Top 7 Affiliate Programs to Make Money

If you’ve ever wondered which are the top affiliate programs that actually pad your wallet—beyond the usual guesswork—you’re in the right place. Affiliate marketing isn’t some pipe dream anymore; it’s a solid side—to full—time hustle. The industry’s exploded, valued at roughly $17 billion globally in 2024 (according to Business Research Insights), and it shows no signs of slowing down.

Feeling overwhelmed? Hang tight. Here are the seven programs many affiliates keep coming back to.

Amazon Associates

Amazon Associates is like that old friend who never lets you down; it’s definitely one of the top affiliate programs out there. Sure, the commission rates can be modest (ranging from 1% to 20% depending on the product category), but with over 350 million products to choose from, you’ll find something for every niche. And the trust factor? Off the charts. 

Key perks: 

• Commission: 1 – 20 percent per sale (varies by category)
• Cookie duration: 24 hours
• Payout: Direct deposit, gift card, check

I’ll admit, it’s easy to feel underwhelmed by the rates—but consider this: a single kick-ass gadget review can turn into a mini-gold mine. Plus, the 24-hour cookie still catches a lot of cart additions.

Shopify

If you’ve got any entrepreneur vibes in your corner of the internet, Shopify’s affiliate program deserves a place on your homepage. Referrals can earn you a 200% bounty on the merchant’s subscription fee for their first two payments (up to $500), or you can opt for a fixed bounty for specific plans.

Why it clicks:

• Commission: 200% bounty on the first two merchant payments (up to $500)
• Cookie duration: 30 days
• Marketing toolkit: Banners, tutorials, success stories

This should be your go-to when you’re chatting with makers, coaches, or anyone dreaming of their own online store. Short, sweet, and real money. 

SEMrush

Got a marketing-minded crowd? SEMrush pays a cool $200 for each new subscription sale and $10 for every new trial activation—plus a generous 120-day cookie. Their SEO and ad research tools practically sell themselves once you show a screenshot of those traffic-boost graphs.

No bullet list here—just trust me when I say, if your readers live and breathe Google Analytics, this one converts like crazy.

Fiverr

Sometimes you just want a quick fix: a logo, a blog post, or a voice-over. Fiverr’s affiliate program rewards you with a CPA of $15 to $150 per first-time buyer (depending on the service category) or a 10% revenue share for 12 months. It’s the perfect fit for content creators and social media mavens pushing freelance services. 

Bluehost

I can’t sugarcoat it—web hosting isn’t the flashiest affiliate niche. But Bluehost makes up for any yawn factor with rock-solid reliability. Their $65-per-sale commission is straightforward (no tiered nonsense), and they’ve beefed up that cookie to a comfy 60 days. 

Toss in a screenshot of your own cPanel or a clip of that 24/7 live-chat rep answering questions. It’s proof that Bluehost is worth your followers’ time and money. 

Coursera

Ever seen eyes light up at the promise of “up to 45% off”? No? Try “up to 45% commission.” Coursera’s program is a dream for anyone with an audience seeking real-world skills—data science, digital marketing, you name it.

Think of it this way: if your reader is someone who devours blog posts on career growth or personal development, slipping in a Coursera specialization link feels like a natural next step. With a 30-day cookie, you’ve got time to remind them, “Hey, that Python course is waiting for you.”

ClickFunnels

Okay, full disclosure: ClickFunnels sometimes feels like the high-stakes poker table of affiliate marketing. But when you score, you really score. A 20% recurring commission on software plans—plus 30–40% on their front-end offers—means you’re earning every month as long as referrals stick around. 

While it’s one of the best affiliate marketing programs, there’s an initial threshold to hit before you unlock higher commission tiers, but trust me, it’s worth pushing past that first plateau. 

Affiliate marketing can feel like navigating a maze blindfolded. But once you’ve found a handful of programs that resonate with your audience, you can stop hopping from fad to fad and start building predictable income streams. 

Which one will you test first?

Stay with us!