29 Best Affiliate Programs For A Smarter Passive Income in 2021

If you’re looking for the best affiliate programs to increase your income, you’ve come to the right place!

Get comfortable and grab a snack, because today is all about multiplying your bank account balance in a breeze.

best affiliate programs

I know you might say that there are hundreds of affiliate programs out there.

You might have already joined one or two.

To make a profit, though, you need a program that’s profitablerecognizable, and valuable.

Putting all these together will give you a program that’s more powerful than Optimus Prime and MechaGodzilla combined!

So, who’s ready to roll?

You are!

Table of Contents

The Best Affiliate Programs For Every Industry

I know that some of you might be short on time.

I also totally understand that a cold Piña colada is more appealing right now than reading lengthy posts.

If you are already at the beach, here are the best affiliate programs you can join today per industry:

Affiliate ProgramCommission RateCommission TypeBest Program Feature
MarketingMoosend30%RecurringMore commissions as your referrals upgrade + 120-day cookie (Sign up here)
Web HostingWP Engine$200FlatExtra 35% for every ThemePress sale
VPNNordVPN40%Flat Subscription-based model + 30% for renewals
EcommerceWix$100Flat14-day trial + multilingual material
Online CourseTeachable30%RecurringAccess to A/B tested funnels

Best Marketing Affiliate Programs

I’m sure you’ve already heard about Amazon Associates and eBay Partners.

After all, their reputation precedes them.

However…

affiliate marketing gif

Most companies out there already have an affiliate program you can join and earn money for promoting them.

To make affiliate marketing work, you need to choose tools that will be useful to your audience; otherwise, they won’t see the point of signing up.

Hand-picked just for you, here are some of the best marketing tools and how you can benefit from their affiliate programs.

1. Moosend

This is Moosend's high paying marketing affiliate program page

Commission Rate: 30%

Commission Type: Lifetime Recurring

Cookie Duration: 120 days

Payout Method: PayPal + Others

Signup for free here: Moosend Affiliates

“Moosend has one of my favorite affiliate programs. The offer both recurring payments and a lengthy 120-day cookie duration, plus their team is great to work with, and they can help with graphics, content, and SEO.”

Adam Enfroy – AdamEnfroy.com

Moosend is an email marketing automation platform enabling marketers to create, automate, and personalize their newsletter templates with sophisticated tools.

Apart from its email marketing capabilities, Moosend will boost your lead generation with its new landing page and subscription form builders.

Best Affiliate Program Feature – 30% Lifetime Commissions

Moosend’s affiliate program will get you one step closer to a smarter passive income with its lifetime recurring commission.

Every month, you can earn 30% on every plan that your contacts purchase using your affiliate link.

What makes the program a must, though, is that you also earn additional affiliate commissions when your contacts upgrade.

Moosend gives you both the tools and the time to bring more people on board with a 120-day cookie and a user-friendly affiliate dashboard.

When you join, you’ll get access to affiliate reporting tools to track your performance and optimize your affiliate marketing strategy.

The team is always ready to support you, offering SEO assistance, a free plan, and ready-made creatives to save you time.

Overall, Moosend’s high paying commissions, promo materials, and support are perfect to set your passive income in motion.

You can sign up for Moosend’s affiliate program by clicking here.

2. LeadPages

LeadPages' marketing affiliate program page has all the information you need to join

Commission Rate: 10%

Commission Type: Recurring

Cookie Duration: 30 days

Payout Method: PayPal, Wire Transfer

Signup: LeadPages Affiliates

“It’s a no-brainer to share Leadpages with our audience, given how often I use it and how much I dig it. What’s extra-awesome is that Leadpages totally helps its affiliates succeed by hosting kick-butt webinars for our list and providing fast ‘n’ friendly support.”

Joanna Wiebe – Copyhackers

Leadpages is a lead generation tool that allows you to create high-converting websites, Facebook ads, alert bars, and more.

The platform is easy-to-use, allowing you to design responsive pages without having any technical expertise.

Best Affiliate Program Feature – Ready-made Creatives

After July 1, LeadPages’ affiliate program will have a different commission structure.

The new model will give you a base 10% recurring commission for every past and present contact that remains a customer.

However, you can earn up to 40% depending on the number of new referrals per month.

Also, you’ll have at your disposal a 30-day cookie and a dedicated affiliate link to promote the platform.

Apart from that, LeadPages gives you access to ready-made ads and provides you with extra content to educate your audience.

When it comes to tracking, you can use LeadPages’ software to monitor your affiliate link performance and conversions.

3. SEMrush

This is BErush, SEMrush's marketing partner program and how it works

Commission Rate: 40%

Commission Type: Lifetime Recurring

Cookie Duration: 10 years

Payout Method: PayPal, Wire Transfer

Signup: BeRush

“The best part about being an affiliate is earning recurring income, and that’s what I got with SEMrush… I have worked with BeRush for more than seven years, and it has been a joyride!”

Harsh Agrawal – ShoutMeLoud

SEMrush is an all-in-one marketing SaaS platform that lets you manage your search engine optimization, advertising, content, and social media.

The tool is perfect for every large or small business that wants to run competitive research and drive more sales.

Best Affiliate Program Feature – 10-year Cookie

SEMrush is among the best affiliate programs that give its affiliate partners a 40% commission for Pro, Business, and Guru plans.

One of the best features is the platform’s 10-year cookie and its first-click attribution model that allows your contacts to remain affiliate users regardless of purchasing.

Furthermore, SEMrush offers extra commissions when you hit specific affiliate goals within a month.

The platform will assist your promotional efforts with resources, pre-made banners, landing pages, and exclusive widgets.

Also, it’s good to know that SEMrush pays out commissions twice a month, on the 10th and 25th.

Lastly, when it comes to the signup process, SEMrush has a pre-approval system that will give you access to resources and tracking features upon entering.

4. SocialPilot

socialpilot's affiliate page highlights why you need to become their affiliate

Commission Rate: 30%

Commission Type: Recurring

Cookie Duration: 60 days

Payout Method: PayPal

Signup: SocialPilot Affiliates

“SocialPilot rivals Hootsuite and Buffer as one of the top social media automation tools around… The app team is great about fixing bugs and engaging with the community across social media and the app stores. Great support makes for a better user experience.”

Neil Patel –NeilPatel.com

SocialPilot is a social media automation and scheduling tool to elevate your social media and influencer marketing strategy.

The platform will allow you to manage your social interactions through your Social inbox and increase your social media engagement.

Best Affiliate Program Feature – 30% Recurring Commission

SocialPilot’s affiliate partners will receive a recurring commission of 30%.

The minimum threshold for payout is also $50, which you will receive once a month.

The program doesn’t require you to have a paid plan, which makes it easy to sign up and start making money online.

Furthermore, the affiliate manager will not only reward you for every new end-user but also give you a commission for every renewal.

As part of the revenue-sharing program, you’ll also have at your disposal a 60-day cookie and access to SocialPilot’s affiliate profile.

There, you can track your contacts’ activity, see their payment information, and track your conversions.

Overall, SocialPilot has a great product and a well-structured affiliate program to power up your income.

5. Customerly

This is Customerly's simple and informative page for their potential affiliate partners

Commission Rate: 30%

Commission Type: Recurring for 12 months

Cookie Duration: 90 days

Payout Method: PayPal

Signup: Customerly Affiliates

“Customerly is helping us to create relationships with our customers and trigger messages based on their behavior.”
Nicola Montanaro – Seo Tester Online

Customerly will give you the tools to build strong customer relationships, nurture leads and create efficient marketing and sales funnels.

The powerful live chat suite is perfect for new online businesses that want to provide customers with a seamless customer support experience.

Best Affiliate Program Feature – Expert Affiliate Advice

Customerly’s affiliate marketing program will give you a 30% recurring commission for the first 12 months.

The program has a 90-day cookie, an adequate period to plan your affiliate tactics and bring more referrals.

Furthermore, you’ll get about $86 for the Startup and $464 for the Enterprise plan.

This means that on average the program gives you about $19.5 for every referral that buys a plan per month.

The signup process is also straightforward, and you’ll instantly get an affiliate link and access to resources to get started.

Customerly will be right next to you, making suggestions on how to promote the software more effectively.

Lastly, the team also recommends writing comparison reviews between Customerly and other tools, sharing your personal experience, and adding your link to your resource page.

6. Referral Candy

This is ReferralCandy's affiliate program page for bloggers and influencers with an eCommerce audience

Commission Rate: $20/referral, Varies for Agencies

Commission Type:  Flat/Recurring for Agencies

Cookie Duration: N/D

Payout Method: Cash

Signup: ReferralCandy AffiliatesReferralCandy Agencies

“I love that you can see all the information you really need – who referred, who was the referrer, the amount.”

Chris Whitener – Magical Butter

ReferralCandy is an eCommerce program that allows you to reward your customers for every referral they make.

The tool is easy to set up, while its data-driven insights let you track traffic sources and see which customers help you boost your sales.

Best Affiliate Program Feature – Simple and Helpful

ReferralCandy’s program couldn’t be more straightforward.

First of all, they offer a partner program that agencies can use to boost their clients’ sales.

If you have an agency, ReferralCandy will assign you a dedicated partner manager to guide you through.

What’s more, the partner program will provide you with custom features, dedicated support channels, as well as marketing and sales materials.

Regarding the commission type, Referral Candy offers a recurring model. For more info, you can contact their partner manager.

If you don’t have an agency, you can earn $20 for every contact that creates an account through your invite link.

Overall, ReferralCandy’s program is great for agencies and people who want a simple solution to make an extra buck.

7. Hunter.io

This screenshot shows Hunter.io's affiliate program and the benefits of becoming a partner

Commission Rate: 30%/first 12 invoices

Commission Type: Recurring

Cookie Duration: N/D

Payout Method: Paypal

Signup: Hunter Affiliates

Hunter.io is an email finder tool that allows you to hunt for email addresses from domains and companies.

Using the software will help you expand your contact list and verify the deliverability of any email address you desire.

Best Affiliate Program Feature – 30% Recurring Commission

Hunter.io offers an easy-to-join affiliate program that gives you a 30% recurring commission for 12 invoices or for the first year.

When you become a partner, the team will provide you with an affiliate link to set your efforts in motion.

Concerning payouts, you will receive your affiliate commission for every successful conversion after 45 days through PayPal.

While the program doesn’t have any specific joining requirements, it suggests keeping in mind some basic guidelines you can find here.

For more information, the team is also available through chat or email to answer questions and help you start your affiliate journey.

Overall, Hunter.io’s software is a great addition to any marketing stack, so it’ll be easy to promote and earn for every new referral.

Best Web Hosting Affiliate Programs

Promoting a web hosting platform is among the best affiliate opportunities you can get.

Without a web hosting service, website owners can’t make their content accessible to the public.

So, that’s why web hosting is a no-brainer for the majority of successful affiliates out there.

If you want to join them, read on, because below you’ll find the best high paying web hosting affiliate programs you can join today.

1. WP Engine

WP Engine's affiliate page and FAQ answer all your questions about becoming part of their program

Commission Rate: $200/web hosting plan, 35%/StudioPress Theme Sales

Commission Type: Flat

Cookie Duration: 180 days

Payout Method: N/D

Signup: WP Engine Partners

“WP Engine knows how to optimize for WordPress, and it shows everyday!”

Brad Williams – Webdev Studios

WP Engine is one of the most popular digital experience platforms offering premium web hosting services.

Signing up will give you access to a fully managed web hosting platform to run your website more efficiently with intuitive and user-friendly tools.

Best Affiliate Program Feature – 180-day Cookie

What distinguishes WP Engine’s affiliate program is that it provides you with two easy ways to make money online.

Apart from the standard $200 payout, WP Engine rewards you with higher commissions if your contacts sign up for more features.

Not only that, but the two-tier tracking feature lets you refer new affiliates and earn $50 for every signup.

The program’s flexibility also provides your contacts with special discounts and exclusive offers that will boost their purchase intention.

Furthermore, WP Engine’s 180-day and StudioPress’ 60-day cookies are more than enough to bring more signups.

Another plus, you’ll also get access to pre-designed banners, landing pages, and co-branded assets.

Overall, WP Engine’s high paying affiliate program is one of the best options both for marketers and bloggers who want to make money fast.

For more information, you can check the FAQ section accessible to everyone.

2. Bluehost

This is Bluehost's page and CTAs to let visitors become their affiliate partners

Commission Rate: $65/sale

Commission Type: Flat

Cookie Duration: 90 days

Payout Method: PayPal, Wire transfer, ACH transfer

Signup: Bluehost Partners

“Bluehost affiliate program offers one of the most detailed and accurate tracking in the business. I happily recommend Bluehost to my readers because I am a proud customer, and I admire their commitment to WordPress.”

Syed Balkhi – WPBeginner

Bluehost is a fantastic WP Engine alternative that’s flexible, reliable, and affordable.

The platform is perfect for bloggers and marketers using WordPress, offering web hosting, automated security, and various eCommerce tools.

Best Program Features

Bluehost commissions start at $65 per sale. However, the platform also offers a tiered commission system that has the potential to give you up to $130.

When it comes to payout, Bluehost will process your earned sales after 45-60 days.

Usually, the program distributes commissions through PayPal Masspay.  As of 2019, though, you can use alternative payout methods like Wire and ACH transfer.

Joining the program is also free, and Bluehost will immediately give you a tracking code to use on your website and monetize it.

To make the most out of the affiliate program, Bluehost has a dedicated team to provide you with personalized advice.

What’s more, you can leverage the platform’s wide variety of banners and ads to promote your affiliate link.

Through your dashboard, you can track your affiliate efforts and even use your links to segment your referral traffic.

3. Hostgator

Hostgator's affiliate page highlights some of the perks of joining their affiliate program for free

Commission Rate: $65/signup

Commission Type: Flat/Hybrid

Cookie Duration: 60 days

Payout Method: Through Impact or CJ Affiliate

Signup: Hostgator Partners

“HostGator, founded in 2002, has long been in the hosting industry. With over 90% customer satisfaction and 12,000 servers under management, they are one of the largest and most well-known web hosts. They offer dedicated and VPS options for customers whose sites grow to require the extra power.”

Ryan Frankel – Hosting Advice

Hostgator is among the best web-hosting providers, offering a variety of tools to take your business or blog online.

Among others, Hostgator offers flexible and value-for-money plans for single or unlimited domains, allowing you to choose between shared, reseller, or dedicated web hosting.

Best Program Features

The first thing you need to know about Hostgator’s affiliate marketing program is its commission model.

The provider has a performance-based tier where you can earn up to $2,625 if you bring 21 contacts in a single month.

Apart from the performance-based tier, Hostgator also provides a hybrid commission model that supports recurring affiliate commissions.

The provider will also give you access to their affiliate platform immediately,  where you can track your conversions, access banners, and create your custom coupon code.

Another essential feature is Hostgator’s 45-day money-back guarantee that will make the software more appealing to your contacts.

Finally, if you want more information, the affiliate program has a more detailed FAQ section that you can visit here.

4. Cloudways

cloudways shows visitors why they need to become partners through their web hosting affiliate page

Commission Rate: $125/sale or $30/sales + 7%

Commission Type: Flat/Hybrid

Cookie Duration: 90 days

Payout Method: N/D

Signup: Cloudways Partners

“Cloudways affiliate program is easy to get started, and the great complementary product makes it easier to earn a higher commission. In my experience with them, they have a great team which helps with graphics and suggest new strategies now and then. A great web hosting affiliate program to be part of.”

Harsh Agrawal – ShoutMeLoud

Cloudways is a service that simplifies web hosting and lets you focus on building your professional website.

When you sign up, you get access to a robust environment to manage your online business or website in a fast, secure, and scalable way.

Best Program Features

Cloudways is among the best high paying affiliate programs you can join to supercharge your income.

One of its best features is its adaptable character that allows affiliates to move between its performance-based Slab and Hybrid model.

Choosing the performance-based allows you to earn a high commission of $125 per sale, whereas the hybrid model will give you a fixed $30 per signup and a 7% recurring commission.

This flexibility makes Cloudways’ affiliate program ideal for bloggers, marketers, media publishers, and freelancers.

When it comes to your affiliate profile, the program has a user-friendly dashboard where you can track your clicks and conversions.

Moreover, the team will help you succeed by equipping you with onboarding emails and guides, monthly newsletters, blogs, and benchmark articles.

Overall, the affiliate program has the right amount of flexibility and support to help you meet your affiliate goals.

5. GreenGeeks

This is Greengeeks web hosting affiliate program page

Commission Rate: $50-$100/sale

Commission Type: Flat

Cookie Duration: 30 days

Payout Method: PayPal, Check

Signup: GreenGeeks Partners

“Powered by solid-state RAID-10 storage arrays, LiteSpeed web servers, advanced security tools, and proactive monitoring, GreenGeeks capitalizes on its in-house tech to improve customers’ hosting experiences.”

Laura Bernheim – Hosting Advice

GreekGeeks is a fast, secure, and eco-friendly web hosting service that will cover your needs regardless of hosting requirements.

The service has excellent support for WordPress websites, offering reseller and VPS hosting for your websites or applications.

Best Program Features

Last but not least, GreenGeeks’ partner program will reward you with $50 for every single sale.

If you are a performer, the program also lets you earn up to $100 for six sales.

When your contacts purchase through the 30-day cookie, the platform will immediately track the sale back to you and generate the equivalent commission.

What makes GreenGeeks’ affiliate program worth it is the high incentives you can get.

So, if you can bring more contacts on board, the platform will offer you a series of special commission bonuses.

The friendly affiliate team will also supply you with real-time tracking, landing pages, content, and banners to boost your affiliate efforts.

All in all, if generating extra income and spreading the “green message” around appeals to you, then GreenGeeks is the perfect place to be.

Best VPN Affiliate Programs

VPN affiliate programs are another super popular option for most affiliates out there.

Using a VPN means being secure on the internet regardless of connection. So, most users will gladly choose a provider to have a safe surfing experience.

Of course, don’t forget that VPNs also help users avoid bandwidth throttling, get faster connection speeds, and get the most out of their Netflix subscription.

With these in mind, let’s see the best high paying VPN affiliate programs and what you’ll get by promoting them.

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN's has a simple VPN affiliate program page with the reasons why someone should join

Commission Rate: $13, $22, $36

Commission Type: Flat

Cookie Duration: 90 days

Payout Method: PayPal, Direct Wire Transfer (commissions over $1,000)

SignupExpressVPN Affiliates

ExpressVPN is a privacy and security tool that encrypts users’ web traffic and masks their IP address.

As one of the world’s largest VPN service providers, ExpressVPN offers powerful online protection, in-class encryption, and ultra-fast servers.

Best Affiliate Program Feature – High Upfront Payments

ExpressVPN has a commission model based on the plan your contacts purchase.

Unfortunately, ExpressVPN doesn’t offer recurring commissions. Nevertheless, you can benefit from the high upfront affiliate payments.

More specifically, you can earn $13 for one month, $22 for six months, and $36 for 12 months.

The commission schedule is also flexible, allowing you to earn more money without a sales cap.

ExpressVPN’s affiliate program will also equip you with a variety of marketing collateral to promote your affiliate links.

What’s more, you can also leverage PPC campaigns to promote your affiliate links.

However, the program clearly states that you aren’t allowed to bid for competing keywords with variations or misspellings.

Regarding payout, ExpressVPN has a minimum threshold of $100. When you collect the amount, you will receive your earnings monthly by the 15th of each month.

2.NordVPN

Nordvpn's affiliate page version has a bright CTA to attract attention and the reasons someone needs to become a partner

Commission Rate: 40%/user and 30%/renewal

Commission Type: Flat

Cookie Duration: 30 days

Payout Method: N/D

SignupNordVPN Affiliates

“As VPN services go, it’s hard to beat NordVPN. It has a large and diverse collection of servers, an excellent collection of advanced features, strong privacy and security practices, and approachable clients for every major platform.”

Max Eddy – PCMag

NordVPN is another VPN behemoth that makes using public Wi-Fi and accessing personal and work accounts safer.

The VPN service provider will protect your device regardless of software, providing you with first-class data protection and tools.

Best Program Features

NordVPN has one of the best affiliate programs out there and here’s why.

The provider’s high conversion rate and trusted brand will help you promote the digital product more effectively and see your bank balance grow.

According to Awin, you also have a 30-day cookie. While the cookie duration is short, NordVPN’s popularity will compensate for it.

Furthermore, the program’s subscription-based commissions will reward you with a 100%  commission for the 1-month offer and 40% for the 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year offers.

Along with the standard commission,  you also get 30% for every renewal your contacts make.

To promote the service, the affiliate program will supply you with the necessary materials to bring more referrals on board.

In general, NordVPN has an excellent digital product and reward system that will make your affiliate marketing efforts a lot easier.

3. IPVanish

This is IPVanish's VPN affiliate page giving an overview of the program and why you need to join

Commission Rate: 100%/sale and 35%/renewal

Commission Type: Recurring

Cookie Duration: N/D

Payout Method: Direct Deposit (ACH), PayPal

Signup: IPVanish Affiliates

IPVanish is among the popular VPN service providers out there, offering you end-to-end network encryption.

The service gives you complete online freedom and protection, as well as file management and data backups using SugarSync encryption.

Best Program Features

IPVanish belongs to the affiliate partner programs that offer a recurring commission model.

More specifically, you can earn up to 100% for all new referrals and then make a 35% recurring commission as long as they remain a customer.

The minimum payout is $100, which IPVanish will pay you automatically every month.

The affiliate manager and support team will also proactively help you set everything up.

Through the Affiliate Groove panel, you’ll get access to powerful real-time reporting tools.

There, you can also manage your affiliate campaigns and track your referral conversion rate.

Overall, IPVanish’s trusted service will give you the chance to promote a successful affiliate product and make more money online.

4. PureVPN

PureVPN's page wows their visitors with a well-crafted affiliate page that promises to help you make money online in a week

Commission Rate: 100%/sale and 35% recurring

Commission Type: Recurring/Hybrid

Cookie Duration: 30 days

Payout Method: Direct Deposit, PayPal

Signup: PureVPN Affiliates

PureVPN is a promising VPN service provider that offers military-grade 256-bit encryption to ensure that your data will always be safe.

When you get a subscription, PureVPN will offer you a variety of extra tools like a VPN Kill Switch and a dedicated IP to protect your browsing experience.

Best Program Features

PureVPN’s high paying affiliate program is perfect for bloggers and marketers alike.

The provider’s value-for-money plans and its 7-day trial allow your contacts to test the service and see if it suits them.

When it comes to flexibility, PureVPN has a two-tier affiliate structure to help you multiply your earning, offering a 100% per sale and a 35% recurring commission.

The affiliate program also runs payouts on the 15th of each month and has a minimum threshold you need to reach to receive your money.

When you join the program, you’ll also receive assistance from PureVPN’s affiliate manager to learn how to bring more traffic.

That’s perfect for someone who’s blogging and doesn’t have much affiliate experience.

Overall, you can benefit from PureVPN’s high CPA, bonuses, and high-converting deals for a faster and easier income.

5. CyberGhost

The image shows part of CyberGhost's VPN affiliate page and the benefits you get as a Cyberghost partner

Commission Rate: 100%/sale

Commission Type: Flat

Cookie Duration: 45 days

Payment Method: PayPal, Wire transfer, Direct Deposit

Signup: CyberGhost Affiliates

CyberGhost is a user-friendly, tool-packed VPN provider to improve your browsing experience.

The service has a configurable Windows client, reliable performance, and runs automatically when launching specific applications.

Best Program Features

CyberGhost has the title of the fastest payout in the industry, with commissions reaching up to 100%.

Not only that, but the program also has a performance-based commission model you can discuss with your affiliate manager.

The dedicated affiliate marketers will be available to guide you and show you how to get more out of the program.

Regarding the promo material, CyberGhost will supply you with landing pages, creative graphics, and statistics.

Apart from that, the program grants you access to real-time analytics to monitor your affiliate performance and get notifications about new promotions.

All in all, the provider has a reliable product that you can promote to your contacts and earn back for every sale.

Best Ecommerce Affiliate Programs

As we discussed above, having a great web hosting provider is of paramount importance to give life to your online presence.

Nevertheless, to get from digital zero to eCommerce hero, you need an eCommerce platform to build your online store.

For eCommerce marketers, choosing the right tools to customize their business will get them closer to higher conversion rates.

So, in this section, we’ll explore the best eCommerce tools and the best affiliate programs you can join.

Brace yourselves, the best high paying eCommerce affiliate programs are coming!

1. Shopify

Shopify's ecommerce affiliate website shows you how to shape the future of ecommerce by becoming part of their affiliate sphere

Commission Rate: $58/user

Commission Type: Flat

Cookie Duration: 30 days

Payout Method: PayPal

Signup: Shopify Partners

“I have worked with dozens of companies over my 11 years online, and I have to say that Shopify has been one of the best to work with! Their affiliate managers and program have made it easy for me to promote their product, make money, and provide value to my community.”

Ezra Firestone – Smart Marketer

Shopify is for eCommerce owners what WordPress is for bloggers.

As the leading eCommerce platform, Shopify will help you bring your business online in a few minutes using a variety of sophisticated built-in tools.

Best Affiliate Program Feature – Priority Support

Shopify has one of the best affiliate programs to increase your income, the smart way.

When your contacts sign up for a paid-plan, the affiliate program will reward you with $58 per sale.

However, that’s not only what the program offers. If your audience signs up for a Shopify Plus account, you’ll also get $2,000 for each subscription.

Promotional-wise, Shopify’s program will save you time by offering a selection of ready-made webinars, video tutorials, and automated funnels.

The 30-day cookie can be bummer. However, Shopify’s household name in the eCommerce industry will compensate for it.

Whether you are a blogger or a marketer, Shopify will help you make the most out of its program with priority support and a dedicated affiliate manager.

2. BigCommerce

Bigcommerce has a bright affiliate page to grab user's attention and highlight the benefit of applying
Commission Rate: 
200%/referral

Commission Type: Flat

Cookie Duration: 90 days

Payout Method: N/D

Signup: Bigcommerce Partners

“In addition to being the best eCommerce platform, BigCommerce takes a people-first approach to running their business. They provide amazing support to their customers, and they cultivate meaningful relationships with their partners.”

Darren Dematas – Ecommerce CEO

BigCommerce is a SaaS eCommerce platform you can use to create a solid foundation for your online business.

The platform will help you scale your company with powerful analytics and customization features to boost your conversions.

Best Program Features

BigCommerce’s partner program will give you up to 200% for every new referral.

If you can bring enterprise customers on board, then the program will also reward you with $1,500 per customer.

What’s more, BigCommerce has a performance-based commission tier you can leverage to earn more money.

Joining the program will grant you access to the platform’s marketing materials to boost your promotional efforts and save time.

Apart from that, BigCommerce has a simplified affiliate platform to help you track your clicks, trials, sales, and referral conversions.

If you need extra assistance, the team will also get you in touch with an affiliate expert to plan your affiliate marketing strategy more effectively.

Overall, BigCommerce is perfect for supercharging your income, especially when you are a performer.

3. Wix

Wix's affiliate program is nicely displayed on their affiliate page along with an short summary of the perks you get as an ecommerce affiliate

Commission Rate: $100/sale

Commission Type: Flat

Cookie Duration: 30 days

Payout Method: N/D

Signup: Wix Partners

Wix offers you the tools to build an eCommerce store, customize it, and add advanced features without having any technical expertise.

The platform’s drag-n-drop builder will give you all the creative freedom you want to make a high-converting store in a couple of minutes.

Best Program Features

Wix has a comprehensive affiliate program with a commission of $100 for every contact that purchases a Premium plan.

While the commission type is flat, the performance-based model will allow you to earn more than the standard commission.

The 30-day cookie, along with the builder’s popularity as an established eCommerce tool, will help you bring more referrals.

Besides, Wix offers a 14-day trial that your audience can leverage to test the tool and minimize the risk.

To receive your commission, you need to earn a minimum of $300 per month. Once you do, Wix will email you the payout method within 15 days.

Furthermore, the program will support your efforts with creative materials, multilingual banners, and landing pages to expand your reach and earn more.

Overall, Wix’s affiliate program is easy to join and profitable for everyone with an active blog or website.

4. Sellfy

This is Sellfy's page to turn visitors into their affiliate affiliate partners

Commission Rate: 25%

Commission Type: Recurring

Cookie Duration: 90 days

Payout Method: N/D

Signup: Sellfy Partners

“I went with Sellfy because all of my friends spoke of Sellfy really highly. It was easy for me to understand and easy to work with.”

Sorelle Amore – SorelleAmore.com

Sellfy is a simple eCommerce platform to sell digital or physical products and subscriptions.

The platform offers you a variety of built-in marketing tools to boost your store, allowing you to integrate it with social media for more sales.

Best Program Features

Sellfy has a 25% recurring commission for every new contact you bring on board.

Depending on your monthly sales volume, though, you can earn up to 40% in recurring commission for the first 12 months.

The 90-day cookie will give you all the time you need to promote the platform to your audience and convert them.

Regarding payouts, Sellfy lets you cash your commissions every month on the 15th after you collect $25.

The affiliate program will also give you access to a wide selection of resources to help you out.

Among others, you’ll get emails with promotional ideas and tips from the affiliate manager to make Sellfy more appealing to your audience.

In general, Sellfy’s partner program is a great fit for bloggers, sellers, and marketers who want to give their income a boost.

5. 3dcart

3dcart's elegant ecommerce partner program page uses beautiful visuals and targeted copy to magnetize visitors and turn them into their affiliates

Commission Rate: 300%/signup

Commission Type: Flat/Hybrid

Cookie Duration: 120 days

Payout Method: Direct Deposit, WireTransfer, Check

Signup: 3dcart Partners

“The experience with 3dcart has been a good one. All of our questions have been answered, and all the things that we wanted to do for promotions, free offers coupon deals, etc… were all doable right out of the box.”

Jake Wyman – TandemKross

3dcart offers a sophisticated website builder to create an efficient eCommerce website design in a breeze.

The platform has a collection of built-in tools and SEO-ready store templates to help you increase your visibility and conversions.

Best Program Features

When you become a 3dcart partner, you can earn a 300% commission for every new contact that purchases a paid plan.

The builder’s high paying affiliate program has an additional two-tier commission structure that lets you earn a 10% recurring commission.

3dcart’s 120-day cookie will also make things a lot easier, giving you time to focus on your promotional efforts.

To help you market the builder, the team provides you with links to their blog, video tutorials, and automated funnels.

In addition to that, the software will give you sandbox accounts to test the website builder for free.

In general, everyone can market the builder, from entrepreneurs to influencers and more, as long as they have an online presence.

6. ShipBob

This is an image from shipbob's affiliate marketing program and how to join

Commission Rate: $30

Commission Type: Flat

Cookie Duration: N/D

Payout Method: N/D

Sign up: ShipBob Partners

ShipBob offers fulfillment services for online businesses, allowing store owners to improve their customer experience in a fast and cost-efficient way.

The software can be easily integrated with famous eCommerce platforms to simplify the way customers receive their online orders.

Best Program Features

Joining Shipbob’s affiliate program will give you a flat commission of $30 for every fulfillment quote request your referrals make.

To become an affiliate partner, you can apply to ShipBob through LeadDyno.

When your application is done, you will gain access to your unique affiliate link to start your affiliate marketing efforts.

Concerning payouts, ShipBob doesn’t have a commission cap on how much money you can make as their affiliate.

One of the best program perks is, undoubtedly, the company’s affiliate support through its dedicated affiliate manager.

What’s more, if you are a performer, ShipBob will reward you with exclusive events and new features.

In general, ShipBob’s affiliate program will benefit both affiliate newbies and performers who want to power up their extra income.

7. Pixpa

pixpa affiliate program

Commission Rate: 50%

Commission Type: Recurring for First Year

Cookie Duration: 30 days

Payout Method: PayPal

Signup: Pixpa Affiliate Program

Pixpa is an all-in-one platform for photographers, designers, and creatives that enables them to create and manage a professional portfolio website complete with e-commerce, blogs, and client galleries, without any coding knowledge.

Best Program Features

Pixpa Affiliate Partner Program is aimed at website owners, bloggers, and influencers who can direct genuine, organic, and targeted traffic towards Pixpa through their website, blog, social media, emailers, or their offline networks.

The Affiliate Program is also suited for web designers or agencies who would like to use Pixpa to build websites for their clients.

Get paid up to $150 on each referral. They pay a 50% share of the first-year revenue from your referrals. Their payouts are among the highest in the industry, so you can start earning big and fast.

Pixpa Affiliate Control panel lets you keep track of the traffic you are sending their way, trial signups, and successful referrals. You can also see reports on your earnings, payouts, and pending balances.

Last but not the least, there is no minimum payout. You can request a payout as soon as it gets credited to your account.

Best Online Course Affiliate Programs

If we learned something from the recent pandemic is that online courses are an essential thing of the future.

Online courses are more convenient for busy learners, saving them money and time.

So, promoting a course tool affiliate program is a thing you should definitely consider.

To give you a hand, here are some of the top online course affiliate programs you can promote to power up your passive income.

1. LearnWorlds

This is LearnWorlds online course partner club page featuring how the partner club works and how much money you can makeCommission Rate: 25%

Commission Type: Lifetime Recurring

Cookie Duration: 60 days

Payout Method: PayPal

Signup: LearnWorlds Partners Club

“LearnWorlds has helped me deliver a unique learning experience for my students and make my dream of having an online academy a reality! A complete and flexible platform for all course models. Thanks, LearnWorlds!”

Rafael Iasi – Day Trader Pro

LearnWorlds is a great tool to craft, sell, and promote your online courses to your audience.

When you sign up, the software will equip you with beautiful themes and interactive tools to convert your video footage into a powerful learning machine.

Best Affiliate Program Feature – 25% Lifetime Recurring Commissions

LearnWorlds has one of the best affiliate marketing programs in the industry, with a recurring lifetime commission of 25%.

Not only that, but LearnWorlds gives you the chance to create a custom partnership tailored to your needs and your audience.

That’s very convenient for small bloggers who want to make extra money online but don’t have the numbers yet.

Every partner gets access to premium affiliate marketing training and ready-made promo materials like coupons and seasonal promos.

Furthermore, the affiliate platform comes with detailed stats and analytics to monitor your performance and optimize your campaigns.

If you have questions, LearnWorlds also provides extra assistance through a dedicated affiliate manager.

2. Thinkific

Thinkific has a dedicated page where you can choose a partner track and become an online course affiliate

Commission Rate: 20%

Commission Type: Recurring

Cookie Duration: 90 days

Payout Method: PayPal, Stripe, Alternative methods for non-PayPal regions

Signup: Thinkific Partnerstack

“Thinkific has helped me grow my business by offering everything I need to create custom online course sites for my clients. My clients love how easy the platform is to use and scale over time, and how responsive their support team is to questions about the product. Thinkific is the only online course platform I recommend.”

Kim Garnett – Brainy Girl

Thinkific is an online course tool that enables you to create and sell online courses, as well as membership sites under your brand name.

The company offers a powerful all-in-one platform to educate your audience by uploading videos, making quizzes, and organizing your video content.

Best Program Features

Becoming a Thinkific affiliate gives you a 20% recurring commission on all monthly or annual paid plans for as long as your referral remains a member.

As a partner, you have a 90-day cookie to bring your contacts on board and receive your commission.

Regarding payout, Thinkific calculates your earned commissions and pays you out on the 16th of each month.

When you join, you also get access to a full-featured sandbox account you can use for testing and demo purposes.

What’s more, the affiliate program offers small-group training webinars and partner management support to help you out.

In general, joining Thinkific’s program will give you the right tools and help to succeed as an affiliate.

3. Teachable

Teachable has a minimalist partner page with a super focused copy to bring more affiliate partner on board

Commission Rate: 30%

Commission Type: Recurring

Cookie Duration: 90 days

Payout Method: PayPal

Signup: Teachable Affiliates

“I’ve used Teachable to sell hundreds of thousands of dollars in online courses. If you are thinking of creating your online course, Teachable is the place to be.”

Melyssa Griffin – MelyssaGriffin.com

Teachable is one of the best online course platforms has an easy-to-master course creation tool that takes the hassle out of hosting, designing, and integrating your course.

The platform provides you with hosting on custom domains and extensive analytics to monitor your online courses and make a profit.

Best Program Features

Teachable’s program is among the high paying affiliate programs with a 30% recurring commission.

When you become a partner, you’ll get a 90-day cookie to promote the tool and bring more conversions.

Commissions are paid out every month that you’ll receive as long as your referral remains a Teachable customer.

The platform’s well-structured program will give you access to A/B tested funnels containing information about Teachable’s target audience.

Moreover, the team will provide you with visuals, email swipe copy, and historical earnings per click to increase your promotional efforts.

Through the affiliate platform, you can see your affiliate codes and track Teachable’s website engagement to improve your strategy.

4. Coursera

Here you can see Coursera's informative page that explains how the partner program works and how much you can earn

Commission Rate: 20%

Commission Type: Flat

Cookie Duration: 30 days

Payout Method: N/D

Signup: Coursera Affiliates

“We were looking for scale, credibility, and something we didn’t have to build in-house. Coursera not only offers training from very prestigious institutions but also a platform that allows you to do the tracking you want.”

Sabrina M. – ZS Associates

Coursera is an e-learning platform that has partnered with top instructors to educate students on a variety of topics.

The brand offers you flexible and affordable options, and you can choose from free courses to university degrees to hone your skills.

Best Program Features

Coursera has a baseline commission of 20%. However, you can earn up to 45% based on your performance.

The program also has a minimum payout of $50, which you can receive immediately in the next payout period.

To market the platform, Coursera has a wide selection of banners and links you can add to your website, as well as specific promo materials for popular courses.

When it comes to tracking, the program uses Linkshare to help you monitor your performance and optimize your affiliate tactics.

What’s more, the increased demand for online courses makes Coursera’s digital product easier to promote.

All in all, Coursera’s partner program is great for bloggers and marketers who want to receive their earnings on the spot.

5. LearnDash

LearnDash's affiliate program asks their visitors why be an affiliate and the profit you can make simply by joining their online course affiliate program

Commission Rate: $115/sale

Commission Type: Flat

Cookie Duration: N/D

Payout Method: N/D

Signup: LearnDash Affiliates

“I can honestly say I sell more courses using LearnDash than any other off WordPress platform I’ve tried.”

Tanya Smith – Get Noticed With Video

LearnDash is a WordPress LMS plugin to create an online course and reward your learners through certificates, points, and badges.

The tool is suitable for building an online course business that will offer a flexible, engaging, and profitable learning environment.

Best Program Features

Last but not least, LearnDash’s LMS plugin is perfect for giving your income a boost due to its name and high conversion rate.

Sending qualified leads will reward you with a 35% commission, which translates to about $115 per sale.

Regarding payout, commissions are paid 30 days after the promotional period on the first day of every month.

While LearnDash will welcome everyone in their affiliate program, they prefer affiliate partners who have at least a mailing list, a social media profile, or a website.

When you join, the platform will support you throughout your affiliate marketing journey, allowing you to earn some of the highest payouts in the industry.

Overall, LearnDash’s household name and high commissions are great to give your income a significant boost.

Best Affiliate Networks

One of the reasons we created this list is to avoid going down the rabbit hole of searching for the best, most suitable affiliate program for hours and hours.

One of the best ways to discover amazing affiliate programs with high commissions is through affiliate networks.

But hold on! What’s this affiliate network thing you’re suddenly talking about?

In short, an affiliate network is like a marketplace of potential programs you can join.

They provide all the details you need to decide whether a program is right for you.

For instance, you can find about a program’s commission rates, cookie duration, and other benefits all in one place.

Below are some of the most famous affiliate networks you need to keep in mind before you sign up for a partner program.

1. ShareASale

This image shows ShareASale's affiliate network and the product categories you can access when you join the network

ShareASale is one of the most popular and oldest affiliate networks out there with 20 years and counting.

The network’s popularity mainly stems from the vast number of affiliate programs they offer to their users.

Currently, in their directory, they have about 4,000 programs ranging from Business and Tech to even Home and Garden.

Moreover, the Shareasale affiliate network offers a range of features that will allow you to get your affiliate marketing endeavors to a whole new level as an affiliate marketer and as a merchant.

Among others, you’ll find a ton of educational and training materials such as monthly webinars to grow your affiliate program.

If you are interested in joining Shareasale to promote your program, the platform offers a range of technical features and support:

  • Real-time tracking and commission attribution
  • Check processing and affiliate payments
  • Affiliate Approval Process
  • Affiliate Help Desk
  • Merchant API

If you are just getting started with affiliate marketing, we recommend checking their affiliate marketplace and join their platform as an affiliate.

Otherwise, you can also join as a merchant where you can promote your program in front of thousands of people!

2. CJ by Conversant

CJ affiliate's page focuses on making you realize your revenue potential showing users what they can achieve by becoming part of the network

Like ShareASale, CJ Affiliate is among the oldest and most prolific affiliate marketing networks out there.

The network is designed to help you scale your affiliate marketing efforts, as well as achieve sustainable growth.

To put things into perspective, CJ is currently generating more than 1 billion dollars in sales every month, which totals up to approximately $14 billion annually.

What makes the network unique is its ability to collaborate with some of the best brands worldwide and promote well-known products.

To give you an idea, CJ allows you to partner with the likes of GoPro, Barnes & Noble, Overstock, Priceline, and many more.

Based on stats shared on their website, they are also currently paying out almost 2 billion dollars in commissions every year!

I know what you must be thinking right now!

Joining CJ is super simple and FREE, which is ideal for someone who’s just starting their affiliate journey.

Nevertheless, the only drawback is that you’ll need to be a little patient since you need CJ’s approval to work with some of their biggest merchants.

Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that CNN, Time, and BuzzFeed are all part of CJ Affiliate.

Therefore, it can be quite hard to pass their screening process, especially if you are a newbie.

3. ClickBank

This is ClickBank's affiliate network page giving you the option to join as an affiliate or a seller and scale your business

Of course, we couldn’t forget about ClickBank, a leading retailer with its own affiliate marketplace.

As a network, it also has a record of 20+ years and 6 million affiliate products to choose from.

Among others, you can find products in different categories like in Arts and Entertainment, Business, Parenting, Games, and so on.

What distinguishes ClickBank from other affiliate networks is its flexible payment schedule and options.

To give you an idea, you can choose from a check, wire transfer, or direct deposit.

When it comes to payment frequency, you also have the option to customize your schedule for monthly or weekly payments.

What’s more, Clickbank allows you to join as an affiliate, promote established products, and receive timely payments.

Apart from that, the network also lets you join as a seller, giving you the tools to automate your online business, scale, and profit from it.

With commissions reaching as high as 90% and with 4.2 billion dollars paid in commissions, ClickBank is the perfect place to boost your income.

Or, you know, start building your online empire!

Becoming part of an affiliate network like ShareASale, CJ, or ClickBank will help you grow as an affiliate, allowing you to collaborate with some of the biggest brands out there.

Luckily, for you, the number of affiliate networks doesn’t stop with these three.

So, if you need more, you can also check the following:

  • Amazon Associates
  • eBay Partner Network
  • FlexOffers
  • Rakuten Marketing (previously Linkshare)
  • Pepperjam
  • LemonAds

From Affiliate Zero To Affiliate Hero

As you can see, the volume of affiliate programs out there is enormous.

Choosing the right program is the first step to establish a fruitful, long-lasting relationship and make a profit.

So, to help you out, we collected some affiliate marketing tips to shed some light on the complexities of becoming an affiliate and what you need to avoid.

Incoming tips in three, two, one!

1. It’s Elementary, My Dear Affiliate!

I know that some affiliate programs might look fancier than others.

However, you shouldn’t just join something because it looks cool.

With the help of your browser and the affiliate networks we mentioned above, you need to become an Affiliate Sherlock Holmes and determine whether your program is worth it or not.

Commission Rates

Ever stumbled across a great program only to find out that the commission rate was way lower than expected?

Well, you’re not alone.

Apart from some cases, commission rates are usually fixed.

If a program offers you $100 for each sale you make, then this will be your standard earned commission during your partnership.

If you aren’t happy with that, you should carefully consider your options and aim for a high paying affiliate program instead of compromising.

Thankfully, the market isn’t short!

Flat vs. Recurring 

As you saw, commission models range from flat to recurring.

Sometimes, though, programs will also offer a hybrid model where you can earn the standard flat commission and a lower recurring one.

While there’s no right or wrong answer here, always aim for a program that will help you meet your income goals, and has the best possible return.

Promo Materials

Creating content can be a full-time job for you. Now, imagine having to create every affiliate promo material yourself… from scratch!

Getting access to ready-made banners, ads, landing pages, and so on will make your affiliate endeavors easier and save you valuable time.

Affiliate Manager Support

Unfortunately, nobody is born an affiliate marketer except, of course… Chuck Norris.

Then, you are pretty much born ready for everything!

If you are new to affiliate marketing, getting support, and training from an affiliate manager will help you get one step closer to Chuck’s grandeur.

2. Your Engaged Audience is Your (Super) Power

Becoming a partner doesn’t mean that you should have millions of followers, readers, or subscribers.

To set affiliate marketing in motion, though, you need to establish bonds with them.

An engaged audience is more likely to support you and click on your links, making affiliate marketing easier for you.

Choosing the right platform is also vital to boost your affiliate links.

Whether it’s your travel blog or Youtube review channel, optimizing your channel is crucial to get more conversions.

For example, here’s how Austin Evans has inserted his Amazon links in his video description:

This is an example of how Youtubers use their Amazon Associates links in their video description to boost affiliate sales

3. Don’t Be a Jack of All Trades

Because you will end up as master of none!

Defining your niche and collaborating with people within that niche will make your promotions more relevant to your audience.

For example, if you are a blogger writing about social media marketing, it will be outlandish to promote recipe books.

Instead, if you focus on Instagram marketing strategies, the best fit would be an affiliate partnership with a social media tool.

This way, you will offer your targeted audience a relevant solution and increase their purchase intention.

The easiest way to find a program that suits your niche is to search for it using your old’ pal Google.

Here’s a simple formula that works every single time:

A simple google search formula to discover more affiliate programs in your niche

Searching is a big part of affiliate marketing, so look at the programs thoroughly and choose one that will help your audience succeed.

4. Get Creative With Your Content

“Here’s an affiliate link, I’ll click on it!” said no-one ever.

Affiliate marketing requires a lot of planning and hard work, especially when some programs will terminate your partnership if you don’t bring referrals within a specific time.

To avoid that, make sure that you get creative with your content.

An honest product review, for instance, is among the most common marketing collaterals you can use.

Infusing it with your unique style and tone will help your audience see the value and, ultimately, make a purchase through your links.

If you aren’t a product-review kind of person, here are some other things you can do:

  • Create a video tutorial, documenting your experience and reactions with the product.
  • Infuse your website with relevant resources.
  • Create an email campaign for your subscribers.
  • Use social ads to target your followers.
  • Leverage the power of Podcasts to promote your links more directly.

The limit is the sky when it comes to creating content!

Just keep in mind a little thing called link transparency.

For instance, if you are a video content creator, make sure to let your subscribers know about your affiliate partnerships through a disclaimer.

The image shows how you can write an affiliate disclaimer to make sure that your affiliate endeavors are transparent to your audience

5. Avoid Rookie Mistakes

Being an affiliate might sound easy. However, there are certain pitfalls you need to avoid.

First of all, having a limited time to bring referrals can be particularly stressful if this is your first time promoting a product.

This can lead to excessive targeting that will result in fewer or no conversions.

Promoting a product aggressively through numerous emails per week or inserting your links everywhere will also frustrate your audience.

Instead, come up with an affiliate marketing schedule that won’t be too much to handle.

Pay attention to your link placement to minimize friction and deliver a reasonable number of email campaigns.

When your promotional efforts feel natural, your audience will support you by checking out your recommendations and purchasing through your links.

Takeaway

What a ride!

Affiliate marketing is such an exciting yet broad topic that you usually end up with more questions than answers.

While long, I hope that this article will help you choose the best affiliate program to increase your passive income like a boss.

Whether you are a blogger, an educator, or a marketer, joining a program is the best way to a smarter and faster income.

As Morpheus from Matrix would’ve said, “I can only show you the [affiliate] door. You’re the one that has to walk through it!”

So, get out there, choose the best program, promote and see those bank account numbers multiply faster than the Matrix itself!

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