Affiliate marketing represents a massive opportunity to generate passive income online. By promoting products and services and earning commissions on resulting sales, affiliates can monetize websites and content.
But to succeed with affiliate promotions, you need access to the best affiliate networks and programs. There are hundreds of options, so I've narrowed them down in this post.
I'll cover the top affiliate marketing networks along with key details on reliability, commissions, niches, and more. By the end, you'll know the 12 best affiliate programs to consider for your website.
Let's dive in to find the ideal affiliate partners.
How to chose the Best Affiliate Networks
Choosing the right affiliate network is crucial yet challenging. You want to ensure high commissions, on-time accurate payments, quality tracking, strong brands, and robust tech.
Consider these factors when reviewing networks:
- Brands and product - A diverse range of popular brands and products. More partners mean more relevant options for your website.
- Commission rates - The average commission percentage paid across products. Higher is better, though rates vary.
- Cookie length - How long after a click affiliates get credit for conversions. 30-90 days are common.
- Payment reliability - Timely monthly payments are key. Ensure a history of on-time payouts.
- Tracking and reporting - Affiliate links need accurate tracking. Ensure they provide detailed analytics.
- Minimum payouts - When you can withdraw earnings. $25-$100 thresholds are typical.
The best networks check these boxes while also offering strong support, interfaces and technology.
Now let's explore the top affiliate programs available today.
List of Affiliate Networks & Programs
There are dozens of affiliate networks out there. I've compiled this list of major programs across various categories:
- General affiliate networks - Support affiliate promotions across diverse verticals. Offer thousands of partners. Examples: CJ Affiliate, ShareASale, Awin
- Niche affiliate networks - Focused on specific verticals like fashion, travel, etc. Examples: Adtraction, Digital Advisor
- Coupon/loyalty networks - Specialize in deals, discounts and cashback offers. Examples: Adservice, Tradedoubler
- Pay-per-call networks - Pay affiliates for generating phone calls, not just sales.Examples: RingPartner, CallRail
- Amazon affiliate programs - Enable promoting Amazon products for commission.Examples: Amazon Associates
- Retail affiliate programs - Direct partnerships with major retail brands.Examples: Walmart, Best Buy, Target
- SaaS affiliate programs - Promote software and web services for recurring fees.Examples: Dropbox, Kajabi
The most popular networks across these models include:
- CJ Affiliate
- Amazon Associates
- Awin
- ShareASale
- Rakuten
- Impact
- Clickbank
- Adservice
- Tradedoubler
Next, I'll highlight the overall best affiliate marketing networks and programs to consider.
Top Affiliate Networks
If I had to pick the top affiliate networks overall right now, based on reputation, brands, versatility, rates and more, these would be my selections:
1. CJ Affiliate
CJ Affiliate, formerly Commission Junction, is one of the largest affiliate marketing networks. They work with over 3,000 top brands across nearly every industry.
Highlights:
- Huge brand partnerships like Apple, Walmart, Best Buy, etc.
- Generous 90-day cookie duration
- Average 8% commission rate
- $50 minimum payout
Whether you run a coupon site, review site, niche blog or anything in between, CJ likely has relevant offers. Their scale and reach make them a top choice.
2. ShareASale
ShareASale operates similarly to CJ but with a smaller yet highly curated collection of reputable merchants. They excel at verticals like fashion, beauty, health and home services.
Highlights:
- Great niche options beyond general retail
- Average 15% commission rate
- $50 minimum payout
- Simpler interface than CJ
If you need brands tailored to specific niches, ShareASale should be on your shortlist.
3. Awin
Awin powers affiliate promotions for over 15,000 brands worldwide. Like CJ they cover a wide range of verticals. Awin operates internationally making them a top global program.
Highlights:
- More than 210,000 publishers
- Brands like Nike, Booking.com, Microsoft
- $20 minimum payout
- Average 7% commission rate
Awin makes an excellent addition for publishers seeking international reach and promoting top global brands.
4. Rakuten Advertising
Formerly known as eBay Partner Network, Rakuten Advertising features popular consumer electronics, entertainment and apparel brands.
Highlights:
- Target, Under Armour, Barnes & Noble
- Generous cookie length - up to 60 days
- $5 minimum payout
- Average 8% commission
Rakuten is ideal for publishers focused on promotions in the electronics, entertainment and retail space.
This covers the major general affiliate networks to consider. Next I'll highlight top niche-specific programs.
Best Affiliate Programs
Beyond the largest general programs, many excellent niche-focused affiliate networks exist. Here are my top recommendations:
5. Adtraction
Adtraction specializes in advertising, marketing and business services offers. They work with partners like SEMRush, Unbounce, OptinMonster, Ahrefs and LeadPages.
This makes them ideal for marketing, SEO and web design sites looking to promote relevant services through affiliate partnerships.
6. Adservice
Adservice provides a network of cost per action (CPA) affiliate offers focused on the finance space. From faciliting service quotes to credit scores to financial planners, the offers enable affiliates to pitch in with financial services lead gen.
Partners like Optevo and CreditRepair.com make this an ideal network for finance and money sites.
7. Adrecord
Adrecord, formerly a Clickbank company, features software, services and subscription products. This makes them a great option for SaaS affiliate promotions. They also offer strong payouts thanks to recurring billing commission models.
8. Digital Advisor
Digital Advisor partners with top online learning platforms like Udemy, MasterClass, Skillshare and more. For publishers focusing on promoting online courses and education, this network provides a wealth of relevant products. Their niche focus on "edtech" sets them apart.
9. DoAffiliate.net
DoAffiliate powers affiliate promotions specifically for WordPress and web hosting companies. This makes them ideal for sites in the web dev, design and tech space looking to pitch relevant services.
Partners include SiteGround, Bluehost, Kinsta and 30+ other WordPress brands. The narrow niche focus provides targeted monetization.
10. Tradedoubler
Tradedoubler specializes in finance, travel, fashion and home services. This makes them a great fit for publishers creating content around those verticals. With brands like Booking.com and Lenovo, they provide stellar options for focused sites.
Best Affiliate Programs by Markets & Niches
Beyond the overall top networks, I suggest matching your website's niche to the best fitting affiliate program. For example:
Best Networks by Market
- Retail: CJ Affiliate, Rakuten, Amazon Associates
- Travel: Booking.com, Airbnb, TripAdvisor
- Finance: Adservice, Tradedoubler
- Fashion & Beauty: ShareASale, Pepperjam, Rakuten
- Technology: Impact, Adtraction
- Home Services: Porch, HomeAdvisor
Best Networks by Niche
- Coupons & Cashback: Rakuten, CouponCabin, Adservice
- Physical Products: Amazon Associates, CJ Affiliate
- Software & SaaS: Adtraction, Clickbank, Adrecord
- Online Courses & Education: Digital Advisor, Udemy
- Web Hosting & Tech: DoAffiliate, HostGator
- Health & Fitness: ShareASale, Clickbank
This covers some of the top programs aligned to popular website niches and markets. Do your research to find one fitting your industry.
The 3 Biggest Affiliate Networks
To summarize, these are undoubtedly the largest and most widely-used affiliate marketing networks:
- CJ Affiliate - Over 3,000 global brand partners across all verticals. Massive reach.
- ShareASale - More than 6,300 brands focused on fashion/retail/beauty/SaaS niches.
- Awin - 15,000+ brands accessible internationally. Focused on global partnerships.
These big three networks cover the majority of needs for most publishers. Amazon Associates also deserves a mention for its singular product focus and scale.
How to Choose Reliable Affiliate Network
When choosing an affiliate network, don't compromise on trust and reliability. The top programs noted here are proven entities used by publishers small and large.
Be wary of newer or smaller unknown programs. You want assurances on prompt payment, valid tracking, quality support and brand safety. The established networks provide that peace of mind.
Start Making Passive Income
In closing, joining the right affiliate programs aligned to your niche represents a phenomenal avenue for monetization. You can turn your website into a passive income stream by teaming with reputable networks.
I hope this list of the top affiliate marketing networks and programs helps you identify potential partners. Let me know if you have any other questions!
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