November 16, 2024
Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy something through the links on this page (at no extra cost).
Affiliate marketing success partly depends on the commission rates you earn. This post reviews the best high-paying affiliate programs for beginners, bloggers, and social media marketers in various niches.
It may seem obvious to promote high-paying programs. However, many affiliates painstakingly join low-paying programs and merchants, such as Amazon Associates, which pays up to 10%. On the other hand, I’m not suggesting publishers only promote programs with high payouts. Instead, they should strike a balance and understand a program’s earning potential. For example, converting one Shopify plan each month will generate $1,800 in commissions yearly ($150 x 12 months). That amount is probably more rewarding than earnings from other programs for the same marketing effort.
High-Paying Affiliate Programs
First, you’ll find many merchants on this list and other lucrative programs on the top affiliate networks, including Impact, ShareASale, FlexOffers, and CJ Affiliate. Secondly, these affiliate programs are free to join and excellent for beginners with or without websites.
To qualify for my list, the merchant/advertiser must meet the following criteria:
- Pay a minimum commission rate of 30% or $50 per sale
- Have a minimum cookie duration/referral period of 30 days
- Have an excellent business reputation
- Be a market leader or top contender
VidIQ
VidIQ offers AI-driven growth tools to help creators and marketers grow their channels and brand awareness. Its Chrome browser extension features video scoring, SEO, keyword research, tag management, analytics, AI coaching, and more.
Over 2 million users have installed VidIQ from Google’s Chrome Web Store, with an average rating of 4.5 out of five stars. VidIQ offers an engaging and insightful YouTube channel and blog to support its YouTuber community.
Affiliates get the following with VidIQ‘s affiliate program:
- Commission: Up to 25% recurring
- Cookie duration: 90 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate software: In-house
GetResponse
GetResponse is an all-in-one digital marketing platform that offers email campaigns, landing pages, website builders, conversion funnels, webinar hosting, opt-in forms, web push notifications, live chat, and other marketing automation tools. It helps generate leads, increase sales, sell knowledge, and engage customers. GetResponse is an excellent alternative to ClickFunnels, Mailchimp, and Brevo (formerly Sendinblue).
GetResponse helps over 350,000 customers globally in eight languages to generate leads and convert sales. Its target customer base includes entrepreneurs, freelancers, digital marketers, and online sellers, from small businesses to enterprises.
GetResponse‘s affiliate program offers the following incentives:
- Commission: 33% recurring or $100 one-time
- Cookie duration: 120 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate software: In-house and CJ Affiliate
Systeme.io
Systeme is a complete digital marketing platform for launching an online business. It offers various tools, including sales funnels, email campaigns, website builders, webinars, affiliate program management, content management, and marketing automation. Systeme is an excellent alternative to ConvertKit, Kartra, and Kajabi.
300,000+ entrepreneurs trust Systeme because its platform is powerful yet simple to use. It is also ten times cheaper than most competitors, and 99% of features are free to use, resulting in a winning value proposition.
Systeme‘s affiliate program has the following benefits:
- Commission: Up to 60% recurring
- Cookie duration: Lifetime
- Payout threshold: $30
- Affiliate software: In-house
Shopify
Shopify provides everything you need to sell online, on social media, and face-to-face, including e-commerce software, point-of-sale (POS) hardware, themes, hosting, domains, business tools, marketing automation, payment processing, fulfillment, capital, and analytics. In addition, the Shopify App Store has thousands of apps to enhance and scale your store.
Shopify is the market leader in e-commerce software and POS hardware. Their millions of customers across 175+ combine for billions in gross market volume (GMV) annually. Shopify’s stock is publicly traded.
Shopify‘s affiliate program offers the following incentives:
- Commission: Up to $500
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate network: Impact
ShareASale is an affiliate marketing network that connects merchants (companies selling products or services) with affiliates (publishers or marketers who promote those products or services). Merchants can create affiliate programs, and affiliates can join these programs to earn commissions by driving sales, leads, or traffic to the merchants’ websites.
ShareASale‘s affiliate program offers these benefits:
- Commission: Up to $150
- Cookie duration: 60 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate network: ShareASale
Klaviyo
Klaviyo is a marketing automation platform primarily designed for e-commerce businesses. It specializes in email and SMS marketing and helps companies build strong customer relationships by enabling them to create personalized, targeted campaigns based on customer behavior and data.
With Klaviyo, businesses can automate their communications, segment their audiences, and analyze performance, leading to more effective marketing strategies and higher engagement. The platform integrates with various e-commerce tools and platforms to drive more personalized and impactful marketing efforts.
Klaviyo‘s affiliate program is lucrative for these reasons:
- Commission: 200% to 220% (Up to $1,500)
- Cookie duration: 60 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate network: Impact
Durable
Durable is an AI-powered platform that helps individuals and businesses create and manage websites quickly and efficiently. It features a builder that can generate a fully functional website in as little as 30 seconds, complete with hosting, custom domain options, SEO tools, and analytics.
Durable also provides integrated AI tools for tasks like content generation, invoicing, and customer relationship management (CRM) to streamline business operations.
Durable‘s affiliate program offers the following incentives:
- Commission: 30% recurring
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate network: Impact
Semrush
Semrush is a powerful and versatile SEO, advertising, social media, and content marketing platform for online marketers. It features keyword, link building, market analysis, PPC, content, and video advertising research tools.
Semrush has over 100,000 paying customers across 140+ countries. It caters to digital marketers, freelancers, and agencies in various positions, including SEOs, performance marketers, content marketers, social media marketers, and marketing consultants.
The Semrush affiliate program has the following benefits:
- Commission: Up to $200
- Cookie duration: 120 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate network: Impact
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Coursera
Coursera offers online education through partnerships with hundreds of top-ranked universities and companies, including Stanford, Columbia, Duke, Google, and Meta. From a catalog of 7,000+ courses, Coursera learners can take free and paid classes, specializations, professional certificates, and degrees.
Coursera supports over 100 million students globally and welcomes individuals, enterprises, governments, and campuses to access its world-class learning platform. Its revenue is growing by double digital year over year.
Marketers get the following with Coursera‘s affiliate program:
- Commission: Up to 45%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate network: Impact
Domestika
Domestika is a fast-growing creative community where top experts share knowledge and skills through professionally produced online courses. Take tutorials in illustration, marketing, business, design, photography, music, web design, app development, and more.
Motivated by its thriving community, Domestika has expanded its reach by creating online courses for those who want to unlock their creative potential and connect with like-minded creatives worldwide.
Domestika’s affiliate program has the following benefits:
- Commission: 40%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate network: Impact
Emeritus
Emeritus partners with top-ranked universities to offer comprehensive learning experiences in various subjects. It combines innovation, technology, and quality training to provide best-in-class online, cohort-based programs regarding management, sales, digital marketing, finance, and AI. Emeritus’ university partnerships include Columbia, MIT, Carnegie Mellon, Northwestern Kellogg, and INSEAD.
Affiliates get the following with the Emeritus affiliate program:
- Commission: Up to $1,500
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate network: Impact
Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of free and paid classes in design, art, business, marketing, technology, lifestyle, and more. Enroll in Skillshare classes to create, build, and thrive in whatever you do. Skillshare’s 30,000+ classes and 11,000+ teachers support over 800,000 members.
Skillshare‘s affiliate program is appealing for these reasons:
- Commission: 40%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate network: Impact
Fiverr
Fiverr is the largest online marketplace for freelance services starting at $5. Thousands of freelancers offer marketing, business, graphic design, website design, writing, translation, video, and programming services. Fiverr Business, Pro, Studios, Logo Maker, and Workplace round out the full suite of services for SMB and enterprise customers.
Freelancers from over 160 countries across 600+ categories assist over 4 million customers on Fiverr. Also, Fiverr has a monopolistic position alongside Upwork in the online talent category.
Fiverr‘s affiliate program has the following benefits:
- Commission: Up to $150 or $10 plus 10% recurring for up to 12 months
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $100/$50
- Affiliate software: Cellxpert, Awin, and CJ Affiliate
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Invideo
Invideo is an online video editing platform designed to help users create professional-quality videos quickly and easily, even without advanced editing skills. It offers various templates, stock footage, music, and text overlays, making it suitable for creating videos for social media, marketing, presentations, and more.
Invideo’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface allows users to customize videos by adding their media, adjusting styles, and incorporating effects. It supports collaborative editing, making it useful for teams working on video projects.
Invideo‘s affiliate program is excellent for these reasons:
- Commission: 25% to 50%
- Cookie duration: 120 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate software: Impact
Bluehost
Bluehost is one of the most established website hosting providers, supporting millions of websites globally. Furthermore, Bluehost offers shared hosting, dedicated hosting, VPS hosting, WordPress and WooCommerce solutions, domains, a website builder, and professional services.
WordPress.org recommends Bluehost, and it serves 2 million users. Bluehost has been operating since 2003.
The Bluehost affiliate program offers the following incentives:
- Commission: $65
- Cookie duration: Up to 120 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate network: Impact and CJ Affiliate
WordPress.com
WordPress.com is a blogging and website hosting service owned by Automattic. It allows users to create and host websites or blogs using the popular WordPress content management system (CMS) without managing their web server or installing software.
WordPress.com offers various plans, including a free plan with limited features and premium plans with additional features such as custom domains, advanced design options, and e-commerce capabilities.
WordPress.com‘s affiliate program offers the following benefits:
- Commission: 20% to 100%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate network: Impact
Hostinger
Hostinger offers fast and user-friendly website hosting solutions at a price nobody can beat. Its plans cover websites, cloud, WordPress, email, e-commerce, VPS, domains, website builders, and more.
Hostinger, a tech startup launched in Lithuania in 2004, is a top provider of web hosting solutions. It caters to over a million users from more than 150 countries with similar interests.
Affiliates get the following with Hostinger‘s affiliate program:
- Commission: 40%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate network: Impact and CJ Affiliate
Liquid Web
Liquid Web provides fully managed web hosting, cloud, e-commerce, and data center solutions. Its products include dedicated servers, server clusters, VMware private cloud, and more.
Liquid Web’s ten global data centers serve 187,000 customers and 500,000+ sites. They consistently rank high in customer loyalty and NPS scoring.
Liquid Web‘s affiliate program is rewarding for these reasons:
- Commission: Up to 150%
- Cookie duration: 90 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate network: Impact
SiteGround
SiteGround is an innovative technology leader in website hosting and security. Sitegroud offers shared hosting, cloud hosting, WordPress hosting, enterprise solutions, email hosting, and domain registration. It also has optimization and security plugins for WordPress users.
SiteGround offers multilingual customer support and supports nearly 3 million websites globally. Its client satisfaction rate is over 98%.
Marketers get the following with SiteGround‘s affiliate program:
- Commission: Up to $125
- Cookie duration: 60 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate software: In-house
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Namecheap
Namecheap is a reputable domain registrar and web hosting provider. It offers many internet services, including domain registration, web hosting, and SSL certificates. Namecheap is known for its affordable pricing and reliable customer support.
Namecheap is a top choice for individuals and businesses seeking an online presence. It offers a convenient platform for acquiring and managing domain names and hosting solutions, emphasizing security and accessibility.
Affiliates get the following with Namecheap‘s affiliate program:
- Commission: Up to 100%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate network: Impact, ShareASale, and CJ Affiliate
Kinsta
Kinsta offers premium performance, hosting, and reliable support for businesses of all sizes. It’s also powered by the Google Cloud Platform for blazing-fast page loads. Kinsta partners with Cloudflare to offer high-end website security to its 26,000+ customers.
Kinsta supports WordPress, WooCommerce, databases, applications, enterprises, and agencies. It also offers free migration and top-rated customer service.
Marketers get the following with Kinsta‘s affiliate program:
- Commission: Up to $500 plus 10% recurring
- Cookie duration: 60 days
- Payout threshold: $100
- Affiliate software: In-house
WP Engine
WP Engine provides fast, reliable, and managed WordPress hosting and solutions. It also offers robust 24/7 support, headless WordPress, Genesis themes/blocks, and more. WP Engine has over 185,000 customers, including Under Armor, AMD, Thompson Reuters, and Soundcloud.
WP Engine‘s affiliate program is attractive for these reasons:
- Commission: Up to $200
- Cookie duration: 180 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate network: ShareASale
WP Rocket
WP Rocket is a WordPress caching plugin and a powerful application that boosts your site’s load time, improves your PageSpeed score, and optimizes your Core Web Vitals. It has the most powerful features to make your website blazing fast.
WP Rocket‘s affiliate program has the following benefits:
- Commission: Up to 30%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate network: ShareASale
Weblium
Weblium is an intuitive website-building platform enabling individuals and businesses to create professional and responsive websites. Offering a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface and a variety of customizable templates, Weblium simplifies the web design process for users of all skill levels.
Weblium provides tools for building and managing websites, including e-commerce capabilities, SEO optimization, and mobile responsiveness. It is a versatile solution for those looking to establish an online presence without extensive technical or coding expertise.
Weblium‘s affiliate program offers the following benefits:
- Commission: 35%
- Cookie duration: 120 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate network: ShareASale
NordVPN
NordVPN is a top-rated VPN offering military-grade online security and protection applications. It provides numerous benefits, including secure internet, a strict no-logs policy, malware blocking, and more. Other NordVPN brands include NordLayer, NordPass, and NordLocker.
NordVPN operates worldwide and has offices in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, the USA, Lithuania, Switzerland, and Panama.
NordVPN‘s affiliate program offers the following incentives:
- Commission: Up to 100%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate network: Impact and CJ Affiliate
Proton
Proton provides user-friendly encrypted email, calendar, file storage, VPN, and online security apps for individuals and businesses who value privacy. Its end-to-end and zero-access encryption means that no one (not even Proton) has the technical means to access your data without your permission.
Over 100 million people have signed up for Proton, and it secures over 10,000 businesses, including some of the world’s largest public and private organizations.
Proton‘s affiliate program (ProtonVPN and Proton Mail) offers the following benefits:
- Commission: 30%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $100
- Affiliate software: Tune
Surfshark
Surfshark is a fast-growing cybersecurity company that develops privacy and security protection solutions, including VPNs, antivirus software, and search apps, to secure people’s digital lives.
Surfshark and Nord Security merged under one holding company to form a cybersecurity powerhouse but operate independently.
Marketers get the following with Surfshark‘s affiliate program:
- Commission: 40%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate network: CJ Affiliate, Impact, and Tune
VuzeVPN
VuzeVPN protects users’ privacy, keeps browsing anonymous, and offers best-in-class security and encryption. It protects users from viruses, malware, adware, and phishing attacks.
VuzeVPN‘s affiliate program is profitable for these reasons:
- Commission: 50%
- Cookie duration: 45 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate network: CJ Affiliate
AppSumo
AppSumo is an online marketplace offering deals on digital products and tools for entrepreneurs, marketers, freelancers, and small business owners. These products typically include software applications, online courses, ebooks, and other resources designed to help people grow their businesses and improve productivity.
AppSumo offers exclusive discounts and promotions on various products. Customers can also purchase lifetime licenses for many of the site’s products, which means they pay a one-time fee for unlimited access to the tool or resource.
AppSumo‘s affiliate program offers the following:
- Commission: 5% to 100%
- Cookie duration: 60 days
- Payout threshold: $10
- Affiliate network: Impact
Inc Authority
Inc Authority offers various services to help you launch your business, protect your brand, and plan for the future. It also supports custom websites and logos, business plans, trademarks, building business credit, and more.
Inc Authority has been operating for over 30 years and has formed around 250,000 entities. Moreover, it maintains an excellent rating on Trustpilot from 25,000+ reviewers. Thousands of customers prefer Inc Authority to ZenBusiness and Northwest Registered Agent.
Affiliates get the following with Inc Authority‘s affiliate program:
- Commission: $100
- Cookie duration: 120 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate network: ShareASale
More great reads:
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Bizee
Bizee, formerly Incfile, offers the lowest-cost LLC, C-Corp, S-Corp, and Nonprofit incorporation services, starting at $0 plus state fees. Moreover, Bizee provides various business formation, administration, legal, and trademark services and resources to build a successful company.
Bizee has helped over 1 million businesses and maintains an excellent rating on Trustpilot. Bizee‘s affiliate program is rewarding for these reasons:
- Commission: $100
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate network: ShareASale
FreshBooks
FreshBooks offers small business accounting and management software for creating proposals, sending invoices, tracking time, managing receipts and expenses, accepting payments, and more. It is for freelancers, self-employed professionals, and businesses with contractors and employees.
FreshBooks‘ affiliate program is appealing for these reasons:
- Commission: Up to $200
- Cookie duration: 120 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate network: ShareASale
Sonetel
Sonetel is a global telecommunications company that offers cloud-based communication solutions. It provides virtual phone numbers, call forwarding, and international call management, enabling businesses to establish a professional and global presence.
Sonetel allows users to manage calls, texts, and voicemail from anywhere, making it a convenient choice for companies with international or remote teams. It’s an excellent and cost-efficient alternative to Skype.
Sonetel‘s affiliate program is appealing for these reasons:
- Commission: 35%
- Cookie duration: 365 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate network: ShareASale
Norton
Norton provides various products and services related to digital security, identity protection, and online privacy, including defense against viruses, malware, spyware, and ransomware. Its goal is to help protect your private and financial information when you go online.
Norton‘s affiliate program is lucrative for these reasons:
- Commission: Up to 200%
- Cookie duration: 60 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate network: CJ Affiliate
LegalZoom
LegalZoom is an online legal services company that helps individuals and businesses with various legal needs. The company offers multiple services, including business formation, registered agent services, trademark and copyright registration, wills, trusts, and immigration.
LegalZoom‘s affiliate program is appealing for these reasons:
- Commission: Up to $125
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate network: CJ Affiliate
Tidio
Tidio is an all-in-one customer service app that improves customer support and helps generate more sales. Its live chat widget makes your business available 24/7, while AI-powered chatbots engage your customers in real-time.
Marketers get the following with Tidio‘s affiliate program:
- Commission: 30%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $50
- Affiliate network: CJ Affiliate
Apple
Apple affiliates can promote millions of songs, albums, books, audiobooks, movies, news, and TV shows. In addition, you’ll earn commissions on memberships for Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple News+, and Apple Podcasts.
Apple‘s affiliate program is appealing for these reasons:
- Commission: Up to 400%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Payout threshold: $30
- Affiliate software: Partnerize
Highest-Paying Affiliate Niches
There are high-paying programs in every niche, product category, sector, and industry. However, software merchants pay the highest commissions.
Unlike many traditional brick-and-mortar companies, software companies can pay higher commissions due to lower capital-intensive costs and higher margins. For example, an email marketing service provider doesn’t necessarily incur more expenses for each new customer. It also doesn’t spend money on manufacturing or inventory, so it can be more generous with affiliate commission rates.
Many software companies have recurring affiliate programs that share revenue from ongoing customer payments.
| Niche | Commission Example |
| E-commerce apps | $150 per sale |
| Business apps | $200 per sale |
| Marketing apps | $1,500 per sale |
| E-learning | 45% per sale |
| Software apps | 200% per sale |
| VPN apps | 100% per sale |
| Web hosting | $500 per sale |
Start Earning
Promoting high-paying affiliate programs and joining reputable affiliate networks are surefire ways to succeed in affiliate marketing. Also, consider the following factors when assessing merchants: company reputation, commission rate, cookie duration, earnings per click (EPC), payment minimum and cycle, marketing materials, free trials, and coupons to share with your audience.
Affiliates can earn hundreds to thousands monthly, depending on how much traffic they send advertisers. Moreover, some affiliates report making $10,000+ monthly. While it may take time to achieve your income goals, my list of high-paying programs will support your journey.
