You’ve probably heard both things about ClickBank: that it’s a goldmine for affiliate marketers, and that it’s a dumping ground for garbage products. So which is it?
I’ve been using ClickBank since around 2012, back when I was a university student building squeeze pages and buying solo ads, trying to figure out how to make money online. That’s over 15 years of firsthand experience with this platform, as both an affiliate and a buyer.
In this review, I’m going to give you the straight truth: what ClickBank is, how it actually works, what’s genuinely good about it, what’s legitimately bad, and who should (and shouldn’t) use it.
No hype. No referral fluff. Just an honest assessment so you can make an informed decision.
Is ClickBank legit?
| Quick Answer Yes, ClickBank is a legitimate company. It has been in business since 1998, has paid out over $6 billion to affiliates and vendors, and operates as a real payment processor and affiliate marketplace. That said, the quality of individual products listed on ClickBank varies enormously — and that distinction matters a lot. |
What Is ClickBank?
ClickBank is an online marketplace that connects product creators (vendors) with affiliate marketers (affiliates) who promote those products in exchange for commissions.
It was founded in 1998 in Boise, Idaho, making it one of the oldest affiliate networks on the internet.
The platform specializes primarily in digital products, such as ebooks, online courses, software, membership sites, and coaching programs, though it has expanded into physical products in recent years.
Here’s how the ecosystem works
For Vendors
- You create a product (digital or physical)
- You list it on the ClickBank marketplace
- Affiliates find your product and promote it
- ClickBank handles payment processing, affiliate tracking, and commission payouts
For Affiliates
- You browse the ClickBank marketplace for products to promote
- You get a unique affiliate (HopLink) for each product
- You drive traffic to that link through your blog, email list, ads, social media, or YouTube
- When someone buys through your link, you earn a commission (typically 50–75%)
ClickBank is free to join as an affiliate. Vendors pay a one-time activation fee of $49.95 to list their first product.
| Key stat ClickBank operates in over 190 countries, hosts tens of thousands of products, and has reportedly processed over $6 billion in affiliate commissions since its founding. It is a real, established company, not a fly-by-night operation. |
Is ClickBank a Scam?
No. ClickBank itself is not a scam. Let’s be precise about what that means.
ClickBank is a legitimate business that:
- Has been operating continuously since 1998
- Is registered and regulated as a real company
- Processes hundreds of millions of dollars in transactions annually
- Pays affiliates reliably via check, direct deposit, or wire transfer
- Has a clearly stated refund policy (60-day money-back guarantee on most products)
- Has real customer support and dispute resolution processes
The confusion arises because ClickBank is a marketplace, meaning it lists products from third-party vendors, and it does not manually vet every single product for quality.
This means that while ClickBank, the company, is legitimate, some products sold through ClickBank are low quality, overhyped, or outright deceptive.
Think of it like Amazon. Amazon is a real, legitimate company. But not every product sold on Amazon through third-party sellers is honest or high quality.
You wouldn’t say “Amazon is a scam” just because some seller on the platform sells junk. The same logic applies to ClickBank.
| Bottom line ClickBank is legitimate. Specific products on ClickBank? That requires individual evaluation. The platform itself will pay you if you earn commissions, and they will refund buyers who request it under their guarantee. |
ClickBank as an Affiliate: The Real Pros and Cons
I’ve promoted ClickBank products as an affiliate across different eras of affiliate marketing. Here’s what I’ve found to be genuinely true about the affiliate experience.
The Genuine Pros
High Commission Rates
ClickBank commissions are some of the highest available anywhere in affiliate marketing. It’s common to see commissions of 50%, 60%, even 75% on digital products. Compare that to Amazon Associates (typically 1–4%), and the gap is enormous.
For digital products, where the marginal cost of an additional sale is near zero, vendors can afford to offer high commissions, and they do.
Free and Easy to Join
Unlike some affiliate programs that require an application, approval process, website review, or minimum traffic, ClickBank is open to anyone. You can sign up, browse the marketplace, and get your affiliate links in minutes.
For beginners, this low barrier to entry is genuinely valuable. You don’t need to already have an established site or audience to get started.
Reliable Payments
This is the big one. ClickBank pays on a predictable schedule, weekly or bi-weekly, depending on your settings.
They pay via direct deposit, check, or wire transfer. I have personally received payouts from ClickBank, and they arrived without issues.
For affiliates, knowing you will actually get paid is foundational. ClickBank has a long track record here.
Wide Product Variety
ClickBank’s marketplace has products in dozens of niches: health and fitness, self-help, make money online, relationships, spirituality, parenting, pets, gardening, survival, cooking, the list is long.
If you have an established niche audience, there’s likely something on ClickBank worth promoting.
Recurring Commission Products
Many ClickBank vendors offer subscription-based products, membership sites, software, and ongoing coaching where you earn a commission every month as long as the customer stays subscribed. These recurring commissions can build into meaningful passive income over time.
The Real Cons
Product Quality Is Extremely Uneven
This is the most important thing to understand about ClickBank. The platform has thousands of products, and there is no consistent quality floor.
Some products are genuinely excellent, useful, well-produced, and honestly marketed. Others are poorly made, excessively hyped, or built entirely around manipulative sales pages with fake urgency and dubious claims.
As an affiliate, you bear reputational risk when you promote a bad product. If your audience buys something on your recommendation and it disappoints them, that trust damage is yours to carry, not ClickBank’s.
The rule I follow: only promote products you have personally reviewed and would genuinely recommend. Don’t just grab high-gravity products because they’re selling well.
High Refund Rates on Some Products
Because ClickBank offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, refund rates on some products can be significant, sometimes 15% to 30% or higher.
Every refund means a commission clawback for the affiliate. If you’re promoting a product with a high refund rate, your effective earnings per sale are much lower than the headline commission suggests.
Always check the “Initial $/Sale” and “Avg %/Rebill” stats in the ClickBank marketplace, not just the headline commission percentage.
The Marketplace Interface Is Dated
ClickBank’s marketplace search and filtering tools are functional but not elegant. Finding the genuinely good products amid the noise requires some experience and diligence.
Beginners often end up promoting whatever ranks highest in “gravity” (a measure of recent affiliate sales), which isn’t always the best indicator of quality.
Some Niches Are Oversaturated
Certain ClickBank niches, particularly weight loss, make money online, and certain health supplements have been heavily promoted for decades.
Standing out as an affiliate in those spaces requires real content quality and authority. Simply building a generic review site around a popular ClickBank product is not a viable strategy in the current SEO environment.
Customer Service Can Be Slow
This applies both to affiliates with account questions and to end buyers seeking support. ClickBank’s support has historically been criticized for slow response times.
For buyers, this is partially mitigated by the automatic refund guarantee. They can usually get a refund without much friction, but it’s worth noting.
Here’s a quick summary
| Pros | Cons |
| High commission rates (50–75%) | Inconsistent product quality |
| Free to join, no approval needed | High refund rates on some products |
| Reliable, on-schedule payouts | Dated marketplace interface |
| Wide product variety across niches | Oversaturated in some popular niches |
| Recurring commission opportunities | Slower customer support |
ClickBank as a Vendor: What You Need to Know
If you’re a product creator considering ClickBank as your payment and affiliate management platform, here’s the honest picture.
The Advantages for Vendors
- Instant access to a global network of affiliates who are actively looking for products to promote
- ClickBank handles all payment processing, refunds, and tax documentation
- Affiliate tracking is built in; you don’t need to set up your own affiliate software
- The one-time $49.95 activation fee is modest for what you get
The Limitations for Vendors
- ClickBank takes a percentage of each transaction (approximately 7.5% + $1 per sale)
- You have limited control over which affiliates promote your product and how they do it
- The 60-day refund policy is non-negotiable. Buyers can request refunds for any reason
- If your product generates high refund rates or chargebacks, ClickBank can shut down your account
For digital product creators who are just starting, ClickBank can be a reasonable option to get affiliate traction quickly.
For established creators, platforms like Gumroad, ThriveCart, or building your own affiliate program (using tools like FirstPromoter or Rewardful) may offer more control at a lower cost.
Red Flags to Watch Out For on ClickBank
Whether you’re considering buying a ClickBank product, promoting one, or creating one, here are the warning signs I’ve learned to spot after years of experience.
Red Flags for Buyers
Outrageous income claims
“Make $10,000 per week with this system” is almost always false. Real businesses take real work.
Fake scarcity and countdown timers
If the timer resets every time you visit, it’s a manipulation tactic, not a real deadline.
No clear information about the product creator
Legitimate products have real people behind them with verifiable credentials or experience.
Excessive upsells immediately after purchase
Some ClickBank funnels have 3–5 upsells before you even access what you bought. That’s a sign the revenue model relies on squeezing buyers, not delivering value.
Vague descriptions of what you actually get
If the sales page never clearly explains the product, that’s intentional.
Red Flags for Affiliates
High gravity + high refund rate
Lots of affiliates promoting it doesn’t mean buyers are happy. Check the refund rate.
No affiliate support or resources
Quality vendors provide email swipes, banners, and sometimes product access for affiliates. If there’s nothing, be cautious.
Dishonest sales pages
If you wouldn’t feel comfortable sending your own audience to the sales page, don’t promote the product.
How ClickBank Compares to Alternatives
ClickBank isn’t the only affiliate network. Here’s how it compares to the most common alternatives:
| Direct digital product sales without a marketplace | Best For |
| ClickBank | Digital products, high commissions, beginners |
| Amazon Associates | Physical products, trusted brand, low commissions |
| ShareASale / CJ Affiliate | Established brands, wider product mix |
| Digistore24 | Digital products (strong in European markets) |
| Impact / Partnerstack | SaaS and software products, higher-end brands |
| Gumroad (vendor only) | Direct digital product sales without marketplace |
For pure affiliate marketing focused on digital products with high commissions, ClickBank is still one of the strongest options available, especially for affiliates who are early in their journey and want access without barriers.
I also use Digistore24 and Amazon Associates alongside ClickBank, depending on the specific product and niche. No single network is right for every situation.
Who ClickBank Is Best For
ClickBank Works Well For
- New affiliate marketers who want to start without approval hurdles or minimum traffic requirements.
- Bloggers and content creators in niches like health, self-improvement, finance, and relationships, where digital products perform well.
- Email marketers with an established list who can promote targeted offers to a warm audience.
- Digital product creators who want to tap into ClickBank’s affiliate base without building their own affiliate infrastructure from scratch.
ClickBank May Not Be Right For
- B2B or SaaS focused marketers, there are many better platforms for software and business tools
- Physical product-focused affiliates, Amazon, ShareASale, and retailer direct programs are usually better fits
- Marketers who want to work only with vetted, premium brands, ClickBank’s open marketplace model isn’t designed for that
My Personal ClickBank Experience
When I first discovered ClickBank as a university student, I was drawn in by the high commissions and the appeal of promoting information products.
I built squeeze pages, bought solo ads, and made some commissions, but I also made the classic mistake of promoting products I hadn’t personally vetted, simply because the gravity was high and the sales page was compelling.
Some of those early promotions led to buyer regret, not from me, but from people who bought based on my recommendation and didn’t get what the sales page promised. That experience shaped how I approach affiliate marketing today.
ClickBank is a tool. Like any tool, it can be used well or poorly. Used well, meaning you take the time to evaluate what you promote, you’re honest with your audience about what a product is and isn’t, and you build content that genuinely helps people make informed decisions, it can be a meaningful income stream.
I still use ClickBank today as part of my broader affiliate stack, alongside Amazon Associates and Digistore24. It’s not my only platform, but it remains a legitimate and functional one.
Final Verdict: Is ClickBank Worth It?
| ClickBank is legit The company pays what it owes, protects buyers with a 60-day guarantee, and has been running for over 25 years. The platform is not a scam. The quality of individual products, however, varies widely, and as an affiliate, it is your responsibility to promote only what you have genuinely evaluated and can honestly recommend to your audience. |
If you’re a new affiliate marketer, ClickBank is a reasonable place to start, not because every product on it is excellent, but because the barrier to entry is low, the commissions are high, and the payment infrastructure is reliable.
That gives you room to learn the mechanics of affiliate marketing while you build your content and audience.
If you’re an experienced marketer, ClickBank remains a viable income channel in certain niches — particularly health, self-improvement, and digital education as long as you apply the same due diligence you’d apply to any affiliate relationship.
My recommendation: create a free account, explore the marketplace, request review access to any product before you promote it, and judge the products individually.
ClickBank, the platform, won’t let you down. Some products on it will, but that’s true of every major affiliate network.
Frequently Asked Questions About ClickBank
Is ClickBank safe to use?
Yes. ClickBank uses SSL encryption for all transactions and operates as a real payment processor. Buyer payment information is handled securely.
The platform’s 60-day money-back guarantee also provides a safety net for buyers who are dissatisfied with their purchase.
Does ClickBank really pay affiliates?
Yes. ClickBank pays affiliates on a reliable schedule, weekly or bi-weekly, depending on your account settings. Payment options include direct deposit (ACH), check, and wire transfer.
There is a minimum payment threshold (default $10 for ACH), but once you’ve crossed it, payments arrive on schedule. In over 15 years of using the platform, I have received affiliate payments without issue.
How much can you realistically make with ClickBank?
Income varies enormously based on your niche, traffic source, audience size, and the products you promote. Some affiliates earn a few hundred dollars per month as a side income.
Others have built six- and seven-figure businesses primarily through ClickBank. Neither outcome is guaranteed, and anyone promising a specific income figure is misleading you.
Treat ClickBank commissions as one component of a broader content and affiliate marketing strategy, not a shortcut to passive income.
What is ClickBank Gravity?
Gravity is ClickBank’s proprietary metric indicating how many unique affiliates have earned a commission from a product in a recent rolling period.
A higher gravity score means more affiliates are currently making sales with that product. It is a useful signal, but not the only one.
High-gravity products can also have high refund rates, aggressive sales tactics, or saturated affiliate markets. Use gravity as one data point, not the only criterion for choosing what to promote.
Can beginners use ClickBank?
Yes, and ClickBank is actually one of the more beginner-accessible affiliate networks because it requires no application, approval, or minimum traffic.
That said, being able to join doesn’t mean success is automatic. You still need to build an audience, create useful content, and select products thoughtfully. ClickBank removes one barrier (access), but not the fundamental work of building a real affiliate business.
Is ClickBank good for health and fitness affiliate marketing?
Health and fitness is one of the most active categories on ClickBank, with products ranging from weight loss guides and fitness programs to supplements and coaching.
The category has some genuinely useful products and some that rely on questionable claims. If you’re building a health and fitness blog or email list, ClickBank is worth exploring, but apply strict due diligence before promoting anything in this space, both for ethical reasons and to protect your audience’s trust.
What’s the difference between ClickBank and Digistore24?
Both are digital product affiliate marketplaces with high commission rates. Digistore24 is particularly strong in European markets and has a somewhat more curated product selection.
ClickBank has a larger overall product catalog and longer track record in the US market. Many affiliates use both.
Your choice depends on your niche, audience geography, and which specific products you find most relevant to your content.
