10 Top Affiliate Networks for Marketers in 2025
Looking for the best affiliate networks to monetize your content? Learn how to choose the right network and discover lucrative affiliate programs for your niche.
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If you're an affiliate marketer or a content creator looking to monetize your audience, you've come to the right place.
In this article, we'll dive deep into the world of affiliate networks, exploring:
What is an affiliate network
How to choose an affiliate network
Top affiliate networks to join based on your niche
How to choose the right affiliate program to maximize income
What is an Affiliate Network
Think of an affiliate network as a marketplace that connects merchants (companies selling products or services) with affiliates (like you, who promote those products/services). It acts as a crucial intermediary, streamlining the affiliate marketing process for both parties.
How Does an Affiliate Network Work?
Merchant Joins the Network: A company with an affiliate program partners with an affiliate network. They list their program details, including the products/services to promote, commission rates, and terms and conditions.
Affiliate Joins the Network: You, as an affiliate, sign up with an affiliate network. Once approved, you can browse through various affiliate programs offered by different merchants within the network.
Affiliate Applies to Programs: You find programs that align with your niche and audience and apply to become an affiliate for those specific merchants. Upon approval, the network provides you with unique tracking links for the products or services you choose to promote. These links contain a special identifier that attributes any resulting sales to you.
Promote and Earn: You integrate these affiliate links into your content (blog posts, social media, videos, emails, etc.). When your audience clicks on these links and makes a purchase or completes a specific action (like signing up for a newsletter), the network tracks the conversion.
Tracking and Payment: The affiliate network is responsible for tracking all clicks, leads, and sales generated through your unique links. They then calculate your commissions and ensure you get paid according to the merchant's terms.
Why Join an Affiliate Network?
Centralized Access to Multiple Programs: Networks provide a central hub to discover and join numerous affiliate programs across various niches, saving you the hassle of finding individual programs. Manage all your affiliate partnerships and earnings in one platform, simplifying your workflow.
Simplified Tracking and Reporting: Networks offer robust tracking systems and reporting dashboards, allowing you to monitor your performance, track your earnings, and analyze what's working best.
Reliable Payment Processing: Affiliate networks handle the complexities of payment processing, ensuring you receive your commissions accurately and on time, often offering various payment methods.
How to Choose an Affiliate Network
Selecting the right affiliate network is crucial for your success. Here are some key factors to consider:
Affiliate Program Relevance and Quality: Does the network host quality and diverse programs relevant to your niche? Promoting products that resonate with your target audience will lead to higher conversion rates.
Commission Rates and Structures: Understand the commission rates offered by the programs within the network. Are they competitive? What are the payment structures (e.g., percentage of sale, flat fee, cost-per-lead)?
Payment Thresholds and Methods: What is the minimum payout amount you need to reach before receiving payment? What payment methods do they offer (e.g., PayPal, direct deposit, check)? Ensure these align with your preferences.
Ease of Use: Is the network platform user-friendly and easy to navigate? Does the network have a reliable and transparent tracking system? A clean and intuitive interface can save you time and frustration.
Support and Reliability: Does the network offer adequate support if you encounter issues? How’s the network's reputation within the affiliate marketing community.
Top 10 Affiliate Networks to Join in 2025
Here's a look at some of the top affiliate networks in the industry, highlighting their strengths:
AWIN
AWIN, the parent company of ShareASale, is a popular global affiliate network hosting over over 30,000 merchants and 225,000 affiliates across more than 180 countries. It's known for its strong presence in European and global markets, offering multi-language and multi-currency support.
Sample brands: Nike, Samsung, Asus.
Best for:
Affiliate marketers targeting European and international audiences.
Its simplified Instagram integration also makes it appealing for influencers.
The Opportunity Marketplace feature is beneficial for affiliates looking to connect with relevant merchants and increase visibility.
Pros and cons:
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Greater global reach and strong multi-language and multi-currency support. | Requires a small sign-up deposit ($1 or $5, depending on the mentioned information), which is refunded after reaching the first payment threshold. |
Low minimum payout threshold of $20. | Commission rates typically average around 5%, which might be lower than some other networks or individual programs. |
Offers a wide range of affiliate programs for both physical and digital products. | |
Simplified signup process for influencers with Instagram integration. | |
Features the Opportunity Marketplace to help affiliates attract merchant partnerships. | |
User-friendly navigation, making it easy to create product feeds and custom links. | |
Reportedly has great customer service, particularly for the UK market. |
Affiliate network details:
Payment structure: Twice monthly, on the 1st and 15th of every month; $20 minimum payment threshold.
Payment method: BACS, international wire transfer, ACH.
Affiliate support: Yes.
CJ Affiliate
Founded in 1998, formerly known as Commission Junction, CJ Affiliate is a large, established network connecting affiliates with over 3,800 global brands. It provides access to a wide array of reputable merchants and processes substantial affiliate earnings annually. The platform offers an open developer portal with API access for more technical users.
Sample brands: Barnes & Noble, NordVPN, Expedia.
Best for:
Affiliate marketers with established websites or social media accounts.
Those who appreciate a wide selection of well-known brands and value integrated tools and detailed real-time reporting.
The Content Certification program is particularly beneficial for platforms with over 10,000 monthly pageviews, offering access to premium commissions.
Pros and cons:
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Access to a vast network of over 20,000 reputable merchants, including recognizable brands. | The approval process to join individual merchant programs after initial network approval is required. |
Offers useful integrated tools like Affiliate Personalisation, cookieless cross-device journey tracking, and deep-link monetization. | Account access may be terminated after six months of inactivity (no sales). |
Provides real-time reporting to track campaign performance. | The platform dashboard can be complicated to navigate for some users. |
Features an open developer portal for API access and technical resources. | Joining can be tough, potentially requiring existing traffic for approval. |
Relatively fast initial account approval process. | Commission rates and cookie durations vary significantly depending on the specific merchant. |
Offers self-help guides and phone support during business hours. |
Affiliate network details:
Payment structure: Commissions payout typically on the 20th or 28th, based on currency.
Payment method: Direct deposit, Payoneer.
Affiliate support: Yes.
PartnerStack
Best for B2B and SaaS affiliate marketers
PartnerStack is a specialized partnership platform primarily focused on connecting affiliate marketers with SaaS (Software as a Service) businesses. While it has a smaller number of merchants compared to larger networks, it offers a targeted selection of programs within the SaaS sector.
Sample brands: Apollo.io, Typeform, Stripe, freshworks
Best for:
Affiliate marketers specifically looking to promote B2B and SaaS products such as marketing tools, CRM software, and platform subscriptions.
Its user-friendly dashboard and educational resources also make it suitable for beginners in the SaaS affiliate space.
Pros and cons:
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Offers potentially high commission rates, with some programs reaching up to 50% or $2,000 per sale. | Has a smaller number of registered merchants (over 300) compared to larger, more general affiliate networks. |
Supports flexible and custom commission structures based on various trackable events (e.g., annual vs. monthly purchases). | Exclusively focuses on SaaS products, so it's not suitable for promoting physical goods or services outside the software industry. |
Features a user-friendly dashboard with guides, video walkthroughs, and responsive email support. | |
Has a very low minimum payout of only $5. | |
Provides transparency and powerful logic systems for custom tracking, commissioning, and reporting. | |
No sign-up costs or hidden fees to join the network and browse programs. |
Affiliate network details:
Payment structure: Commissions payout typically on the 13th, based on company’s payout schedule.
Payment method: Stripe, PayPal, direct deposit
Affiliate support: Yes.
Rakuten Advertising
Rakuten Advertising is a well-established affiliate marketing network known for connecting serious publishers with high-end and recognizable brands. While its pool of around 1,000 merchants is smaller than some competitors, it focuses on quality partnerships and offers innovative tools for both brands and affiliates.
Sample brands: Hilton, Sephora, JD, ASICS
Best for:
Experienced affiliate marketers looking to partner with major, trustworthy brands.
Those who value advanced tools and dedicated support.
Affiliate marketers interested in high-ticket affiliate programs, as its custom pricing model attracts high-ticket merchants with potentially better commissions.
Pros and Cons:
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Connects affiliates with many high-end and well-known brands. | Has a smaller number of merchants compared to some other large affiliate networks. |
Offers excellent support, including regular account reviews and ongoing strategy guidance from their publisher team. | While sign-up is free, individual merchants may have traffic requirements for partnership, which can be challenging for beginners. |
Provides innovative tools like Matchmaking AI for partnership recommendations (Discovery Tools), Audience Engine for audience personalization, and Affiliate Conversion Journey for understanding user behavior. | The minimum payout is $50, which might be higher than some other networks. |
Features a Commissioning Suite with various models like dynamic, coupon, and multi-touch commissioning. | Commission rates and cookie durations vary depending on the specific program. |
Offers comprehensive support resources including a help center with a roadmap and video tutorials, 24/7 chat, and email support. |
Affiliate network details:
Payment structure: 60 days.
Payment method: Direct deposit, check, or PayPal.
Affiliate support: Yes.
Impact.com
Best for enterprise and global brands
Voted the best cost-per-sale affiliate network in North America in 2024, Impact offers affiliates the opportunity to partner with a diverse range of brands, including well-known names in fashion, beauty, finance, and technology. It's recognized for its partnership development support and suite of automation tools.
Sample brands: Adidas, McAfee, Levi’s.
Best for:
Affiliate marketers looking for partnerships with established brands across various industries, including those interested in optimizing for mobile traffic. Its flexible promotion methods also cater to those without traditional websites or social media accounts.
Affiliate marketers interested in high-ticket affiliate programs.
Marketers looking for advanced tracking and automation features.
Pros and cons:
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Offers partnerships with a wide array of reputable brands. | The approval process to join individual affiliate programs within the network can sometimes be lengthy. |
Provides a Mobile App Partner Marketplace to help publishers optimize for mobile traffic. | |
Features a suite of automation tools to streamline partnership management. | |
Offers free signup and a low minimum payout threshold. | |
Allows various promotion methods beyond websites and social media, such as mobile apps, podcasts, and offline ads. | |
Commission rates can range from 3% to over 20%, especially with high-ticket programs. |
Affiliate network details:
Payment structure: Customizable by day or threshold, or on the 1st or 15th of the month.
Payment method: Direct deposit, BACS (bank transfer), or PayPal.
Affiliate support: Yes.
ClickBank
ClickBank is one of the oldest affiliate marketing networks, specializing in digital products like online courses and eBooks, as well as physical products like dietary supplements. It boasts a large marketplace with over 4,000 vetted items and has a long track record of paying out commissions.
Sample merchants: Online courses, eBooks, dietary supplements
Best For:
Affiliate marketers primarily interested in promoting digital products and those seeking niche-specific offerings.
Affiliate marketing beginners, as huge following is not needed to start - signup doesn’t require you to provide a website or social media
Pros and cons:
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Offers a good selection of digital products across various categories. | The quality of products and merchants can vary, requiring careful vetting. |
Features a low minimum payout of $10. | May not be ideal for affiliates who refer a low volume of sales due to potential admin fees (though specifics aren't detailed). |
Provides weekly payments. | Inactive accounts may be shut down if not logged into frequently, and email notifications for inactivity aren't sent. |
Signing up and generating affiliate links is straightforward, without requiring a website or social media handle initially. | Some users have reported negative experiences with their customer support. |
Offers sales tracking tools and a resource center for affiliate support. |
Affiliate network details:
Payment structure: Weekly or bi-weekly.
Payment method: Check, direct deposit, wire transfer, Payoneer.
Affiliate support: Yes.
ShareASale
ShareASale is a large affiliate network offering a wide variety of both physical and digital products from over 30,000 merchants across diverse sectors, ranging from major brands to smaller retailers.
Sample merchants: Etsy, Honey, small retailers
Best for:
Both beginners and experienced affiliate marketers seeking a broad selection of programs in various niches.
Its free sign-up and available training resources make it accessible for newcomers.
Pros and cons:
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Partners with a vast number of merchants (over 30,000) offering diverse product types. | Has a large membership base (over one million), leading to significant competition among affiliates. |
Commission rates typically range from 5-20% per sale, with potential for higher rates in some programs. | |
Provides email support, training webinars, and resources for affiliates, which is beneficial for beginners. | |
Includes a tool to identify invalid links and offline merchants, helping maintain the integrity of your promotions. | |
Free to join with just a website or social media account. |
Affiliate network details:
Payment structure: Typically on the 20th of the month.
Payment method: Check, direct deposit, wire transfer, Payoneer.
Affiliate support: Yes.
Avangate
Founded in 2006, Avangate Affiliate Network specializes in software and digital products, hosting over 1,200 affiliate programs. It's known for its focus on the digital goods niche and tools that aid in localized marketing efforts.
Sample brands: Bitdefender, Kaspersky, IOBit
Best for:
Affiliate marketers whose niche centers around software and digital products.
Its geo-targeted shopping cart feature is particularly beneficial for those targeting specific geographical markets.
Pros and cons:
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Excellent for promoting digital goods and SaaS merchant programs. | Has a relatively high minimum payout of $100. |
Offers generous commission rates, potentially as high as 75% or even 85% in some cases. | Requires affiliates to have a website to join the network. |
Supports deep linking to send customers directly to localized shopping carts, potentially increasing conversion rates. | |
Provides extensive analytics covering key metrics. | |
Offers other useful features like automated data feeds and dedicated support. | |
The signup process is quick and free. |
Affiliate network details:
Payment structure: 20 days from the end of the month for which the commission is due.
Payment method: Wire transfer, check, PayPal, or Avangate Mastercard (in partnership with Payoneer).
Affiliate support: Yes.
GiddyUp
GiddyUp is a newer but well-regarded affiliate network specializing in direct-to-consumer (DTC) products. Since 2013, it has focused on performance-based partnerships and has paid out a significant amount in commissions.
Best for:
Affiliate marketers interested in promoting physical, direct-to-consumer products.
The dedicated account manager support and access to creative assets are particularly beneficial for those looking for more hands-on guidance.
Pros and cons:
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Specializes in the growing direct-to-consumer product sector. | It is a rather niche network focused solely on direct-to-consumer products, which may not suit all affiliate marketers. |
Offers dedicated account managers providing personalized support, onboarding, and guidance. | The total number of merchants (over 150) is smaller compared to larger, more general networks. |
Values performance-based partnerships, encouraging collaboration with merchants. | |
Provides access to fresh creative assets like videos, images, and campaign copy to aid marketing efforts. | |
Offers innovative tools and real-time data to help affiliates maximize earnings. |
Affiliate network details:
Payment structure: Contact GiddyUp for more details.
Payment method: ACH, check, or foreign bank transfers.
Affiliate support: Yes.
Pepperjam/Partnerize
Previously known as PepperJam, this network focuses on brands in the retail, fashion, health, beauty, and lifestyle sectors. While its partner pool is under 2,000 merchants, it offers a mix of physical and digital products. Partnerize is marketed as a next-generation platform with automation features and allows conversion tracking across different devices.
Best for:
Affiliate marketers interested in promoting products in the retail, fashion, health, beauty, and lifestyle niches.
Its straightforward approval process and availability of various link formats make it suitable for those looking for an accessible platform.
Pros and cons:
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Offers a good selection of physical products alongside digital options. | The partner pool of under 2,000 merchants may limit niche options compared to larger networks. |
Features a powerful discovery engine to help advertisers find suitable publishers. | Not very intuitive to use. |
Provides fully integrated analytics and reporting tools for actionable insights. | |
Has a straightforward application and approval process, typically taking a few days. | |
Supports various affiliate link formats, including banners and coupons. | |
The minimum payout is a relatively low $25. |
Affiliate network details:
Payment structure: Payments are issued every other business day.
Payment method: ACH, check, or foreign bank transfers.
Affiliate support: Yes.
How to Choose the Right Affiliate Program to Maximize Income
Upon joining an affiliate network, next would be to choose the right affiliate programs to maximize your earnings. Start by identifying programs related to products you genuinely use and would recommend, as authenticity builds trust with your audience.
Key factors to evaluate when selecting programs:
Commission Structure & Payouts: Analyze commission rates (flat vs. percentage), the potential for recurring income, minimum payout thresholds, available payment methods, and cookie duration.
Product & Brand Reputation: Prioritize products with strong market demand and partner with trustworthy brands known for quality and customer satisfaction. Be mindful of refund policies.
Competition & Earning Potential: Understand the competitive landscape of the niche and research the program's reputation, ensuring reliable tracking and payments. Be aware of any restrictions on marketing channels or locations.
Pro-Tip: Diversify your income by joining multiple relevant programs, and if you're new, seek out beginner-friendly options. Be prepared for application processes and track your submissions.
Want to learn more about finding and evaluating affiliate programs? Read here
Final Notes
Affiliate networks are powerful tools for affiliate marketers and content creators. They provide the infrastructure, connections, and support needed to effectively monetize your online presence. By understanding what affiliate networks are, how they work, and how to choose the right one for your needs, you can unlock significant earning potential and take your affiliate marketing journey to the next level. Explore the networks mentioned above and others to find the perfect partners for your success!
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