Affiliate marketing is one of the fastest and easiest ways for bloggers to make money online. You don’t need to create your own product, handle customer support, or manage logistics.
You recommend products you believe in, share helpful content with your audience, and earn commissions whenever someone buys through your affiliate link.
After years of working with affiliate programs, building blogs, and studying what works, I’ve seen the same pattern again and again: bloggers with the right niche, the right affiliate partners, and the right content strategy earn consistently, even with small traffic.
The key is not just picking any affiliate program, but picking affiliate programs that.
- Pay well
- Convert with your audience
- Have strong brand trust
- Match your niche and content topics
- Offer lifetime or recurring commissions (if possible)
In this guide, you’ll discover the best affiliate programs for bloggers, why they work, how to apply, and how to create content that earns affiliate commissions even when you have minimal traffic.
What Makes an Affiliate Program “Good” for Bloggers?
Before jumping into the list, let’s define what makes an affiliate program profitable and beginner-friendly for bloggers.
High Commission Rate
Some programs pay 4%… while others pay 50% or even more. If you want to scale fast, always prioritize:
- High-ticket affiliate products
- Recurring commissions
- Digital product partners
Products That Naturally Fit Your Blog Content
You should never force affiliate promotions. If you run a finance blog, recommending budgeting software makes sense.
If you run a parenting blog, baby gear and education tools make sense. If you run a food blog, kitchen tools convert easily.
Brand Trust
A recognizable or reputable brand will convert far better than an unknown website, even if the unknown site offers a slightly higher commission.
For beginners, brand familiarity = higher conversions, even with small audiences.
Easy-to-Join
Some affiliate programs are extremely selective. Others allow beginners to join without large requirements. If you’re just starting, begin with programs that:
- Approve quickly
- Have easy onboarding
- Provide built-in affiliate dashboards and marketing assets
Lifetime or Recurring Commissions
The most profitable affiliate programs pay:
- Monthly recurring commissions
- Lifetime customer revenue
- Multiple-product upsells you automatically earn from
This means you earn while you sleep, even if you stop creating new content for a while.
Best Affiliate Programs for Bloggers (Detailed Breakdown)
Here are the top affiliate programs that consistently perform for bloggers in dozens of niches.
Amazon Associates
Amazon Associates is one of the most popular affiliate programs in the world. Not only does it approve beginners quickly, but Amazon’s brand trust makes conversions extremely easy, even with a small audience.
Why Amazon Associates Works for Bloggers
- Millions of products to promote
- Converts extremely well because everyone knows Amazon
- Works with almost every blog niche
- Ideal for product comparisons, reviews, lists, and recommendations
- You get commission for anything the customer buys, not just the product you recommend
Commission Structure
- Usually 1%–10%, depending on category
- Not the highest commissions, but very high conversions
Best Use Cases
- Tech blogs
- Lifestyle blogs
- Parenting blogs
- Home improvement blogs
- Food and kitchen blogs
- Solar, energy, tools, DIY, outdoor blogs
- Fashion or beauty blogs
How to Promote Amazon Products
- Write list posts: “10 Best Budget Cameras”
- Write tutorials: “How to Clean Solar Panels + Recommended Tools.”
- Write product reviews
- Add affiliate links to your YouTube descriptions
- Use Pinterest pins pointing to your blog content
Impact.com
Impact is a massive affiliate network that connects bloggers with well-known brands across almost every niche.
Why Impact Is Great for Bloggers
- Thousands of brands in one place
- Many premium companies only work through Impact
- Better than joining each brand individually
Commission Structure
- Very niche-specific, often MUCH higher than Amazon
Best Use Cases
- Finance blogs
- Tech blogs
- Fitness and wellness blogs
- Education blogs
- Lifestyle and home improvement blogs
- High-ticket product niches
Examples of Partners Inside Impact
- Shopify
- Canva
- Bluehost (sometimes cross-managed)
- QuickBooks
- ZenBusiness
- Skillshare
- Teachables
Impact is competitive, but once approved, you have access to highly profitable brands.
ClickBank
ClickBank is a massive affiliate network known for digital products, online courses, coaching offers, and high-commission info products.
Why ClickBank Is Powerful
- Commissions from 50% to 75%
- Many products include recurring billing
- Extremely profitable if you target emotional or urgent niches like:
- Weight loss
- Health problems
- Online business
- Digital marketing
- Personal development
Pros
- No approval barrier
- Very beginner-friendly
- Huge commissions
Cons
- Quality varies
- You need to carefully vet products
Still, ClickBank is one of the easiest ways for bloggers to earn large commissions with very minimal traffic.
CJ (Commission Junction)
CJ Affiliate is another established and reputable affiliate network offering corporate partnerships.
Why CJ Is Valuable for Bloggers
- Access to premium brands
- Great tracking and analytics
- Strong EPC (earnings per click)
Examples of Brands on CJ
- Samsung
- Expedia
- Overstock
- GoPro
- Grammarly
- Verizon
Best Niches
- Travel blogs
- Tech blogs
- Business and SaaS blogs
- Photography blogs
- Health and personal improvement blogs
CJ can be more selective than ShareASale, but high brand trust = higher conversion rate.
Awin
Awin is a global affiliate network, and now they have acquired ShareASale.
Good For Bloggers In
- Travel
- Fashion
- Technology
- Finance
- E-commerce niches
Big Brands Inside Awin
- Etsy
- Fiverr
- Gymshark
- AliExpress
- HP
Awin has a small registration fee (to verify you are real), but they refund it once you’re active.
Bluehost
If you run a blog or teach blogging, Bluehost is one of the highest-paying beginner-friendly affiliate programs in the hosting world.
Why Bluehost Converts Well
- Very strong brand recognition
- Great onboarding for beginners
- Easy to recommend to first-time bloggers
- Lifetime cookie for upsells
Commission Structure
- $65–$130+ per referral
- Sometimes higher during seasonal promotions
Best Use Case
- Bloggers teaching blogging
- Make-money-online niches
- Side hustle content
- YouTube tutorials on building websites
Blogging, hosting, and WordPress tutorials are some of the most profitable evergreen niches in affiliate marketing.
ConvertKit
ConvertKit is an email marketing platform designed specifically for creators, bloggers, and digital entrepreneurs.
Why ConvertKit Is Amazing for Bloggers
- Recurring commissions (monthly)
- Very useful for any blogger teaching:
- Email marketing
- List building
- Blogging tools
- Affiliate funnel building
Commission Structure
- Up to 30% recurring monthly
That means if someone stays a customer for 3 years, you earn every month even if you stopped promoting five months ago.
This is one of the best programs for long-term passive income.
Canva
Canva is one of the most used design tools on the internet. It’s perfect for:
- Bloggers who create templates
- Pinterest marketers
- Content creators
- Small businesses
Why Canva’s Affiliate Program Works
- Everyone already knows Canva
- Free tier + paid upgrades = easy conversion
- Perfect for tutorial, branding, or content creation blogs
- Fits almost every niche
Commissions
- Up to $36 per paid conversion
- Sometimes recurring based on the plan
One of the easiest programs to promote through tutorials and list posts.
WP Engine
WP Engine is a premium WordPress hosting platform. It’s not cheap, but premium hosting means premium commissions.
Commission Structure
- $200+ per sale or even higher, depending on the plan
Great for:
- WordPress tutorial blogs
- Web development blogs
- Agencies and marketing educators
- Blogging education pages
WP Engine commissions are some of the highest in the hosting space.
Travel Affiliate Programs
Travel bloggers can make a high recurring income by recommending:
- Booking sites
- Hotels
- Airfare
- Travel insurance
- Luggage and gear
Best Affiliate Platforms for Travel
- Booking.com affiliate program
- TripAdvisor affiliate program
- Expedia (through CJ)
- Airbnb Experiences affiliate
- SafetyWing travel insurance
- Travel gear on Amazon
Travel is a content-heavy niche, but affiliate conversions are excellent when people already have purchase intent.
Food, Kitchen & Recipe Blogs
Food bloggers sometimes think affiliate marketing is harder, but it’s not.
Best Affiliate Options
- Kitchen tools on Amazon
- Meal prep tools on ShareASale
- Cookbooks on Amazon
- Kitchen appliances on CJ
- Meal subscription programs like:
- HelloFresh
- GreenChef
- Home Chef
You can also promote:
- Air fryers
- Blenders
- Coffee gear
- Pots and pans
- Knives
- Thermometers
Food blogs and Pinterest are a perfect affiliate match.
Beauty & Fashion Affiliate Programs
Perfect for lifestyle, fashion, and beauty bloggers.
Best Platforms
- RewardStyle (LIKEtoKNOWit)
- Amazon Fashion
- Sephora Affiliate Program
- Ulta Affiliate Program
- Nordstrom Affiliate
- SHEIN Affiliate
Fashion is extremely competitive on social media, but blog posts convert well if you create:
- How-to guides
- Fashion lookbooks
- Comparison posts
- Styling advice
- Product reviews
Fitness & Health Affiliate Programs
Health and fitness are huge markets for bloggers.
Best Affiliate Partners
- ClickBank weight loss offers
- ShareASale fitness merchants
- MyFitnessPal premium
- Noom
- Protein supplements
- Keto cookbooks (Amazon)
- Fitness gear and home exercise equipment
Fitness commissions are excellent because:
- Emotional urgency
- High purchase intent
- Easy content creation
Finance Blog Affiliate Programs
Finance blogs earn some of the highest commissions online.
Best Partners
- Credit card comparison tools
- Bank account referrals
- Personal finance software
- Investment apps
- Budgeting tools
- Insurance platforms
- QuickBooks affiliate
- ZenBusiness LLC formation
Some finance affiliate programs pay $50 to $800 per conversion, depending on the offer.
Solar, Energy, Eco-Living Affiliate Programs
If you run a solar or sustainability blog, affiliate marketing is easier than you think.
Top Affiliate Categories
- Solar panel cleaning tools
- Solar generators
- Solar DIY kits
- Energy-efficiency tools
- Solar battery systems
- Sustainable home products
These are excellent for:
- Tutorials
- DIY guides
- Product comparisons
- Case studies
Best Content Types for Affiliate Marketing
If you want to earn big affiliate income, don’t just place links randomly. Instead, create purchase-intent content.
Review Posts
- “ConvertKit Review: Is It Worth It?”
- “Best Solar Generators for RVs”
Comparison Posts
- “Bluehost vs. WP Engine”
- “Air Fryer vs. Slow Cooker”
List Posts
- “Top 10 Tools for New Bloggers”
- “15 Best Kitchen Tools for Healthy Cooking”
Tutorials
- “How to Build a WordPress Site + Hosting Recommendations.”
- “How to Make Smoothies + Blender Recommendations”
Buyer’s Guides
- “How to Choose the Best VPN”
- “Best Budget Cameras for Beginners”
Case Studies
- “How I Made $1,200 Last Month With Bluehost.”
- “How I Saved $900 Using Solar Cleaning Tools.”
How to Make Affiliate Commissions Faster
If you want faster results.
Promote Only High-Quality Products
Never promote junk just for the money. Your audience notices.
Mix High Traffic + High Intent Keywords
Some keywords get lots of visitors but low conversions.
Others get fewer visitors but high conversions.
A winning blog uses both.
Build Email List Funnels
When you collect emails:
- You can promote multiple offers
- You increase lifetime value
- You don’t depend on search traffic alone
Use Pinterest
Pinterest traffic is buyer-intent driven and great for:
- Tutorials
- Shopping guides
- How-to content
- Recipes
- DIY projects
Pinterest sends consistent passive traffic to your blog.
Add Affiliate Links Throughout the Page
Not just one link at the bottom.
Add:
- In-text links
- Button CTAs
- Product images
- Comparison tables
- Call-to-action boxes
More link visibility = more conversions.
FAQ: Best Affiliate Programs for Bloggers
What are the easiest affiliate programs for beginners?
- Amazon Associates
- ShareASale
- Canva affiliate
- Travel gear on Amazon
- Meal subscription boxes
- Fitness products
They approve easily and convert well.
What affiliate programs pay the highest commissions?
- WP Engine
- Bluehost
- ClickBank courses
- Email marketing platforms (ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign)
- SaaS software with recurring billing
Some pay $200–$1,000+ per conversion.
Do I need a large audience to earn affiliate income?
No, if your content targets buyer intent, you can make affiliate income with < 1,000 monthly visitors.
Is affiliate marketing passive income?
Yes, if:
- You rank content organically
- You join recurring commission programs
- You build email list funnels
Your content can generate passive income for years.
How many affiliate programs should bloggers join?
Start with 3–5, not 50. Promote the same offers:
- in multiple articles
- through emails
- on Pinterest
- on YouTube
- on comparison guides
Repetition = more conversions.
Final Thoughts
The best affiliate programs for bloggers are the ones that fit your content niche, convert naturally, and offer strong commissions.
Whether you run a finance blog, a food blog, a DIY solar blog, a parenting blog, a travel blog, or a personal development site, you will always find affiliate programs that match your audience’s needs.
To scale quickly:
- Promote high-quality, useful products
- Write buyer-intent content
- Focus on recurring commissions
- Build email funnels
- Use Pinterest or SEO to grow traffic
Affiliate marketing rewards consistency more than anything. The content you publish today can keep earning passive income for years without additional work.