21 Best Affiliate Programs for Bloggers

Bloggers have numerous ways to make money online these days. They can do sponsored posts, display ads, sell products, or provide consulting services.

But one of the easiest methods is by joining top affiliate programs designed for bloggers.

Why is affiliate marketing so attractive?

• It’s a massive industry: Just in the U.S., spending is expected to exceed $8 billion in 2022, nearly triple what it was a decade ago.
• This industry drives over 16% of ecommerce orders.
• According to Rakuten, over 80% of advertisers offer affiliate programs.

Keep reading to discover the best affiliate programs for you to join.

Why Use Websites for Affiliate Marketing?

Many influencers prefer using social media, email, or podcasts to promote products. However, here’s why we believe websites stand out as the best platform for affiliate partnerships:

1. Ownership and Control: On social media, affiliate marketers must adhere to ever-changing terms and conditions. Adjusting strategies becomes a constant need when platforms alter their algorithms. With a website, you own and control everything, providing stability and flexibility.

2. Long-Term Results with SEO: Social media requires influencers to churn out content consistently to stay relevant. In contrast, websites may not yield immediate results, but as you enhance SEO, more visitors will discover your content through Google rankings.

3. Diverse Revenue Streams: Websites offer more than just promoting affiliate products. You can diversify income by selling digital products, securing sponsored posts, displaying ads, and exploring other sources.

4. Versatile Content Publishing: Websites grant the freedom to publish diverse content. Surprisingly, about 65% of affiliate marketers drive traffic through blogging. Common affiliate marketing blog post types include listicles, product reviews, guides, and tutorials. This versatility allows you to connect with your audience in various engaging ways. 

If you’re worried about managing an affiliate website, check out our list of the best affiliate marketing courses. You’ll learn all the ins and outs. 

What to Look for in Affiliate Programs for Bloggers

When choosing affiliate programs as a blogger, there are key things to look for:

1. Commission Rate: This is how much you earn from a sale through your affiliate link, often shown as a percentage. The best programs offer good commission rates, sometimes even recurring ones, giving you ongoing income. Commission rates can be up to 50% depending on the industry.

2. Average Order Value (AOV): This tells you how much, on average, customers spend per order. You find it by dividing total sales by the number of orders. It helps you figure out the best marketing and pricing strategies. If your site doesn’t get a lot of traffic, aim for programs with higher AOVs to make more money from fewer clicks.

3. Cookie Duration: This is about tracking. When someone clicks on your affiliate link, a cookie is placed on their computer. The “cookie duration” is how long that cookie stays there. For instance, with a 60-day cookie, if the person makes a purchase within 60 days of clicking your link, you’ll get credit for the sale.

Affiliate Programs for Bloggers

1. Amazon Associates Program

When people trust a brand, they’re more likely to buy from it. Trust and reliability matter most in building these relationships, even more than convenience and product quality.

Amazon, known as one of America’s most trusted online shops, sells a vast range of products. It’s great for affiliates who have audiences interested in buying things online.

Amazon Associates is Amazon’s affiliate program. They pay commissions based on where you are and what kind of products you promote. In the US, rates start at 1% for video games and go up to 10% for luxury beauty and 20% for Amazon Games.

• Commission range: Between 1% and 20% commission for each sale
• Cookie duration: Customers are remembered for 24 hours
• Payment methods: Receive payments via bank transfer, check, or Amazon gift card

2. eBay

eBay is a big deal with 138 million people buying stuff from all over the world. It’s a great option for folks who want to sell things online, especially when you think about Amazon being the big name in town.

But why pick eBay instead of Amazon? Well, think about this: Bloggers who focus on specific topics do well, and eBay is all about that niche life. For instance, they give you 3% on food and drinks sales, while Amazon only throws you 1% for groceries and zilch for alcohol.

If you’re curious, you can check out eBay’s rate card here and compare it with Amazon’s to see what works best for you. Just remember, these commission rates can change.

• Commission range: You can earn anywhere from 1% to 4% per sale
• Cookie duration: Lasts for 24 hours
• Payment methods: You can get paid through PayPal or a bank transfer

3. Fiverr

With freelancers on the rise, finding the right one can be tough for businesses. Fiverr, the world’s largest marketplace for freelancer services, helps solve this problem. Big companies like Google and Netflix use it to find freelancers for various services like design and web development.

Fiverr’s affiliate program lets you earn money by promoting its tools or selling its online learning platform. The easiest way for most affiliates is to promote freelance services called gigs. You can earn $15 – $150 per gig. Or you can choose a hybrid model and get 10% of the contract value for a year, plus a $10 bonus.

There’s one thing to note: Fiverr only pays commissions for sales to new customers.

Quick Facts about Fiverr’s Affiliate Program:

• Commission range: Varies
• Referral duration: Your referral is remembered for 30 days
• Payment methods: Receive payments via PayPal, Payoneer, or bank transfer

4. Etsy

Vintage items are really popular, with 60% of Americans buying them regularly.

Etsy is the go-to place for vintage, handmade, and custom goods like clothes and decor. Its sales have tripled since 2017, reaching $2 billion yearly.

Etsy’s affiliate program, managed by Awin, pays a 4% commission per sale, similar to Amazon and eBay. But Etsy stands out with a longer 30-day cookie window.

Bloggers with a strong social media presence might also consider Etsy’s creator program.

• Commission range: You get 4% for each sale
• Cookie duration: Your cookie stays active for a sweet 30 days
• Payment methods: You can get paid through SEPA, BACS, ACH, domestic payments, or international wire transfer

5. ExpressVPN

Many Americans worry about their online privacy. This has led to a big demand for VPNs, which are expected to be worth $76 billion by 2027.

ExpressVPN is one of the top VPN services, with four million users. It also has a popular affiliate program, especially well-known among YouTubers with over 1,500 sponsorships.

Joining ExpressVPN’s affiliate program is easy through various networks, with FlexOffers currently offering the highest commissions.

6. MailerLite

Not just creators, but businesses also use email marketing. If you’re recommending email tools to a more business-focused audience, try MailerLite.

It’s known for its excellent customer support, with quick response times and high satisfaction rates.

MailerLite works well with ecommerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce. So if your audience includes a lot of online stores, this affiliate program is a good fit.

Like ConvertKit, MailerLite pays 30% recurring commissions. So if you refer someone, you’ll keep earning money as long as they keep using the service.

One downside is the 30-day cookie length, which is shorter compared to other email marketing programs.

• Commission range: 30% recurring lifetime commissions
• Cookie duration: 30 days
• Payment methods: PayPal

7. ConvertKit

If you send newsletters for your blog, you know how powerful email marketing is. It brings in around $36 for every $1 spent.

But most email tools are for businesses. What if your readers are creators who want to use email to connect with their fans?

That’s where ConvertKit helps. It’s made for coaches, authors, podcasters, and musicians. It offers cool features like eye-catching landing pages and beautiful email templates. Plus, it claims to have a 99.8% delivery rate, so emails are less likely to go to spam.

ConvertKit has a great affiliate program for bloggers. You can earn 30% of the sale price every month for up to 24 months. With plans starting at $9 per month, you could make over $80 from one sale.

• Commission range: 30% recurring commission for up to 24 months
• Cookie duration: 60 days
• Payment methods: Unlisted

8. Astra

Can you believe that more than a quarter of small businesses still don’t have a website? Well, that’s great news for Astra. They offer the most popular WordPress theme worldwide, used by over 2.3 million websites.

One big reason for its popularity is speed. Astra’s theme is super lightweight, taking up less than 50 kb of space. That means it loads lightning-fast, which is crucial because over half of internet users expect pages to load in three seconds or less.

If your audience is keen on building websites and you want to earn some steady passive income, Astra’s affiliate program is top-notch. They pay a solid 30% recurring commission, which could mean up to $375 per sale. Some of the top Astra affiliates are raking in over $5,000 every month.

• Commission range: 30% per sale
• Cookie duration: 60 days
• Payment methods: PayPal

9. Buzzsprout

Now, onto podcasts. They’re huge these days, with nearly half of Americans tuning in last year alone. That’s where Buzzsprout comes in handy—it’s a podcast hosting platform packed with all the essentials for launching your own show. Plus, it helps get your podcast on major directories like Apple, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

Around 4,000 people hop on board Buzzsprout every week to launch their podcasts, showing just how popular it is. And here’s the kicker: Buzzsprout’s affiliate program pays you a flat $20 commission for every sale you make. But here’s the twist—it also throws in a $20 credit for the person you refer, which can boost your conversion rates.

And the best part? The cookie window lasts a lifetime, so even if it takes years for your referral to make a purchase, you’ll still cash in on the commission.

• Commission range: $20 per sale
• Products/Services sold: Podcasting tools
• Payment methods: PayPal

10. OptinMonster

Nine out of ten marketers prioritize lead generation, with 37% finding quality leads a major challenge.

This is where OptinMonster shines. It’s a powerful lead-generation tool trusted by 1.2+ million users, including big names like McAfee and Pinterest.

Their affiliate program pays a solid 20% per sale, potentially earning you up to $118 per conversion. With a stellar conversion rate of 12.7%, about one in eight clicks turns into a customer. That means high chances of earning commissions.

Don’t forget to highlight the 14-day money-back guarantee to seal the deal.

• Commission range: 20% per sale
• Cookie duration: 45 days
• Payment methods: Check, direct deposit, international direct deposit, wire transfer, Payoneer

11. Kinsta

Kinsta is a major player in hosting, serving over 55,000 developers and 25,000+ businesses, including big names like Hootsuite and Tripadvisor.

They pride themselves on top-notch customer service, with lightning-fast response times and a 97% satisfaction rate. Highly rated on Trustpilot, Kinsta offers peace of mind when recommending their service.

Their affiliate program dishes out $1 million in yearly commissions and offers three referral models: WordPress hosting, app hosting, and database hosting. All pay recurring commissions, giving you a chance to earn continuously from each referral.

With an impressive 2% churn rate and a longer cookie duration compared to other hosting programs, Kinsta offers a good chance of ongoing earnings from your referrals.

• Commission range: 5% – 10% per sale (plus possible bounty payments)
• Cookie duration: 60 days
• Payment methods: PayPal

12. Cloudways

The website hosting market is growing fast, set to reach over $267 billion by 2028. While Cloudways isn’t the biggest player, it’s known for top-notch customer service.

Cloudways might seem pricey for hobby bloggers, but it’s perfect for small businesses, hailed as the #1 hosting provider for SMBs by G2. If you write about business or entrepreneurship, this affiliate program is a smart pick.

You can earn through two models: Slab (up to $125 per sale) and Hybrid ($30 upfront + 7% recurring commissions for life). Unless you’re making over 50 sales monthly, Hybrid offers the best earning potential.

• Commission range: Up to $125, or $30 per sale + 7% lifetime commission
• Cookie duration: 90 days
• Payment methods: Unlisted

13. Namecheap

Lots of businesses still need websites, and the first step is getting a domain name. Namecheap helps with that, offering domain registration, hosting, email, and tools for site design. It’s a one-stop-shop for starting a website.

With a stellar 4.7 rating from over two million customer reviews on Shopper Approved, Namecheap is a trusted choice, even used by big brands like Figma and Imgur. You can join their affiliate program through Impact for attractive terms.

14. Skillshare

Think of Skillshare as the place where people go to learn stuff, while Teachable is where people go to teach stuff.

Skillshare has a ton of classes on all sorts of creative things, like drawing, writing, and design. There are even free classes and a free trial, so people can try it before they commit.

If you get someone to sign up for Skillshare, you earn 40% of what they spend, up to $67 per person. But even though the commission is higher than Teachable, the amount of money you can make per click is lower.

• Commission rate: 40% per sale
• Cookie duration: 30 days
• Payment methods: PayPal, check, wire transfer, direct deposit, ACH transfer

15. Teachable

People are always looking to get better at stuff, which is why learning new skills is a big deal, especially at the start of a new year.

Teachable is a website where you can create and sell online courses, downloads, and coaching stuff without needing to be a coding whiz. And the cool thing is, you keep control over what you create.

If you tell others about Teachable and they sign up, you get 30% of whatever plan they buy. And if they stick with a subscription, you keep getting paid. On average, Teachable’s partners make around $450 each month, but some top performers rake in over $1,000 monthly.

• Commission rate: 30% per sale
• Cookie duration: 30 days
• Payment methods: PayPal, check, wire transfer, direct deposit, ACH transfer

16. FlexJobs

Lots of people these days want jobs that let them work flexibly, like from home or part-time. FlexJobs is a website where you can find these kinds of gigs. They offer jobs in over 50 categories, and big companies like Apple and Salesforce use their site to hire.

Their affiliate program might not look super exciting at first glance. They pay $7 for each membership you help sell, but if you sell over 50 memberships a month, they bump that up to $10. Plus, they only give you one day for someone to click your link and make a purchase, which isn’t great.

But, according to CJ Affiliate, people are making around $8.55 for every 100 clicks, so you could still make some decent money.

Just a heads up, at the moment, FlexJobs isn’t accepting applications from people outside the US. That might change in the future, so it’s worth checking their page on CJ Affiliate for updates.

• Commission range: Up to $10 per sale
• Cookie duration: 1 day
• Payment methods: Check, direct deposit, Payoneer

17. SiteGround

We’re big fans of SiteGround for web hosting, and we’re not shy about it. It’s affordable, speedy, and reliable, with a satisfaction rating of 98%. Plus, tons of websites are hosted by SiteGround.

As an affiliate, I’ve found SiteGround’s program to be rewarding. They offer commissions of up to $100 for each sale you refer, and what’s great is they provide a generous 60-day window for potential customers to make a purchase after clicking your link.

However, to qualify for the highest commission rate, you need to bring in at least 11 sales per month. If you don’t meet this threshold, you’ll still earn $50 per sale, which is still quite lucrative.

• Commission rate: Up to $100 per sale
• Cookie duration: 60 days
• Payment methods: PayPal, wire transfer

18. Semrush

If you’re into digital marketing, chances are you’ve heard of Semrush. It’s a fancy tool that helps with SEO and content marketing, offering a bunch of tools all in one place.

Sure, it might seem pricey, starting at around $100 a month. But when you consider all the stuff it does, it’s actually a pretty good deal compared to buying a bunch of separate tools.

Loads of people use Semrush—over seven million marketers, including a quarter of Fortune 500 companies.

What’s impressive about Semrush’s affiliate program is that you can earn money just by getting people to sign up for a free trial. Yup, you get $10 for every person who tries it out, even if they never pay for anything. But if they do end up buying a paid plan, you get a hefty $200 per sale.

• Commission range: Up to $200 per sale
• Cookie duration: Up to 400 days
• Payment methods: PayPal, check, wire transfer, direct deposit, ACH transfer

19. Notion

Productivity software is big business, and Notion is one of the hottest tools in town right now. It’s like a Swiss Army knife for organizing your life, with features for writing, planning, and working together with your team.

Notion even uses fancy AI stuff to help you write and organize things better. It’s like having ChatGPT, Trello, Asana, and Google Docs all rolled into one.

For instance, let’s say you’re an affiliate marketer like myself. You write a blog post or create a YouTube video explaining how Notion has revolutionized your workflow. You include your affiliate link, and one of your readers or viewers decides to give Notion a try. If they sign up for a paid plan, you could earn up to 50% of what they pay in the first year. So, if they opt for a $100 annual subscription, you’d earn $50 in commission.

• Commission rate: 50% per sale
• Cookie duration: 90 days
• Payment methods: PayPal, Stripe

20. FreshBooks

Small business owners are always juggling tasks like serving customers, dealing with suppliers, and planning for the future. They don’t have time to waste on sending invoices for days on end. That’s where FreshBooks comes in. It’s an accounting and invoicing platform designed specifically for small businesses.

FreshBooks claims it can save users up to 553 hours and $7,000 in billable time a year on repetitive paperwork. No wonder over 30 million businesses have used FreshBooks!

As an affiliate, let’s say you run a YouTube channel where you offer advice and tips for entrepreneurs. You can create a video demonstrating how FreshBooks has revolutionized your own invoicing process, allowing you to spend more time focusing on growing your business rather than drowning in paperwork. 

FreshBooks offers an affiliate program similar to Semrush. You can earn up to $10 for each trial signup you refer, and if those trialists become paying customers, you could get upgrade commissions of up to $200.

• Commission rate: Up to $200 per sale
• Cookie duration: 120 days
• Payment methods: Check, direct deposit, international direct deposit, wire transfer, Payoneer

21. Canva

Ever needed to design a social media banner, a company presentation, or a wedding invitation but didn’t have access to fancy design software like InDesign?

Enter Canva, the go-to graphic design tool for millions worldwide. With over 100 million monthly active users, Canva is where people go to turn their ideas into reality.

Canva’s popularity comes from its simplicity. It offers thousands of templates and millions of photos, graphics, videos, fonts, and audio files, making it relatively easy for non-designers to create stunning assets quickly. While most users stick to the free tier, your job as an affiliate is to promote Canva’s paid packages.

For example, let’s say you run a blog about digital marketing tips. You could create a post detailing how Canva’s premium features, like advanced branding and team collaboration, can streamline marketing efforts and elevate brand consistency. For each sale you refer, you could earn up to $36.

• Commission rate: Up to $36 per sale
• Cookie duration: 30 days
• Payment methods: PayPal, bank transfer

Why Websites Are the Best for Affiliate Marketing?

Many influencers use social media, emails, or podcasts to promote stuff, but here’s why websites are awesome for affiliate partnerships:

1. Freedom and Control: Social media platforms change rules all the time. With websites, you’re the boss. You control everything.

2. Longevity: Social media posts can fade fast. But with websites, your content sticks around. It may take time, but as you improve, more people will come.

3. Diverse Revenue Streams: Websites offer more than just affiliate links. You can sell digital products, do sponsored posts, and display ads to make money.

4. Blogging Boosts Traffic: Did you know? Nearly 65% of affiliate marketers get traffic from blogging. Common types include listicles, product reviews, and guides. Check out our guide on how to start a blog. 

Final Words

Affiliate programs let anyone make money by promoting products on their platform without much upfront investment or special skills. While influencers often use social media for this, having a website isn’t necessary.

Even with a small audience, you can still succeed. If you have a website, you can start earning now by joining one of the best affiliate programs for bloggers.

These programs are popular in their niches, offer long cookie durations, and give high commission rates and order values.

If you need more guidance, sign up for my online business coaching.