If you want to earn serious money online as an affiliate, you need to learn about these best affiliate programs. Then, you should select their top products or services to promote. In this article, you will learn what an affiliate program is and which programs are the best for you to join.
What is an affiliate program?
It is a program where a merchant site pays commissions to affiliates for sending traffic or converting sales for their products. In this marketing model, the merchant site onboards affiliates (influencers) to promote its products or services. Some affiliate programs need approval while others don’t.
Any interested person can become an affiliate by joining an affiliate marketing program and promoting the products on their sites or anywhere. The merchant pays commissions to the affiliate for every sale or a required action completed by customers.
There are several affiliate programs you can join for free and make money online with or without your website. You can join any of them and promote the best products.
You create affiliate links and place them on your website pages or somewhere you work. When your visitors click on the links or banners, you send them to the merchant’s website. If they buy a product or take an action as the merchant wants, you get the commission as agreed.
Though the process seems easy, making money with the affiliate marketing system requires skill and effort. You need to find the best programs and know the products you can convert into sales easily.
Below is our curation of the best affiliate programs recommended by most marketers and reviewers. Join one or more of them relevant to your niche and start promoting them on your site or blog. They are all free to join. These best-paying affiliate marketing programs are also great for beginners.
Best Affiliate Programs to Join for 2025
When choosing an affiliate program, there are many factors to consider. I use the following factors:
- Convertability: The more an affiliate program or product is convertible, the more you earn easily.
Commission Rate: The higher the rate, the more it is profitable. However, you should also consider convertibility. - Cookie Duration: The longer the duration, the better, as it increases the chances of conversion.
- Niche Alignment: The products should be relevant to your working niche.
- Product Quality and Reputation: The products should be known for quality.
Payout Threshold & Terms: The lower the payout thresholds, the easier to earn quickly. Also, check out their payout frequency.
1. Amazon
Amazon is a trusted marketplace for almost everyone on the planet. The Amazon Associates Program is known for high conversion rates and a good reporting interface. It offers a wide range of products to choose from. It is great for beginners.
- Commission rates: 1% to 20% depending on product category
- Cookie duration: 24 hours
- Payment methods: Checks, direct deposit, or Amazon gift cards (minimum payout: $10)
- Best for: Beginners
👉 Join the Amazon affiliate program
You can also join your country’s Amazon Associates program (https://affiliate-program.amazon.in for India). For running your Amazon affiliate campaigns successfully, check these books | Best Amazon Affiliate Marketing Books
2. ClickBank
ClickBank is also a popular affiliate network. You can find numerous digital products like e-books, software, and membership sites to promote.
- Commission rate: Up to 75%, varies by product
- Cookie duration: 60 days
- Minimum payout: $10
- Payment methods: Direct deposit, wire transfer, check, Payoneer
- Best for: Digital product marketers and beginners
👉 Join the ClickBank affiliate program
For successful ClickBank campaigns, check these books | Best ClickBank affiliate marketing books
3. Commission Junction
CJ is one of the largest affiliate marketing networks. When we reviewed Commission Junction (CJ), we found that it has everything we seek.
- Commission rate: Varies widely by advertiser, typically 3% to 50%
- Cookie duration: Usually 30 days, varies by advertiser
- Minimum payout: $50
- Payment methods: Direct deposit, check, Payoneer
- Best for: Experienced affiliates across multiple industries
However, to become a CJ affiliate, you need a good amount of traffic to get accepted.
4. HubSpot
HubSpot is a lucrative option if you are looking to promote marketing, sales, and service software solutions.
- Commission rate: 15% recurring for most products
- Cookie duration: 180 days
- Minimum payout: $100
- Payment methods: PayPal, check
- Best for: B2B marketers and SaaS affiliates promoting marketing, sales, and CRM software
If you have an audience of business owners, marketers, or sales professionals interested in improving their growth strategies, this affiliate program is for you.
5. Fiverr
Fiverr is one of the largest marketplaces offering freelance services. Almost all digital services are available there. You’ll get paid for every service sold through your links.
- Commission rate: $15 to $150 per sale or 10-30% revenue share, depending on the service you promote
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Minimum payout: $100
- Payment methods: PayPal, bank transfer, Fiverr Revenue Card
- Best for: Affiliates promoting freelance services and digital gigs across various categories
6. Rakuten
Rakuten boasts 150,000+ publishers and brands worldwide. They have claimed the largest pay-for-performance affiliate marketing network.
- Commission rate: Typically 5% to 15%
- Cookie duration: Usually 7 to 30 days, advertiser-dependent
- Minimum payout: $50
- Payment methods: Direct deposit, check
- Best for: Affiliates targeting retail and brand-name products
7. Shopify
Shopify is one of the famous e-commerce software tools used by retailers and bloggers to open their online shops.
- Commission rate: Up to $150
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Minimum payout: $25
- Payment methods: PayPal or direct deposit
- Best for: Affiliates promoting e-commerce solutions and online store platforms to entrepreneurs and businesses
8. SEMRush
BeRush is the affiliate program of SEMRush – one of the most popular complete SEO software tools. As SEMRush is a famous marketing tool, you can convert more visitors into subscribers.
- Commission Rate: $200 for every new subscription sale, $10 for each trial sign-up, and $0.01 for every new registration.
- Cookie Duration: 120 days
- Minimum Payout: $50 for PayPal withdrawals and $1,000 for wire transfers.
- Payment Methods: PayPal or wire transfer, processed bi-weekly on the 10th and 25th of each month.
- Best For: Digital marketers, SEO professionals, content creators, and agencies targeting audiences interested in SEO, content marketing, and digital advertising tools.
9. Teachable
It helps interested people create and sell online courses. Teachable is also one of the most reputable e-learning platforms, with a variety of courses.
- Commission Rate: Up to 30% recurring commission
- Cookie Duration: 30 days
- Minimum Payout: $50
- Payment Methods: Monthly payouts via PayPal, ACH (US only), or international wire transfer.
- Best For: Content creators, educators, and digital marketers targeting audiences interested in online course creation and digital products.
10. ClickFunnels
ClickFunnels offers a “Dream Car” incentive, providing a $500 monthly bonus when affiliates maintain 100 active referrals, and $1,000 for 200 active referrals.
- Commission Rate: 30% recurring commissions
- Cookie Duration: 30 days
- Minimum Payout: No minimum payout threshold; commissions paid monthly
- Payment Methods: PayPal through Tipalti
- Best For: Digital marketers, entrepreneurs, and content creators targeting audiences interested in sales funnels, online business tools, and marketing automation.
11. Kinsta
Kinsta’s affiliate program is known for its competitive commission structure and high customer retention rate for affiliates seeking both substantial upfront earnings and long-term passive income.
- Commission Rate: One-time commission ranging from $50 to $500 per referral, depending on the plan purchased, with 10% recurring monthly commission for the lifetime of each active WordPress hosting customer.
- Cookie Duration: 60 days.
- Minimum Payout: No minimum; commissions are paid monthly.
- Payment Methods: PayPal.
- Best For: Bloggers, digital marketers, developers, and agencies targeting audiences interested in premium managed WordPress hosting solutions.
12. GetResponse
They provide flexible commission structures and a generous cookie duration for affiliates aiming to monetize their audience through email marketing solutions.
- Commission Rate: $100 one-time bounty per sale or a 33% recurring commission for the lifetime of the customer.
- Cookie Duration: 120 days
- Minimum Payout: $50
- Payment Methods: Monthly payouts via PayPal, USD check, ACH (U.S. only), or Eurotransfer.
- Best For: Digital marketers, bloggers, and content creators targeting audiences interested in email marketing, automation, and online business tools.
13. Etsy
Perfect for creators and lifestyle bloggers, Etsy Affiliates focuses on handmade goods, vintage items, and craft supplies.
- Commission Rate: 4% on standard publisher referrals (e.g., blogs, websites) and 2% on user-generated content (e.g., social media posts)
- Cookie Duration: 30 days for website referrals and 7 days for app referrals
- Minimum Payout: $20
- Payment Methods: Twice a month through direct deposit (ACH), international wire transfer, or check
- Best For: Bloggers, influencers, and content creators in niches like handmade goods, vintage items, fashion, home decor, and personalized gifts.
14. MarketerHire
MarketerHire stands out with its high flat-rate commission.
- Commission Rate: One-time $2,500 cash payout for every new customer
- Cookie Duration: 90 days
- Minimum Payout: No minimum
- Payment Methods: PayPal or Stripe, typically within 1–2 weeks after referral verification
- Best For: Digital marketers, consultants, business coaches, and content creators with audiences interested in hiring expert freelance marketers.
15. Expedia
This travel affiliate program provides access to over 140,000 properties worldwide, plus discounted flights, vacation packages, and more.
- Commission Rate: Hotels up to 6%, Vacation Packages: 3–5%, Car Rentals up to 5%, Activities & Ground Transfers up to 7%, Flights approximately 0.9%
- Cookie Duration: 7 days
- Minimum Payout: $30
- Payment Methods: Monthly payouts via PayPal, ACH (U.S. only), international wire transfer, or check
- Best For: Travel bloggers, content creators, and digital marketers targeting audiences in booking hotels, flights, car rentals, and vacation packages.
16. Impact
They provide a robust platform for affiliates with numerous advertisers and flexible commission structures.
- Commission Rate: Varies by brand
- Cookie Duration: Typically 45 days, depending on the advertiser
- Minimum Payout: $25 for ACH, $50 for checks, and $100 for international bank transfers
- Payment Methods: Monthly payouts via PayPal, ACH, international wire transfer, or check
- Best For: Digital marketers, bloggers, influencers, and content creators
Important Affiliate Marketing Terms
Cookie: An affiliate cookie is a file that is created and stored on the web browser when a visitor clicks on an affiliate link. With the help of the cookie, the affiliate networks can track where a sale came from.
EPM: Earnings per 1,000 impressions. If a program is based on EPM type, you will earn the agreed amount for every 1,000 impressions from your campaigns.
EPC: Earnings Per Click. It typically refers to the earnings you might earn for every 100 clicks on affiliate links.
CPA: Cost per Action, which is a payment model of advertisers to pay their affiliates for conversions only.
CPS: Cost Per Sale is a flat rate per sale or a percentage of the price of a product.
CPL: Cost Per Lead is a rate paid for each successful lead generated.
CPC: Cost Per Click is the rate paid for every valid click on an advertisement.
How to maximize your earnings as an affiliate marketer?
If you want to become a successful affiliate marketer, you need at least the following 6 things:
- A highly profitable niche
- A well-designed affiliate site
- Best affiliate marketing programs related to your niche
- Skills of choosing the right products that your target audience would love
- Content writing skills
- Skills in driving traffic and improving conversion rate.
Books, Courses & Other Resources
👉 Best affiliate marketing books
👉 Best affiliate marketing courses
👉 Affiliate management services on Fiverr
Your comments are most welcome. If you are happy reading this list of the best affiliate marketing programs, please share this page with your social media posts.
Disclosure: We are partners or associates of Amazon and other top brands. We may earn a small amount from qualifying purchases without increasing the price. Please read our full affiliate disclosure here.
Ibochouba Singh is a content writer and reviewer with a passion for writing about digital marketing and tech gadgets, including software tools and new tech gadgets. He has over 15 years of experience writing for several consumers and clients, including tech startups, marketing agencies, and software companies. He has written many articles and product reviews for many websites, including nigcworld.com and buywin.in.
This is a very helpful article! It is very resourceful and the presentation is stunning! I am really satisfied with your information. I love it, Really good. Thank you for making it painless, pleasant and most of all hassle free
Thanks for sharing such a great, very informative and useful article to Affiliate marketing tips.
Keep it up.