Influencer marketing is rapidly evolving. Just a few years ago, most influencers relied on brand deals and sponsorships as their primary income stream.
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, why they work, the commission potential, and 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 up to $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 great 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).