Affiliate Programs are almost like freelance. However, in freelance, you have to work under a contract. They will give you a task & upon completing it, they will pay you. What will happen if you get sick for one month & can’t work? Simple, no work, no money. So, it’s almost like digital labor. To earn money, you have to work continuously in the same way as always.
I’m not too fond of it. I want something that will pay me even when I sleep. Then, of course, I agree to work hard for 1-2 years to build a base, but that’s it. Afterward, I want financial freedom.
As you can see, my motto is simple. I want to work hard for a limited period and a lifetime of financial freedom. If you want the same freedom as me, then you are welcome to this guide.
In this guide, you will find out the highest-paying affiliate niches. I will show you how an affiliate program can give you the ultimate financial freedom. It is not contractual work. Instead, we call it “a lucrative passive income opportunity” where you have to work maximum for 1-2 years at most, then money will come to you automatically while you sleep in comfort.
What is an Affiliate Program?
In short, when you promote a company’s product, you become its affiliate. When a visitor purchases through your affiliate link, you receive a commission. That’s it. Now, the question is, why is it a passive income? And why are you supposed to make money automatically?
Well, by using a website, you can make the whole process complete automation. Let me give you an example; as you can see, Cliobra.com is my website/blog. When my audience (you) visit my site & click on a product/service, they are directed to their website. If they like their product/service, they will purchase from them. And I will get the commission.
As you can see, I did my task when they left my website. So, my objective is to convince them about this particular product/service so that they will visit their site.
The whole process is complete automation from our side, while the affiliate program owner will use affiliate marketing software to track our performance, such as sales, clicks, etc. All I have to do is write an actionable insight about a product I want to promote. And the rest of the task will happen automatically. I have to do nothing at all. The more visitors I have in a particular month, the more money I can make.
If you want to learn details about affiliate marketing & how it works, I suggest you read my other guide about affiliate promotion.
Recommended Reading: Proven Methods to Promote Affiliate Links & Monetize Your Blog
What are the Best Affiliate Programs?
Honestly speaking, there is no such thing. Best is an entirely subjective term that depends on individuals’ efforts. Which is best for me, perhaps it is worst for you. However, in this guide, I will give you a list of free affiliate programs that will pay you handsomely & regularly. However, it is unrealistic if you are looking for affiliate programs that pay daily because most large brands used to pay twice a month or monthly but not daily.
Anyway, I guarantee you that – if you are dedicated, you may earn a steady flow of money from your home.
14 Web Hosting Affiliate Programs.
1. BlueHost.
It is one of the highest-paying web hosting affiliate programs. Trusted by millions of affiliates worldwide. It is also one of the best-selling affiliate products.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Plenty of advertising tools (banners, text links, etc.)
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
Payout: $65 to $130 based on the purchase.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
2. Hostinger.
It is another popular & high-paying web hosting affiliate program. Its discount offer is one of the most powerful tools to promote.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Advertising tools available (banners, text links, etc.)
- 90% discount offer ($0.99 per month) is highly attractive to convert visitors.
Payout: $60 to $150 based on the purchase.
Payout Method: Bank transfer or PayPal.
3. HostGator.
It is one of the oldest web hosting platforms. They have a high-paying commission structure, just like Hostinger.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Advertising tools available (banners, text links, etc.)
- The 60% discount offer is very attractive to convert your visitors.
Payout: up to $100 commission based on purchase package.
Payout Method: Check or PayPal.
4. Cloudways.
This one is specially designed for cloud hosting. They have many flexible options to choose from. Therefore, it will be easy for you to promote this service.
Feature:
- As usual, you are free to join.
- Various advertising tools available (banners, text links, etc.)
- A free trial & no credit card is a lucrative offer to convert your audience.
Payout: from $30 to $125 per signup and a 7% lifetime recurring commission in a hybrid model.
Payout Method: Wire transfer or PayPal.
5. GreenGeeks.
This web hosting provider is focused on nature restoration. A popular hosting affiliate program has already paid over $6.5 million to its affiliate.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Have numerous advertising tools to promote products (banners, text links, etc.)
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
- A 30-day money-back guarantee is a great tool to convert the audience.
Payout: up to $100 per sale based on your monthly performance.
Payout Method: Check or PayPal.
6. WP Engine.
One of the highest-paying affiliate programs in web hosting. Though their service is also costly, their service quality is for premium web admins.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- They have many advertisement tools (banners, text links, etc.)
Payout: up to $200 per sale for the first month. Additional bonus payment of up to $1,500 based on monthly sale performance.
Payout Method: PayPal & Bank transfer.
7. Liquid Web.
Probably the highest-paying affiliate program in hosting services. Also, they have unique advertising materials to promote their service.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Several unique advertising materials (banners, text links, custom content, landing page, etc.)
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
- Easily convert your audience with many promotional offers.
Payout: from $150 to $7,000 per sale (CPA). A lucrative commission of up to 150%.
Payout Method: PayPal & ACH
8. SiteGround.
One of my favorite industry-leading web hosting services. Not only that, but their affiliate program is also lucrative.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Premium quality web hosting service.
- Various advertising tools, like banners, text links, etc., to promote their service.
Payout: Up to $100 commission per sale. If you can sell 20+ per month, you can consult for a custom commission rate per sale.
Payout Method: Wire transfer & PayPal.
9. Kinsta.
One of the high paying as well as recurring commission-based affiliate programs.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Many quality services to promote.
- Dedicated affiliate dashboard to track your performance.
Payout: Up to $500 per sale and a 10% recurring commission for life.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
10. A2Hosting.
Numerous options are available with this hosting service. It is relatively cheaper yet and offers high-quality service.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Several high-quality hosting options are available to promote.
- High-end custom affiliate dashboard to track performance.
Payout: Up to $125 per sale. Its sub-affiliate program offers you a 5% commission from your referred affiliate earnings.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
11. iPage.
It is one of the cheapest yet very high-quality web hosting services. However, unlike other web hosting services, they have few options available to choose from.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- A cheap, high-quality hosting service offers an easy way to convert visitors.
Payout: from $65 to $125 per sale based on your monthly sale performance.
Payout Method: Check & PayPal.
12. Dream Host.
From shared hosting to powerful dedicated hosting, they have it all with a cheap hosting plan.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- High-quality service yet cheaper than other services.
Payout: from $15 to $200 per sale.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
13. Scala Hosting.
It is instead a new web hosting service. However, Scala hosting has some high-quality hosting options available to choose from.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Cheap hosting options with high-quality service.
Payout: up to $200 per sale based on your monthly sales performance.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
14. GoDaddy.
Leading web hosting & builder platform. They are also domain registrars. Thus, you can promote verities products & services by becoming an affiliate of GoDaddy.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- One of the most popular brands.
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
- Powerful affiliate dashboard to track performance.
Payout: 10-15% affiliate commission. Up to $100 per sale. Also, they pay $2 per lead.
Payout Method: Check, bank transfer & Payoneer.
10 Website Builder Affiliate Program.
1. WIX.
It is one of the most popular landing page builder services worldwide. Their reputation is one of the most powerful tools to promote their service.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Unique landing page builder options can do it even for a 7-year-old kid.
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
Payout: Up to $100 per sale.
Payout Method: Only wire transfer.
2. Weebly.
It is one of the oldest website builders & hosting services. They have improved their service & growing reputation each year.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- The easy drag & drop feature enables a kid to build a website.
- Numerous advertising tools to promote their service.
Payout: Up to 30% recurring commission. The average EPC is more than $60.
Payout Method: Check, direct deposit & Payoneer.
3. Site123.
As the name suggests, it is one of the easiest website builder services.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Easy drag & drop website builder makes it fun & easy.
- Various advertising tools, like banners, text links, etc., to promote their service.
Payout: Up to $241 commission per sale.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
4. Strikingly.
Simple & powerful website builder service. With more than hundreds of pre-made web templates, you can create any webpage you like.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Surprisingly easy to do website-making platform.
- Dedicated affiliate tracking dashboard for you to check your performance.
- Never expiring cookies.
Payout: Up to $100 commission per sale.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
5. Squarespace.
They are both website builders & hosting service providers. You can also purchase a domain from them. Thus, promoting their service is like a one-stop solution for a webmaster.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Great service & quality.
- Excellent affiliate dashboard to track performance.
Payout: Up to $200 commission per sale.
Payout Method: Bank transfer & PayPal.
6. Ucraft.
They offer you an easy to use drag & drop website builder platform. You can create a complete eCommerce site as well.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Drag & drop features to build a website.
- Visually stunning affiliate dashboard to track your performance.
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
Payout: Up to 25% commission per sale.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
7. Mozello.
Best for a newbie without any idea about building a website or eCommerce site.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Drag & drop features to build a website/eCommerce site.
- High customer conversion rate.
- Visually stunning affiliate dashboard to track your performance.
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
Payout: Up to 30% commission per sale. Free verified signups will pay you $0.05 each.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
8. Zenfolio.
It’s mainly focused on photography eCommerce website building. Easy to create & showcase your work.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Easy site builder.
- Exclusive marketing materials to promote.
Payout: Up to 30% commission per sale.
Payout Method: Only Bank deposit.
9. Yahoo Small Business.
It’s an all-in-one platform. Starting from domain registrar to website builder & hosting. One-stop solution for a small business owner.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- A world-leading brand known to everyone.
- Many high-quality products to promote.
- Several exclusive marketing materials to promote.
Payout: Starting from 20% commission per sale. More commission you will earn per sale based on your performance. On average, up to $100 per website builder & eCommerce solution sale, up to $150 for web hosting sale & up to $100 for local work sale.
Payout Method: Checks, bank transfer & Payoneer.
10. Lead pages.
Best for all types of websites & landing pages, form builders, alert bars, etc.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Plenty of advanced features to attract clients.
- Dedicated affiliate dashboard.
Payout: Up to 50% monthly recurring commission.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
4 eCommerce Affiliate Program.
1. Shopify.
They are the most popular eCommerce solution nowadays. Almost every online user knows them.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Their reputation is a powerful tool for you to convert your audience.
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
Payout: on average, you will earn a $58 commission per sale—up to a 200% commission structure.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
2. BigCommerce.
This eCommerce service is mainly designed for a large organizations. Thus, your commission is also huge.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Some industry-leading unique features will help you to promote their service.
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
Payout: Up to 200% commission structure. From $60 to $1,500 commission per sale.
Payout Method: PayPal & Bank transfer.
3. 3dcart.
Not only for your sale but also your 2nd tier referred affiliate, you will earn a commission.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Easy to get started with a 1-2-3 registration process.
- Enough marketing materials to promote their service.
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
Payout: Up to 300% commission per sale, from $19 to $999 monthly.
Payout Method: Direct deposit, wire transfer & check.
4. Volusion.
Dedicated to an eCommerce solution. Easy to build a professional eCommerce site within less than an hour. No coding is required to start.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- They offer both affiliate programs as well as reselling options.
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
Payout: Up to 200% commission per sale (one time), no monthly recurring option.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
8 VPN Affiliate Program.
1. Surf Shark.
A fast-growing VPN service with an exclusive 83% discount offer and 3 months’ free service is lovely for converting your visitors to paid customers.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Enough marketing materials to promote from any platform.
- Dedicated affiliate dashboard to track performance.
Payout: Up to 40% commission per sale. It may increase based on your monthly performance.
Payout Method: Check, PayPal & Wire transfer.
2. IPVanish.
It provides a complete solution to your security issue. They have both VPN as well as private, secure online storage.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- High discount offers easily attract visitors to become paid customers.
- Powerful tracking dashboard.
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
Payout: Up to 100% commission for first-time sales & 35% commission for renewal.
Payout Method: Direct deposit & PayPal.
3. Express VPN.
Top-rated & secure VPN service that offers 94 countries & 160+ locations worldwide.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- 30 days money-back guarantee is powerful enough to convert your audience.
- Innovative affiliate dashboard to track performance.
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
Payout: Up to $36 per sale.
Payout Method: Wire transfer & PayPal.
4. Nord VPN.
Another popular & highly secure VPN service offers a 68% discount with 3 months of free service.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- A high discount offer is a powerful bait to convert your audience.
- Powerful affiliate dashboard to measure your performance.
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
Payout: Up to 100% commission on the first sale & 30% commission on renewal sale.
Payout Method: Wire transfer & PayPal.
5. Strong VPN.
One of the oldest VPN services, offering you 30 counties & 950+ locations worldwide.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- 30 days money-back guarantee is a safe side for your clients.
- Excellent affiliate dashboard to track performance.
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
Payout: Up to 200% commission per sale.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
6. Pure VPN.
Industry-leading VPN service offers you 6,500+ locations worldwide and a massive 86% discount.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- A 31-day money-back guarantee is powerful enough to convert most visitors.
- Affiliate dashboard to track performance.
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
- 2nd tier affiliate program offering you to receive commissions from your referred affiliate.
Payout: Up to 100% commission per sale (monthly plan) & 40% commission for a yearly plan.
Payout Method: Wire transfer & PayPal.
7. Fastest VPN.
The high-paying VPN affiliate program offers your customers a 93% discount and 3 months of free service.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- A high discount rate & 15 days money-back guarantee is a lucrative offer to convert your audience.
- Innovative affiliate dashboard to track performance.
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
Payout: Up to 100% commission per sale.
Payout Method: Wire transfer & PayPal.
8. Avast VPN.
One of the oldest & well-known anti-viruses also offers you a full VPN service.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- 7 day free trial without needing any sort of credit card is powerful bait for your audience.
- A detailed & real-time affiliate dashboard can show your progress.
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
Payout: Up to 25% commission per sale.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
6 High-Paying Miscellaneous Programs.
1. Click Meter.
It is a powerful tracking service for all of your marketing links. It suits you best if you want to run your affiliate program.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Lots of marketing tools to promote their service.
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
Payout: Up to 90% commission per sale. You can earn up to $891 per single sale.
Payout Method: Wire transfer & PayPal.
2. Superb Themes.
A collection of free & premium WordPress themes. If you are a blogger, this affiliate program will suit you perfectly.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Lots of free themes are available to attract your audience.
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
Payout: Up to 60% commission per sale. Recurring commission available means you will receive payments continuously if your referred clients keep their subscriptions.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
3. Thrive Themes.
Not only exclusive WordPress themes but also, with their unique shapeshifter software, you can easily customize an existing theme without any sort of coding.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Lots of unique features to convert your audience.
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
Payout: Up to 35% commission per sale & 25% recurring commission on renewal.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
4. Ali Dropship.
Limitless earning potential for your audience. With only $299, anyone can start an online dropshipping business within 1-2 days.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Highly attractive earning potential.
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
Payout: Up to 50% commission per sale. Earn up to $869 from a single sale. Additional 100% commission from premium products, 50% commission from all plugins & 30% commission from custom stores.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
5. ReferralCandy.
If you want to start your affiliate program, then ReferralCandy is perfect. However, they do not have an affiliate program. So instead, it is a refer-a-friend option.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Simple invite option to get a reward.
Payout: If anyone opens an account through your link, you will get a $20 cash reward.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
6. Sellfy.
It is a simple online platform to sell anything you want. With an easy drag & drop site builder, anyone can do it within less than 30 minutes.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Simple tracking system to measure the performance.
- Progressive earning potential (the more you can sell in a month, the more you will earn per sale)
Payout: Started from 25% to 40% commission per sale based on your monthly performance.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
8 Top High-Paying Recurring Affiliate Programs.
1. Buzzsprout.
It is a well-known podcast hosting site. They have two types of affiliate options available: time payment or monthly payment.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Dedicated affiliate dashboard to track performance.
- A deep linking feature is a powerful tool. You can link to any page of their site.
Payout: Recurring commission of 20% every month or one-time $25 payment per sale.
Payout Method: Wire transfer & PayPal.
2. Thinkific.
It’s a popular online course platform for both teachers & students.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Dedicated affiliate dashboard to see your performance report.
- The monthly commission is best suited for long-term passive income.
Payout: Recurring commission is 20% per month per sale. Earn up to $1,700 from a single sale.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
3. Pabbly.
It is a one-stop solution for business marketing needs. It has email marketing, a form builder, an affiliate module, billing software, etc.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Dedicated affiliate dashboard to see all earning activities.
- The monthly commission adds up to your total earnings.
Payout: 30% monthly recurring commission.
Payout Method: Bank account & PayPal.
4. Moosend.
Like Pabbly, it is a one-stop solution for all your marketing needs. Email marketing, landing page, subscription form, marketing automation, eCommerce AI, etc.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Dedicated affiliate dashboard to see all your earning activities.
- 3 months-long cookie durations increase your earning potential.
Payout: 30% monthly recurring commission.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
5. amoCRM.
It is a simple messenger-based CRM software to manage your organization’s sales.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Dedicated affiliate dashboard.
Payout: from 35% to 50% monthly recurring commission based on your monthly performance.
Payout Method: Bank account & PayPal.
6. Teachable.
Powerful online learning platform. Enough features to handle thousands of students at once.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Dedicated affiliate dashboard.
Payout: up to 30% monthly recurring commission.
Payout Method: Only PayPal.
7. GetResponse.
World-leading email marketing solution for small to large organizations.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Dedicated affiliate dashboard.
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
- They have both one-time & monthly recurring programs available.
Payout: up to $100 one-time payment per sale or 33% monthly recurring commission for a lifetime.
Payout Method: Check, ACH & wire transfer.
8. SEMrush.
One of the top SEO tools to analyze your website’s organic performance.
Feature:
- Free to join.
- Dedicated affiliate dashboard.
- Dedicated affiliate manager.
- A high reputation is enough to attract lots of clients.
Payout: up to $200 per sale & $10 for trial activation.
Payout Method: Check, bank transfer & PayPal.
Recommended Reading: How to Effectively Create and Utilize a Perfect Content Marketing?
What is the difference between one-time & recurring commissions?
You will face these two options when you join an affiliate program soon. One-time payment or monthly recurring revenue. Some affiliate programs may not have both; in that case, you won’t have to worry about choosing anything. But, let me tell you what the benefit of these two options is.
One-time (bounty) commission: Some affiliate program refers to it as “bounty” because they will pay you only once. People who purchase their services/products through your affiliate link will pay you a fixed amount. However, you are not supposed to receive any more commission even If that client continues to use their service.
Recurring (monthly) commission: In other cases, they will pay you a portion of their profit. If they make $100 per month from a client you refer, they will pay you $30 commission every month (i.e., 30% commission).
As you may see, there is no long-term in terms of one-time commission. However, if you choose a recurring commission, it is a long-term relationship between you & the company, as both share profits.
Which commission structure is best for you?
However, both options have their strength & weakness. Let me show you that.
Usually, the company pays a high amount in the bounty program. Let’s say $100 per sale. So, if you can refer 10 qualified clients, you will receive a $1,000 fixed commission. Whether these clients continue using their service or not.
Now, if you would use recurring monthly commission, what would happen then? First, you would receive a $300 commission on the first month (let us assume it is a 30% commission structure).
Initially, you have received $700 less in recurring commission than the one-time commission structure. But think again. It will not stop here; you are supposed to get a continuous monthly commission. So, in the 2nd month, you will get another $300 commission. And it will continue.
Now, calculate how much commission you will acquire in just 6 months. A total of $1,800. And this is not going to stop here either. You will receive a monthly recurring commission if your referred clients keep using their service.
However, there is a catch. What would happen if those 10 clients never continued after the 1st month? In that case, your total commission is only $300, while in a one-time commission structure, you would get $1,000.
Quick Note: No matter which strategy or commission structure you use, you cannot earn a commission without enough visitors. Thus, before you do anything, focus on your site traffic. Increase it at all costs.
Therefore, a one-time commission is best when you are not sure about the reliability of your client’s continuation. In that case, use a one-time commission and collect the money in the first month. You have nothing to lose. But, if you are sure that your clients will continue their service. In that case, use a monthly recurring commission, as it will give you a pile of commissions in the upcoming months.
Recommended Reading: How to Use Facebook Business Page to Grow Your Business?
Beware of affiliate program rules & regulations.
Everything has been okay until now. You have a fantastic earning opportunity right now by using an affiliate program. However, you should always read their rules & regulations before promoting their products.
If you are going to use your blog content to promote affiliate programs in that case, most of the time, you are on the safe side. However, if you plan to promote in social media or PPC advertising campaigns, in that case, be cautious.
There are many rules & restrictions. For example, most of the time, in a PPC ad campaign, you cannot use their brand keywords. Read their detailed rules of promotion.
Other large brand affiliate programs.
Though we didn’t include some large brand affiliate programs such as commission junctions, amazon associates, eBay partner network, etc., they are one of the most trusted and lucrative opportunities for you.
However, they offer meager commissions. For example, amazon associates may provide you with roughly a 2-4% commission rate per sale, which is only worthwhile for some affiliate marketers. On the other hand, many content creators and digital marketers want high commissions, so they should skip these affiliate networks.
Executive summary.
The affiliate program is a very lucrative opportunity for all website categories. There are thousands of affiliate programs. Using affiliate programs to monetize your blog/website is always best. However, many people use advertisements on their sites for monetization. However, advertisement is a perfect way to reduce audience retention rates.
Why? Simple, look at my website. No ads, nothing. If I used advertisements here & there, you would not only be annoyed by them but also leave my website quickly. In other cases, advertisement income is much less than the affiliate program. There is also another reason there. Most of the time, Google or other similar ads will show irrelevant advertisements without connection to your site’s content.
Therefore, my advice is – to use an affiliate program to monetize your website. It will be relevant to your site niche as well as you will have the opportunity to build a passive income for life. The more visitors your site has, the more earning opportunity you have. Just don’t break any affiliate rules & you are good to go. If you have any issues regarding the affiliate program, then don’t hesitate to ask me in the comment section or contact me 📬
Further reading on Cliobra: I assume you are here to learn how to earn money online as you have read this high-paying affiliate program guide. In that case, I recommend you to read my other guide, “10 Best Marketing Strategies for Online Business (Beginner’s Guide)”.