11 Best Affiliate Networks to Elevate Your Business in 2025 [Full Review]

By Sarah-Lynn Robertson Last updated: 16 minute read Affiliate MarketingMarketing Tools

Affiliate marketing is hotter than ever.

Marketers who use some of the best affiliate networks or programs to access this dynamic field earn an average of $8,038 monthly.

And the statistics keep getting hotter…

In 2024, Affiliate marketing spending surpassed $10 billion in the United States. Global trends indicate the industry is worth over $17 billion and is expected to expand to a market size of $27.87 by 2027.

There is no denying this dynamic field’s exponential growth and continual evolution.

But how do you effectively tap into this industry?

Would a brand-independent affiliate program work better? Or should you rather draw on the expertise of a focused affiliate agency?

Can user-generated content (UGC) be integrated with affiliate advertising campaigns to optimize reach and engagement?

You may even be a vendor wondering where the best place would be to list your products or services.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned affiliate marketer or seller, we’re here to provide all the necessary information to select the best affiliate network for your business.

Stay tuned for our list of the top 11 affiliate networks with great commissions below!

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    Quick Comparison: 11 Best Affiliate Networks and Platforms

    First, take a peek at our top affiliate marketing networks and find the one that will suit your business and audience the best.

    Best Affiliate Networks

    Best For

    Our P2P Rating 

    Awin

    • Influencers

    • Content creators

    • Small to large merchants

    • Beginners/ startups

    • Agencies

    4/5

    ClickBank

    • Niche content creators

    • Small digital merchants

    • Small to medium digital businesses or providers

    4.4/5

    Amazon Associates

    • Bloggers

    • Content creators

    • Influencers

    • Niche sellers or businesses

    • Small to medium businesses (online stores)

    • New affiliates

    4/5

    ShareASale

    • New affiliates

    • Content creators

    • Bloggers

    • Rising influencers

    • Small to medium businesses

    3.8/5

    Impact.com

    • Content creators

    • Influencers

    • Commerce content publishers

    • Agencies

    • Consultants

    • Technology providers

    • Small to large businessses

    4.5/5

    CJ Affiliate

    • Content creators

    • Influencers

    • Beginners and pros

    • Niche-focused publishers

    • Small to large businesses

    4.7/5

    Refersion Marketplace

    • Smaller niches (niche blog or Instagram account)

    • Niche content creators

    • Small businesses with specialized products

    4.7/5

    Fiverr Affiliate Program

    • Freelancers

    • Content creators

    • Bloggers

    • Small to mid-size businesses (B2B audience)

    4.6/5

    eBay Partner Network

    • Content creators

    • Bloggers

    • Website owners

    • Social media influencers

    • Small to large businesses

    4.6/5

    Avangate Affiliate Network

    • Influencers

    • Content creators

    • Publishers

    • Small to large businesses (with digital products or software)

    4.8/5

    Rakuten Affiliate Network

    • Influencers

    • Publishers

    • New and exprienced affiliates

    4.9/5

    Keep scrolling for the detailed reviews below.

    Discover which affiliates and merchants are suitable for each network, including helpful pros and cons for each.

    What Is an Affiliate Network?

    Affiliate marketing is one of the most lucrative and cost-effective strategies for businesses seeking to supercharge their earning potential.

    But what exactly is an affiliate network?

    An affiliate network is a platform that acts as a middleman between affiliates (the publishers or marketers) and merchants, streamlining the process of finding one another.

    Ultimately, it connects brands (merchants) who want to promote their products through an affiliate program, using individuals (affiliates) who promote their products to their audiences. Affiliates advertise a merchant’s products or services to their audiences (e.g., on Facebook or Instagram) and earn a commission for every sale generated through their unique links, while the merchant increases brand awareness and sales.

    Additionally, an affiliate network represents a range of companies offering complementary and compatible products or services. These companies typically establish a database of leads and set up sales channels, passing potential leads between each other.

    If you’re new to affiliate marketing, don’t worry. Check out this video from Aherfs about what you need to get your affiliate marketing business up and running successfully.

    How Do Affiliate Networks and Platforms Work?

    Affiliate networks function as an e-commerce platform and affiliate marketplace where marketers and brands can streamline and manage their affiliate activities.

    Compared to an affiliate program designed and managed by an individual brand, an affiliate network offers a single platform for affiliates to communicate simultaneously with multiple brands.

    Here’s a quick overview of what the affiliate marketing relationship looks like:

    How Affiliate Programs Work Diagram
    Image Source

    In an affiliate network, there are typically three parties involved:

    1. The Seller or Merchant: These entrepreneurs or smaller to large businesses create consumer products or services. They sign up with an affiliate network and list their offerings on the platform.
    2. The Affiliate: Also known as a “publisher” or “marketer,” the affiliate is an individual or website interested in promoting products suitable to their audience and niche. They sign up and apply directly with merchants to promote their products and receive their unique affiliate link. They are then responsible for engaging with and promoting the seller’s products to their target audience, for example, creating a sale funnel directly to their product on Amazon, Shopify, or eBay.
    3. The Customer: The most crucial individual in this dynamic relationship is the one with purchasing power—the customer receiving the promotions. Each time a customer purchases through an affiliate’s link, the affiliate earns a commission, and the seller earns a profit.

    In short, accessing affiliate advertising relationships through an affiliate network offers several benefits. First, you can select from a wide diversity of merchants and brands across different industries and niches.

    Networks also streamline all management, from handling tracking (e.g., clicks, sales, and commissions) to detailed reporting. They also offer marketing materials, promotional strategies, and valuable support for those entering this dynamic and exciting affiliate game!

    11 Best Affiliate Networks

    The most important thing is to find a merchant whose products or services perfectly align with your audience or followers. If you’re a seller, you’ll also want to verify your potential affiliates, ensuring they have the type and size of audience they claim to have.

    What key things should you look out for?

    Check out our list of the best affiliate marketing networks to help you find the perfect one. We’ll walk you through who they’re the best for, including their pros and cons, scoring, and more.

    Let’s dive right in!

    1.Awin

    Awin, originally known as Affiliate Window, has become a popular affiliate network with direct access to over 25,000 merchants. It offers a range of physical and digital products from both large and small merchants.

    There are a ton of different niches to choose from. To become an affiliate for a merchant, you simply apply directly to each within the network. Since Awin was founded in Germany, it does have a slightly stronger European merchant list, although you’ll also find many American and other global companies.

    AWIN Affiliate Network Homepage

    Best for:

    • Type of affiliates: Influencers, content creators, and publishers.
    • Types of merchants: Small to large businesses, beginners, startups, and agencies.

    Pros & Cons:

    Pros:

    • Offers a wide global reach across many industries.
    • User-friendly interface.
    • Frequent payouts: 1st and 15th of each month.
    • Automated link creation process.
    • Tailored plans that align with the scale and scope of your business’ affiliate marketing objectives.
    • It is possible to use a direct WordPress plugin to import products.
    • Payout is minimum (only $20).

    Cons:

    • Payment delays have been reported.
    • No PayPal payments.
    • Requires a live website to join their network.
    • Limited direct support to publishers (no access to a customer support service email or phone number)
    • Requires some affiliate marketing knowledge.

    Website: AWIN’s Affiliate Network

    P2P Score: 4/5

    2.ClickBank

    ClickBank is worth trying if you want to promote or list digital products. With its wide range of digital offerings, you’re sure to find something that suits your audience.

    It’s a dedicated online marketplace similar to eBay and Amazon. The trick is to research the various products they want you to promote to ensure you start promoting one without any bad reviews!

    With the right merchants, Clickbank can become super lucrative for affiliates if done right. It includes a variety of commission structures—with some offering flat rates or percentage commissions. Cookie durations average between 30 to 60 days.

    ClickBank Homepage one of the best affiliate networks for digital products

    Best For:

    • Type of affiliates: Small digital merchants and niche content creators.
    • Type of merchants: Small to medium digital businesses or providers.

    Pros & Cons:

    Pros:

    • Wide selection of digital products.
    • $10 minimum payout for weekly payments.

    Cons:

    • Includes some low-quality products and merchants.
    • Some product sellers report finding it challenging to get their products approved.

    Website: ClickBank’s Affiliate Network

    P2P Score: 4.4/5

    3.Amazon Associates

    No list of the best affiliate networks would be complete without a mention of these famous e-commerce giants.

    If you’re new or well-versed in the affiliate game, leveraging the authority and trust of this household name will significantly boost your sales and commissions. As the largest e-commerce store in the world, you’ll have access to millions of products—both directly from Amazon and those sold through third-party sellers.

    Amazon’s affiliate program is great for newbies, especially niche-focused content creators. If you’re a specialized blogger or YouTuber, you can easily find relevant products to promote to your unique audience.

    Amazon Associates affiliate network homepage

    Best For:

    • Type of affiliates: Bloggers, content creators, influencers, and publishers already with a substantial following.
    • Type of merchants: Niche sellers or businesses; small to medium businesses.

    Pros & Cons:

    Pros:

    • Quick and easy signing-up process.
    • Massive brand recognition.
    • Able to promote a wide variety of products from various categories.
    • Universal 24-hour cookie policy (earn commission on all eligible sales, even if they don’t purchase the original product they searched for; earn on all sales made through your one link).

    Cons:

    • Very low commission rates (from as low as 1%); also known to slash commission rates occasionally.
    • Strict terms and conditions.
    • Have to register for the program in each country separately.

    Website: Amazon Associates Affiliate Program

    P2P Score: 4/5

    4.ShareASale

    ShareASale has been owned by AWIN since 2017 but remains an entirely separate brand. Since they’ve never been a network associated with the “major brands,” ShareASale is great for finding small to medium enterprises ready and willing to partner with affiliates to promote their products.

    ShareASale has 4,500 merchants and charges a 20% transaction fee on every commission earned. Commission rates range between 4% – 50%, and you can get paid via direct deposit, mailed check, or Payoneer.

    ShareASale homepage

    Best For:

    • Type of affiliates: best for new affiliates (content creators, bloggers, up-and-coming influencers, etc.).
    • Type of merchants: small to medium businesses.

    Pros & Cons:

    Pros:

    • Easy sign-up and approval process.
    • A part of AWIN, which means longevity.
    • A variety of products and merchants to choose from.

    Cons:

    • No payments through PayPal.
    • Older website interface.
    • Lengthy approval time for affiliates (up to 20 business days).

    Website: ShareASale’s Affiliate Network

    P2P Score: 3.8/8

    5.Impact.com

    Impact is one of the world’s leading partnership management platforms— voted the #1 cost-per-click affiliate network of 2024 in North America. It prides itself on providing consistently successful top-class technology, helping brands and affiliates drive sustainable growth through diversified partnerships.

    Impact.com is especially beneficial for advertisers in the retail, travel, FinTech, or SaaS industries, among many more. Prominent brands include L’Oréal, Adidas, Fabletics, American Express, and tech brands such as Shopify. Another plus is its Mobile App Partner Marketplace, which helps advertisers optimize mobile engagement and traffic.

    Impact.com Homepage

    Best For:

    • Type of affiliates: Content creators, influencers, and commerce content publishers.
    • Type of merchants: Small to large businesses.

    Pros & Cons:

    Pros:

    • Expanded global partnerships.
    • Automated contract management and payouts.
    • Cross-device performance monitoring.
    • Supports versatile payment methods: direct deposit, bank transfer, or PayPal.

    Cons:

    • Highly competitive market with potentially low conversion rates—thus requiring a strong marketing strategy to stand out.

    Website: Impact.com’s Affiliate Network

    P2P Score: 4.5/5

    6.CJ Affiliate

    CJ Affiliate is another leading affiliate network trusted by some of the biggest, leading brands and many IR500 brands worldwide. These include CNN, PMC, Hello Fresh, Bed Bath & Beyond, Blue Apron, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Buzzfeed.

    Powered by cutting-edge technology and powerful data, CJ Affiliate boasts over 1 billion monthly customers globally and over $16 billion in annual revenue.

    Formerly known as Commission Junction, CJ Affiliate is a great network for a range of marketers and affiliates, no matter where they are in their affiliate journey. It’s become a popular network for growing brand reach and revenue while targeting your unique audience.

    CJ Affiliate's homepage

    Best For:

    • Type of affiliates: Content creators, influencers, and publishers (beginners and pros).
    • Type of merchants: small to large businesses.

    Pros & Cons:

    Pros:

    • Extensive network of advertisers and brands.
    • In-depth tracking and reporting analytics.
    • User-friendly interface.
    • Brand reputation and reliability.

    Cons:

    • High competition for high-value programs.
    • Access to top-tier programs may be challenging for new publishers.
    • Some users have reported delayed customer support service.

    Website: CJ Affiliate’s Network

    P2P Score: 4.7/5

    7.Refersion Marketplace

    Refersion Marketplace is a lesser-known affiliate network platform perfectly poised to connect content creators with brands that offer high commission rates.

    It prides itself on offering transparent brand relationships by contacting sellers via social media or email. Refersion also provides first-party cookie software tracking, allowing brands to monitor precisely which affiliates generate sales—meaning you’ll never lose out on a hard-earned commission.

    The average commission rates vary between brands but are usually between 5% to 20% per sale. Some brands include HeatedCore, Stately Wear, Area Home, Plants by People, Perfect Keto, and Luxe & Bloom.

    Refersion Marketplace Homepage

    Best For:

    • Type of affiliates: Smaller niches (i.e., niche blog or Instagram account) and niche content creators.
    • Type of merchants: Small businesses offering specialized products.

    Pros & Cons:

    Pros:

    • Access to high commission rates for some products.
    • Provides long cookie window durations for certain products (up to 90 days).
    • Access to niche brands and products.

    Cons:

    • Due to being less known, you have access to a much smaller and obscure network of brands.

    Website: Refersion Marketplace’s Affiliate Network

    P2P Score: 4.7

    8.Fiverr Affiliate Program

    Fiverr is one of the world’s leading online freelance communities, similar to Upwork, Freelancer, People Per Hour, and Toptal. In the U.S., the number of freelancers skyrocketed from 57.3 million in 2017 to over 70 million in 2022. Freelancers are estimated to reach 86.5 million in 2027—50.9% of the U.S. population!

    As one of Fiverr’s affiliates, you won’t only be promoting its diverse range of freelancer services but also its other offerings. These include Fiverr Business (customized team workspaces), Fiverr Affiliates (commissions through referring other affiliates), Fiverr Workspace (access to freelance business management tools), and Fiverr Learn (educational programs for businesses and freelancers).

    Fiverr Affiliates Program homepage

    Best For:

    • Type of affiliates: freelancers, influencers, content creators, and bloggers.
    • Type of merchants: small to mid-size businesses targeting a B2B audience (not for B2C affiliates).

    Pros & Cons:

    Pros:

    • Fiverr has the highest search interest among all the large online freelancer marketplaces.
    • Offers access to a broad range of products and services.
    • High commissions.
    • Good 24/7 customer support.
    • 30-day cookie duration.
    • Access to plenty of affiliate marketing tools.

    Cons:

    • Commissions are capped on some of the higher-end services.
    • No commissions are earned on any sales made through existing customers.

    Website: Fiverr Affiliates Program

    P2P Score: 4.6/5

    9.eBay Partner Network

    eBay Partner Network is eBay’s dedicated affiliate network platform. As a major player in affiliate marketing globally, eBay’s affiliate network offers access to a massive variety of mostly physical products from a wide range of categories, including some digital.

    Affiliates and merchants can tap into its multiple promotion options and tools, such as content creation, campaign design, ad building, email marketing, and performance monitoring.

    It’s worth noting that eBay offers 50% to 70% of the revenue to affiliate partners. This isn’t the full purchase price but a percentage of the commission eBay receives from the seller.

    In short, eBay’s affiliate program isn’t the best fit for niche content creators or influencers with lower traffic. You’ll need a substantial audience and high click-through rates to generate significant income through eBay.

    eBay Partner Network Homepage

    Best For:

    • Type of affiliates: Content creators, bloggers, website owners, and social media influencers.
    • Type of merchants: small to large businesses.

    Pros & Cons:

    Pros:

    • Integrating eBay’s global inventory with your mobile, website, and social media platforms is smooth.
    • Easy-to-use platform.
    • Tailored affiliate models based on your specific business.
    • Global brand recognition: can leverage the trust and reputation associated with the eBay brand.

    Cons:

    • Variable commission rates, with some offering very low payouts.
    • Commissions are a percentage of eBay’s revenue, not based on the order’s value.
    • High level of competition from other affiliates who promote similar products.
    • Short cookie duration (24 hours)—thus requires more intentional promotional strategies to optimize conversions.

    Website: eBay Partner Network

    P2P Score: 4.6/5

    10.Avangate Affiliate Network

    Avangate has remained a leading global platform for eight consecutive years, ranking as the top worldwide affiliate network for digital goods.

    Known for its world-class publishers and merchants, Avangate has become a prominent network for over 22,000 merchants wanting to promote software and other digital products.

    Merchants on the network can set their cookie length anywhere between 30 to 180 days. That means at least a 30-day window to earn a commission.

    Avangate Affiliate Network Homepage

    Best For:

    • Type of affiliates: Influencers, content creators, and publishers.
    • Type of merchants: Small to large businesses (digital products or software).

    Pros & Cons:

    Pros:

    • High commissions (i.e., up to 50%).
    • You can opt to be paid via PayPal.
    • Brand reputation: promoting globally renowned software.
    • Trusted by top merchants, such as Bitdefender, Kaspersky, and IObit.

    Cons:

    • Higher minimum payouts ($100).

    Website: Avangate Affiliate Network

    P2P Score: 4.8/5

    11.Rakuten Affiliate Network

    Formerly known as LinkShare, Rakuten is another big name with fewer merchants (1,000). It began in 1996, in the early days of affiliate marketing, so it’s been in the industry for a while.

    Rakuten is known for fostering quality over quantity and working with some of the top brands. These include Hilton, Virgin Holidays, Walmart, Billabong, ASICS, New Balance, Macy’s, Lego, Sephora, Microsoft, and Udemy.

    Rakuten also prides itself on helping smaller companies through its affiliate network. Payments occur per sale, per lead, and via paid ad placement offers.

    Rakuten Affiliate Network Homepage

    Best For:

    • Type of affiliates: Influencers and publishers (new and experienced)
    • Type of merchants: Small to large businesses.

    Pros & Cons:

    Pros:

    • Access to a variety of industries with big-name brand reputations.
    • Small minimum payment threshold ($50).
    • Easy-to-use interface.
    • Simple sign-up process.
    • Great customer support.

    Cons:

    • Don’t display the EPC for merchant programs.
    • Some report delayed payments.

    Website: Rakuten Affiliate Network

    P2P Score: 4.9/5

    Wrapping Up on Choosing the Best Affiliate Networks

    There’s no doubt about it—affiliate marketing is at an all-time high, and the industry’s value is set to increase substantially in the future. There is no better time than now to reap all the benefits of this lucrative market.

    Similarly, many brand marketers and content creators report that affiliate marketing has become their most successful channel.

    No matter where you are on your affiliate journey as a publisher or seller, this review provides all the information to help you narrow down the most suitable options for growing your business.

    Which of these best affiliate networks will be the most suitable for your audience and brand?

    Identify the networks that stand out to you and critically compare their offerings to determine the best fit. Then, sign up, get approved, and design and enjoy your thriving affiliate business.

    Happy affiliate marketing!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What affiliate network is the best?

    There are a variety of top affiliate networks to choose from—the trick is to find the one that works the best for your niche and audience, with the most suitable products and services to promote. Some of the best affiliate networks include: Awin, PartnerStack, Amazon Associates, Shopfiy, ShareASale, ClickBank, Walmart Affiliates, Rakuten Advertising, CJ Affiliate, and Avangate. Check out our full review of the best affiliate networks to drive your sales and business growth.

    Which is the highest paying affiliate program?

    You can grow your income substantially through some of the highest paying affiliate marketing programs. These include: Wishup, SEMrush, Trip Advisor, Coursera, Amazon Associates Program, Rakuten Advertising, eBay Partner Network, CJ Affiliate, PartnerStack, Cirbleboom, and FlexOffers. Take a peek at our comprehensive affiliate network review for more details!

    Who is the richest affiliate marketer?

    The top 10 richest affiliate marketers in the world are: Pat Flynn, John Chow, Jeremy Schoemaker, Neil Patel, Zac Johnson, Charles Ngo, Missy Ward, Shawn Collins, Matthew Woodward, and Rae Hoffman. Discover what they did to get to where they are today and check out our list of the top affiliate marketing networks to get you started on your journey.

    References

    BigCommerce: Affiliate Marketing 101: What it is and How to Get Started

    Reddit: Best Platform for Brands to Start Affiliate Marketing Program?

    AuthorityHacker: 136 Affiliate Marketing Statistics In 2025