder

Best promotion strategies:
– Web hosting setup guides for beginners
– Comparison of budget hosting options
– Hostinger server performance tests

16. Kinsta Affiliates

Offers high payouts for referring customers to Kinsta’s premium managed WordPress hosting platform.

Best for: WordPress and high performance affiliate hosting

Key features:
– Commission: Up to $500 per referral
– Payout threshold: $50
– Payment methods: PayPal
– Cookie expiration date: 60 days

Affiliate requirements:
– Experience with WordPress
– Quality traffic from developers or agencies
– Professional content creation

Product types:
– Managed WordPress hosting
– Enterprise hosting solutions
– DevOps tools

Best promotion strategies:
– Technical reviews of hosting infrastructure
– Examples of high-traffic WordPress sites
– Comparison with other premium hosting providers

17. Cloudways Affiliates

Provides attractive commissions for promoting Cloudways’ flexible cloud hosting solutions to developers and agencies.

Best for: Cloud hosting and affiliate programs for developers

Key features:
– Commissions: Up to $125 per sale
– Payout threshold: $50
– Payment methods: PayPal or bank transfer
– Cookie expiration date: 90 days

Affiliate requirements:
– Technical understanding of cloud hosting
– Developer or agency audience
– Creating quality content on the topic of hosting

Product types:
– Cloud hosting platform
– Managed hosting services
– Server management tools

Best promotion strategies:
– Application deployment tutorials
– Comparing the performance of cloud providers
– Scalability and reliability case studies

18. BigCommerce Affiliate Network

Offers substantial commissions for referring new merchants to BigCommerce’s eCommerce platform.

Best for: eCommerce platform affiliates

Key features:
– Commission: Up to 200% of the customer’s first monthly payment
– Payment threshold: $50
– Payment methods: PayPal
– Cookie expiration date: 90 days

Partner requirements:
– eCommerce experience
– Quality content focused on online sales
– Compliance with BigCommerce partnership rules

Product types:
– E-commerce platform
– Online store themes
– E-commerce applications and integrations

Best promotion strategies:
– Comparison of eCommerce platforms
– BigCommerce seller success stories
– Tutorials on advanced eCommerce features

19. Elementor Affiliates

Provides commissions for promoting Elementor’s popular WordPress page builder plugin to web designers and developers.

Best for: WordPress designers and developers

Key features:
– Commission: 50% on the first payment
– Payout threshold: $200
– Payment methods: PayPal
– Cookie expiration date: 30 days

Affiliate requirements:
– Experience with WordPress design
– Active website or YouTube channel
– Quality tutorials or reviews

Product types:
– Elementor Page Builder
– Elementor Pro
– Template sets and add-ons

Best promotion strategies:
– Video tutorials on building websites with Elementor
– Before and After Website Design Demo
– Comparison with other page builders

20. Leadpages Affiliates

Offers recurring commissions for promoting Leadpages’ landing page builder and lead generation tools to digital marketers.

Best for: Digital marketers and conversion optimization specialists

Key features:
– Commission: 30%, recurring over the lifetime of the customer
– Payout threshold: $50
– Payment methods: PayPal
– Cookie expiration date: 30 days

Affiliate requirements:
– Experience in digital marketing
– Focus on lead generation and conversion
– Creating quality content

Product types:
– Landing page builder
– Tools for popups and notification panels
– A/B testing features

Best promotion strategies:
– Landing page optimization guides
– Examples of successful customer acquisition campaigns
– Tutorials on creating high-conversion pages

Conclusion: Which affiliate network is right for you?

By understanding each affiliate network’s unique characteristics, requirements, and product types, affiliates can make informed decisions about which platforms best suit their needs. Implementing customized promotional strategies for each network can significantly increase conversion rates and overall revenue.

Remember, success in affiliate marketing often comes from a combination of choosing the right affiliate network, promoting relevant products, and creating high-quality content that resonates with your audience. As you develop your affiliate marketing efforts, continually test and refine your strategies to maximize your income potential on these top affiliate networks.