Influencer marketing is rapidly evolving. Just a few years ago, most influencers relied on brand deals and sponsorships as their primary source of income.
But today, the most successful creators are shifting toward affiliate marketing because it offers something traditional sponsorships don’t:
👉 passive, recurring income
Instead of getting paid once for a sponsored post, influencers can get paid:
- Every time a follower clicks a link
- Every time someone signs up
- Every time a product is purchased
- sometimes, for years, if it’s a recurring SaaS product
In this guide, I will show you the best affiliate programs for influencers, explain why they work, discuss the potential commission, and provide tips on how to promote them without being spammy.
What Makes a Great Affiliate Program for Influencers?
Not every affiliate program is created equal. Before you join one, consider:
Easy Application & Approval
Some programs are strict (like Amazon requires content or traffic), while others approve new influencers with zero friction.
High Commission Rates
Look for:
- 30–50% recurring commissions (SaaS)
- $20 to $250 CPA per sale (mid-ticket)
- $500 to $2,000 high-ticket offers (courses, coaching, hosting platforms)
Strong Brand Reputation
If your audience trusts the brand, conversion rates increase dramatically.
Long Cookie Duration
A 30–90 day cookie is ideal. The longer the cookie, the more you earn when followers take time to decide.
Real-Time Tracking
You need:
- click tracking
- conversion stats
- approved payouts
- transparent analytics
Mobile Optimization
Links must work on:
- TikTok
- YouTube
- Link-in-bio tools
- SMS or WhatsApp
Types of Affiliate Programs Influencers Can Join
Influencers can monetize many types of products:
Physical Products
Perfect for Instagram, TikTok, lifestyle, beauty, fitness, home décor, kitchen, or DIY.
Examples:
- Amazon
- Shein
- Walmart
- Sephora
- Home Chef
Digital Products
These products are ideal for content creators, entrepreneurs, marketers, or SaaS users.
Examples:
- ConvertKit
- Shopify
- SEMrush
- Systeme.io
- TubeBuddy
- Grammarly
Courses and Coaching
Some of the highest-paying affiliate programs offer commissions ranging from $500 to $1,500 per sale.
Subscription Apps
Meal kits, health apps, tech tools, cloud services, email automation, and mobile apps.
Fintech & Investing
This category includes crypto, banking, investing, and personal finance and offers excellent commissions.
Best Overall Affiliate Networks for Influencers
These networks let you join hundreds or thousands of brands with one account.
Impact
Best for: creators across many niches
Commission potential: high
Pros
- Top-tier brands
- Great dashboards and tracking
- Many global offers
This platform is ideal for influencers who wish to test and scale their offers.
ShareASale
This platform is best suited for influencers in the fashion, home, finance, SaaS, and lifestyle sectors.
Pros
- The approval process is quite straightforward.
- There are numerous mid-ticket and recurring offers available.
CJ Affiliate (Commission Junction)
Best for: travel, finance, tech, and high-ticket programs.
Pros
- Well-established brands.
- High EPC (strong conversions).
Rakuten Advertising
Best for: fashion, e-commerce, lifestyle brands
Pros:
- Known luxury and retail brands
- Perfect for Instagram and TikTok influencers
Awin
Best for: international programs
Pros:
- Many beauty, fashion, lifestyle, travel
Digistore24
Best for: high-ticket offers, courses, health, fitness
Pros:
- High commissions
- $50 to $2,000 per sale
ClickBank
Best for: digital products, e-learning, health, supplements
Pros:
- Very high commissions (50%+)
- Easy approval
Note: conversions depend heavily on audience trust.
Best SaaS Affiliate Programs for Influencers
SaaS offers recurring commissions and long-term income.
ConvertKit
Who it’s for: creators, YouTubers, course sellers, bloggers
Commission: 30% recurring for life
Why it’s great:
- Every signup can earn you money for months or years
Perfect for: - influencers teaching email marketing, content creation, business, or personal branding
Shopify
Who it’s for: ecommerce, dropshipping, entrepreneurship, side hustle influencers
Commission: $100+ per referral
Why it works:
- Huge audience demand
- Evergreen, everyone wants an online store.
Systeme.io
Who it’s for: funnel builders, automation, email, coaching, and affiliate marketing
Commission: 40% recurring
Extremely beginner-friendly
Great for:
- YouTube tutorials
- Bloggers
- Business creators
SEMrush
Who it’s for: SEO, marketing, content creators
Commission:
- Up to $200 per sale
Why it’s powerful: - High-ticket SaaS
- Loyal customers → predictable recurring income
Wix
Commission:
- Up to $100 per sign-up
Fit: - design, branding, entrepreneurship, creative influencers
TubeBuddy
Who it’s for: YouTube creators
Commission:
- 30–50% recurring
Perfect for: - influencers teaching YouTube or video growth
Grammarly
Who it’s for: students, creators, business professionals
Commission:
- $20+ per signup
High converting because: - Millions of users already trust it
Best Beauty and Fashion Affiliate Programs for Influencers
Beauty and lifestyle influencers convert like crazy on affiliate platforms because audiences trust aesthetic recommendations.
Amazon Associates
Pros:
- Easy approval
- Vast product library
- Great for link-in-bio setups
The downside: - Low commissions (1–6%)
But: - High conversions offset low %.
Perfect for: - beauty routines
- outfit hauls
- product reviews
- unboxing videos
Sephora
Commission:
- 5–8%
Audience fit: - makeup, skincare, lifestyle influencers
Nordstrom
Commission:
- 5–10%
Great for: - fashion, luxury, style influencers
RewardStyle / LIKEtoKNOW.it
Amazing if you already have:
- Instagram or Pinterest traffic
High conversion because: - audiences shop directly from curated looks
Ulta Beauty
Audience:
- skincare, lifestyle
Fit: - tutorials, reviews, everyday products
Shein / Fashion Nova
Commission:
- Influencer-friendly
Perfect for: - TikTok try-ons
- reels
- shopping hauls
Easy to go viral
Best Fitness, Health, and Wellness Affiliate Programs
Fitness audiences are highly responsive to transformation and lifestyle storytelling.
MyFitnessPal
Commission:
- Free and premium subscriptions
Audience: - weight loss, motivation, habit building
Beachbody
Commission:
- mid and high-ticket
Great for: - fitness challenges
- transformation programs
WeightWatchers & Noom
Perfect for:
- wellness, moms, health creators
High conversion because: - strong brand authority
Athletic Greens
High-ticket product
Great for:
- podcasts
- YouTube video reviews
- short-form reels
Best Home, Kitchen, and Lifestyle Affiliate Programs
Lifestyle audiences shop impulsively, especially for home décor, kitchen setups, tools, and subscriptions.
Wayfair
Pros:
- Beautiful home products
- Great EPC
Williams-Sonoma
Best for:
- cooking
- DIY kitchen content
Casper
Best for:
- sleep routines
- product demos
- mattress reviews
High-ticket potential
HelloFresh / Home Chef
Amazing for:
- mom bloggers
- recipe influencers
- TikTok cooking shows
Commissions: - $10–$90 per signup, depending on region
Best Personal Finance & Fintech Affiliate Programs
Finance influencers make serious affiliate income because:
💰 audiences take high-value actions
💰 platforms pay big CPA rates
Robinhood / Webull / Coinbase
Commission:
- Free signup → payout
Perfect for: - investing channels
- educational finance content
Chime
Commission:
- $50 to $100 CPA
Acorns
Hands down, one of the easiest approvals
Perfect for:
- TikTok personal finance creators
Capital One Secured Cards
Perfect for:
- credit rebuilding niches
High commission potential because underwriting is digital
Highest Paying Affiliate Programs for Influencers
If you want big money, focus on:
Recurring SaaS
- ConvertKit
- Systeme.io
- SEMrush
- TubeBuddy
Recurring income means you get paid every month without posting again
High-Ticket Courses and Coaching
These may offer:
- $200 to $1,500 per sale
Best when: - You build trust
- You showcase real results
- You offer tutorials or case studies
Web Hosting and Website Builders
- Bluehost
- Shopify
- Wix
The cost ranges from $65 to $150 per signup, or even higher.
How Influencers Can Promote Affiliate Links Without Being Salesy
Success depends on content first, not sales pitches.
Product Tutorials
Show how you actually use the product.
Before/After Transformations
Fitness, skincare, and home décor. These skyrocket conversions.
Storytelling
“Here’s what I struggled with; this tool helped me…”
Short-Form Videos
- TikTok
- YouTube Shorts
- IG Reels
Impactful, snack-able, authentic
Long-Form Content
Reviews, unboxings, tutorials, walk-throughs
Evergreen Platforms
Blog posts + Pinterest pins + YouTube videos = income long after posting
Build an Email List
This is where the real affiliate income lives.
Mistakes Influencers Should Avoid
❌ Don’t promote products you never used
❌ Don’t choose low-paying programs when SaaS offers 30% recurring
❌ Don’t hide affiliate disclosures (FTC compliance matters)
❌ Don’t rely only on sponsorships; it’s a one-time payday
❌ Don’t ignore analytics; test different offers
How Influencers Can Scale Affiliate Earnings
Create Evergreen Content
YouTube + Pinterest + Blog
Build an Email List
Use ConvertKit or Systeme.io
You own your audience → infinite monetization
Repurpose Every Video
Turn:
- 1 YouTube video → 10 TikToks → 10 reels → 5 pins → 1 blog
Join Multiple Networks
Test offers until one sticks
Promote Recurring SaaS
Same work, recurring income
This is the smartest move long-term
FAQ
What is the best affiliate program for new influencers?
Amazon Associates is the easiest to start with because you can promote everyday products that your followers already want.
Do influencers need a blog for affiliate marketing?
No, but having a blog improves evergreen traffic and conversions. Blogs and Pinterest = affiliate income for years.
How do affiliate programs pay influencers?
Most pay via PayPal, bank transfer, or direct deposit monthly or biweekly.
Are there affiliate programs for TikTok and Instagram only?
Yes, LIKEtoKNOW.it, Amazon storefronts, lifestyle, and fashion networks are ideal.
What are the easiest affiliate programs to get approved for?
- Amazon Associates
- Digistore24
- Systeme.io
- Awin
- ClickBank
Conclusion
Brand deals can give you quick cash, but affiliate programs give you something more valuable:
passive income + financial independence
Influencers earn more by promoting products they genuinely love, using evergreen content, tutorials, email lists, and high-trust storytelling.
Start with 2–3 programs that fit your niche, track performance, test consistently, and scale what converts.