Want access to thousands of the best affiliate programs, timely payouts, and support for scaling your affiliate marketing business? Affiliate networks could be the answer—especially if you’re an affiliate marketing beginner.
The affiliate marketing industry is projected to reach $13.2 billion in US spending by 2026. As mobile commerce grows, selecting networks with strong mobile optimization and emerging channel support matters more than ever.
Whether you’re a content creator, blogger, or influencer, joining the right affiliate network helps you spend less time hunting for deals and more time doing what you do best: creating and converting.
This guide will help you understand what affiliate networks are, how they differ from standalone programs, and the benefits they offer to brands and publishers.
What is an affiliate network?
An affiliate marketing network is a platform that connects brands with publishers (affiliate marketers or media companies who create content for blogs, social media, podcasts, and other channels).
Third-party networks are the top affiliate networks for most publishers because they act as the coordinator. Publishers and brands offering affiliate marketing programs can find each other easily through the network. Brands can also recruit affiliates to promote their products and open up new sales channels.
Brands often use affiliate networks when they:
- Need more outbound sales support
- Want to use their marketing budget efficiently
- Want to reach a new audience
Publishers might use affiliate networks to:
- Access dozens of programs without applying one by one
- Simplify commission payouts
- Scale partnerships faster
How do affiliate networks work?
Affiliate networks exist to help marketers and brands manage their affiliate activities.
As an affiliate, you simply sign up for the network to receive access to available programs. Some networks have admission criteria for publishers. For example, networks like AvantLink require affiliates to own an active website or social media channel, and perform a human review of content.
In contrast to affiliate programs created by brands, affiliate networks allow publishers to communicate with multiple brands from one place.
How to choose the right affiliate network
The right network depends on your niche, audience size, and content format. A B2B software reviewer needs different features than a lifestyle blogger promoting consumer products. Here’s how to choose the right one for your online business.
Program compatibility
Not every affiliate network is the best fit for every affiliate strategy. If you have a business audience, for example, PartnerStack might be the best choice. It’s popular amongst B2B software brands you can apply to join the affiliate program through.
Check whether networks offer merchants in your specific categories—if you cover sustainable products, verify networks host eco-conscious brands rather than assuming broad catalogs fit specialized niches.
Also think about the channels you’re using to promote products. It’s possible to become a highly paid affiliate marketer without a website, but some networks require an active website—such as a blog or publication—in order to apply.
Tip: Review merchant quality, not just quantity. A network with 50,000 merchants means nothing if only 200 match your audience interests. Networks like Impact and CJ Affiliate provide category filtering and search tools to preview available programs before signup.
Commission structure and rates
Commission structures describe how you’ll earn money by promoting a brand’s product or service. These can differ from program to program.
Before joining a new network, answer the following questions:
- Do they pay per click, lead, or sale?
- Is the commission one-time or recurring?
- Is there a commission cap?
- What’s the cookie duration?
Recurring commissions tend to be the most lucrative—any future subscriptions are eligible for commissions. Some brands also offer smaller commissions on free trials, which are much easier to sell than paid subscriptions.
Watch for two-tier opportunities if you can recruit other affiliates. Networks like ClickBank offer additional commissions when referred affiliates generate sales, creating compounding income beyond your own promotions.
Payment reliability and speed
Many affiliate marketing networks lure new marketers in with the promise of sky high commission which look great on the surface, but have hidden terms that make it difficult to withdraw your earnings.
Some networks require more than $100 in commissions before releasing payments, for example, which delays earnings for new affiliates.
Before you commit to an affiliate network, look at the bigger picture:
- How long is the payout period?
- How often are payouts made?
- What payment withdrawal options do you have?
- Is there a minimum balance you’ll need to hit before they pay out?
- Are there exchange rate or currency conversion fees that impact payouts?
Tip: Review both payment frequency and merchant-specific terms—some programs within networks hold commissions for more than 60 days, regardless of the network’s standard schedule.
Platform features and affiliate support
Affiliates are representatives of a brand. Make sure there’s support available should you have any questions—not just about the affiliate program itself, but also about the products or services you’re promoting.
Dedicated affiliate managers (offered by networks like Impact and affiliaXe) help optimize campaigns and negotiate better rates with merchants. Self-service networks work for experienced affiliates, but support access accelerates learning for newcomers.
Similarly, the network should have its own platform that lets you:
- Browse and apply to affiliate programs
- Generate affiliate links
- Access marketing materials
- Track commission
- Trigger payouts
Quality networks provide real-time tracking, conversion data by product or link, and trend analysis to inform your creator marketing strategy. API access matters for affiliates managing multiple properties—platforms like CJ Affiliate offer developer tools to automate reporting and link generation.
Mobile optimization and emerging channels
Roughly 62% of all website traffic comes from a mobile device. However, smartphone users might block cookies, use in-app storefronts, and switch devices during a single purchase decision.
Check that your shortlisted affiliate network has responsive link formats and in-app attribution to capture mobile traffic accurately.
Similarly, think about emerging channels your audience uses to buy. They might purchase through social commerce features like TikTok Shop. Confirm whether you’ll earn commission on these sales—and if so, how—before promoting affiliate products on these channels.
Tip: Test networks before committing significant traffic. Most platforms allow free signup—join two or three networks that fit your criteria, promote a few programs from each, and compare affiliate conversion rates, payment reliability, and support quality over 60 to 90 days. The network delivering the best combination of earnings and experience earns your primary promotion efforts.
Top 11 affiliate networks for marketers
- AWIN
- CJ Affiliate
- ClickBank
- FlexOffers
- Avangate Affiliate Network
- Rakuten Advertising
- Impact
- affiliaXe
- GiddyUp
- PartnerStack
- Skimlinks
As affiliate marketing grows, so do the options. Here are the top affiliate networks worth considering in 2026, based on ease of use, commission rates, support, and network size.
1. AWIN
ShareASale owner AWIN hosts more than 30,000 brands in its network. Categories span fashion, travel, finance, insurance, and telecommunication services.
Similar to ShareASale, you can sign up to AWIN’s affiliate marketing network with either a website or social media handle. There is a small $1 deposit to join the network, which you get back after reaching your first payment threshold.
Affiliate network details
- Getting paid: Twice monthly, on the 1st and 15th of every month for the previous month’s commissions; there is a $20 minimum payment threshold.
- Payment method: BACS, international wire transfer, or ACH.
- Affiliate support: Yes.
2. CJ Affiliate
CJ Affiliate is another popular affiliate network. Founded in 1998, CJ features more than 3,800 brands globally on its affiliate marketing platform.
To create an account and become an active member, you’ll need to complete several steps, including filling in your contact information and adding your “promotional property,” meaning your website or social media accounts.
CJ Affiliate has an open developer portal for API (app programming interface) access, which contains more technical resources and tools to help publishers carry out tasks. These include personalizing customer offers and conducting targeted link searches by keyword or category.
Affiliate network details
- Getting paid: Commissions are generally paid on the 20th or 28th, based on currency.
- Payment method: Direct deposit or Payoneer.
- Affiliate support: Yes.
3. ClickBank
One of the oldest and most reliable affiliate marketing networks, ClickBank has paid out more than $7 billion in commissions since 1999. Niches include self-help, home and garden, and online business.
Signing up and getting verified on ClickBank doesn’t require you to provide a website or social media handle. Instead, you simply provide your contact information and you can start browsing the affiliate marketplace and generate links right away.
ClickBank has a large selection of digital and physical products—more than 4,000 vetted items in total—so there are plenty of product categories to choose from. ClickBank also offers sales tracking tools and a resource center for ongoing affiliate support and opportunities to bolster revenue through upsales.
Affiliate network details
- Getting paid: Weekly or bi-weekly, on Fridays.
- Payment method: Check, direct deposit, wire transfer, or Payoneer.
- Affiliate support: Yes.
4. FlexOffers
With more than 12,000 advertisers, including household names like Samsung, Sephora, and Wayfair, FlexOffers provides an extensive affiliate network. It offers product feeds, flexible links, and comparison widgets to promote affiliate products.
Similar to other affiliate networks, FlexOffers accepts blogging websites, including WordPress, Wix, Blogger, and BlogSpot for traffic sources.
FlexOffers lets you promote big brands, but it’s also a great option if you want to include smaller brands as part of your marketing strategy to maximize partnership opportunities.
Affiliate network details
- Getting paid: Standard payouts are net 60; an advanced payment option is available but may incur a fee.
- Payment method: Bank transfer, wire transfer, ACH, check, or PayPal.
- Affiliate support: Yes.
5. Avangate Affiliate Network
Founded in 2006, Avangate Affiliate Network is home to more than 1,200 brands. If your niche focuses on software or digital products, this network can help you build passive income from product promotion. Note that Avangate requires affiliates to have a website.
What helps set Avangate Affiliate Network apart from its competition is that it offers publishers the ability to use a geo-targeted shopping cart. That means if you’re trying to reach a specific market location, you can “deep link” them directly to a localized cart.
Affiliate network details
- Getting paid: Monthly, 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) after reaching a $100 threshold.
- Affiliate support: Yes.
6. Rakuten Advertising
Rakuten Advertising has more than 150,000 partners, including advertisers, publishers, and marketing agencies.
For brands setting up affiliate programs, the affiliate marketing network offers innovative tools such as Affiliate Conversion Journey, which provides transparency in the user journey through the funnel and conversions. Meanwhile, publishers gain access to tools such as Audience Engine, which supports personalizing for your audience to drive more sales.
Participating brands include:
- Hilton
- Net-a-Porter
- Whistles
- Decathlon
- Clarins
Affiliate network details
- Getting paid: Net 60 days.
- Payment method: Direct deposit, check, or PayPal.
- Affiliate support: Yes.
7. Impact
Impact was voted the best cost-per-sale affiliate network of 2024 in North America, offering affiliates the chance to partner with an array of brands, including Adidas, Ticketmaster, Walmart, Microsoft, and Uber. You can also find partnerships with technology brands such as Shopify.
The network has garnered more than 1,700 reviews on G2, which include callouts for its partnership development. Another plus for Impact and its network? There is a Mobile App Partner Marketplace to help publishers optimize for mobile traffic and bolster revenue. It also offers a suite of automation tools to help affiliates manage their partnerships.
Affiliate network details
- Getting paid: Customizable by day or threshold, or on the 1st or 15th of the month. Minimum payout balance of $10.
- Payment method: Direct deposit, wire transfer, or PayPal.
- Affiliate support: Yes.
8. affiliaXe
Marketing affiliate network affiliaXe, a global network, offers affiliates tools to strengthen their rankings and get insights into their traffic. The affiliate dashboard tracks clicks, conversions, invoices, and more.
Approved affiliates also gain access to a dedicated account manager that can help curate the best programs for them, based on their audience. Brands receive support through the network’s vast offerings of anti-fraud systems to ensure campaign integrity—and collaborations include experienced affiliates.
AffiliaXe offers diverse traffic monetization options, such as pay per view and pay per click.
Affiliate network details
- Getting paid: Bi-weekly, on the 15th and end of the month, with a minimum payout threshold of $100.
- Payment method: PayPal, Payoneer, ACH, checks, or bank wire transfer.
- Affiliate support: Yes.
9. GiddyUp
GiddyUp is an affiliate network platform dedicated to helping you make money online, whether that’s from your website or social media platform. Since 2013, GiddyUp has paid more than $350 million in commissions to its affiliate partners.
As a new affiliate, GiddyUp can help you maximize your earnings with real-time data. An affiliate partner manager will also help answer all of your digital marketing questions. You’ll get access to fresh creative assets, translated copy, and localized storefronts.
GiddyUp works with direct-to-consumer (DTC) merchants across a variety of verticals. If you’re interested in promoting physical products, GiddyUp may be a good fit.
Affiliate network details
- Getting paid: Request information from GiddyUp.
- Payment method: ACH, check, or foreign bank transfers.
- Affiliate support: Yes.
10. PartnerStack
PartnerStack is a B2B affiliate network for software-as-a-service (SaaS) and software companies. It connects affiliates with tools in categories like marketing, sales, and productivity. If your audience is made up of founders, agencies, or professional teams shopping for software, PartnerStack is a good fit.
Affiliates can earn recurring commissions on software subscriptions, which provides more predictable income. Partners manage everything from discovery to link tracking from one dashboard. Well-known brands on PartnerStack include Vimeo, Gorgias, and Deel.
Affiliate network details
- Getting paid. Reviewed monthly and becomes available for withdrawal around the 13th of the following month, once approved by the vendor.
- Payment method. Bank transfer, Stripe, or PayPal, with multicurrency support depending on location.
- Affiliate support. Yes. Affiliates get access to training resources and program support to optimize performance.
11. Skimlinks
Skimlinks is an affiliate network focused on commerce content. It automatically turns regular product links on your site into affiliate links. With a single integration, publishers can connect with more than 48,000 merchants across more than 50 affiliate networks.
Skimlinks is an excellent option for blogs, review sites, and media publishers looking to monetize extensive archives of content without managing multiple separate programs. Once approved, you add Skimlinks’ code or a plug-in to your site and create content as usual.
The network then handles link tracking, conversion, and reporting. It can also negotiate exclusive, improved commission rates with certain merchants, so you can earn more than you would by joining the program directly.
Affiliate network details
- Getting paid. You’re paid at the end of each month, but only if you hit a $65 threshold. The network operates a revenue share model that takes 25% from all earnings before payout.
- Payment method: Direct deposit or PayPal.
- Affiliate support: Yes via Publisher Hub and FAQ resources.
Start earning with affiliate networks
Affiliate networks make it easier to start—and scale—your affiliate business. You’ll save time applying to programs, simplify commission tracking, and get access to support and tools that help you grow.
Before committing website traffic, evaluate networks across program compatibility, commission structures, payment reliability, platform features, and mobile optimization. The selection criteria outlined earlier help you match networks to your specific audience and content format rather than defaulting to the largest affiliate marketing networks.
Explore networks that match your affiliate niche and content style, and don’t be afraid to test a few to see which one fits. The more aligned your partnerships are with your audience, the better your chances of earning consistently.
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Best affiliate networks FAQ
Which affiliate network is best for beginners?
Large platforms like Awin and Impact have easy sign-up processes and provide access to thousands of programs. These networks offer educational resources to accelerate creators just getting started. Beginners usually benefit from starting with general third-party networks before exploring specialized platforms like PartnerStack or GiddyUp that require niche-specific audiences.
What is the biggest affiliate network?
The largest affiliate network is generally considered to be Amazon Associates, given its global reach and diverse product offerings. However, other major players like CJ Affiliate, the eBay Partner Network, Awin, and Rakuten Advertising also have extensive networks and are significant contenders in the space.
What are the most popular affiliate networks?
Amongst the most popular affiliate networks are:
- Amazon Associates
- AWIN
- CJ Affiliate
- Rakuten Advertising
- Impact
- ClickBank
- FlexOffers
- PartnerStack
- Skimlinks
Note that popularity varies by niche—B2B affiliates gravitate toward PartnerStack, while lifestyle publishers prefer AWIN’s consumer brand catalog.
What are the highest paying affiliate programs?
The highest paying affiliate programs often come from industries like finance, software, and luxury products. Some examples include credit card affiliate programs, web hosting services like Bluehost, and high-end ecommerce platforms like Shopify, which can offer commissions ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars per sale.
How do I find affiliate networks?
After identifying networks, evaluate them across program compatibility (merchant base matches content niche), commission structures (rates and payment models), payment reliability (frequency and methods), platform features (tracking and support), and mobile optimization before committing traffic. Testing two to three networks simultaneously reveals which platform delivers the best combination of conversion rates and support for specific audiences.
