If you're a creator, blogger, entrepreneur, or just someone who loves passive income, affiliate marketing is one of the smartest ways to monetize your audience. With the right affiliate program, you can generate income while you sleep (or while you're creating that next viral TikTok).
Let me break down the best affiliate marketing programs, why they work, and how to get started today—even if you're a beginner.
1. Submagic: the video editor with creator commissions baked in Submagic isn’t just a top AI video editor ; it’s a content creator’s best-kept secret. Think of it as your all-in-one social video workflow tool: subtitle generator, AI b-roll , magic clips , auto zoom , and more. It's loved by influencers, agencies, and freelancers alike.
The affiliate program gives 30% recurring commissions for life—which means every time your referral pays, you get paid. The cookie duration is a generous 30 days, and the onboarding is smooth with tools like promo codes and custom links. If you're a content creator, coach, or run a social media agency, this is an easy win.
Why it's great for affiliate marketing:
30% recurring commission for the lifetime of every referral Creators, agencies, coaches—everyone needs video Over $2 million paid out to affiliates (and counting) Easy onboarding and promo tools 30-day cookie duration Perfect for : content creators, agencies, marketers, YouTubers, freelancers, and SaaS bloggers
How to start : Apply via their affiliate page , grab your link or promo code, and start sharing.
2. Amazon Associates: the OG affiliate partner Amazon Associates is one of the most well-known affiliate programs in the world. With millions of products across every niche imaginable, you can promote pretty much anything to your audience. The barrier to entry is low, making it great for beginners just dipping their toes into affiliate marketing.
However, the downside is the low commission rates (usually between 1% to 10%) and a super short 24-hour cookie window. Despite that, the trust factor Amazon holds can help you convert more clicks. This program works especially well for product reviewers, SEO-focused bloggers, and niche websites.
Pros:
Massive product selection Trusted by millions of shoppers Simple onboarding Cons:
Short cookie duration (24 hours) Low commission rates (often 1-10%) Best for : bloggers, review sites, content creators with ecommerce audiences
Pro tip : Optimize product placements with strong SEO and email marketing for better conversion rates.
3. ShareASale: the affiliate network buffet ShareASale acts like a matchmaking service for affiliates and merchants. It offers thousands of merchant programs to choose from, spanning everything from fashion to SaaS to ecommerce. This affiliate network is especially beginner-friendly, with a clean dashboard and search tools that help you sort through by commission rates, cookie duration, or category.
What makes ShareASale stand out is the diversity and transparency—you can view key program details before joining. Whether you're a blogger in lifestyle or a digital marketing pro, you'll find relevant partnerships here.
Why it rocks:
Easy search to find high-paying partners Transparent commission structure Real-time analytics and tracking Best for: bloggers, digital marketers, niche influencers, ecommerce pros
4. ClickBank: the king of online courses & info products ClickBank has long been a go-to for affiliates promoting digital products, especially in niches like health, finance, and online education. The affiliate program often features high ticket items with commissions of 50% or more, plus upsells and backend funnels that maximize your earnings.
Many ClickBank offers come with ready-to-go assets: landing pages, email sequences, even pre-made ads. This makes it an ideal platform if you're doing email marketing or running an info-product business. Just make sure to vet products before promoting—quality varies.
Why it's powerful:
High commission rates (often 50% or more) Fast onboarding Some offers have built-in automation and landing pages Perfect for : email marketers, YouTube reviewers, freelancers, and info-product creators
5. Shopify Affiliate Program Shopify’s affiliate partner program is designed with educators and ecommerce consultants in mind. You earn a flat rate for every new merchant who signs up for a paid plan through your referral link—sometimes over $100 per signup. Shopify also gives you plenty of educational content and landing page options to drive traffic.
If your audience is interested in building online stores, dropshipping, or digital entrepreneurship, this program fits like a glove. Bonus: you’re promoting a household name that has a strong product-market fit.
Pros:
$100+ per referral Great landing page tools Backed by a household name Best for : online course creators, ecommerce bloggers, marketing coaches
6. Fiverr Affiliates: tap into a global gig economy The Fiverr affiliate program lets you promote one of the largest freelancer platforms in the world. Whether your audience needs a logo, website, or even a voiceover, Fiverr has a service to match. The affiliate model here is CPA (cost per acquisition), meaning you earn a set fee for every first-time buyer.
Commissions can go up to $150 depending on the service tier. It’s a great match for bloggers, entrepreneurs, and influencers who want to promote freelance services. Plus, Fiverr’s brand recognition helps increase trust and conversions.
Benefits:
Flexible CPA model Easy for beginners Popular with bloggers and social media influencers Commission potential : up to $150 per new buyer
7. HubSpot: for B2B & SaaS-savvy marketers HubSpot’s affiliate program is ideal if you’re in the B2B, SaaS, or marketing automation space. It offers some of the highest payouts in the game—up to $1,000 per sale—because you’re promoting software plans that carry serious monthly value.
HubSpot gives you a library of marketing materials, including banners, demo videos, and comparison guides. You also get access to a dedicated affiliate manager to help you maximize your performance. This is a great option if you're targeting startups, agencies, or online business owners.
Why join:
Up to $1,000 per referral High conversion rates from webinars and content Dedicated affiliate manager and materials Best for : B2B creators, SaaS marketers, SEO pros
8. Awin, CJ Affiliate, and Rakuten: the powerhouse affiliate networks
These platforms are ideal if you’re ready to scale with multiple affiliate programs.
What they offer:
Access to big-name retailers Robust dashboards and analytics Partnership opportunities with top brands Great for : Experienced marketers, affiliate professionals, and entrepreneurs running WordPress sites or price comparison tools
How to get started (step-by-step)
Pick a niche: ecommerce, digital marketing, online courses, SaaS, etc. Choose the affiliate program that fits your audience Apply and get your unique referral link or code Create content: blog posts, YouTube reviews, landing pages, social media posts Track your conversion rates and optimize with A/B testing Scale with automation and tools like email sequences, SEO, and cross-promotion Top 5 things to look for in a great affiliate program 1. Recurring commission structure One-time commissions are fine. But recurring ones? Chef’s kiss. Look for programs like Submagic that pay you every month for as long as your referral stays a customer.
2. Reasonable cookie duration A 24-hour cookie? Brutal. A good program gives you at least 30 days, so your hard-earned traffic actually earns you something.
3. High-converting landing pages You can have all the traffic in the world, but if their site doesn’t convert, you’re just donating clicks. A solid landing pagewith social proof, a clear offer, and fast load times is clutch.
4. Transparent analytics and payouts You should be able to log in, see what’s working, and know exactly when you’re getting paid (preferably via PayPal). Weekly or monthly payouts are a green light.
5. Aligned audience & product quality You should genuinely want to promote this. If you’re a creator and the product helps creators? That’s alignment. Bonus points if it’s a product you already use and love.
Top 5 red flags in affiliate programs 1. Unclear or delayed payments If you can’t figure out when or how you’ll get paid—or you’ve heard of affiliates waiting months—that’s a no. Trustworthy programs disclose their payout schedule clearly.
2. Ridiculously low commissions If a $200 sale earns you $2, hard pass. Look for fair commission rates (at least 20% for digital products, ideally more if it’s SaaS).
3. Tiny cookie windows If it’s less than a week, it’s basically useless. You're doing free promo work for someone else’s sale.
4. Bad user experience or shady site Ugly, slow, or scammy-looking websites won’t convert—and could damage your own reputation. Trust your gut here.
5. No support or affiliate manager If you have zero contact or tools, or you’re getting ghosted after applying—skip it. Good programs want to support their affiliate partners.
The best affiliate marketing programs don’t just offer high payouts—they offer real value to your audience. Whether you’re recommending a subtitle tool like Submagic, reviewing products on Amazon, or pushing an online course through ClickBank, the goal is to build trust and earn with integrity.
Choose partnerships that align with your content, give your audience something worth clicking, and optimize every step.
This is how creators turn clicks into cash, and traffic into recurring income.
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