There are hundreds of affiliate programs out there. Some are good, some are terrible, and most are somewhere in the middle. If you want to make money with affiliate marketing, you need to pick the right programs.
I've tried a bunch of different affiliate programs over the years. Some paid me, some didn't. Here are the ones that actually work if you want to make some money.
1. Amazon Associates
Amazon is probably the easiest one to start with. You can promote pretty much any product they sell, except for Kindle books and some other digital stuff.
The commission rates aren't amazing. Most categories pay around 4% to 4.5%. Books pay 4.5%. Kitchen stuff pays 4.5%. Most other categories pay 4%. Some categories like luxury beauty can pay up to 10%, but most people won't be promoting those.
The good thing about Amazon is that people already shop there. They trust it. If someone clicks your link and buys something else instead of what you promoted, you still get paid for it. That's pretty cool.
Regular Amazon links expire after 24 hours. But if you use their special cart links and someone adds your item to their cart, the cookie lasts for 90 days. That gives people more time to actually buy the thing.
The downside is that Amazon won't redirect your links based on where people are located. So if someone from the UK clicks your Amazon.com link, they might not buy because they want to shop on Amazon.co.uk instead.
2. ClickBank
ClickBank has really high commission rates. Like 50% to 75% on most products. That sounds great until you realize most of their products are digital courses and ebooks about making money online or losing weight or whatever.
The high commissions exist because digital products don't cost much to make. Once someone creates a course, they can sell it unlimited times without extra costs.
Some ClickBank products are legitimate and helpful. Others are pretty sketchy. The refund rates can be high too - sometimes 30% or 40% of people ask for their money back. When that happens, ClickBank takes back your commission.
If you promote ClickBank stuff, make sure it's something you would actually recommend to people you know.
3. Commission Junction (CJ)
CJ has been around forever. They work with big companies like major retailers and brands.
Getting approved can be annoying. Some advertisers approve you right away, others make you wait and might reject you. I've heard of people getting rejected just because their website didn't look professional enough.
But once you're approved, the commission rates are decent. Usually better than Amazon. I've seen programs that pay 8% to 10% or even more.
The payments are reliable, which is important. You don't want to promote stuff and then not get paid.
4. ShareASale
ShareASale is easier to use than most affiliate networks. Their website doesn't look like it's from 2005, which is nice.
They have over 4,000 different merchants, so there's probably something for whatever niche you're in. They pay monthly, which is good for cash flow.
The interface shows you useful stats about how your links are performing. Commission rates vary by merchant, but they're generally competitive.
5. Rakuten LinkShare
Rakuten doesn't have as many programs as some other networks, but the ones they do have seem more reliable. I haven't heard as many horror stories about not getting paid.
They work with legitimate companies, so you're not promoting random junk. The approval process is usually pretty straightforward.
6. JVZoo
JVZoo is newer than most networks but they're growing fast. The main thing that sets them apart is fast payments. Some networks make you wait months to get paid. JVZoo pays much faster.
Most of their products are in the internet marketing space - courses about making money online, software tools, that kind of thing. Commission rates are usually high, similar to ClickBank.
7. AvantLink
AvantLink isn't as well known as the bigger networks, but they're beginner-friendly. Their interface is easy to figure out.
They have merchants in different categories, so you can probably find something relevant to promote regardless of your niche.
8. eBay Partner Network
eBay can be tricky. Their approval process is strict, and a lot of people get rejected. Even if you get approved, the conversion rates aren't great because people go to eBay looking for deals, not to pay full price.
But eBay is a trusted brand, so if your audience likes to shop for bargains, it might work.
9. Avangate (now 2Checkout)
Avangate focuses on software and digital products. If you're in the tech space, this could be good for you.
Software companies usually have good profit margins, so they can afford to pay decent commissions. Commission rates vary but are generally higher than physical product commissions.
10. FlexOffers
FlexOffers has thousands of different affiliate programs. The quality varies a lot, but you can probably find something relevant to your audience.
They work with both big brands and smaller companies. Commission rates and payment terms vary by merchant.
11-20. Other Programs Worth Checking Out
Here are some other affiliate programs that people have had success with:
MaxBounty (maxbounty.com) - Good for lead generation offers
RevenueWire (revenuewire.com) - Software and digital products
ReviMedia (revimedia.com) - More for experienced marketers
Commission Factory (commissionfactory.com) - Australian network
PeerFly (peerfly.com) - Was popular but had some payment issues
ClickFunnels (clickfunnels.com/affiliates) - High commissions but very competitive
TradeDoubler (tradedoubler.com) - European focused
AffiliateWindow (awin.com) - Used to be bigger, now called Awin
BankAffiliates (bankaffiliates.com) - Financial offers with strict rules
Affibank (affibank.com) - High commission rates but limited selection
Quick Comparison Table
Here's a quick overview of the main affiliate programs and what you can expect:
| Program | Commission Rate | Payment Speed | Difficulty to Join | Best For |
|---|
| Amazon Associates | 1-10% (most 4-4.5%) | Monthly | Easy | Physical products, beginners |
| ClickBank | 50-75% | Weekly | Easy | Digital products, courses |
| Commission Junction | 5-15% | Monthly | Medium-Hard | Big brands, retail |
| ShareASale | Varies by merchant | Monthly | Easy-Medium | Wide variety |
| Rakuten LinkShare | Varies by merchant | Monthly | Medium | Established brands |
| JVZoo | 50-75% | Fast (days) | Easy | Software, IM products |
| AvantLink | Varies | Monthly | Easy | Outdoor, lifestyle |
| eBay | 1-4% | Monthly | Hard | Bargain hunters |
| 2Checkout (Avangate) | 10-45% | Bi-weekly | Medium | Software, SaaS |
| FlexOffers | Varies widely | Monthly | Easy | Mixed categories |
What Actually Works
Don't try to join 20 different programs when you're starting out. Pick 2-3 that match your audience and focus on those.
Amazon is good for beginners because it's easy and people trust the brand. The commissions are low, but you can make money if you promote products people actually want to buy.
For higher commissions, look at networks like ClickBank or CJ, but be more careful about what you promote. High commissions don't mean anything if nobody buys or if everyone asks for refunds.
The most important thing is to promote stuff that's actually useful to your audience. Don't just pick programs based on commission rates. Pick them based on whether your audience would actually want to buy the products.
Things to Avoid
Don't join programs that charge you money upfront. Legitimate affiliate programs are free to join.
Avoid programs that only pay in Bitcoin or gift cards unless that works for you.
Be careful with programs that promise guaranteed income or seem too good to be true.
If you can't find basic information about the company running the affiliate program, that's a red flag.
Getting Started
Start with Amazon Associates if you're new to affiliate marketing. It's free to join and relatively easy to get approved.
Once you understand how affiliate marketing works, you can branch out to other programs that might pay better commissions.
Focus on promoting products you actually know and use when possible. It's easier to write about stuff you're familiar with, and you'll sound more genuine.
Most affiliate programs require you to disclose that you're using affiliate links. Make sure you follow the rules and include proper disclosures on your website.
The key to making money with affiliate marketing is getting traffic to your content and building trust with your audience. The specific affiliate program matters, but it's not the most important thing. Focus on creating helpful content first, then worry about optimizing your affiliate commissions.
