Quick answer: As of October 2026, the main affiliate networks are Awin (which has absorbed ShareASale), CJ, Rakuten Advertising, ClickBank and AdWork Media, and the main direct programmes on our list include Amazon Associates (including Amazon.in Associates in India), eBay Partner Network, Booking.com, Shopify, Bluehost, WP Engine, Leadpages and LiveChat. Commissions, cookie windows and approval rules differ widely, and affiliate income is never guaranteed: most beginners earn little until they build an audience that trusts their recommendations.
Affiliate marketing means earning a commission when someone buys, signs up or takes another action through your tracked link. A merchant (the brand) pays the commission; an affiliate (you, the publisher) promotes the product on a website, newsletter, video channel or social account. Affiliate networks sit in the middle, giving you access to many merchants, tracking sales and paying you in one place, while some large companies run their own programmes directly.
We first published this list during the 2020 pandemic, when many people were looking for extra income online. When we checked every programme again in October 2026, ShareASale had moved to Awin, Ebates had long since become Rakuten, and one programme could not be verified. Most commission figures in the original had changed or could not be confirmed, so the figures below come only from each programme’s own website in October 2026.
How to choose an affiliate network or programme
- Fit with your audience. Promote products your readers already need. A travel blog suits Booking.com; a web design channel suits Bluehost, WP Engine or Shopify.
- Network or direct programme. Networks (Awin, CJ, Rakuten Advertising, ClickBank) give you many merchants and one payment. Direct programmes (Amazon, eBay, Shopify) can be simpler to join and track.
- Commission structure. Compare one-time payments, percentage commissions and recurring commissions on subscriptions, and check what counts as a “qualified” sale.
- Cookie window and payment terms. Check how long a click is credited to you, the minimum payout, how you are paid, and how long approval of each sale takes.
- Country availability. Many programmes accept affiliates or pay commissions only for certain countries. Indian publishers should check rupee payouts and look at India-specific programmes such as Amazon.in Associates.
- Rules and disclosure. Read each programme’s terms on paid ads, coupons and email. In India, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) Code requires promoted content to carry a clear upfront disclosure label such as “Ad”, “Partnership” or “Sponsored”; other countries have similar rules.
Affiliate networks and programmes compared
| Network or programme | Type | Best for | Commission (per official site, Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awin (formerly ShareASale) | Network | Bloggers and creators wanting many brands | Set by each advertiser |
| ClickBank | Marketplace | Promoting digital and online products | Set by each seller |
| Booking.com | Direct, via affiliate networks | Travel sites and blogs | Check programme terms |
| CJ | Network | Publishers wanting large brands | Set by each advertiser |
| Amazon Associates | Direct | Product reviews and recommendations | Varies by product category and country |
| Leadpages | Direct (SaaS) | Marketing and small business audiences | 30% recurring, up to $400 per referral |
| Rakuten Advertising | Network | Retail, travel and finance publishers | Set by each advertiser |
| AdWork Media | CPA network | Content lockers and offer walls | Per action, varies by campaign |
| eBay Partner Network | Direct | Shopping and collectibles content | Varies by category |
| Bluehost | Direct (web hosting) | Website-building tutorials | From $65 per qualified sale |
| Shopify | Direct (ecommerce SaaS) | Ecommerce educators and creators | Up to $150 per qualified referral |
| Rakuten Refer-a-Friend (formerly Ebates) | Consumer referral | US cash-back users | Referral bonus advertised by Rakuten |
| WP Engine | Direct (WordPress hosting) | WordPress audiences | $100 (Lite) or $200 minimum per sale |
| LiveChat | Direct (SaaS) | Business software and customer service audiences | 20% lifetime recurring, 22% after 5 customers |
The 14 networks and programmes in detail
1. Awin (formerly ShareASale)
ShareASale, which the original article recommended for beginners, has transitioned to Awin; shareasale.com now redirects to an Awin page headed “ShareASale is now Awin”. Awin is a global affiliate network connecting advertisers with content creators, influencers and other affiliate partners. Commissions are set by each advertiser. The original article’s merchant counts no longer apply.
2. ClickBank
ClickBank is an affiliate marketplace where product owners, often selling digital or online products, list offers that affiliates can promote. Its site says more than 100,000 affiliates use it, and it publishes a marketplace of top offers plus guides for affiliates, media buyers and agencies. It also offers cost-per-action (CPA) commissions. Product quality varies widely, so research a product before you recommend it to your audience.
3. Booking.com Affiliate Partner Programme
Booking.com lets website owners earn commission by promoting its accommodation and travel offerings, and asks new affiliates to register through its official affiliate networks. The original article quoted “up to 40%” and “30 to 80%” commissions for travel programmes; Booking.com’s page does not state those figures, so check current rates after you register. As before, you need a site with relevant travel content.
4. CJ (formerly Commission Junction)
CJ is one of the long-established affiliate networks. Advertisers and agencies pay commissions for sales, leads or traffic, and publishers and creators earn by promoting brands. CJ also has programmes for influencers and fintech publishers. As the original article said, its strength is access to many well-known brands across industries.
5. Amazon Associates
Amazon Associates describes itself as one of the largest affiliate marketing programmes in the world. Bloggers, publishers and content creators with a qualifying website or app use Amazon’s link tools and earn on qualifying purchases and actions such as free trial sign-ups. Amazon runs separate programmes by country: Indian publishers should use Amazon.in Associates, which pays “advertising fees” under its own operating agreement. Rates vary by product category, so check the current fee schedule for your country.
6. Leadpages Affiliate Programme
Leadpages, a landing page and website builder, runs an affiliate programme that, according to its site in October 2026, pays a 30% recurring commission and up to $400 per referral. It also runs a separate partner programme for agencies and technology companies with revenue sharing and co-marketing. The original article’s “up to 30%” figure is broadly in line with today’s offer.
7. Rakuten Advertising
Rakuten Advertising, once known as Rakuten LinkShare, is a global affiliate network for advertisers and publishers, with affiliate, influencer marketing and media products and a focus on retail, travel and financial services. Publishers sign up to find brand partners. We have removed the original article’s claim that it offers “the largest pay on the internet”, which Rakuten does not make on its current site.
8. AdWork Media
AdWork Media is a CPA (cost-per-action) affiliate network for website owners and game and app developers. It offers content lockers, link lockers, product lockers and offer walls, and says it runs more than 2,500 affiliate campaigns across over 250 countries. Content lockers ask visitors to complete an offer before they can access a download or page, which can frustrate readers, so use them carefully and follow each platform’s rules.
9. eBay Partner Network
The eBay Partner Network lets publishers earn by sending buyers to eBay listings. eBay says it has 2.5 billion listings and 136 million buyers in 190 markets, and it publishes a rate card with commission rates by category. It also runs eBay Ambassador, a programme for social-first creators in the US and UK. The original article’s “12 billion products” figure was not accurate for today.
10. Bluehost Affiliate Programme
Bluehost, a web hosting company, runs a free-to-join affiliate programme; you do not need to be a Bluehost customer. According to its affiliate page in October 2026, commissions start at $65 for every qualified sale, some plans include recurring commissions, referrals are tracked with a 30-day cookie, and payouts are processed 45 to 70 days after a sale. The original article called Bluehost a domain registrar; it is mainly a hosting provider.
11. Shopify Affiliate Programme
Shopify pays affiliates to refer new merchants to its ecommerce platform. Its site in October 2026 said affiliates can earn up to $150 per qualified referral, and it welcomes creators, course makers, content publishers, agencies and app partners. The original article’s “$58 per sign-up” figure is out of date.
12. Rakuten Refer-a-Friend (formerly Ebates)
Ebates rebranded as Rakuten years ago. The “eBates Influencer Program” in the original article has no current equivalent under that name; the closest is Rakuten’s Refer-a-Friend programme, which in October 2026 advertised a referral bonus of $50 for US members who refer new shoppers. This is a consumer cash-back referral scheme rather than a full affiliate network, and it is aimed at US shoppers.
13. WP Engine Affiliate Programme
WP Engine, a managed WordPress hosting company, pays one-time commissions on each new purchase. According to its affiliate page in October 2026, you earn $100 on Lite plan purchases and, for other plans, $200 or the first month’s payment, whichever is higher. The original article’s references to StudioPress themes and ShareASale awards are not on the current page.
14. LiveChat Partner Programme
LiveChat, which also sells the ChatBot, HelpDesk and Text App products, runs an affiliate programme. Its FAQ says you earn 20% of every paid subscription you bring in, for the lifetime of that subscription, rising to 22% once you have brought in five paying customers, with a cookie of up to 120 days. The original article’s “up to $4,500 per sale” claim does not appear on the current site.
Removed since our earlier version
- Tripadvisor affiliate programme: Tripadvisor’s affiliate page blocked our automated checks in October 2026, so we could not confirm the programme or the “50% commission” the original article quoted. Travel publishers can check Tripadvisor’s site directly or consider Booking.com above.
Frequently asked questions
Can beginners make money with affiliate marketing?
Yes, but slowly. Income depends on building traffic and trust, choosing relevant products and following programme rules. Treat any promise of quick or guaranteed “passive income” with suspicion.
Do I need a website to join an affiliate programme?
Many programmes require a website, app or established social channel and review your application. Some, such as Bluehost and Shopify, accept a range of creators; check each programme’s eligibility rules.
Do I have to disclose affiliate links?
Yes. Advertising rules in many countries require clear disclosure. In India, the ASCI Code lists upfront labels such as “Ad”, “Partnership” and “Sponsored” for promoted content, and most programmes also require disclosure in their terms.
What is a cookie window?
It is how long after someone clicks your link a purchase is still credited to you. LiveChat offers up to 120 days and Bluehost 30 days, for example; shorter windows make it harder to earn.
For more ways to earn online safely, read our guide to legitimate ways to make money online and scams to avoid. You can also learn how media companies use affiliate marketing and how to market a small business online.
Programme details and commissions were checked in October 2026 on each network’s or company’s own website and on the ASCI Code. Commission rates and eligibility change often, so read the current terms before you join.
