27 Best Affiliate Programs for Beginners (2024)

Affiliate marketing isn’t just about picking any program; it’s about building an affiliate network that fits your audience’s needs and interests.

Picking the best affiliate marketing programs means not just making more money but also building trust with your audience with the right products in your niche.

Let me share with you some programs I’ve worked with and learned about in various affiliate marketing niches.

Key Takeaways

An affiliate site can be a low-cost way to make money online by promoting products and services in your niche.
Many affiliate programs are great for new affiliate marketers, covering everything from digital marketing to e-commerce.
Doing well in affiliate marketing depends a lot on drawing people in, writing content they love, and using tools to share links and track performance.
I’ve partnered with Legendary Marketer, Shopify, Rakuten, and more!

27 Best Affiliate Programs For Beginners

1. Legendary Marketer

Affiliate Program Name:  Legendary Marketer Affiliate Program
Cookie Duration: 90 days
Commission Rate: 30% to 60%
Payment Terms: $20; net 2 weeks
Payment Methods: Electronic Funds Transfer or ACH

Legendary Marketer offers an affiliate program that is designed to help you make money from promoting their digital marketing courses.

I’ve used The Legendary Marketer Affiliate Program and can tell you it is one of the best affiliate programs I’ve used.

One thing that really stands out? The eWallet Program is the best way to get my earnings through this system is quick, easy, and super secure.

It feels good knowing that my finances are handled so smoothly, making the whole experience feel more professional.

And let’s talk about that dashboard for a second. Being able to see my earnings and how I’m doing in real time? It helps me tweak my strategies and really understand what’s clicking with my audience.

2. Shopify

Affiliate Program Name: Shopify Affiliate Program
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Commission Rate: Up to 20%
Payment Terms: $10; bi-weekly
Payment Methods: Direct deposit to your bank account or PayPal

The Shopify affiliate program is a great affiliate program for beginners just starting in affiliate marketing.

Whether you run a blog, a YouTube channel, or even have a strong social media following, you can leverage your audience to promote Shopify.

Since Shopify is such a widely recognized and trusted platform for e-commerce, promoting it can be quite straightforward.

People already know and trust the brand, which means that credibility is already built in.

You don’t need to be a Shopify merchant to be an affiliate, which opens the door to just about anyone who’s interested and has a decent online presence.

But I have a shop with Shopiofy and can tell you, it gives you an insider POV that helps your followers learn more about it from a real user- so I do recommend trying it if you’re selling online.

3. Bluehost

Affiliate Program Name: Bluehost Affiliate Program
Cookie Duration: 90-Day  
Commission Rate: $65 for each qualified customer who purchases 12 or 36-month hosting packages
Payment Terms: 45 days after the end of the month
Payment Methods: PayPal or Check

Bluehost is a well-known name in the web hosting space, which makes it easier to promote because many people already recognize and trust the web hosting services.

It can be a big advantage when you’re starting out because it helps convert your audience into potential buyers.

Bluehost offers attractive commission rates, which is a big draw.

They provide a flat rate for every new customer who signs up through your affiliate link, and these commissions are quite competitive compared to other affiliate programs.

They have a simple sign-up process, and once you’re in, they provide you with all the promotional materials you might need, like banners and links.

4. Rakuten

Affiliate Program Name: Rakuten Advertising
Cookie Duration: Varies
Commission Rate: Varies
Payment Terms: Varies
Payment Methods: PayPal, direct deposit (ACH), or check

Rakuten is one of the oldest affiliate networks and one of the top cashback programs I recommend on my blog.

One of the things I like about Rakuten is that it can be a solid option for affiliate marketing beginners in more than just the money niches.

It offers a wide range of products and merchants, giving you plenty of options to choose from when deciding what to promote to your audience.

Plus, Rakuten provides user-friendly tools and resources to help you get started and track the performance of your affiliate programs.

5. Fiverr

Affiliate Program Name: Fiverr Affiliates
Cookie Duration: 30 days for first-time buyers; 7 days for returning buyers on Fiverr
Commission Rate: 25% to 100% of the customer’s first order, 10% revenue share from orders in the first 12 months
Payment Terms: 30 days after the end of the month
Payment Methods: PayPal, Payoneer, or bank account

Fiverr‘s affiliate program is another great choice for beginner affiliate marketers.

They’re a great program to recommend to an audience getting into freelancing or hiring freelancers because the gig economy is booming, baby!

Don’t worry if you are a beginner affiliate marketer. Fiverr offers professional support, instructive tutorials, and dedicated account managers to guide you every step of the way.

They have a library of creative assets and interactive web widgets to supercharge your campaigns and drive more conversions.

Are you excited to get started? You can access all these amazing benefits through the in-house affiliate program or the CJ affiliate network.

6. Amazon

Affiliate Program Name: Amazon Associates Program
Cookie Duration: 24 hours
Commission Rate: Up to 20%
Payment Terms: $10 payout; net 60 days
Payment Methods: Direct deposit, Check, Gift card

Let’s talk about a well-established affiliate network that most people think of – Amazon Associates.

Now, I have to be honest with you: it’s not exactly my top pick as one of the best affiliate marketing programs because of its low commission rates.

But there are still some pretty solid reasons why Amazon Associates is a good affiliate marketing program for beginner affiliates.

First, Amazon is a big name in online shopping. Everyone knows about it, and chances are, your audience shops there, too.

So, you’ve already got a built-in pool of potential customers right at your fingertips for the Amazon Associates Program.

Not only that, the amount of products to recommend is infinite, and no matter what your niche is, Amazon probably has something that works for an affiliate link.

7. ClickBank

Affiliate Program Name: ClickBank Affiliate Program
Cookie Duration: 60 days
Commission Rate: $15 – $50 per sale
Payment Terms: On Friday, two days after the end of the pay period
Payment Methods: Direct Deposit, Check, Wire Transfer, or Payoneer

ClickBank offers a wide range of digital products across various niches, so beginner affiliate marketers have many options when picking what to promote.

And the platform is pretty user-friendly, making it easy for beginners to jump right in and start earning some cash.

Being a ClickBank affiliate can still be a valuable learning experience for newbie affiliates.

It’s a chance to test out different products and marketing strategies, learn what works (and what doesn’t), and gain some real-world experience in the wild world of affiliate marketing.

You might have to sift through many products to find those that really resonate with your audience, but it has more options.

8. Etsy

Affiliate Program Name: Etsy Affiliate Program
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Commission Rate: 4% commission
Payment Terms: 30 days on the website, 7 days on the app
Payment Methods: Bank account or paper checks

Many people already love Etsy for its one-of-a-kind handmade, unique, and vintage items, so recommending products from Etsy can feel natural and authentic.

It offers products across various categories, from jewelry and clothing to home decor and art.

This variety gives you plenty of options to find products that resonate with your audience’s interests, making it easier to create content with links that convert.

To join the Etsy affiliate program, you’ll need to sign up for an account with Awin (it manages the Etsy affiliate program).

9. Anyword

Affiliate Program Name: Anyword Affiliate Program
Cookie Duration: 90 days
Commission Rate: 40% recurring or up to $399 CPA
Payment Terms: Net 30 (monthly)
Payment Methods: PayPal

Anyword is an AI writing platform that helps businesses create compelling, high-converting content in no time.

They also offer one of the best affiliate marketing programs for marketers in a niche that could use AI to create content.

With Anyword’s affiliate program, you’ve got two awesome plans to choose from, making it a win-win for you and your audience.

Under the Revenue Share plan, you’ll earn a recurring 40% fee every time your referral renews their subscription, whether monthly or annually.

But wait, there’s more! With the CPA (Cost Per Acquisition) plan, you’ll get a one-time payment for each referral who purchases a paid subscription.

10. Impact

Affiliate Program Name: Impact.com
Cookie Duration: Varies
Commission Rate: Varies
Payment Terms: Varies
Payment Methods: Bank account or PayPal

Impact is a great affiliate network for beginners to dive into the world of affiliate marketing.

It’s a platform that really simplifies the process of connecting with brands and managing your affiliate programs.

What’s cool about Impact is its flexibility and range of options. Whether you blog about fashion, tech, or anything in between, you’ll likely find brands that align with your content.

It makes it easier to promote products or services that you truly believe in, which is super important. After all, your readers trust your recommendations!

Using Impact is also pretty straightforward. They have tools that help you track the affiliate programs’ performance, see what’s working, and identify areas for improvement.

11. FlexOffers

Affiliate Program Name: FlexOffers Affiliate Network
Cookie Duration: Varies
Commission Rate: Varies
Payment Terms: Every month on net 60 terms
Payment Methods: Bank transfer, check, PayPal, and ACH

FlexOffers is another great affiliate network for those just getting started in affiliate marketing. It offers thousands of affiliate programs from various brands and companies under one roof.

This variety means you are likely to find something that complements your blog’s theme and your audience’s interests.

One of FlexOffers’ standout features is its user-friendly design. It is super easy to navigate the platform, find programs, and start promoting products.

FlexOffers also offers quick payments, which is great when you’re starting to build your income streams.

12. CJ Affiliate

Affiliate Program Name: CJ Affiliate Network
Cookie Duration: 45 days
Commission Rate: Varies
Payment Terms: 20th of each month with a minimum threshold of $50
Payment Methods: direct deposit, check, or Payoneer

CJ Affiliate, formerly Commission Junction, is one of the oldest affiliate networks, with years of experience.

With a wide range of products, handy support tools, and clear metrics to track your success, CJ Affiliate has everything a beginner affiliate needs to kickstart your affiliate journey.

With CJ, you have your dedicated affiliate manager and services designed to help you build strong, long-lasting partnerships with brands.

From startups to big-name brands, this platform offers something for everyone to promote.

13. LinkConnector

Affiliate Program Name: LinkConnector Affiliate Network
Cookie Duration:  N/A
Commission Rate:  N/A
Payment Terms: Minimum Payout $100
Payment Methods: ACH, PayPal, Checks

Link Connector is another affiliate network that has been around for a while – since 2004.

You might not have heard much about them, but trust me, they’re a big deal among super affiliates.

Why? Because they’ve got a massive lineup of merchants to choose from, including some heavy hitters in the brand world – like efile.com, Adobe, Hats.com, Vecteezy, etc.

Now, let’s talk about the not-so-great part: the Link Connector interface is a bit outdated, to put it kindly.

Don’t let that deter you! Behind the not-so-pretty visuals, Link Connector has a ton to offer both newbies and seasoned pros in the affiliate marketing game.

14. Proton

Affiliate Program Name: Proton Partners Program
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Commission Rate: 30% to 100%
Payment Terms: 30th of the next calendar month if the amount is greater than $100
Payment Methods: Direct bank transfer

The Proton affiliate program is a great pick if you’re into promoting products that prioritize privacy and security.

Proton, the company behind well-known services like ProtonMail and ProtonVPN, is all about keeping things secure and private.

This can work in a of niches because it’s super relevant in today’s world where everyone’s worried about their digital footprints and privacy.

Joining the Proton affiliate program means you get to spread the word about some of the best tools for protecting online activities.

The affiliate setup is pretty user-friendly. You earn decent commissions for every new subscriber you bring in, and these commissions continue as long as your referrals stay with Proton.

15. eBay

Affiliate Program Name: eBay Partner Network
Cookie Duration: 24-hour
Commission Rate: 4% of the item sales price
Payment Terms: On or around the 10th business day of each month
Payment Methods: Electronic funds transfer or PayPal

eBay is huge, right? It has millions of items up for grabs, from quirky vintage finds to the hottest tech gadgets.

The eBay Partner Network gives you a ton of options for things to promote, no matter what kind of content you create or who your audience is.

What’s really cool about eBay’s program is how it fits into just about any platform.

Whether you’re blogging, running a niche website, or chatting away on social media, you can seamlessly link to products on eBay that your followers might love.

The pay structure is also pretty sweet. You earn a percentage of eBay’s profit from purchases made through your links.

16. GetResponse

Affiliate Program Name: GetResponse Affiliate Program
Cookie Duration: 120-day cookie
Commission Rate: Affiliate Recurring Program – 33% per sale; Affiliate Bounty Programs – $100 per sale
Payment Terms: Minimum $50 threshold; Recurring program – around the 20th of the month for verified sales from the previous month; Bounty program – within 30 days after 60-day sales verification
Payment Methods: PayPal account, USD check, ACH, Eurotransfer, or via other payment method if agreed individually with GetResponse

GetResponse isn’t just any tool—it’s packed with features like automated campaigns, landing pages, and even webinars, making it super handy for businesses big and small.

It’s a great gig because you’re promoting something every digital marketer needs: a reliable way to manage their email marketing.

And since email marketing is such a big part of doing business online, it’s a product that sells itself.

They offer a one-time bounty per sale, which is pretty generous, or you can opt for a recurring commission model.

If you choose the recurring option, you get a slice of the subscription fee every month for as long as your referrals stay with GetResponse.

This can really add up and turn into a nice passive income stream.

17. ShareASale

Affiliate Program Name: ShareASale Affiliate Program 
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Commission Rate: Varies
Payment Terms: Net 30; minimum payment threshold of $50
Payment Methods: ACH direct deposit or wire transfer on the 20th of every month

The ShareASale Affiliate marketing network can be a great starting point for beginners to get started with affiliate marketing.

It’s known for its user-friendly interface and straightforward approach, making it accessible even if you’re just starting affiliate marketing efforts.

One of the reasons it’s popular among beginners is its wide range of merchants across various niches, giving you plenty of options to find products that align with your audience and interests.

ShareASale’s reporting and tracking tools help you monitor your performance, understand what’s working well, and identify areas for improvement.

18. EngageBay

Affiliate Program Name: EngageBay Affiliate Program
Cookie Duration: 120 days
Commission Rate: 30% recurring commission each month as long as the subscriber keeps a paid subscription
Payment Terms: Affiliate payments are approved before the third of each month.
Payment Methods: Direct Deposit

EngageBay’s affiliate program is a pretty sweet deal if you’re interested in promoting tools that help businesses streamline their operations and boost growth.

It’s especially perfect for small—to medium-sized businesses, so if your audience includes entrepreneurs or startups, they’ll want to hear about this.

Signing up to be an affiliate with EngageBay is a breeze. Once you’re in, they set you up with all sorts of promotional stuff to help you spread the word.

19. Awin

Affiliate Program Name: Awin Affiliate Program
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Commission Rate: varies
Payment Terms: 1st and 15th of every month
Payment Methods: BACS, international wire transfer, or ACH

Awin’s affiliate program is a major hub in the affiliate marketing world, connecting bloggers and influencers with top brands from almost every industry.

If you’re into fashion, tech, travel, or pretty much anything else, Awin has partnerships with brands that are probably right up your alley.

It’s super versatile, making it a great choice for affiliates who have a mix of interests and cater to different audiences.

Getting started with Awin is pretty easy, though there’s a little twist: you need to make a small deposit ($1) when you apply. Don’t worry—this will be refunded with your first payout.

Once you’re all set up, you’ll have access to thousands of advertiser programs, giving you a wide range of products and services to promote.

20. MaxBounty

Affiliate Program Name: MaxBounty Affiliate Program
Cookie Duration: 24 hours
Commission Rate: Varies
Payment Terms: Monthly; net 15; $100 USD threshold in commissions
Payment Methods: Check, eCheck, direct deposit, wire transfer, and Payoneer

MaxBounty, a Canadian network that specializes in CPA offers, offers around 2,000 campaigns under one roof.

This platform is tailored for affiliates seeking to promote across various verticals. It’s bolstered by a continuously evolving technology platform.

With weekly payments and dedicated affiliate managers at your service, MaxBounty is a network that supports you with the resources necessary for a prosperous affiliate marketing journey.

21. NordVPN

Affiliate Program Name: NordVPN Affiliate Program
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Commission Rate: up to 40%
Payment Terms: Once a month
Payment Methods: Cryptocurrency, Wire Transfer, PayPal

When you join the NordVPN affiliate program, you partner with a highly recognized and trusted brand in the VPN market.

NordVPN is a big name in the VPN world, known for its strong security, speedy connections, and a huge network of servers all over the globe.

With more and more people looking to boost their online privacy, NordVPN pretty much sells itself.

22. Kinsta

Affiliate Program Name: Kinsta Affiliate Program
Cookie Duration:  60 days
Commission Rate: 5% to 10%
Payment Terms: Lifetime monthly commissions for every referral of Kinsta’s hosting services
Payment Methods: PayPal

Kinsta turns WordPress hosting into an art form with its state-of-the-art solutions, and its affiliate program is equally impressive, offering lifetime recurring monthly commissions.

Ideal for developers, agencies, and tech enthusiasts, Kinsta’s program provides high conversion and retention rates thanks to its industry-leading infrastructure and round-the-clock support team.

With Kinsta’s affiliate program, you get access to:

A custom-built dashboard for tracking your affiliate performance
A range of marketing materials to help you promote Kinsta’s services
The potential for considerable rewards through affiliate commissions

23. SocialPilot

Affiliate Program Name: SocialPilot Affiliate Program
Cookie Duration: 90 day
Commission Rate: 20% recurring for each customer referred
Payment Terms: Recurring commission for 1 year
Payment Methods: PayPal

The SocialPilot affiliate program is definitely worth checking out if you’re into promoting tools that help streamline social media management.

SocialPilot is all about making life easier for small businesses, agencies, and social media pros with its slick scheduling features, detailed analytics, and teamwork capabilities.

They offer pretty generous commissions, too. Every sale you bring in through your promotions gets you a nice cut, and because SocialPilot is such a handy tool, it’s not a hard sell.

24. PepperJam

Affiliate Program Name: Partnerize
Cookie Duration: 7 days
Commission Rate: Varies
Payment Terms: Varies
Payment Methods: Electronic funds transfer or PayPal

PepperJam is now part of Partnerize, creating a dynamic duo in the affiliate marketing industry.

This partnership offers a comprehensive suite of tools for managing affiliate and partnership marketing initiatives with a personal touch.

With large and niche brands, PepperJam makes affiliate marketing accessible to both new and experienced marketers.

The platform’s customizable options and various pricing structures cater to individual needs, making sure that each affiliate finds the perfect fit for their marketing strategy.

25. Booking

Affiliate Program Name: Booking.com Affiliate Program
Cookie Duration: N/A
Commission Rate: 25%
Payment Terms: First week of the month, if you have earned stayed reservations two months prior
Payment Methods: Direct bank transfer, PayPal transfer

If you love sharing travel tips and helping people find great deals on adventures, the Booking.com affiliate program is a great choice for you.

It’s especially appealing because Booking.com is a well-known name in the travel industry, which means many of your readers are likely already familiar with it.

26. SiteGround

Affiliate Program Name: Siteground Affiliate Program
Cookie Duration: 60 days
Commission Rate: $50 to $100 per sale
Payment Terms: First Wednesday, 30 days after the sale
Payment Methods: PayPal

The SiteGround Affiliate Program is one of the best affiliate programs you could use for web hosting besides Bluehost.

SiteGround is a web hosting company that offers a range of hosting services, including shared hosting, cloud hosting, and dedicated servers.

Affiliates sign up for this affiliate marketing platform, receive unique affiliate links, and promote SiteGround through various channels like their website, blog, or social media.

When someone purchases through their affiliate link, the affiliate earns a commission. SiteGround provides tracking tools, reporting, and timely payouts to affiliates.

27. Avangate Network

Affiliate Program Name: Avangate Affiliate Network
Cookie Duration: 30 to 180 days
Commission Rate: 5% to 85%
Payment Terms: Monthly; 20 days after the end of the month when the sale occurred
Payment Methods: Wire transfer, check, PayPal

Avangate Network, also known as 2Checkout, is a global affiliate network and digital commerce platform that specializes in helping businesses sell digital products and services online.

Affiliates who join the Avangate network have access to a diverse marketplace of digital products and services to promote to their audience.

You can earn commissions for driving sales and referrals, with commission rates varying depending on the products and merchants you promote.

FAQs

Can I become an affiliate marketer with no experience?

Yes, you can become an affiliate marketer even if you’re starting from scratch!

Affiliate marketing is one of those fields where you can learn as you go, and your success isn’t necessarily tied to years of prior experience.

As you gain experience, you’ll learn what works best for your audience and change your strategies to match.

How much does it cost to become an affiliate marketer?

Becoming an affiliate marketer doesn’t have to cost much, especially compared to starting other types of businesses.

In fact, you can get started with little to no upfront investment because you don’t pay to join programs.

You may pay for a website or blog, domain name, web hosting, content creation, marketing, promotion, and education.

How can I learn about affiliate marketing?

To learn more about making money with affiliate marketing programs, I recommend taking any of Legendary Marketer’s courses.

Legendary Marketer offers a comprehensive platform for learning affiliate marketing and working with affiliate networks.

Their training courses, live webinars, and coaching programs provide practical insights and personalized guidance.

You’ll also access tools, resources, and a supportive community to help you succeed and make affiliate income.

What are the best affiliate programs for beginners?

For beginners, the best affiliate networks are:

Legendary Marketer
Shopify
Rakuten
ClickBank
FlexOffers

Each of these profitable affiliate programs has been selected for its beginner-friendly nature and potential to help you grow your affiliate marketing business.

What are the best platforms to promote affiliate marketing programs?

When it comes to promoting affiliate networks, the best platforms to use depend on your niche, audience demographics, and personal preferences.

Here are some of the high-ticket affiliate marketing programs:

Blogging
YouTube
Social Media
Email Marketing
Podcasting

What affiliate programs pay the best?

While the highest-paying affiliate programs for you depend on your niche and audience, some popular choices known for their generous commissions include:

Rakuten
Bluehost
Shopify
ShareASale
CJ Affiliate

Final Thoughts

So are you sold on getting into affiliate marketing? I certainly think affiliate marketing is worth it!

Successful affiliate marketers are particular about what affiliate programs they partner with and how they promote them.

You want ones that pay well, but you also need to pick affiliates that make sense with your niche and will benefit your followers in some way.

Everyone starts somewhere, and with a little patience and practice, you’ll get the hang of it and start making passive income.

Check out the online courses from Legendary Marketer and get started on your path to successful affiliate marketing.