10 best affiliate networks for marketers in 2024

Affiliate marketing is a great way to make money online, whether as your main source of income or just some extra cash on the side. However, with so many affiliate programs out there, finding the right one for your website isn’t always easy.

Joining an affiliate marketing network can help solve this problem. In this article, we’ll explore the top picks for beginners and experienced affiliates alike. You’ll find key details about each one, like product types and earning potential, to help you decide which is the best fit.

What affiliate networks are and how they work

An affiliate network connects businesses that offer affiliate programs to marketers like you, who then create content to promote their products or services. It acts as a middleman, making collaboration easier for both parties.

Here’s how it works: businesses list their affiliate programs on the network, and marketers join to access them. Marketers earn a commission for every sale, lead, or action generated through their referral links, which the network tracks and reports.

This arrangement allows marketers to focus on promoting while businesses take care of payments and logistics through the network. It also saves time finding and joining multiple programs, creating opportunities to boost profits.

Best affiliate networks compared

Let’s look into the 10 best affiliate marketing networks and how they compare in different areas. We include free and paid options in no particular order, so there’s an option for every budget level.

1. ShareASale

Affiliate network stats:

• Cookie duration: 30-90 days
• Minimum payout: $50
• Payment method: direct deposit, check, wire transfer, Payoneer
• Commission rate: 5-20%, varies by merchant

Whether you’re into promoting physical or digital products, ShareASale makes sure you won’t run out of options. It partners with over 30,000 merchants from all sectors, from big brands like Etsy and Honey to small retailers, making it one of the biggest affiliate networks on this list.

The types of products you can promote vary ‒ clothing, art supplies, auction services, reward programs, you name it! Commission rates usually range from 5-20% per sale, though high-ticket affiliate programs potentially offer more.

If you’re new to affiliate marketing, ShareASale offers email support and access to training webinars and resources. The network also includes an invalid links report tool that flags broken links and offline merchants, keeping you safe as an affiliate marketer.

It’s completely free to join with just a website or a social media account ‒ perfect for beginners on a budget. That said, expect some serious competition.

ShareASale has over one million members and counting, so standing out won’t be easy. To increase your chances of success, research the best affiliate marketing niches and choose the ones that match your interests.

2. CJ

Affiliate network stats:

• Cookie duration: 7-45 days
• Minimum payout: $50
• Payment method: direct deposit, check, wire transfer, Payoneer
• Commission rate: 3-50%, varies by merchant

Another popular option is CJ, mostly known as CJ Affiliate. CJ can connect you with over 20,000 reputable merchants across different niches, including well-known names like Barnes & Noble, NordVPN, and Hello Fresh.

While joining is free, the approval process can be tough, so beginners might need to build traffic first.

On the other hand, if your online platform already attracts over 10,000 monthly pageviews, you can join the affiliate network’s Content Certification program to access premium commissions. The more traffic you gain, the less competition you face.

CJ’s real-time reporting makes starting and scaling your affiliate business easier. The built-in tool helps you track campaign performance and refine your strategies for better results. Plus, there are self-help guides and phone support during business hours to help you when needed.

Affiliates who meet the minimum payment threshold can expect payment around the 20th or 28th of each month, depending on the currency.

3. Rakuten Advertising

Affiliate network stats:

• Cookie duration: varies by merchant
• Minimum payout: $50
• Payment method: PayPal, ACH, check
• Commission rate: varies by merchant

Rakuten Advertising’s partner pool is smaller than that of other popular affiliate networks like ShareASale and CJ, with around 1,000 merchants. However, its custom pricing model often attracts high-ticket merchants offering better commissions, giving you a better shot at making more.

You can sign up for free with your website, blog, or social media account. While there’s no specific pageview requirement, certain merchants might only partner with you if your traffic meets their minimum threshold, which can be tricky for beginners.

Merchants aren’t the only ones getting access to Rakuten’s premium tools. Audience Engine and Affiliate Conversion Journey especially stand out, allowing affiliate marketers to personalize strategies for different audience segments and optimize customer paths for better conversions.

For support, you have access to the help center, 24/7 chat support, and email support. The help center’s resources include a handy road map and video tutorials.

4. Awin

Affiliate network stats:

• Cookie duration: 30-90 days
• Minimum payout: $20
• Payment method: direct deposit, wire transfer, ACH
• Commission rate: varies by merchant

Did you know that Awin is the parent company of ShareASale? Although operating separately, Awin has roughly the same number of merchants as its subsidiary ‒ about 30,000 partners across over 180 countries, including big brands like Nike, Samsung, and Asus.

To join Awin, you need to make a deposit of $1 or equivalent. You’ll get it back with your first payout after hitting the $20 minimum threshold, which is quite low compared to other affiliate platforms on this list.

For influencers, Awin simplifies the signup process with Instagram integration. Just connect your Instagram business or creator account to the affiliate network to get started.

Awin offers many tools to help improve your affiliate marketing efforts. For example, with the Opportunity Marketplace, you can highlight your audience demographics, active sectors, and other affiliate details to attract the right merchant and boost visibility.

5. Impact

Affiliate network stats:

• Cookie duration: 30-90 days
• Minimum payout: $10
• Payment method: direct deposit, PayPal, check, wire transfer, ACH
• Commission rate: starts at 3%, varies by merchant

If you’re looking for an affiliate network with free signup and a low minimum payout threshold, Impact is definitely worth considering.

Don’t have a website or social media account? No problem! Impact allows various methods to promote its affiliate programs, including mobile apps, podcasts, and offline ads. With its powerful tracking tools, you can easily join both online and offline affiliate programs to increase your earnings.

Impact collaborates with around 3,000 merchants, including Adidas, HSBC, and Lenovo. While commission rates vary, they typically start at 3% and can go over 20% with high-ticket programs.

Some reviews mention that the approval process to join an affiliate program can take time. If you can handle the wait, Impact can be a profitable affiliate network for you.

6. GiddyUp

Affiliate network stats:

• Cookie duration: 45 days
• Minimum payout: $50
• Payment method: wire transfer, ACH, check
• Commission rate: varies by campaign

GiddyUp may be a new player in the affiliate industry, but it has already built a reputation as one of the best. It specializes in direct-to-consumer products and partners with over 150 reputable merchants in that sector.

This affiliate network offers dedicated account managers to help affiliate marketers set up their accounts, navigate the platform, look for profitable opportunities, and more. Having a contact person available 24/7 is a huge advantage, as they can answer your questions and help troubleshoot when needed.

GiddyUp values performance-based partnerships, so affiliate marketers work alongside merchants to create the best possible campaigns. This means you’ll get access to creative assets to boost your marketing efforts.

That said, this is a rather niche affiliate network. If you have no experience promoting direct-to-consumer products or aren’t interested in this sector, GiddyUp may not be for you.

7. PartnerStack

Affiliate network stats:

• Cookie duration: 90 days
• Minimum payout: $5
• Payment method: Stripe, PayPal, direct deposit
• Commission rate: 15-30%, varies by merchant

Interested in selling SaaS products? Then PartnerStack is a great network to start with!

It’s one of the top affiliate networks for publishers promoting digital products in the SaaS sector, offering programs for marketing tools, platform subscriptions, CRM software, and more.

You’ll have access to over 300 affiliate programs, including big names like Webflow and Vimeo, with commissions of up to 30%.

PartnerStack has the lowest minimum payout on this list, requiring only $5 to withdraw earnings. You can withdraw payments through Stripe, PayPal, or direct deposit, depending on your location.

The user-friendly dashboard is perfect for beginners, with guides, video walkthroughs, and fast-response email support.

While the number of merchants is smaller than other big affiliate networks, PartnerStack could be a great fit if you prefer quality over quantity.

8. Avangate Affiliate Network

Affiliate network stats:

• Cookie duration: 30-180 days
• Minimum payout: $100
• Payment method: wire transfer, check, PayPal, Avangate MasterCard
• Commission rate: up to 75%

Avangate is another great affiliate network focused on digital products. It offers access to over 1,200 IT merchants, such as BitDefender and SEO PowerSuite.

Since digital products like cybersecurity software and marketing solutions can be pricey, Avangate offers a great opportunity to earn high commissions. Some rates go as high as 75%.

However, the minimum payout is at a whopping $100. If you’re new to affiliate marketing, it may take time to reach that threshold, which can slow your revenue stream.

Avangate’s biggest plus point is its tools for maximizing conversions in local markets. Features like geo-targeted shopping carts and deep linking help affiliate partners attract local customers and send them directly to the checkout page, reducing cart abandonment risk.

The signup process is quick and free, but you’ll need a website to become an affiliate. Follow our tutorial on making an affiliate website if you don’t have one yet.

9. Amazon Associates

Affiliate network stats:

• Cookie duration: 24 hours
• Minimum payout: $10 by direct deposit, $100 by check
• Payment method: Amazon gift card, check, bank transfer
• Commission rate: 1-20%, vary by product category

The biggest perk of joining Amazon’s affiliate network is the huge variety of physical and digital products to promote. Whether you’re into tech, gardening, or crafts, you’ll find tons of options that fit your niche. Plus, Amazon’s well-known brand helps encourage more sales.

Amazon Associates’ commission rates range from 1-10% for popular categories like gadgets, personal care, and kitchen items. While the rates are lower than some affiliate platforms, you can make up for it with volume.

To compensate for its short cookie duration, Amazon offers commissions on everything the customer buys, not just the product you linked. This gives you more chances to earn, even if the customer doesn’t end up buying what you promote in the first place.

You can sign up with a website, mobile app, or social media, but each method has its own requirements. For example, websites need at least 10 blog posts, with the latest posted within the last 60 days.

10. Ascend by Paternize (Pepperjam)

Affiliate network stats:

• Cookie duration: 30-90 days
• Minimum payout: $25
• Payment method: PayPal, direct deposit, check
• Commission rate: varies by merchant

Known primarily as PepperJam, Ascend is home to brands in retail, fashion, health, beauty, and lifestyle sectors. The partner pool comprises less than 1,000 merchants, including Puma, Zalora, and HP. You’ll have better luck finding physical and digital products here, though niche options may still be limited.

Signing up is easy and straightforward, mostly taking a few days to get approved. Once you’re in, you can generate affiliate links in different formats ‒ including banners and coupons ‒ and start planning your content around them.

Ascend sends out payments through PayPal, direct deposit, and check ‒ the former being the default method. If you don’t want to use PayPal, you must contact support to request a change, which can be a hassle for some.

Overall, this affiliate marketing network is ideal for those looking to test the waters.

Conclusion

Affiliate marketing is a popular way to make money, but it can be tough to navigate all the options on your own. That’s where affiliate networks come in. They make things easier by giving you access to multiple programs in one place, along with tools to track your progress and manage payments.

We’ve explored the 10 most popular affiliate networks to kickstart your business venture, including their pros and cons. Which one caught your eye?

Best affiliate networks FAQ