10 best affiliate networks for marketers in 2025

An affiliate network is a platform that connects publishers (like you) with companies, allowing you to promote their products or services in exchange for a commission on the sales you generate. 

Instead of having to sign up for dozens of individual affiliate programs, you can join one network to get access to thousands of brands, streamlined payments, and tracking tools all in one place. This makes managing your partnerships and scaling your revenue much simpler.

So, what makes an affiliate network good? Three key factors are how quickly you get paid, cookie duration (the time you have to earn a commission after a click), and the quality of the merchants they partner with. 

When looking for the best affiliate network for your needs, you should also consider the reliability of their tracking software, the level of support they offer, and the platform’s user-friendliness.

Affiliate network	Commission rate	Payment schedule
ShareASale	5% – 20% (varies by merchant)	Monthly
CJ	3% – 50% (varies by merchant)	Monthly
Rakuten Advertising	Varies by merchant	Net 60
Awin	Varies by merchant	Twice a month
Impact	Starts at 3% (varies by merchant)	Flexible (user-defined)
GiddyUp	Varies by campaign	Monthly
PartnerStack	15% – 30% (varies by merchant)	Monthly
Avangate Affiliate Network	Up to 75%	Monthly
Amazon Associates	1% – 20% (by product category)	Monthly
Ascend by Partnerize	Varies by merchant	Net 60

1. ShareASale

Affiliate network stats:

• Cookie duration: 30-90 days
• Minimum payout: $50
• Payment method: direct deposit, check, wire transfer, Payoneer
• Commission rate: 5-20%, varies by merchant

Whether you’re into promoting physical or digital products, ShareASale makes sure you won’t run out of options. It partners with over 30,000 merchants from all sectors, from big brands like Etsy and Honey to small retailers, making it one of the biggest affiliate networks on this list.

The types of products you can promote vary and include clothing, art supplies, auction services, and reward programs. Commission rates usually range from 5-20% per sale, though high-ticket affiliate programs potentially offer more.

If you’re new to affiliate marketing, ShareASale offers email support and access to training webinars and resources. The network also includes an invalid links report tool that flags broken links and offline merchants, keeping you safe as an affiliate marketer.

It’s completely free to join with just a website or a social media account – perfect for beginners on a budget. That said, expect some serious competition.

ShareASale has over one million members and counting, so standing out won’t be easy. Research the best affiliate marketing niches and choose the ones that match your interests to increase your chances of success.

2. CJ

Affiliate network stats:

• Cookie duration: 7-45 days
• Minimum payout: $50
• Payment method: direct deposit, check, wire transfer, Payoneer
• Commission rate: 3-50%, varies by merchant

Another popular option is CJ, mostly known as CJ Affiliate. CJ can connect you with over 20,000 reputable merchants across different niches, including well-known names like Barnes & Noble, NordVPN, and Hello Fresh.

While joining is free, the approval process can be tough, so beginners might need to build traffic first.

On the other hand, if your online platform already attracts over 10,000 monthly pageviews, you can join the affiliate network’s Content Certification program to access premium commissions. The more traffic you gain, the less competition you face.

CJ’s real-time reporting makes starting and scaling your affiliate business easier. The built-in tool helps you track campaign performance and refine your strategies for better results. Plus, there are self-help guides and phone support during business hours to help you when needed.

Affiliates who meet the minimum payment threshold can expect payment around the 20th or 28th of each month, depending on the currency.

3. Rakuten Advertising

Affiliate network stats:

• Cookie duration: varies by merchant
• Minimum payout: $50
• Payment method: PayPal, ACH, check
• Commission rate: varies by merchant

The partner pool in Rakuten Advertising is smaller than that of other popular affiliate networks like ShareASale and CJ, with around 1,000 merchants. However, its custom pricing model often attracts high-ticket merchants offering better commissions, giving you a better shot at making more.

You can sign up for free with your website, blog, or social media account. While there’s no specific pageview requirement, certain merchants might only partner with you if your traffic meets their minimum threshold, which can be tricky for beginners.

Merchants aren’t the only ones getting access to Rakuten’s premium tools. Audience Engine and Affiliate Conversion Journey especially stand out, allowing affiliate marketers to personalize strategies for different audience segments and optimize customer paths for better conversions.

For support, you have access to the help center, 24/7 chat support, and email support. The help center’s resources include a handy road map and video tutorials.

4. Awin

Affiliate network stats:

• Cookie duration: 30-90 days
• Minimum payout: $20
• Payment method: direct deposit, wire transfer, ACH
• Commission rate: varies by merchant

Did you know that Awin is the parent company of ShareASale? Although operating separately, Awin has roughly the same number of merchants as its subsidiary ‒ about 30,000 partners across over 180 countries, including big brands like Nike, Samsung, and Asus.

To join Awin, you need to make a deposit of $1 or equivalent. You’ll get it back with your first payout after hitting the $20 minimum threshold, which is quite low compared to other affiliate platforms on this list.

For influencers, Awin simplifies the signup process with Instagram integration. Just connect your Instagram business or creator account to the affiliate network to get started.

Awin offers many tools to help improve your affiliate marketing efforts. For example, with the Opportunity Marketplace, you can highlight your audience demographics, active sectors, and other affiliate details to attract the right merchant and boost visibility.

5. Impact

Affiliate network stats:

• Cookie duration: 30-90 days
• Minimum payout: $10
• Payment method: direct deposit, PayPal, check, wire transfer, ACH
• Commission rate: starts at 3%, varies by merchant

If you’re looking for an affiliate network with free signup and a low minimum payout threshold, Impact is definitely worth considering.

Don’t have a website or social media account? No problem! Impact allows various methods to promote its affiliate programs, including mobile apps, podcasts, and offline ads. With its powerful tracking tools, you can easily join both online and offline affiliate programs to increase your earnings.

Impact collaborates with around 3,000 merchants, including Adidas, HSBC, and Lenovo. While commission rates vary, they typically start at 3% and can go over 20% with high-ticket programs.

Some reviews mention that the approval process to join an affiliate program can take time. If you can handle the wait, Impact can be a profitable affiliate network for you.

6. GiddyUp

Affiliate network stats:

• Cookie duration: 45 days
• Minimum payout: $50
• Payment method: wire transfer, ACH, check
• Commission rate: varies by campaign

Focused on the direct-to-consumer space, GiddyUp has partnered with over 150 reputable merchants in that sector.

It offers dedicated account managers to help affiliate marketers set up their accounts, navigate the platform, look for profitable opportunities, and more. Having a contact person available 24/7 is a huge advantage, as they can answer your questions and help troubleshoot when needed.

GiddyUp values performance-based partnerships, so affiliate marketers work alongside merchants to create the best possible campaigns. This means you’ll get access to creative assets to boost your marketing efforts.

That said, this is a rather niche affiliate network. If you have no experience promoting direct-to-consumer products or aren’t interested in this sector, GiddyUp may not be for you.

7. PartnerStack

Affiliate network stats:

• Cookie duration: 90 days
• Minimum payout: $5
• Payment method: Stripe, PayPal, direct deposit
• Commission rate: 15-30%, varies by merchant

Interested in selling SaaS products? Then PartnerStack is a great network to start with!

It’s one of the top affiliate networks for publishers promoting digital products in the SaaS sector, offering programs for marketing tools, platform subscriptions, CRM software, and more.

You’ll have access to over 300 affiliate programs, including big names like Webflow and Vimeo, with commissions of up to 30%.

PartnerStack has the lowest minimum payout on this list, requiring only $5 to withdraw earnings. You can withdraw payments through Stripe, PayPal, or direct deposit, depending on your location.

The user-friendly dashboard is perfect for beginners, with guides, video walkthroughs, and fast-response email support.

While the number of merchants is smaller compared to other big affiliate networks, PartnerStack could be a great fit if you prefer quality over quantity.

8. Avangate Affiliate Network

Affiliate network stats:

• Cookie duration: 30-180 days
• Minimum payout: $100
• Payment method: wire transfer, check, PayPal, Avangate MasterCard
• Commission rate: up to 75%

Another great affiliate network focused on digital products is Avangate Affiliate Network. It offers access to over 1,200 IT merchants, such as BitDefender and SEO PowerSuite.

Since digital products like cybersecurity software and marketing solutions can be pricey, Avangate offers a great opportunity to earn high commissions. Some rates go as high as 75%.

However, the minimum payout is at a whopping $100. If you’re new to affiliate marketing, it may take time to reach that threshold, which can slow your revenue stream.

Avangate’s biggest plus point is its tools for maximizing conversions in local markets. Features like geo-targeted shopping carts and deep linking help affiliate partners attract local customers and send them directly to the checkout page, reducing cart abandonment risk.

The signup process is quick and free, but you’ll need a website to become an affiliate. Follow our tutorial on making an affiliate website if you don’t have one yet.

9. Amazon Associates

Affiliate network stats:

• Cookie duration: 24 hours
• Minimum payout: $10 by direct deposit, $100 by check
• Payment method: Amazon gift card, check, bank transfer
• Commission rate: 1-20%, varies by product category

The biggest perk of joining Amazon Associates is the huge variety of physical and digital products to promote. Whether you’re into tech, gardening, or crafts, you’ll find tons of options that fit your niche. Plus, Amazon’s well-known brand helps encourage more sales.

Amazon Associates’ commission rates range from 1% to 10% for popular categories like gadgets, personal care, and kitchen items. While the rates are lower than some affiliate platforms, you can make up for it with volume.

To compensate for its short cookie duration, Amazon offers commissions on everything the customer buys, not just the product you linked. This gives you more chances to earn, even if the customer doesn’t end up buying what you promote in the first place.

You can sign up with a website, mobile app, or social media, but each method has its own requirements. For example, websites need at least 10 blog posts, with the latest posted within the last 60 days.

10. Ascend by Paternize (Pepperjam)

Affiliate network stats:

• Cookie duration: 30-90 days
• Minimum payout: $25
• Payment method: PayPal, direct deposit, check
• Commission rate: varies by merchant

Known primarily as PepperJam, Ascend by Partnerize is home to brands in retail, fashion, health, beauty, and lifestyle sectors. The partner pool comprises less than 1,000 merchants, including Puma, Zalora, and HP. You’ll have better luck finding physical and digital products here, though niche options may still be limited.

Signing up is easy and straightforward, and it usually takes a few days to get approved. Once you’re in, you can generate affiliate links in different formats, including banners and coupons, and start planning your content around them.

Ascend sends out payments through PayPal, direct deposit, and check ‒ the former being the default method. If you don’t want to use PayPal, you must contact support to request a change.

This affiliate marketing network is ideal for those looking to test the waters.

Which affiliate network is the best?

The best affiliate network depends on your niche and business model. For beginners or those focused on a wide range of physical products, ShareASale is an excellent starting point due to its ease of use and massive merchant list.

If you’re in the B2B or SaaS space, PartnerStack is the clear winner because of its focus on software programs with recurring commissions. For established marketers with significant traffic who want to work with premium brands, CJ and Rakuten Advertising offer the tools and high-caliber partnerships to maximize earnings.

Some networks are more popular than others because of their niche specialization, the quality of their brand partners, and a commission structure that aligns with their marketers’ needs.

Which network has the most affiliates?

Amazon Associates is the largest affiliate program in the world. With millions of products to promote and a globally recognized brand, it has the lowest barrier to entry, attracting everyone from hobby bloggers to large media companies. 

While the vast product selection is a huge plus, the low commission rates and short 24-hour cookie duration can make it challenging to earn a significant income. 

Relying solely on one program can be a trap for new affiliates, so it’s often wise to use it as a starting point or to supplement income from other, more specialized networks. 

If you choose this path, it’s vital to learn how to build an Amazon affiliate website that converts traffic effectively despite the program’s limitations.

How to become a successful affiliate marketer?

To become a successful affiliate marketer, you need to build an audience that trusts you, create high-quality content, and consistently test your strategies. Choosing an affiliate network is just the first step on your journey.

Understanding your affiliate marketing earning potential will help you set realistic goals and develop a strategy that aligns with your long-term vision. The key is to then focus on providing genuine value to your audience.

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