16 Best Affiliate Marketing Programs for Beginners To Make Money in 2024

Finding the right affiliate programs for beginners is crucial when starting your marketing journey.

While thousands of high-paying opportunities exist, choosing strategically can mean the difference between generating revenue within weeks versus struggling for months.

Take it from us – we have 10+ years of experience earning huge affiliate commissions in a variety of affiliate niches.

To help you start earning faster, we’ve identified the best affiliate programs beginners, comparing everything from payment terms to ease of use.

Best Affiliate Programs For Beginners

1. Amazon Associates Affiliate Program
2. CJ (Commission Junction) Affiliate Program
3. ShareASale Affiliate Program
4. ClickBank Affiliate Program
5. Rakuten Advertising Affiliate Program
6. Impact Affiliate Program
7. Awin Affiliate Program
8. Etsy Affiliate Program
9. eBay Partner Network Affiliate Program
10. Fiverr Affiliate Program
11. Refersion Marketplace
12. PepperJam Network
13. FlexOffers Affiliate Program
14. Avangate Affiliate Program
15. MaxBounty Affiliate Program
16. LinkConnector Affiliate Program

Affiliate Networks vs. Affiliate Programs

The first mental hurdle is understanding the difference between in-house affiliate marketing programs (merchants) and affiliate networks.

Some beginners treat these terms as if they’re interchangeable – they’re not.

Let’s say you build an affiliate website promoting outdoor sporting equipment, such as trampolines, water slides, lawn sports, etc.

You’d then have the choice of signing up for several (or dozens!) affiliate marketing programs for different manufacturers and suppliers.

You could also sign up for a network that connects you with most of the product suppliers you want to work with.

The sensible route for somebody new to affiliate marketing is to sign up with affiliate networks and go from there simply.

But affiliate networks aren’t some panacea.

Some affiliate programs only exist outside of affiliate networks, so you’d have to sign up for them individually.

My favorite example of this was when I started out as an affiliate marketer… focusing on replica lightsabres.

True story – I made a lot of money selling toy lightsabers.

The company behind them was Master Replicas, which ran a great affiliate program. So I had to sign up directly with them because they “owned” the prop and replica lightsabre market back then.

Years later, they migrated to an affiliate network, but the payouts were lower, the terms were pretty bad, and eventually, I just let the affiliate site die of a broken heart…and broken affiliate links.

So, we’re going to look at both sides of the game.

Firstly, the best and most popular affiliate networks, and secondly, a range of diverse and reasonably generic enough affiliate programs that apply to most audiences.

What To Look For In A Good Affiliate Marketing Program

Ease of Use

The best programs make it simple to:

• Generate affiliate links
• Access marketing materials
• Track your earnings
• Navigate the dashboard

While affiliate networks like ShareASale and CJ typically offer polished interfaces, some individual merchant programs can be frustratingly complex.

As a beginner, stick to programs with user-friendly platforms – you want to focus on marketing, not fighting with clunky software.

Support Quality

Things inevitably go wrong: links break, payments get delayed, or tracking issues arise. When problems occur, you need reliable support.

Look for programs that offer:

• A dedicated affiliate manager
• Clear contact methods
• Quick response times
• Documentation and resources

Avoid programs where support seems like an afterthought – “Bob from IT handles that” is a red flag.

Payment Terms

Understanding how and when you’ll get paid is crucial:

• Commission rates: Higher isn’t always better; consider conversion rates too
• Payment threshold: Minimum amount needed before payment
• Payment schedule: Most programs pay Net-30 (30 days after sale), but some stretch to Net-90
• Payment methods: Check, PayPal, wire transfer, etc.

Choose programs with payment terms that match your financial needs. Waiting 90 days for payment might not work if you need faster cash flow.

These factors determine not just your earnings potential, but also your day-to-day experience as an affiliate.

Best Affiliate Marketing Programs For Beginners

Now, look at the best affiliate marketing programs for first-timers— those that give you the best chance of making money online with your new business.

1 Amazon Associates

Jeff Bezos is a pretty clever guy. He’s also indescribably wealthy – his bank balance looks like his name converted to binary.

That wealth comes from foresight, like being one of the first online retailers to offer an affiliate program in 1996.

Yes, there was an Internet in 1996, except you could hear it when you picked up the phone. Ask your parents what that means if you don’t understand.

The Amazon Affiliate Program (aka Amazon Associates Program) is one of the oldest affiliate programs and the most popular, with 58.5% of affiliate marketers using it, according to our affiliate marketing statistics page.

It’s also vast, encompassing all of Amazon’s products sold online. So, if you can find something on Amazon, you can sell it and earn a profit.

That includes everything from books to bullhorns and anything in between—there’s something for every audience.

Amazon’s affiliate marketing program is the first place we send brand-new affiliates simply because it’s so easy to use, especially when creating your first affiliate link(s).

• URL: Amazon Associates Program
• Type: Affiliate program
• Payment methods: Direct deposit, Check, Amazon gift certificate
• Payment threshold: $10
• You get paid: Net 60
• Best suited to: Affiliate marketing beginners building their first site

2 CJ

CJ — formerly known as Commission Junction — is one of the oldest affiliate networks out there. I’ve been using it since about 2002.

What makes them different from Amazon is that CJ specializes in big brand names, as well as smaller product and service suppliers.

When writing this, they represent major companies such as Zappos, Walgreens, Verizon, Under Armour, Trip Advisor, Staples, Sonos, Disney Shops, Sears, and Samsung.

And roughly 2,473 other affiliate marketing programs.

In addition to the super diverse range of brands and products, you also get all the tools successful affiliate marketers need — from excellent support to simple affiliate link creation.

But what I really love about the CJ Affiliate network is its metrics – I can clearly see if an affiliate program is profitable or not.

That’s a huge time saver.

There’s no guesswork involved, so you can map out exactly what affiliate programs you’ll promote and roughly how much you can expect to make per sale.

• URL: CJ
• Type: Affiliate network
• Payment methods: Direct Deposit, Payoneer
• Payment threshold: $50
• You get paid: Net 30
• Best suited to: Affiliate marketers with 3 – 6 months of experience.

3 ShareASale

ShareASale is probably one of the most overlooked affiliate networks out there.

Part of this is because the interface looks very 2002 – it hasn’t changed since I first signed up for my account many, many moons ago.

And the lack of a “Wow” factor puts some new affiliate marketers off.

But my friends, my friends – ShareASale has some of the best affiliate programs out there. Some pay $300 – $350 per sale. And no, those affiliate programs have nothing to do with…umm, “enlargement” products or anything like that.

In fact, they represent around 5,000 different affiliate programs, but these are focused more on smaller but profitable companies rather than large brand names.

The affiliate marketing dashboard is basic but functional; sometimes, the lack of complexity is a good thing.

ShareASale is one network you should seriously consider signing up for.

• URL: ShareASale
• Type: Affiliate network
• Payment methods: Check, Direct Deposit, Wire, Payoneer
• Payment threshold: $50
• You get paid: Net 30
• Best suited to: An affiliate marketer looking for emerging brands or more tangential products and services.

4 ClickBank

ClickBank is yet another affiliate network that falls into the “grandparent” category — they’ve been online since 1998.

It’s a real rags-to-riches business story—one started by friends sitting around a garage but eventually transformed into a business with US$3 billion in sales per year.

While every other affiliate program was trying to figure out how to ship goods while still generating a profit, the guys at ClickBank turned that idea on its head by focusing instead on selling digital products.

That meant instant delivery, almost no overheads, and the ability for them to work directly with creators. Although they could never have imagined social media to be a thing, their range of products can also work extremely well with those audiences. 

You can find all of their products in the ClickBank Marketplace, but they also feature some physical products. 

The Marketplace interface is functional, but it hasn’t changed since 1998. It’s a minor gripe, but it’s long overdue a facelift.

If you need more help getting started as a ClickBank affiliate, check out our (well, Gael wrote it, so it’s a collective we) article on how to make money with ClickBank.

• URL: ClickBank
• Type: Affiliate network
• Payment methods: Direct Deposit, Check, Wire Transfer, Payoneer
• Payment threshold: $50
• You get paid: Net 60
• Best suited to: Marketers who prefer promoting digital products

5 Rakuten Advertising

You might not have heard of Rakuten, but they’re a Japanese affiliate marketing service provider.

They put their foot in the door of the affiliate marketing scene when they acquired LinkShare in 2005.

Since then, they’ve grown the Rakuten Linkshare platform from a market presence to a winner of many awards.

So….is it suitable for beginner affiliates?

The short answer is “Yes,” but let me elaborate:

1. The interface is pretty similar to most other affiliate networks
2. They represent 1,000+ brands and businesses
3. Their merchants supply everything from gifts and flowers to consumer electronics and office supplies.

The only potential downside is that Rakuten is a serious player in the affiliate marketing scene, so the approval process can be slow, especially if your site has little or no traffic.

That said, Rakuten is a sleeping giant most newbie affiliates don’t pay enough attention to.

Some affiliates have implied this network is slow to pay out, but I’ve never had an issue with them.

• URL: Rakuten affiliate program
• Type: Affiliate network
• Payment methods: Paypal, Direct deposit (ACH), Check
• Payment threshold: $50
• You get paid: Net 30
• Best suited to: Affiliates who want to broaden their horizons beyond Amazon and eBay.

6 Impact

Impact is essentially another major affiliate marketing network, despite its claims otherwise. However, it is not as old as ClickBank and ShareASale.

But age, after all, is just a number, so Impact’s comparative youthfulness definitely shouldn’t stop you from signing up. Its founders created Commission Junction, so they clearly know what they’re doing!

Like the other big-name networks, Impact features many household names, including Adidas, Airbnb, and HSBC. At the time of writing, 2,517 brands were using the platform to reach new audiences, and new advertisers were always joining the network.

Unsurprisingly, for a (relative) newcomer to the world of affiliate marketing, Impact’s user interface is a lot fancier than most affiliate networks. 

But this isn’t just about cosmetic appeal — it also incorporates some smart, user-friendly features. 

One of my favorites is the “brands to work with instantly” section, which lists all the advertisers offering instant approvals. This fantastic feature makes it easy for new affiliate marketers to get up and running quickly.

• URL: Impact
• Type: Affiliate network
• Payment methods: Direct Deposit, PayPal, Wire Transfer
• Payment threshold: Varies by payment method
• You get paid: Monthly
• Best suited to: Affiliate marketers looking for programs offering instant approvals

7 Awin

While it’s hard to quantify, Awin can definitely claim to be the largest affiliate network, with more than 16,500 advertisers and 225,000 publishers at the time of this writing. 

In 2020 alone, the platform generated an impressive 182 million sales, and its affiliates earned $1 billion in commission, so it’s a pretty big deal.

And it’s not only big; it’s also one of the oldest networks. Although Awin has technically only existed since 2017, its roots can be traced back to the Zanox and Affiliate Window networks, both of which started out in 2000.

Not content with running its own network, Awin also acquired another of the networks on this list—ShareASale—a couple of years ago. However, they operate as totally separate entities with their own merchants, so successful affiliates can sign up for both.

As you’d expect, there are plenty of big names on Awin, including Emirates, Etsy, and Under Armour.

However, as an affiliate marketer, my favorite thing about Awin is its commitment to fast payments. Many of its affiliate programs offer accelerated payments, plus you’ll get paid for validated transactions regardless of when Awin gets paid by the advertiser.

• URL: Awin
• Type: Affiliate network
• Payment methods: SEPA, BACS, ACH, Domestic payments, Payoneer, Paypal, Checks
• Payment threshold: From $20
• You get paid: Once or twice a month (you choose)
• Best suited to: Affiliates who want to get paid promptly!

8 Etsy Affiliate Program

The Etsy program is an affiliate marketing hybrid.

That’s because the products sold through the platform are made by independent crafters, vintage traders, and artists, although there has been some “creep” with overseas manufacturers trying to stake a claim here.

So it’s an affiliate network for sole traders if that makes sense.

Etsy has become the leading platform in its niche. In just a few short years, it has gone from zero to a publicly traded company.

What I find interesting about Etsy is that a surprising number of people I know have either bought something on Etsy or are selling their own handicrafts on the platform.

You can make money through Etsy’s affiliate program by linking to products you find on the platform and/or reviewing them. Then, when one of your visitors makes a purchase, you’ll receive a 4% commission

So, is this one of the best affiliate marketing programs for newbies? Well, you probably won’t retire on Etsy commission payments, but it does offer you a great chance to make worthwhile cash.

• URL: Etsy affiliate program
• Type: Merchant (via Awin)
• Payment methods: SEPA, BACS, ACH, Domestic payments, Payoneer, Paypal, Checks
• Payment threshold: $20
• You get paid: Net 30
• Best suited to: Affiliates interested in handmade items, personalized products, or vintage goods.

9 eBay Partner Network

We won’t insult you with a brief history of eBay because everyone knows what it is.

But what started out as a way for people to clear out their garages and make a few bucks has become a global marketing platform for individuals and big brands alike.

Did you know that more than 80% of the 1.4 billion listings on eBay are for new items?

It’s not just a marketplace for used goods and/or junk.

So, while most newbies jump straight into bed with Amazon (not a wrong decision), few pause to give the eBay affiliate program a second look.

eBay also manages its own affiliate program, so there are no “middlemen” involved—you work directly with them.

That means building a relationship with their team of affiliate managers, which could be invaluable to you in years to come.

In short, this affiliate program — officially called the eBay Partner Network (EPN) — isn’t perfect, but it can be an excellent place for brand-new affiliates to start out, usually in conjunction with the Amazon Associates Program.

• URL: eBay Partner Network
• Type: Merchant
• Payment methods: PayPal, EFT
• Payment threshold: $10
• You get paid: Net 30
• Best suited to: Anyone – if you’ve ever been on eBay, you’ll understand why

10 Fiverr Affiliate Program

Speak to many other affiliate marketers, and I bet they’ll tell you that selling services is usually much easier than selling physical products.

Present an audience with a list of service providers, and they’ll take care of the rest.

Fiverr took that basic concept and ran with it, monetizing the gig industry for services covering the following umbrella categories: graphic design, marketing, writing, video and animation, music, programming, business, lifestyle, and industries.

Although you can sign up for their program on CJ.com, we will focus on their in-house affiliate program instead for simplicity.

It’s potentially one of the highest-paying affiliate programs out there. The Fiverr affiliate program offers up to $150 per referral, depending on the category of the service provider you’re promoting.

Unlike other affiliate programs, you also have multiple ways of earning affiliate revenue with Fiverr, including their ‘Learn from Fiverr’ courses, where you get paid 30% per sale.

Although this gig platform built its reputation on selling digital services like WordPress installations and backlink building, you can now also find “lifestyle” services like arts and crafts, tarot readings, or even relationship advice.

Oh, and their affiliate program takes about 30 seconds to sign up to – enter your name and email address and choose a password.

• URL: Fiverr affiliate program
• Type: Merchant
• Payment methods: PayPal, Payoneer, Wire Transfer
• Payment threshold: $100
• You get paid: Net 30
• Best suited to: Any blog with a topic that is directly or tangentially related to a Fiverr gig category, although business-style services do tend to sell very well.

11 Refersion Marketplace

Refersion is an affiliate network I stumbled across recently.

I had never heard of them because they’ve only been around since 2015. At that time, they managed to onboard 17,000 advertisers.

That’s no mean feat in an industry where other networks struggle to sign on a few hundred merchants.

What the Refersion Marketplace lacks in style, it more than makes up for with its sheer volume of advertisers.

• Signup URL: Refersion Marketplace
• Offer types: CPS
• Payment methods: PayPal
• Payment threshold: Dependent on advertiser
• Payment terms: Dependant on advertiser
• Most suited to: New affiliate marketers having trouble getting accepted by other platforms.

12 PepperJam

PepperJam might not be a name you’re instantly familiar with.

But they’ve been part of the affiliate marketing industry for a long time, making a big enough splash to be acquired by eBay in 2009.

They were then relaunched under the PepperJam brand again in 2016.

They represent a mixture of huge brands, including Puma, Nordstrom, Orion, Lindt, and many more niche brands.

• Signup URL: PepperJam
• Offer types: CPS
• Payment methods: PayPal – you have to contact support for other options.
• Payment threshold: $25
• Payment terms: Net 60
• Most suited to: PepperJam is a solid network for new and experienced affiliates alike.

13 FlexOffers

FlexOffers stand out from the crowd…by not standing out from it.

Affiliate marketing is overflowing with hype, but FlexOffers avoids doing that.

Instead, they humbly get on with being an affiliate network.

They do this despite providing an affiliate marketing platform for companies such as Macy’s, Walgreens, Kohl’s, Hulu, McAfee, and AT&T, among others.

They have 12,000 advertisers to choose from, although they consider only 500 of these to be “premium” merchants.

• Signup URL:  FlexOffers
• Offer types: CPS, CPL, Flat rate, Per Install
• Payment methods: Check, Bank transfer, wire transfer, PayPal
• Payment threshold: $25
• Payment terms:  Net 60
• Most suited to: Affiliates who need or want access to the broadest selection of advertisers possible.

14 Avangate Network

Avangate was founded in 2006, and like ClickBank, they only promote digital products.

However, unlike ClickBank, the brands they represent are software and digital courses – but 99% software.

Now, before we go any further, Avangate is basically two companies – Avangate is their affiliate software platform.

However, their affiliate network is 2Checkout, which is massively confusing because they’re also a payment processor.

Anyways, 2Checkout has 22,000 software advertisers signed up with them, and it also has a handful of online courses, like SuperReading.

In terms of software, you’ll find everything from Hide My Ass, Bit Defender, Malware Bytes, SEO PowerSuite, and Filmora to FTP software.

• Signup URL: Avangate Network
• Offer types: CPS 
• Payment methods: Check, direct deposit, PayPal and Avangate Mastercard
• Payment threshold: $100
• Payment terms:  Net 30

15 MaxBounty

MaxBounty is a Canadian network that’s been around since the early days of affiliate marketing in 2004.

While most other networks provide a wide range of offers, MaxBounty focuses on what it does best: CPA offers.

You get paid when affiliates take a specific action, like installing software or completing a form.

Typical CPA offers tend to be far more lucrative than, say, CPS or flat-rate offers.

They have around 2,000 campaigns on their books, including those for more popular niches like online dating and dieting.

• Signup URL: MaxBounty
• Offer types: CPA, CPL, and CPI
• Payment methods: Direct deposit, check, PayPal, Payoneer
• Payment threshold: $50
• Payment terms: TBC
• Most suited to: Established affiliates with plenty of traffic and who need new CPA offers to push.

16 LinkConnector

Although LinkConnector has been around for over a decade, they’re rarely featured in roundups like this.

But that happens when you plagiarize other affiliate marketing blogs for your own content.

So, what makes them different from every other network?

Well, they might not be widely known, but they’ve landed some pretty big names, including Reebok, Levi’s, Dockers, Omaha Steaks, Brain Sensei, and Deposit Photos.

That gives you a decent mix of physical and digital products to promote.

However, their advertiser directory also contains several more niche offers—it’s pretty eclectic.

• Signup URL: LinkConnector
• Offer types: CPS, CPL, Per Click, and Pay per Call
• Payment methods: Check or PayPal
• Payment threshold: $100
• Payment terms:  Net 30

Wrapping Things Up

Choosing and managing multiple affiliate programs can feel overwhelming when you’re just starting out. There’s a lot to track – from different dashboards and payment schedules to various commission structures and promotional requirements.

But what if there was a way to sidestep all that complexity and start profiting from affiliate marketing almost immediately?

Picture yourself earning your first $100 day within weeks – not months – using just your smartphone. No website building, no SEO expertise needed, and no juggling multiple affiliate platforms.

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