Best Affiliate Programs to Promote: Trusted Tools That Help You Make Money

Finding the right affiliate programs can make or break your success as an affiliate marketer. Promote the wrong products, and you’ll struggle to make sales. Promote the right ones, and you can earn $500, $5,000, or even $50,000+ monthly.

I’ve been promoting affiliate programs since 2010. I’ve tested hundreds of partner programs across different niches, payment structures, and commission models.

The best affiliate programs share common traits: they pay high commissions, convert well, provide quality products, and treat affiliates fairly.

This guide will help you find and promote the best affiliate programs for your audience. You’ll discover high-paying programs, recurring commission opportunities, and programs organized by payout method and niche.

Top Affiliate Programs to Promote and Make Money

Here are my top recommendations for affiliate programs that work across multiple niches:

SEMrush - SEO & Marketing Tools

Target Audience: Bloggers, digital marketers, SEO professionals, content creators, business owners

Commission: $10 per free trial (credit card required) + $200 per sale

Affiliate Software: Impact Radius

Why It’s Listed: SEMrush is one of the highest-paying affiliate programs in the marketing tools category. It’s a suite of 40+ tools that help with SEO, keyword research, competitor analysis, and site audits. The product sells itself because it genuinely helps businesses grow traffic. High conversion rates combined with $200 commission per sale make this extremely profitable.

Get an extended 14-day trial: Try SEMrush

Join the affiliate program: Sign up here

Cloudways - Cloud Web Hosting

Target Audience: Bloggers, developers, agencies, anyone building websites

Commission: Up to $200 per sale OR $30 + 7% lifetime recurring commissions

Affiliate Software: In-house Platform

Why It’s Listed: Cloudways offers flexibility with two commission structures. Choose high one-time payouts for quick income or recurring commissions for passive monthly revenue. Their hosting is faster than shared hosting, cheaper than managed hosting, and works for sites of any size. Easy to promote to beginners and professionals alike.

Try Cloudways: Start free trial

Join as affiliate: Apply here

ConvertKit (Kit) - Email Marketing

Target Audience: Bloggers, content creators, course creators, online business owners

Commission: 30% recurring for first 24 months

Affiliate Software: PartnerStack

Why It’s Listed: Kit is the best email marketing platform for creators. It’s simple to use but powerful with automation. They offer a generous free plan for up to 10,000 subscribers, making it easy to recommend to beginners. Recurring commissions mean you earn monthly as long as your referrals stay subscribed. Earn up to $59+ per customer monthly.

Try Kit free: Create account

Become an affiliate: Join program

ClickFunnels - Sales Funnel Builder

Target Audience: Course creators, coaches, consultants, online business owners, marketers

Commission: 40% recurring (up to $118.80 per month per customer)

Affiliate Software: In-house platform

Why It’s Listed: ClickFunnels pays one of the highest recurring commissions in the software category. At 40% recurring, you earn $38.80-$118.80 monthly per active customer. They also offer a 2-tier program where you earn 5% from affiliates you recruit. The product converts well because it solves a real problem: turning visitors into customers.

Start 14-day trial: Try ClickFunnels

Join affiliate program: Sign up

WP Engine - WordPress Hosting

Target Audience: WordPress users, developers, agencies, businesses with high-traffic sites

Commission: 100% of first payment (minimum $200, up to $7,500 per sale)

Affiliate Software: ShareASale

Why It’s Listed: WP Engine offers the highest commission structure in web hosting. You earn 100% of the customer’s first payment, which ranges from $200 to $7,500 depending on their plan. They also offer a 2-tier program paying $50 per sale from affiliates you refer. Premium hosting for premium commissions.

Learn more: Visit WP Engine

Join program: Become affiliate

Teachable - Online Course Platform

Target Audience: Course creators, coaches, educators, experts monetizing knowledge

Commission: 30% recurring for 12 months

Affiliate Software: PartnerStack

Why It’s Listed: Teachable makes it easy for anyone to create and sell online courses. As an affiliate, you earn 30% recurring commissions for a full year on plans ranging from $39-$665 monthly. Customers who succeed with Teachable tend to upgrade to higher plans, increasing your commissions over time.

Create your course: Start free

Join affiliates: Apply now

Shopify - Ecommerce Platform

Target Audience: Entrepreneurs, online sellers, dropshippers, anyone starting an online store

Commission: $150 for Basic/Starter plans, $2,000 for Plus plan

Affiliate Software: Impact Radius

Why It’s Listed: Shopify is the leading ecommerce platform with massive brand recognition. This makes conversions easier. High commission payouts combined with strong conversion rates create excellent earning potential. Great for audiences interested in starting online businesses or selling products.

Start free trial: Try Shopify

Become partner: Join program

Fiverr - Freelance Marketplace

Target Audience: Entrepreneurs, small business owners, anyone needing freelance services

Commission: Up to $150 CPA + 10% recurring option + 5% 2-tier

Affiliate Software: In-house platform

Why It’s Listed: Fiverr offers multiple ways to earn. Get up to $150 per first-time buyer, opt for 10% recurring on purchases, and earn 5% from affiliates you recruit. Nearly everyone needs freelance services at some point. Easy to promote with broad appeal and high conversion rates.

Browse services: Visit Fiverr

Join affiliates: Sign up

Amazon Associates - Everything Store

Target Audience: Anyone with an audience (works in nearly every niche)

Commission: 1-10% depending on category

Affiliate Software: In-house platform

Why It’s Listed: Amazon Associates is the beginner-friendly entry point to affiliate marketing. Promote millions of products across every category. Low commissions are offset by high conversion rates and brand trust. Good for physical product reviews and gift guides. 24-hour cookie window means fast conversions.

Join program: Become Amazon Associate

BigCommerce - Ecommerce Platform

Target Audience: Growing online stores, established businesses, high-volume sellers

Commission: 200% of customer’s first month payment + $1,500 per enterprise referral

Affiliate Software: In-house platform

Why It’s Listed: BigCommerce pays some of the highest commissions in ecommerce platforms. Earn 200% of first payment (minimum $58, up to $600+) plus $1,500 for enterprise leads. Lower competition than Shopify makes it easier to rank content. Good alternative for businesses outgrowing other platforms.

Start free trial: Try BigCommerce

Become affiliate: Apply here

Best Affiliate Programs by Payout Method

Different payout structures work better for different business models. Choose programs that match your traffic volume and audience intent.

High-Paying Affiliate Programs

Programs that pay $500-$7,500 per sale create significant income with fewer conversions needed.

These high-ticket programs work best for targeted traffic with strong buying intent. You’ll need quality content that thoroughly addresses objections and demonstrates clear value.

The best high-paying programs include web hosting services, premium software tools, financial products, business services, and high-ticket courses.

For a complete list of programs paying $500-$7,500 per sale, read my guide on high-paying affiliate programs.

You’ll find programs like WP Engine ($200-$7,500), Kinsta hosting ($500+), and business software with premium commissions.

Recurring Affiliate Programs

Recurring commission programs pay you monthly as long as customers stay subscribed. This creates passive income that compounds over time.

One customer can earn you $50, $100, or even $500+ in total commissions over their lifetime. These programs are pure passive income machines.

The best recurring programs are SaaS (Software as a Service) tools, membership sites, subscription services, and cloud hosting with monthly billing.

Top recurring programs include ClickFunnels (40% recurring), Kit (30% recurring), LeadPages (30% lifetime), and Cloudways (7% lifetime).

For 24+ programs with recurring commissions, check my recurring affiliate programs list.

These programs build true passive income where you earn monthly from sales made years ago.

Pay-Per-Lead Affiliate Programs

Pay-per-lead programs reward you for free sign-ups, trials, or demos—even without sales. This makes conversions easier since you’re asking for less commitment.

Lead programs work great when promoting expensive products where customers need time to decide. You earn immediately while the merchant handles the sales process.

Best lead programs include SaaS free trials, consultation bookings, quote requests, and demo sign-ups.

SEMrush pays $10 per free trial plus $200 per sale. ClickFunnels pays $1 per free book order. ShareASale pays $30 per affiliate referral who makes $20 in earnings.

Find 10+ programs that pay up to $100 per lead in my pay-per-lead affiliate programs guide.

Fast-Paying Affiliate Programs

Most affiliate programs pay monthly with 30-60 day delays. Fast-paying programs send commissions instantly, daily, or weekly.

Instant payment programs deposit earnings directly to PayPal or Stripe immediately after sales. Daily-paying programs process earnings every 24 hours.

JVZoo and WarriorPlus offer instant PayPal payments for digital product sales. ClickMagick pays daily once you reach $50. PayKickstart offers instant payouts via PayPal.

Discover programs that pay instantly, daily, or weekly in my fast-paying affiliate programs list.

Fast payments improve cash flow for new affiliates building their businesses.

Pay-Per-Click Affiliate Programs

PPC affiliate programs pay you for clicks, not sales. You earn every time someone clicks your affiliate link, regardless of purchases.

These programs are rare because they’re expensive for merchants. Most legitimate PPC programs are found in affiliate networks.

FlexOffers and PartnerStack list select PPC programs. Skimlinks and VigLink automatically monetize normal links without requiring sales.

Find available PPC programs and better alternatives in my pay-per-click affiliate programs guide.

PPC programs work best for high-traffic sites where conversion isn’t the primary goal.

Two-Tier Affiliate Programs

Two-tier programs reward you for recruiting other affiliates. You earn from your own sales plus a percentage from affiliates you refer.

When you refer another affiliate, they earn 100% of their commissions. You earn an additional 5-50% of their sales for recruiting them.

This creates leveraged income where you benefit from others’ marketing efforts. Your sub-affiliates succeed, you succeed.

Best two-tier programs include Cloudways (19% of sub-affiliate sales), WP Engine ($50 per sub-affiliate sale), FlexOffers (5-50% share), and Fiverr (5% of earnings).

Explore 7+ two-tier programs in my two-tier affiliate programs list.

What Makes an Affiliate Program Worth Promoting?

Not all affiliate programs are created equal. Some pay pennies while others pay hundreds or thousands per sale. Some convert easily while others require extensive convincing.

The best affiliate programs have these characteristics:

They pay competitive commissions. Look for programs offering at least 20-30% commission on digital products or $50+ on physical products and services.

They provide quality products that genuinely help customers. When products deliver results, customers stay subscribed and you avoid refunds.

They convert well. The merchant’s sales page should convince prospects to buy. Good conversion rates mean more earnings for your efforts.

They track sales accurately and pay on time. Reliable tracking ensures you get credit for every sale. Consistent payments build trust.

They offer marketing support. The best programs provide banners, email swipes, product demos, and affiliate managers who help you succeed.

They have fair cookie durations. Longer cookie windows (30-90 days) give you more chances to earn from each click.

How to Choose the Right Affiliate Programs

With thousands of programs available, choosing the right ones makes the difference between success and frustration.

Match programs to your audience needs:

Promote products that solve real problems for your specific audience. A fitness blogger shouldn’t promote web hosting. A tech blogger shouldn’t promote weight loss supplements.

Survey your audience. Read their comments. Join communities where they hang out. Discover what problems they’re actively seeking solutions for.

Prioritize products you’ve actually used:

The most convincing recommendations come from genuine experience. Use the products yourself before promoting them.

Your honest review carries more weight than manufactured enthusiasm. Share real results, screenshots, and specific benefits you’ve experienced.

Focus on 3-5 core programs:

New affiliates make the mistake of joining 50 programs and promoting none effectively. Choose 3-5 programs and master them.

Create comprehensive content around each program: reviews, tutorials, comparisons, alternatives, and use case articles.

Build topical authority by thoroughly covering each product. This ranks better in search engines and converts more visitors.

Consider commission structure:

High one-time payments provide immediate income but no residual. Recurring commissions build passive income over time.

For beginners, mix both. Promote recurring programs for long-term stability and high-ticket programs for immediate cash flow.

Evaluate conversion potential:

A $500 commission means nothing if the product doesn’t convert. Look for programs with proven sales pages, strong brand recognition, and compelling offers.

Test the merchant’s funnel yourself. Sign up, go through their emails, see their sales process. If it convinces you, it’ll convince your audience.

Check payment terms:

Review minimum payout thresholds, payment frequency, and payment methods. Some programs pay only after $100, others as low as $5.

Confirm cookie duration. Longer windows (30-90 days) give more time for customers to purchase and you to earn.

Read affiliate agreement carefully. Understand promotion restrictions, refund policies, and terms that could impact your earnings.

How to Promote Affiliate Programs Effectively

Joining affiliate programs is easy. Making sales requires strategy and execution.

Create solution-oriented content:

• Write tutorials showing how to solve problems using the products you promote. Demonstrate specific use cases and results.
• Product reviews help buyers make decisions. Share your honest experience, show screenshots, list pros and cons, and explain who should (and shouldn’t) buy.
• Comparison posts help audiences choose between competing options. “Product A vs Product B” content captures high-intent searchers ready to buy.
• List posts like “10 Best Tools for [Task]” rank well and naturally include multiple affiliate opportunities.

For detailed content strategies, read my affiliate marketing for beginners guide.

Optimize for buyer-intent keywords:

Target keywords that show purchase intent. People searching “best web hosting” are closer to buying than those searching “what is web hosting.”

Use keyword research to find terms with commercial intent. Look for “best,” “review,” “vs,” “alternative,” and “comparison” keywords.

Long-tail keywords convert better than broad terms. “Best managed WordPress hosting for agencies” converts better than “WordPress hosting.”

Learn my complete process in this affiliate marketing keyword research guide.

Build an email list:

Your email list is your most valuable asset for affiliate marketing. Subscribers trust you and respond to your recommendations.

Promote affiliate products through dedicated emails, mention them in newsletters, and include them in automated sequences.

Email subscribers convert 10-30x higher than cold traffic. They know you, trust you, and want to hear from you.

Disclose affiliate relationships:

Always include clear FTC disclosure before affiliate links. Use language like “This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.”

Transparency builds trust. Readers appreciate honesty about your business model.

Place disclosures visibly at the top of posts or before first affiliate link. Don’t hide them in footers or sidebars.

Track and optimize:

Monitor which content drives sales. Create more content around converting topics and products.

Test different call-to-action phrases, button placements, and content formats. Small improvements compound into significant revenue increases.

Use link tracking tools to see which traffic sources and content pieces generate commissions.

Scale Your Affiliate Income

Making your first $100 in affiliate commissions is exciting. Scaling to $1,000, then $10,000+ requires systematic growth.

Create more high-converting content:

Identify your top-earning posts. Analyze why they convert. Apply those lessons to new content.

Build content clusters around profitable products. Write 10-20 related articles all linking to your main review or comparison post.

Update old content regularly. Refresh information, add new sections, improve SEO, and strengthen calls to action.

Add more traffic sources:

Don’t rely solely on SEO. Add Pinterest, YouTube, email marketing, and social media to diversify traffic.

Each traffic source compounds your earnings from the same affiliate programs.

Negotiate higher commissions:

Once you’re generating consistent sales, ask affiliate managers for commission increases. Many programs offer higher rates to top performers.

Show your conversion data. Programs value affiliates who drive quality sales and will reward you for performance.

Build assets that compound:

Evergreen content continues generating traffic and sales for years. Focus on timeless problems and solutions.

Email sequences automatically promote products to new subscribers forever. Set up once, earn repeatedly.

Launch your own products:

After proving products sell in your niche through affiliate marketing, create your own versions. Keep 100% of profits instead of commissions.

Use affiliate insights to validate demand, understand objections, and price correctly.

Find More Affiliate Programs

Beyond this curated list, thousands more programs exist. Here’s how to discover them:

Search affiliate networks:

PartnerStack, Impact, ShareASale, CJ Affiliate, Awin, and FlexOffers host thousands of programs. Browse their marketplaces by category.

Networks pre-approve you for multiple programs, simplifying the application process.

Check products you already use:

Visit websites of tools and services you recommend informally. Look for “Affiliate Program” or “Partners” links in the footer.

Apply directly to programs for products you genuinely love. Your authentic enthusiasm converts better.

Research competitor recommendations:

Analyze successful affiliate sites in your niche. See which programs they promote. Join the same programs or find alternatives.

Use SEMrush or Ahrefs to find competitor affiliate pages and outrank them with better content.

Google search operators:

Search “[your niche] + affiliate program” to find relevant opportunities. Try “[product name] + affiliate” to check if specific tools offer programs.

For more program discovery strategies, read my affiliate marketing strategies guide.

Start Promoting Affiliate Programs Today

The best time to start affiliate marketing was five years ago. The second best time is today.

Choose 3-5 programs from this list that match your audience needs. Create your first piece of content reviewing or comparing those products.

Focus on helping people solve problems. When you genuinely help your audience, sales follow naturally.

The affiliates earning $5,000-$50,000 monthly started with their first $50 commission. Stay consistent, keep creating valuable content, and scale what works.

What next? Start with my affiliate marketing for beginners guide to learn the complete process. Then explore specific program categories:

• High-paying programs ($500-$7,500 per sale)
• Recurring commission programs
• Pay-per-lead programs
• Fast-paying programs
• Two-tier programs

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