Mastering Affiliate Networks: The 7 Best Options to Increase Your Passive Income in 2024

Introduction: The Search for "Cheddar" in Affiliate Marketing

Hello, I’m Martin. I’ve been in the affiliate marketing world for 3 years and have explored dozens of networks that offer that sweet financial reward. In this post, I’m going to share my seven favorite affiliate networks that will help you grow your affiliate marketing business and generate a significant amount of passive income.
We are going to start in reverse order, from position number 7 to position number 1, my favorite.

Before we get to the heart of the matter, I’d like to offer a personal tip. For those deeply involved in affiliate marketing, I suggest considering the LinksTest tool, a top-notch alternative to Affilitest, for discovering new partners and networks offering Affiliate Offers. These deals could significantly boost your earnings per commission beyond your current rates.

Ok, so after the recommendations, let’s start with the Best Affiliate Networks.

7. ShareASale: A Friendly Giant for Beginners

ShareASale positions itself as an ideal platform for those just starting their journey in affiliate marketing. This network offers a wide range of products, both physical and digital, allowing affiliates to build a fairly comprehensive online store in virtually any niche you can imagine.

Variety and Flexibility
One of the great advantages of ShareASale is its immense catalog, which has more than 4,500 merchants. This opens up a range of possibilities for affiliates, ensuring that you can find relevant products to promote, regardless of your niche. From big brands to startups, ShareASale connects you with a variety of business partners.
Finding the Ideal Product
The ShareASale platform makes it easy to find products to promote. Simply by entering keywords related to your niche, such as “camping and hiking,” you can access a list of related products, which in some cases can exceed 2,000 items. This greatly simplifies the product selection process and allows affiliates to fine-tune their marketing strategy.
Variable Commissions
Commission rates on ShareASale vary widely, depending on the merchant you choose to partner with. You can find commissions ranging from 1% to 20% per sale, giving you the flexibility to choose business partners that not only align with your audience but also offer attractive financial rewards.
Brands
ShareASale is proud to have some of the most recognized brands in its network, such as Zen Business, Reebok, Minted, Bodybuilding.com and SHEIN. This not only adds credibility to your website or blog by associating you with established names, but also increases your followers’ trust in the recommendations you make.

Conclusion on ShareASale

ShareASale represents an excellent gateway to the world of affiliate marketing for those who are taking their first steps. Its ease of use, combined with the diversity of products and the presence of recognized brands, make this network a valuable option to start generating passive income through the promotion of products online.

6. Amazon Associates: Universal Access to Products Without Limits

Amazon Associates stands out in the world of affiliate marketing for its accessibility and the vast selection of products available. This program is not just a traditional affiliate network; is an e-commerce giant that offers almost every product imaginable under the sun.

A Platform with Massive Reach
With more than 98 million active users each month and 150 million Amazon Prime subscribers, the platform offers an unprecedented opportunity for affiliates to reach a large and diverse audience. The inclusive nature of Amazon means you can find products relevant to any niche, from the most general to the most specific.
The Magic of Affiliate Links
As an Amazon affiliate, you can earn commissions on almost anything sold on the site, not just the specific products you promote. This is due to Amazon’s cookie-based tracking technology, which tracks users who click on your links and gives you commissions for all purchases they make within a 24-hour period of the initial click.
The Cookie Duration Challenge
Despite the advantages, the Amazon Associates program has its challenges, one of the main ones being the short duration of the cookie. Unlike other programs that may offer longer attribution windows, Amazon’s cookie only lasts 24 hours. This means that if a potential buyer does not make a purchase within that time after clicking on your link, the sale will not be attributed to you. However, if the product is added to the cart within this period, the duration of the cookie is extended, offering a small window of opportunity for considered purchases.
Volatility in Commission Rates
Another thing to consider is the fluctuation in Amazon commission rates. The company has made adjustments in the past that have significantly reduced commissions in certain categories, affecting many affiliates’ income overnight. For example, in April 2020, Amazon cut commission rates on categories like furniture and home improvement from 8% to 3%, highlighting the importance of not relying exclusively on Amazon for your affiliate income.

Conclusion on Amazon Associates

Amazon Associates offers a relatively easy entry into the world of affiliate marketing, with the advantage of working with a globally recognized brand and access to a nearly unlimited product catalog. However, the short duration of the cookie and the volatility in commission rates are critical factors to consider. For affiliates, it is crucial to diversify income sources and not rely solely on Amazon Associates for your affiliate business.

5. FlexOffers: Personalized Assistance and Wide Variety of Merchants

FlexOffers distinguishes itself in the affiliate network landscape for its personalized approach to its publishers, offering a balanced mix of digital and physical products that cover a wide range of niches.

Custom Management for Publishers
What really makes FlexOffers stand out is the assignment of a dedicated account manager to each publisher. This level of personalized support is invaluable, especially for those who are just starting out or looking to optimize their affiliate strategies. This manager can offer personalized recommendations and advice on which affiliate programs might be most beneficial for you, based on your niche and audience.
A History of Trust
With 15 years of experience in the industry, FlexOffers brings a sense of stability and reliability to its affiliates. You don’t have to worry about them disappearing overnight, which is a risk with newer or less established networks.
Extensive Catalog of Offers
With over 12,000 merchants available, FlexOffers gives you a vast sea of options to find products that perfectly align with your content and audience. This diversity allows affiliates to explore a wide variety of niches, from technology to fashion and everything in between.
Accessible Payment Thresholds
The minimum payout threshold of $50 is another plus point for FlexOffers, as you don’t have to wait to accumulate a large amount of commissions before receiving your payment. This is particularly attractive to new affiliates who are eager to see the fruits of their labor sooner rather than later.
Renowned Brands at FlexOffers
Some of the top brands on FlexOffers include Netflix, Super Dry, Marshall’s, Ulta, The Body Shop and Sierra. The presence of these well-known brands not only adds credibility to your site by associating you with them, but it can also increase the conversion rate of your affiliate links.

Conclusion on FlexOffers

FlexOffers presents itself as a robust and reliable option for affiliates of all levels, especially those who value personalized support and variety of offers. The assignment of a dedicated account manager and the ability to access a wide range of digital and physical products make this network an attractive option to diversify your affiliate marketing strategies. However, as always, it is vital not to put all your eggs in one basket and explore multiple networks to maximize your income opportunities.

4. CJ (Commission Junction): A Veteran in the Affiliate Industry

Commission Junction remains a pillar in the affiliate marketing space thanks to its extensive history and extensive network of merchants. This is a premier destination for affiliates looking to diversify their income streams with a wide range of products and services.

Access to Important Brands
One of the most striking features of CJ is its impressive catalog of merchants. Affiliates have thousands of programs to choose from, allowing them to easily find products and services aligned with their niche and audience. From retail giants like Wayfair and Walgreens to specialty brands in various sectors, CJ offers an almost unlimited variety of options to promote.
Interface and Usability
Even though CJ’s user interface may seem a little dated and complex to new users, the wealth of options and flexibility this platform offers makes up for the initial learning curve. Once familiar, affiliates can take advantage of advanced tracking and analytics tools to optimize their campaigns and maximize their revenue.
A Direct Application Process
To get started with CJ, affiliates must register and create a publisher account. From there, they can navigate through the dashboard to request to join individual affiliate programs within the network. This process allows affiliates to be selective and strategic about who they partner with, ensuring that the brands and products promoted will resonate with their audience.
Strengths and Challenges
CJ’s longevity in the market means they have built strong relationships with some of the biggest and most popular brands in the world. This gives affiliates the opportunity to work with companies that consumers know and trust. However, the need to apply for approval for each individual program can be a more time-consuming process compared to other networks that offer automatic approval or have less strict requirements.

Conclusion about CJ

CJ (Commission Junction) is positioned as an excellent option for those affiliates looking to access a wide variety of programs from recognized brands. Although its platform may require an adaptation period, the possibilities it offers in terms of reach and income diversification are enormous. As always, the key is not to rely exclusively on one affiliate network, but to explore and participate in several to build a solid and resilient affiliate business.

3. ClickBank: The King of Digital Products

ClickBank distinguishes itself in the affiliate marketing ecosystem primarily for its focus on digital products. Since its founding in 1998, ClickBank has established itself as a leading platform for ebooks, online courses and membership sites, offering a wide variety of monetizable content in multiple niches.

High Commission on Digital Products
ClickBank affiliates enjoy high commissions, especially compared to networks that offer physical products. This is due to the lower distribution costs of digital products, allowing creators to offer a greater share of the profits to their affiliates.
Variety of Niches
From training programs to weight loss solutions and personal development, ClickBank is home to a vast range of digital products. This diversity ensures that affiliates can find offers that will deeply resonate with their specific audience.
Easy to use
Despite some criticism for its interface, ClickBank is relatively easy to use for affiliates. The platform allows new users to browse, discover, and promote products with ease, making it easy to get started quickly in affiliate marketing.
Important considerations
Although ClickBank is known for its high profitability and product diversity, it is crucial for affiliates to conduct careful product research before promoting them. Given the breadth of the catalog, quality may vary, and it is the affiliate’s responsibility to choose products that offer real value to their followers.

Conclusion on ClickBank

ClickBank offers an exceptional opportunity for those interested in promoting digital products, with the promise of attractive commissions and a wide selection of niches. Although it is essential to select quality products, ClickBank is still a robust option for expanding your affiliate marketing business with digital content.

2. PartnerStack: Specialized in Software

For those like me who have written numerous software reviews, PartnerStack is a gem. This network specializes in affiliate programs for software, offering monthly recurring commissions that can be very lucrative.

Exploring PartnerStack: The Ideal Platform for Software Products
PartnerStack is emerging as a privileged destination for affiliates interested in marketing software products. This network is especially valued by those who have spent time writing software reviews or creating related content, offering an effective way to monetize their efforts.
Specialized Focus on Software
What sets PartnerStack apart is its exclusive concentration on affiliate programs for software and online services. This specialization makes it the ideal network for affiliates looking to promote digital tools, applications and SaaS platforms.
Recurring Commissions
One of the great advantages of promoting software products through PartnerStack is the ability to earn recurring commissions. Many of the programs available offer ongoing monthly payments, meaning affiliates can generate long-term passive income for each referred customer who continues to use the service.
Ease of Use and Transparency
PartnerStack shines with its intuitive user interface and detailed dashboard. Affiliates can easily track their sales, commissions generated, and the performance of their campaigns, all from one place. This transparency and ease of management make it easy to optimize strategies to maximize revenue.

Conclusion on PartnerStack

For those in the technology and software niche, PartnerStack offers an unmatched platform to connect with lucrative affiliate programs. Recurring commissions and specialization in software products make PartnerStack an excellent choice for affiliates who want to build a source of passive income while promoting tools they truly value.

1. Impact: My Favorite Network

Discovering Impact: Innovation in Affiliate Marketing
Impact has established itself as a cutting-edge affiliate network, standing out for its modern approach and its ability to facilitate direct relationships between affiliates and brands. Ideal for those looking for more than just promoting products, Impact offers a platform to establish, manage and grow strategic partnerships.

A Platform for Direct Partnerships
What really sets Impact apart is its role as a partnership network, allowing affiliates to work closely with brands to develop custom contracts. This opens the door to more flexible commission structures and link tracking agreements tailored to the specific needs of each affiliate and brand.
Access to Recognized Brands
Impact boasts of having some of the most prominent and emerging companies within its network, including Shopify, Teachable, Vistaprint, HelloFresh, and Crypto.com. This variety not only gives affiliates a wide range of products and services to promote, but also adds a level of prestige and reliability to their marketing efforts.
Analytical Tools and Ease of Use
With an intuitive dashboard and advanced analytical tools, Impact makes it easy to track campaigns and optimize strategies. Affiliates can easily monitor their performances, identifying which tactics generate the best results and adjusting their approaches accordingly.

Conclusion on Impact

Impact represents an excellent opportunity for those affiliates who want to delve deeper into partnership marketing, offering the possibility of establishing direct links with leading brands. With advanced tools and a friendly interface, it is an attractive option for those looking to maximize their affiliate marketing performance.

The Importance of Diversification

It is crucial to join several affiliate networks to ensure diversification in your income sources. I participate in each of the networks mentioned in this post, and I recommend you do the same. Diversification is key to keeping your income stable in the face of any change in commission policies of networks or affiliate programs.

Tips for Beginners

If you are worried about not being accepted into affiliate networks due to lack of traffic, my advice is to focus first on building quality content and getting some inbound links. Once you generate some traffic, it will be easier to sign up for these programs and start generating sales.

Affiliate marketing offers a world of opportunities for those willing to invest time in creating valuable content and understanding best practices for promoting products. I hope this post has given you a clear vision of where to start or how to expand your affiliate strategies. To learn more, feel free to sign up for my free masterclass, where I cover these topics in depth. Until next time!