If you started your blog with the aim of monetizing it, affiliate marketing should be high on your list of strategies to consider. It’s a powerful way to convert your blog’s traffic into revenue. However, finding the right affiliate products and programs is essential to your success. In this comprehensive guide, “The Ultimate Guide To Affiliate Platforms and Networks for 2024″, we’ve compiled in our opinion the best affiliate platforms and networks for 2024, giving you access to a vast array of merchants and products that cater to various niches. Whether you’re interested in promoting physical or digital products or partnering with big or small brands, you’ll find an affiliate platform on this list that suits your needs.
- ShareASale: ShareASale stands out as one of the most popular and diverse affiliate networks. Unlike Amazon Associates, which primarily focuses on Amazon products, ShareASale hosts affiliate programs for over 4,500 merchants, ranging from small businesses to industry giants. The platform allows you to apply to multiple merchants, generate affiliate links, and track your performance conveniently from one dashboard. ShareASale caters to both physical and digital product promoters, making it an excellent choice for bloggers in various niches.
- Niche/Product Types: A wide variety, including physical and digital products.
- Average Commission Rate: Varies by merchant.
- Cookie Duration: Determined by individual merchants.
- Minimum Payout: $50
- Pros :
- Thousands of reputable merchants
- Trusted platform with years of experience
- A substantial number of exclusive merchants
- Convenient bookmarklet for custom affiliate links
- Dashboard design could be more user-friendly
- Awin.com : Awin does require individual applications for merchants, it offers a dedicated WordPress plugin to simplify product imports and a low minimum payout threshold.
- Niche/Product Types: Diverse range, covering both physical and digital products.
- Average Commission Rate: Varies by merchant.
- Cookie Duration: Determined by individual merchants.
- Minimum Payout: $20
- Pros :
- Extensive selection of merchants
- Dedicated WordPress plugin for product imports
- Low minimum payout
- $5 sign-up fee (refundable if approved)
- PartnerStack: PartnerStack is the go-to affiliate network for B2B technology partnerships. If you’re interested in promoting B2B SaaS and tech products, this network offers exclusive access to renowned and high-paying affiliate marketing programs, such as Notion, Monday.com, and Webflow. B2B affiliate marketing often offers higher commissions and longer-term payouts. PartnerStack provides in-app tools for monitoring performance and engaging with partner program managers. While you need to apply individually to partner programs, the network combines your earnings and pays out when you reach the $5 threshold.
- Niche/Product Types: B2B SaaS and tech products, digital-first products only.
- Average Commission Rate: Varies by merchant, and includes cost-per-action and percentage structures.
- Cookie Duration: Up to 90 days, depending on the merchant.
- Minimum Payout: USD 5
- Pros:
- Partner with top-tier B2B companies
- Recurring revenue potential
- In-app tools for engagement
- Low payout threshold
- Cons:
- Partner reporting could be more robust
- Amazon Associates: Amazon Associates is a popular choice for bloggers interested in promoting physical products. It offers commissions on a wide range of items available on Amazon.com. Notably, you earn commissions on all purchases made by users you refer, even if they buy products different from what you initially linked to. Amazon Associates employs a flat-rate commission structure based on product categories, making it accessible to smaller websites without requiring a specific sales volume.
- Niche/Product Types: Anything sold on Amazon’s website, including third-party vendor products.
- Average Commission Rate: Ranges from 1% to 10%, depending on the category.
- Cookie Duration: 24 hours (or 90 days for specific products in the cart).
- Minimum Payout: $10 (Amazon gift card or direct deposit)
- Pros:
- Vast product selection
- Universal cookie for all purchases within the duration
- Low minimum payout
- Trusted eCommerce giant
- Cons:
- Short 24-hour cookie duration for general referrals
- Some categories offer low commissions
- Registration for each country can be tricky and confusing
- 3-month “probation period”, based on volume sold
- CJ Affiliate (Formerly Commission Junction): CJ Affiliate is another major affiliate network, featuring thousands of merchants offering both physical and digital products. With 2,696 different merchants available, CJ provides opportunities for affiliate marketers of all types. Popular brands like Lowe’s, Overstock, and Priceline are among the network’s offerings. While CJ’s dashboard may have a steeper learning curve, it provides robust tools for managing your affiliate marketing efforts.
- Niche/Product Types: A wide range of niches, covering both physical and digital products.
- Average Commission Rate: Varies by merchant.
- Cookie Duration: Determined by individual merchants.
- Minimum Payout: $50 (direct deposit) or $100 (cheque)
- Pros:
- Extensive selection of big and small merchants
- Comprehensive dashboard for affiliate management
- Convenient deep link generator bookmarklet
- Cons
- Initial dashboard complexity
- Rakuten Marketing (Formerly LinkShare): Rakuten Marketing, formerly known as LinkShare, is a prominent affiliate network with a focus on larger merchants. Brands like Walmart, Best Buy, and Macy’s are part of its lineup, although the network boasts around 1,000 merchants in total. Rakuten stands out for its ad rotation feature, which eliminates the need for external solutions. While it may not have as extensive a selection as some competitors, it provides access to major players in the retail space.
- Niche/Product Types: Offers products in various niches, with a focus on larger brands.
- Average Commission Rate: Varies by merchant.
- Cookie Duration: Determined by individual merchants.
- Minimum Payout: $50
- Pros :
- Access to renowned brands
- Trusted affiliate network backed by Rakuten
- Ad rotation feature
- Cons:
- Dashboard appearance may appear dated
- Avangate Affiliate Network: Avangate Affiliate Network specializes in digital goods and software products, making it an excellent choice for bloggers focusing on this niche. You gain access to a vast catalogue of software from top merchants such as Bitdefender and Kaspersky. While Avangate merged with 2Checkout, it’s essential to join the Avangate Affiliate Network for your affiliate needs.
- Niche/Product Types: Focuses on digital goods and software products.
- Average Commission Rate: Varies by the merchant, with the potential for high commissions.
- Cookie Duration: Determined by individual merchants, with a minimum of 30 days.
- Minimum Payout: $100
- Pros:
- Option for PayPal payments
- Extensive selection of unique software products
- High commissions common among merchants
- Cons:
- Higher minimum payout compared to other networks
- ClickBank: ClickBank is a versatile affiliate network offering both digital and physical products. It excels in providing opportunities for niche offers, including eBooks, online courses, and membership sites. While you’ll discover many smaller, lesser-known merchants on ClickBank, be cautious when selecting products to promote, as product quality can vary. ClickBank often features higher commissions and a low minimum payout
- Niche/Product Types: Predominantly digital products, with some physical items available.
- Average Commission Rate: Varies by merchant, with generally high commissions.
- Cookie Duration: Typically around 60 days.
- Minimum Payout: $10
- Pros:
- Abundance of niche-specific offers
- Attractive commissions for most merchants
- Low minimum payout
- Weekly payment option
- Cons:
- Generous refund policy may affect commissions
- Some low-quality products in the marketplace
- FlexOffers: FlexOffers is a well-established affiliate platform that connects you with over 12,000 advertisers and merchants. It offers a visually appealing dashboard and continuously adds new merchants, ensuring a fresh selection of offers. You can find both big brands like Macy’s and smaller businesses in its extensive directory. FlexOffers assigns each publisher a dedicated account manager to assist in finding the best offers and optimizing your affiliate marketing strategy.
- Niche/Product Types: Wide range, covering both physical and digital products.
- Average Commission Rate: Varies by merchant.
- Cookie Duration: Determined by individual merchants.
- Minimum Payout: $50 (within the USA) or $100 (outside the USA)
- Pros:
- Extensive selection of merchants
- User-friendly dashboard design
- Dedicated affiliate manager
- Cons
- Limited payment options for non-USA affiliates
- Walmart Affiliates: Walmart’s affiliate program, part of Rakuten Marketing, offers an alternative to Amazon Associates for promoting physical products. While Amazon dominates the online retail market, Walmart’s program provides higher commissions in certain product categories. For instance, you can earn a 4% commission on toys, outperforming Amazon’s 3%. Walmart also boasts a longer tracking cookie duration of three days, compared to Amazon’s one day.
- Niche/Product Types: Anything sold on Walmart’s website, including some third-party vendor products.
- Average Commission Rate: Ranges from 1% to 18%, with most categories at 4% or 1%.
- Cookie Duration: Three days.
- Minimum Payout: $50
Pros:
- Diverse product selection
- Higher commissions in specific categories
- Trusted brand
- Longer tracking cookie duration
Cons:
- Higher minimum payout compared to Amazon
- Smaller market share than Amazon
- 11.eBay Partner Network: eBay Partner Network is eBay’s in-house affiliate network, offering commissions for promoting eBay listings. With access to eBay’s vast selection, you can promote a wide variety of products. Keep in mind that many eBay products are transient due to auctions, but permanent listings are also available. Commissions are based on a percentage of eBay’s revenue from the sale, making it a unique approach.
- Niche/Product Types: Primarily physical products, with some digital items.
- Average Commission Rate: Varies by product category, typically 50%-70% of eBay’s commission.
- Cookie Duration: 24 hours, with commission eligibility if the auction concludes within ten days.
- Minimum Payout: $10
Pros:
- Wide product variety from eBay
- Ability to promote used products
- Low minimum payout
Cons:
- Short 24-hour cookie duration
Explore More Affiliate Opportunities
In addition to the affiliate platforms and networks mentioned, here are some affiliated programs to consider for expanding your affiliate marketing opportunities:
- JVZOO: JVZOO offers a wide range of digital products, including software, e-books, and online courses, making it an excellent choice for bloggers in the digital product niche.
- Digistore 24: Digistore 24 specializes in digital goods, such as software products, e-books, and digital services, providing lucrative opportunities for affiliates in this market.
- Viator: Viator focuses on travel-related products and experiences, allowing travel and lifestyle bloggers to promote tours, activities, and more.
- MaxBounty: MaxBounty offers a diverse selection of affiliate programs, covering both digital and physical products, making it suitable for a variety of bloggers and niches.
Which Affiliate Network Should You Choose?
By diversifying your affiliate partnerships, you can maximize your blog’s revenue potential. Start earning today by partnering with the right affiliate platforms and networks.
Affiliate marketing offers a wealth of opportunities to monetize your blog effectively. For additional insights into affiliate marketing, explore our affiliate marketing statistics and beginner’s guide. And if you’re looking to boost your blog’s traffic, don’t forget to check out our guide on promoting a blog.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you make a purchase.