TLDR: If you’re in a hurry the ShareASale is the Best Affiliate Platform in 2024!
Click Here To Join ShareASale For Free
If you have started a blog or a website with the goal to make some form of monetary benefits down the line, then affiliate marketing is a powerful tool to turn your traffic into cash. Affiliate marketing is a new twist on the conventional idea of attaining a finder’s fee if you refer to a customer. The affiliate marketing industry has increased to great heights over the years, and it is showing zero signs of slowing down.
Affiliate networks are middlemen that help connect entrepreneurs or bloggers to companies that offer affiliate program opportunities for their products and services. A single portal of an affiliate network gives users publisher access to a number of affiliate programs. These programs help monetize your blog or website using affiliate marketing.
To help you get started, we have created a collection of the best affiliate networks and platforms in the market today. They will give you access to thousands of merchants that are selling physical and digital products; you name it.
How to Choose the right Affiliate Network
Bloggers, influencers, and publishers earn passive income by monetizing their websites via affiliate networks, but it is important to select the right platform; here are a few tips you should follow:
- Goods and service selection- A good affiliate marketing program is a viable approach if you get high-quality goods and services that your visitors may be interested in. The goods or services should be something that you feel proud to recommend. All in all, it needs to connect the influencers with the product that the audience relates to.
- User interface- Affiliate programs that are run by certain platforms are easier to use when compared to other networks. Your level of expertise should be taken into consideration when choosing the right network.
- Customer base- Conduct a study on who helps make up your subscribers or user base. Publishers can select an online tool and analytic platform to offer products that reach their target audience based on a specified niche.
- Cookie duration- the amount of cookie duration affects the credit amount that a program gives to its prospective buyers. The platform-wise cookie duration varies drastically.
- Commission rate- Publishers can earn affiliate commissions across different networks in varying amounts. It is important to check this before signing up with the affiliate network. You should also conduct an audit on how the networks process payment, e.g, bank deposits, PayPal, etc.
- Approval requirements- Affiliate networks require a certain amount of traffic to be an authoritative site. If you spread your traffic thin, it is difficult to reach the minimum payout. Select a platform where you are sure to meet the required traffic and get the minimum or higher payout.
- Added fees- Some affiliate networks charge an additional fee for support, setup training, and customers. Check this before signing up with a network.
Best Affiliate Marketing Platform
1. ShareASale – Popular Affiliate Marketing Program
Click Here To Join ShareASale For Free
What Redditors say about it
u/EnthusiasticOramob- “I would recommend ShareASale as it is less rigorous, and the platform has existing affiliates that will approve and run your offers based on your niche so that your product is not run by a partner you are currently working with”.
u/momsfavoriterobot- “I’ve never had a problem with ShareASale either as an affiliate or a merchant”.
ShareASale is a popular affiliate network in the market. The platform houses thousands of affiliate programs from different brands. It offers an excellent choice for both physical and digital products. The all-in-one network gives you good access to different merchants, creates links, and views your statics and a range of metrics. Its Bookmarklet tool enables users to generate customized affiliate links. You have to apply for individual merchants separately, which is a standard process for most affiliate networks.
ShareASale’s network allows you to find offers so that you can promote a product regardless of the niche your blog or website is based on. You can easily join the program, usually between 2-3 working days, to get approval for your network. The platform’s commission rate is based on specific merchants, so you can sign up having a minimum payout of $50. Users can get ShareASale to pay them via wire transfer, mail, or direct deposit. International users can use the transfer service Payoneer; however, it doesn’t support PayPal.
What do you need to know about ShareASale?
- Niche/product types- It offers physical products, like NFL Shop, sunglasses, Reebok, etc. It also offers digital products in the form of plugins, WordPress themes, hosting providers, etc.
- Cookie duration- It is dependent on the merchant you sign up with.
- Minimum payout- $50
- Average commission rate- It is also dependent on the merchant you are signing with.
- Easy sign-up process
- Excellent search and filtering options
- Thousands of merchants sell both physical and digital products
- Bookmarklet tool allows users to generate customizable affiliate links
- Highly trustworthy
- Over 1,000 merchants work with ShareASale
- Easy to manage multiple websites
- Good customer support setup
- High speed of acceptance and approval
- The dashboard design is clunky; however, it has gotten better
- No PayPal option
- Certain special characters in the affiliate links can cause coding problems
- Eliminates merchant programs without any notifications or warnings.
2. Amazon Associates – Reputable Affiliate Marketing Network
What Redditors say about it
u/Sodontellscotty- “The Amazon Associates Program is amongst the largest affiliate networks in the world. It helps content creators, website owners, and publishers to monetize their traffic. With millions of products to select from on Amazon.com. Amazon Associates offer an easy link-building tool to direct your readers to products and earn from qualifying purchases. Not only do associates earn a commission on the products, but they also refer traffic to, and they may also earn on other products their readers are planning to purchase on Amazon. As an associate, you will have full access to a good suite of reporting tools to learn what resonates best with your readers”.
u/iexxxx- “I am working on the Amazon Affiliate website. Thank you for the inspiration, the site earns dozen dollars a month now, but now I’m more motivated.
Amazon Associates is amongst the most prominent and reputable affiliate marketing networks in the industry. The platform has a variety of products that allow users to find products easily across different niches. It is a great option if you are planning to promote physical products.
Another great feature of this program is that you earn a commission for everything new that someone you refer to purchases even though you have not linked the product. Amazon offers a flat rate commission structure where you are paid a flat percentage on the category each product is in. This makes the platform more attractive to smaller sites, as they don’t have to hit a certain number of sales to get a higher commission.
The payment structure varies between 1 to 10% based on the product, and you will get paid within 60 days. You can easily cash out your deposits with Amazon gift certificates or checks. However, the checks come with a $15 processing fee.
What do you need to know about Amazon Associates?
- Niche/product types- Anything and everything that is sold on Amazon’s website, even products from third-party vendors.
- Cookie duration- Cookies can last for up to 24 hours, and if people are directly adding products to their carts, you will get a 90-day cookie, but this is only available for specific products in their carts.
- Minimum payout- $10 for Amazon gift card or direct deposit
- Average commission rate- 1 to 10% based on specified categories
- Massive selection of products with a broad range of niches to choose from
- Amazon is amongst the biggest eCommerce brand.
- Amazon keeps the best sellers and removes the rest from its list.
- Great follow-up strategy
- It is safe and reliable.
- Very low payout threshold of only $10
- Universal cookie credit, so you get credit for everything people buy during cookie time; Amazon has mastered the art of selling.
- The universal cookie lasts for only 24 hours
- Low commission rates
- Products can be sold out or get expired
- You need to register for different countries individually
3. PartnerStack – Affiliate Network for B2B Technology Partnerships
What Redditors say about it
u/Trackbikes- “It depends on your product; some will accept it and get it traction. Personally, I would look at ones that specialize in SaaS affiliates like Partnerstack.com. They handle several things, and when I log in to check my Thinkific sales, they are often promoting other suggested products. I would email as many as possible and see how the interaction goes”.
u/Organic-Cat-3546- “A partnership platform that we have had good success with is PartnerStack”.
PartnerStack is a go-to B2B affiliate network partnership platform. The network has a clean UI and is easy to operate. Once you join it, you’ll get access to top-paying B2B affiliate marketing programs. The platform has a built-in marketplace that is designed for consistent revenue and accelerated growth for software businesses and partners.
If you are an affiliate marketer in the B2B, then you’ll be surprised to learn that they operate similar to B2C marketing. Expect that its commissions are higher and are paid out for longer periods. The automation system offered by the network takes care of the most demanding aspect of managing your partnerships, simplifying the process and freeing you up more to let you focus on more things than doing repetitive manual tasks.
The dashboard of the app will allow you to easily monitor and check the different metrics of your performance. It also has built-in partner engagement features that give you more engagement and connectivity for your partner programs.
Users have to apply to each individual partner program separately, like other affiliate networks. The payment will be together once a month using Paypal or Stripe after you managed to reach the $5 threshold of the network.
What do you need to know about PartnerStack?
- Niche/product types- Tech and B2B SaaS products. It only consists of digital products.
- Cookie duration- It is dependent on the merchant you are signing with.
- Minimum payout- $5
- Average commission rate- It is dependent on the merchant you sign up with; however, the commission includes cost-per-action and percentage structures.
- Easy to set up with a modern and attractive UI
- Exclusive world-class B2B companies to partner with
- Backend integration is seamless
- Lower payment threshold of $5
- Everything is in one place, making it very easy to work with
- The cookies last over 90 days. This is over 30 days longer than the average affiliate marketing link cookie
- A great deal of exposure
- Reporting is slightly sloppy
- Some processes have a higher learning curve
- B2B is not always online, so users need better offline tracking solutions
4. CJ Affiliate – Pioneers of Affiliate Marketing Networks
What Redditors say about it
u/simplybebop- “I am building my newest business around CJ. Never had a problem with the platform.
u/Earnwithblogtech1991- “Cj commission junction is the best platform to run affiliate marketing campaigns.
CJ, formerly known as Commission Junction, is amongst the oldest and most reputed affiliate marketplaces for entrepreneurs and bloggers in the market. The platform brings together small and big merchants selling both physical and digital problems. As of now, the network has above 2600 merchants. There are some big companies that are using CJ today. The platform is more suited for established businesses that are looking for feature-rich affiliate networks, and it isn’t a great choice for beginners.
Similar to several other affiliate platforms, you will have to individually apply to merchants from the CJs dashboard and generate links and check statistics. The revenue from multiple channels will be clubbed into one account. The transaction on the platform can be completed via paper check, Payoneer, or direct deposit. The payment is processed within 20 days at the end of the month as long as the minimum payment threshold is met.
What do you need to know about CJ Affiliate?
- Niche/product types- The platform covers both physical and digital products
- Cookie duration- It is dependent on the merchant you are signing with
- Minimum payout- $50 for direct deposit, or you can ask for a $100 check
- Average commission rate- It is dependent on the merchant you sign up with
- A vast range of small and big merchants to select from
- Efficient dashboard to manage your affiliate marketing efforts
- The Bookmarklet feature allows the creation and generation of links
- You can sell ads on your site,
- The payment is clockwork every single month
- Oldest and most reliable affiliate networks in the market
- The dashboard is a touch complicated if you are starting out
- In certain cases, finding programs across matching niches is difficult
- They are no longer the dominant force they once were.
5. ClickBank – Specializes in SaaS and Digital Marketing Products
What Redditors say about it
u/bloggingsea- “ClickBank is really worth it, and I’ve been using it for the past year, and I’m very happy now. You can easily make 200 to $500 weekly”.
u/Afrominded- “There is absolutely money in ClickBank, but if you have an email list and aren’t going to run ads, there are chances you will not make it”.
ClickBank is a powerful affiliate marketing platform that offers over 6 million digital products which are created by several global entrepreneurs. This makes it an excellent choice for affiliates involved in email marketing. The platform is catered to smaller merchants who mostly sell digital products, but the platform also offers physical products.
ClickBank is a platform that offers some of the highest commissions in the affiliate ecosystems todays. Some of its offerings may be questionable and of low quality, so users need to do prior research before using it.
ClickBank offers direct deposit, wire, and check payment methods. You can also add PayPal, Payoneer, or other payment getaways; however, they are not the affiliate payout mechanism.
What do you need to know about CJ Affiliate?
- Niche/product types- The platform leans towards digital products; however, you can also find physical products on it.
- Cookie duration- It is dependent on the merchant you are signing with, but it usually lasts 60 days.
- Minimum payout- $10
- Average commission rate- It is dependent on the merchant you sign up with, but it is usually high. You can find both flat and percentage commissions here.
- Access to smaller niches that are not available on other affiliate platforms
- Higher commission rate for most merchants
- Offers weekly payments
- Its tracking software is independent of its product seller, making them highly reliable
- 60-day money-back guarantee
- The platform processes all payments, so it doesn’t require a separate payment processor
- ClickBank charges a processing fee of $2.50 for every processed transaction
- You will require to wade through some low-quality products
- The platforms refund policy means you may lose commissions once it happens
6. Rakuten Marketing – Established Affiliate Network
What Redditors say about it
u/nathanhamilton82- “Yes, Rakuten is a good enough network, all around and helpful associates for bigger accounts. The reporting dashboard is a relic, though.”
u/ashtree35- “It’s legit, and I’ve been using it for 1-2 years now, and my parents are using it for a long time back then. If you get a browser extension, then it requires minimal effort to use, and the money/effort ratio is great”.
Rakuten, formerly known as LinkShare, is another oldest affiliate networks on the list. It has been hooking up merchants to publishers for nearly 3 decades now. They have a small network of merchants as compared to other affiliate networks, but it has tie-ups with some notable tycoons in the space. So, this is a great platform if you are looking for the big guns, and they can rotate ads without requiring an external solution.
Rakuten has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and they have solid payment options. Payments can be processed via direct deposit checks and PayPal in certain regions, and all are offered by Rakuten. However, the platform only pays users after the merchant has paid them, so the payment is a bit delayed.
What do you need to know about Rakuten Marketing?
- Niche/product types- The platform has 1,000+ merchants, and you will find offers across most niches
- Cookie duration- It is dependent on the merchant you are going to sign up to
- Minimum payout- $50
- Average commission rate- It is dependent on the merchant you sign up with
- An efficient interface that is easy to use for both experienced and beginner marketers
- Rakuten gives you access to big names, like Walmart, Papa Johns, etc
- The sign-up process is fast and efficient
- A trusted and reliable option
- Excellent customer support options
- The creation of affiliate links or banners is straightforward
- The dashboard is a bit dated
- The selection of products on the platform is a bit limited
- Payments can be delayed
7. Awin – Fastest Growing Affiliate Network
What Redditors say about it
u/mrellotmyers- “You could try joining a network like AWIN that has larger and better-known brands and products that you would be more comfortable promoting. In terms of how you market there, a traditional blog could work, and you could focus on one brand and write content like reviews that can help potential buyers while you wait for search engines to rank your site”.
u/Garmon_- “All of the affiliates on awin.com network, impt has a publisher account there. (There are 231k publisher accounts for over 20k+ brands)”.
Awin is a rebranded version of the Affiliate Window, which is a popular network that gives access to over 13,000 merchants. The platform has tie-ups with a few renowned big names like StubHub, Gymshark, Hyatt, etc. It is one of the fastest growing affiliate networks, which is specifically targeting regions of the EU and USA.
Awin has an intuitive and efficient dashboard that allows you to manage your campaigns effectively. The network has a wide range of tools and features while having a full reporting suite. It aids different marketing operations, whether it is an individual influencer, blogger, or full marketing team. Further, they have an expert team that is tailored for individual regions to help you upsell and optimize your functionality.
Like a few other affiliate templates, you will require to individually apply to merchants within the networks. This will allow you to generate your links and track statistics efficiently. Awin can pay users in 10 different currencies, and generally, payment is processed through Payoneer.
What do you need to know about Awin?
- Niche/product types- The platform has over 13,000 merchants, and you’ll find digital and physical products across a range of niches.
- Cookie duration- It is dependent on the merchant you are going to sign up to
- Minimum payout- $20
- Average commission rate- It is dependent on the merchant you sign up with
- Simple to understand and use
- Applying is also easy and quick
- A wide range of merchants to choose from
- A dedicated WordPress plugin that allows you to import products
- The convert-a-link feature ensures that you don’t need to convert links anymore
- Lower payout terms
- An efficient dashboard that is clear to see and understand
- It has a $5 sign-up fee which is refunded if you are approved
- Payments are pending for a long time if they are not approved
8. FlexOffers – The Newest Affiliate Marketing Platform
What Redditors say about it
u/fridaydigest- “If you are niche, then join an affiliate marketing platform such as FlexOffers and find products and services that relate to your niche. The platform allows you to earn more on sales revenue than on clicks”.
u/DS1983- Back in January, the answer was a little different. If you wouldn’t mind joining another network, I was able to become an affiliate easier through FlexOffers”.
FlexOffers is another affiliate platform that gives you access to a range of products in different niches. The platform has an aesthetic dashboard, and you can add 50+ new merchants in a day to find new offers. It offers products from both small and big brands and allows you to see what is available on the platform before signing up for it.
The popular platform has been in the market for years and is highly reliable. Further, you get a dedicated account manager to handle your operations by finding the best offers or promoting your affiliate marketing. This is a nice touch alongside all the other features offered by the network.
FlexOffers allows users to receive commission payments via bank transfer, wire transfer, check, or PayPal. For payment outside the USA, you can only get paid via PayPal except if it exceeds $5,000, after which you can use a wire transfer.
What do you need to know about FlexOffers?
- Niche/product types- The network has over 12,000 merchants, and you can find digital and physical products across a range of niches.
- Cookie duration- Depends on the merchant you sign up with
- Minimum payout- $50 in the USA and $100 outside of the US
- Average commission rate- Depends on the merchant you sign up with
- A huge selection of merchants to choose from
- Easy sign-up process with lots of payment options
- Two-factor login standard
- Excellent backend dashboard
- Dedicated affiliate manager
- Outside of the USA, the only payment option is PayPal unless the payment exceeds $5,000.
- Lack of advanced link-creation tools
9. Avangate Affiliate Network – Top-Rated Affiliate Network
What Redditors say about it
u/CK-tes- “My favorite affiliate network is Avangate Affiliate Network”.
u/jhon87ad- “It is Avangate affiliate network, and I redirect my visitors to the product page that doesn’t have the URL of the product I promote. Yes, I can add a tracking ID when I create a link. That is how I know I haven’t made any sale for the product”.
Avangate Affiliate Network is one of the top affiliate networks that focus on digital goods and software when compared to the physical product range. This makes it a platform well-suited for users planning to sell digital and SAAS marketing products. Users have access to over 22,000 pieces of software, so if you are promoting digital products, then this is made for you. It also has a coupon program that helps you drive up sales. They have a higher cookie duration, but their dashboard has limited features.
Most merchants charge a commission between 25-30%, but it can be as high as 50%. The commissions are paid after 20 days from the end of the month due. The common payment options adopted by the platform include PayPal, direct deposit, and wire transfer.
What do you need to know about Avangate Affiliate Network?
- Niche/product types- The network focuses on digital goods and software products. You can browse through the entire marketplace without requiring to sign up
- Cookie duration- It is dependent on the merchant you are going to sign up to. However, the platform sets cookie lengths between 30 to 180 days, and you are guaranteed at least 30 days at a minimum.
- Minimum payout- $100
- Average commission rate- Avangate advertises up to 85% commission rate, but its digital products have a higher commission rate than physical ones that you’ll find with other networks.
- A range of software products you can select from
- High commissions for most merchants
- Multiple payment gateways
- Customizable deep links
- Advanced customized reports
- Ability to create your own coupons
- Reliable monthly payouts
- The minimum payout threshold of $100 is higher than most affiliate networks
- Payouts are only available in USD or EUR
10. Walmart Affiliates – Good Competitor to Amazon Affiliates
What Redditors say about it:
u/Cydeswype- “I make an average of 3% on Walmart, and with Amazon cutting rates, Walmart makes a decent alternative as it has a broad set of products. What do you prefer for household general goods?”.
u/leeeileen- “Thank you! It is hard to find information about Walmart Affiliates in clear terms. For Amazon, there is a bunch of question to teach everything we need for affiliate marketers. Amazon has high conversion with a 24-hour cookie, while Walmart has a 72-hour cookie duration”.
Walmart Affiliate programs come under Rakuten Marketing, but it offers a greater contrast to Amazon Associates. Amazon is undoubtedly the king in the affiliate marketing game, but Walmart also possesses around 3.8% of the market. Walmart Affiliates is become more attractive today to Amazon in some categories as the latter has slashed commissions.
Further, its tracking cookies last 3 days, while Amazon’s only last for 24 hours. This is, however, a great store if you are selling a lot of physical products in your category. The payment can be done either with a check or PayPal.
What do you need to know about Avangate Affiliate Network?
- Niche/product types- All the products on Walmart’s website, also including third-party vendors
- Cookie duration- cookies last for 72 days
- Minimum payout- $50
- The average commission rate- ranges between 1 to 18%, but most categories have a standard range between 4% to 1%.
- A wide range of product types to select from
- Higher commission rate compared to Amazon
- A trusted and reputable brand
- Higher cookie duration compared to Amazon
- Lower seller fees with a limitless product assortment
- Lower competition
- Minimum payout higher than Amazon
- The product selection is limited when compared to Amazon
- A smaller audience of shoppers
- It has strict price requirements with lower profit margins
11. eBay Partner Network – Sell New and Used Products
What Redditors say about it
u/RobxzNYX- “Yes, I’ve noticed some issues, but do you know about eBay affiliate links? You can link your eBay account to the eBay Partner Network, and from there, you’ll be able to generate affiliate links for all eBay listing one by one in bulk and posts through affiliate links on IG. If someone clicks on the link and makes the purchase, you will get 1-4% of the sale amount payout based on the category”.
u/fubaby-42- “Priority items can certainly help you earn affiliate marketers with higher rates of commission using the eBay Partner Network. This gives users an increased incentive for affiliate marketers to promote your items. A WordPress plugin I developed to display eBay items on the WP site. I highlight and call out the priority items to attract buyers first. I’ve no hard statistics on whether this strategy will make a difference. As mentioned, this will depend a lot on the item in question and other competing items there are at their relative prices”.
eBay’s Partner Network is eBay’s own program. eBay is one of the world’s largest marketplaces, with over 1.4 listings. The platform operates by encouraging people to send potential purchases to their platform. A great percentage of the users will likely buy the referred product to get a commission. However, a major downside of the product is that the products are transient due to its auction approach. However, there are also plenty of permanent listings on eBay.
eBay’s Partner Network enables payment to be done through either PayPal or electronic funds transfer. The payment is done once a month, and this happens on the 10th of the month.
What are the things you need to know about the eBay Partner Network?
- Niche/product types- It offers both physical and digital products
- Cookie duration- 24 hours, but you can still earn a commission as long as the auction takes up to 10 days to end.
- Minimum payout- $10
- Average commission rate- The commission rate depends on the product category; however, you will earn between 50-70% of eBay’s revenue.
- A wide range of products to select from on eBay
- Intuitive dashboard
- Low payout options
- Ability to sell used products; however, 80% of products are new
- Nice selection of affiliate tools and creatives
- No other auction website comes close to it
- The 24-hour cookies are low
- The commission structure is confusing
- There are caps you can earn for sales, regardless of the sale value
Which Affiliate Network Should you use?
Affiliate networks are the easiest and best ways to monetize your website to earn a passive income. The best thing about selecting an affiliate network is that you can select multiple platforms to run your affiliate marketing plans, which will allow you to find the best advertisers and get higher payouts.
The only reason to limit the number of platforms is their ease of use, minimum payout, and a few other features. I hope our list of affiliate networks will narrow down your search and help you find the right network for your business.
Best Affiliate Marketing Platforms FAQs
1. How to select an affiliate marketing network?
The top tips to select a good affiliate market is:
- Sell what you love
- Link something that meets your online niche
- Select products that meet your target audience
- Check commission levels and earnings per click
- Select high price products
- Consider upsells
2. What are the steps to start affiliate marketing as a beginner?
If you are planning to start affiliate marketing as a beginner, follow these steps:
- Select a platform and choose a niche
- Build good content for your platforms
- Find affiliate programs
- Drive traffic and clicks on your affiliate links
- Determine how you will best convert your clicks into sales
3. Is affiliate marketing the same as performance marketing?
Performance marketing is a feature that integrates different price structures based on the performance of the ads. E.g., how many times a product can be viewed or clicked. Affiliate marketing comes under the umbrella of performance marketing, as commissions are paid based on its performance. This is a typical moment wherein a sale is made. So, they are not the same, but affiliate strategies performance is certainly liable to come up.
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