The 10 best affiliate programs

Affiliate marketing can be a great extra source of income for online creators. For many, promoting products and brands you love and earning commission every time you encourage a new customer to make a purchase is an appealing proposition.

But if you’re new to the world of affiliate programs, it can be hard to know where to start. How do you know which ones are worth your time? What criteria should you be looking for? 

This article will answer those questions and help you discover the programs you might not have considered before.

Let’s dive in.

How to choose an affiliate program

To ensure an affiliate program is a good fit for you, you should research the following aspects:

• Product demand
• Company reputation
• Which actions are compensated
• Commission rates
• Bonus offers, such as tiered commission, welcome bonuses, etc

It might be easy to become distracted by commission rates and only go for high-paying affiliate programs, but they aren’t the be-all and end-all of affiliate marketing success. You’ll need to consider whether or not there’s an interest in a product (both generally and from your audience) and how easily you can convert it. 

This is why you must align your programs with your niche and audience. It might be tempting to sign up for as many programs as possible, but you don’t want to risk alienating your audience if you promote products that don’t make sense. Being selective about the type of programs you choose is critical.

The best affiliate programs you should know

To help point you in the right direction, we’ve rounded up some of the best affiliate programs available online right now.

1. Spaceship

• Commission – From 25% for domain registrations and transfers, from 50% for website and email hosting, with custom commission rates available to select affiliates
• Payment minimum – $10

If you’re on the hunt for the best hosting affiliate program, you can’t go wrong with Spaceship. Spaceship’s affiliate program is perfect for creators who want to help their audience start an online project.

Whether they want to showcase creative talents on a portfolio website or build a brand for an e-commerce business, they’ll need essential products like domains, hosting, and professional email.

So why not promote products built into Spaceship’s straightforward platform with everything needed to get online? Combined with Spaceship’s great prices and reputation, there’s a high likelihood of conversion and more commission for you. Best of all, affiliates who perform well or have a large, active audience could get higher custom commissions and bonuses. 

2. Hubspot

• Commission – Tiered, with a minimum 30% recurring commission for up to one year
• Payment minimum – $10

Hubspot is a customer platform that provides marketing software, B2B commerce software, sales software, and more, all built on a smart CRM database. It could be a great fit if your niche revolves around discussing online business, marketing, or sales.

3. Semrush

• Commission – $200 for new subscription sales, $10 for new leads, and $0.01 for new sign-ups
• Payment minimum – $10

Semrush is ideal if you’re looking for one of the best SEO affiliate programs. For anyone who wants to be visible in search engines, this would be an appealing tool to invest in. 

4. Coursera

• Commission – Up to 45% commission on eligible courses
• Payment minimum – $10

If your following is interested in bettering themselves through learning new skills, the Coursera affiliate program could be the one for you. 

5. AWeber

• Commission – Up to 50% recurring monthly payments
• Payment minimum – $30

Another affiliate program ideal for those in a marketing or business niche, AWeber is an email marketing solution that simplifies automating and tracking emails sent to subscribers.

6. Amazon

• Commission – Up to 10% of qualified purchases
• Payment minimum – $100

As the largest online retailer, many influencers have found success earning extra cash with the Amazon affiliate program. The vast range of products available makes it suitable for content creators in many niches, from health and wellness to beauty and fashion.

7. Target

• Commission – Up to 8%
• Payment minimum - $10

Another recognizable brand, as a Target affiliate you can promote everything from food and general household goods to electronics and fashion. Just ensure you create family-friendly content with a primarily US audience.

8. eBay

• Commission – 1.5 - 4% depending on category
• Payment minimum – $10

Online auction website eBay also has general appeal as a well-known brand and a site offering a wide range of products.

9. Kayak

• Commission – 50% commission on clicks, bookings, and ad revenue
• Payment minimum – $500

If you’re a travel content creator, Kayak’s metasearch engine for travel services like flights, hotels, and vacation packages is perfect for followers with a similar case of wanderlust. 

10. Spocket

• Commission – Up to 30% commissions on all referrals
• Payment minimum – $25

Dropshipper supplier and retailer Spocket will appeal to entrepreneurs and e-commerce businesses. If this sounds like your audience, Spocket could be the affiliate program for you.

Unlock your earning potential with Spaceship

All of these programs make solid choices for starting your affiliate journey, but if you’re interested in being a part of the future of web services, Spaceship’s affiliate program is the way to go. To promote in-demand products with the opportunity for custom commissions, become a Spaceship affiliate today.