Looking to make some extra cash online? Affiliate marketing is a popular way to do it, and the right platform can make all the difference. Instead of dealing with individual companies, affiliate networks act as a middleman, connecting you with lots of brands all in one place. This makes it way easier to find products you want to promote. We’ve put together a list of the top affiliate networks for 2025 to help you get started. These platforms are chosen based on how easy they are to use, the pay rates, the support they offer, and how many brands are on them.
Key Takeaways
- Affiliate networks connect publishers with multiple brands, simplifying the process of finding products to promote.
- When choosing a network, consider ease of use, commission rates, available support, and the size of the network.
- Platforms like Shopify Collabs, AWIN, and CJ Affiliate are popular choices for both beginners and experienced marketers.
- Some networks, like ClickBank, don’t require a website to join, making them accessible to a wider range of creators.
- Payment methods and schedules vary between networks, so check the details to ensure they fit your needs.
1. Shopify Collabs
Shopify Collabs is a pretty neat option if you’re an influencer or content creator looking to team up with brands that use Shopify. It’s designed to make that connection easier. If you’ve got at least a thousand followers on social media, you can start using it to find brands, make your own affiliate links, and get paid automatically. It’s a straightforward way to get your hands on products and earn commissions without a lot of back and forth.
Brands can also get involved, using Collabs to build relationships with creators. They can run surveys or offer discovery experiences to get to know their affiliates better. It’s a good way for them to connect with a wider audience.
Here’s a quick look at how it works:
- Discovery: Find brands that align with your content.
- Link Creation: Generate affiliate links easily.
- Payouts: Receive automatic payments after a 30-day waiting period.
Payment methods include PayPal or direct bank transfers. They do offer affiliate support, which is helpful when you’re starting out.
For creators, the ability to create links without needing direct approval for each brand is a big time-saver. It means you can move faster and start earning sooner.
2. AWIN
AWIN is a pretty big deal in the affiliate marketing world, hosting over 25,000 brands. Think of it as a central hub where you can connect with a ton of different companies, rather than having to sign up for each one individually. People seem to like it because the site is easy to get around, and making things like product feeds or custom links isn’t a headache. They’ve got a lot of big-name advertisers, and it’s apparently a really good spot if you’re focused on the UK market. Plus, the customer service gets good marks.
To get started, you can sign up using either your website or social media profiles. Just a heads-up, there’s a small $5 deposit required to join, but don’t worry, you get that back once you hit your first payment threshold. It’s a bit of a barrier, sure, but it’s refunded pretty quickly.
Here’s a quick look at the payment details:
- Payment Schedule: You get paid twice a month, on the 1st and 15th, for the commissions earned in the previous month.
- Minimum Payout: You need to have at least $20 in earnings before you can get paid.
- Payment Methods: They offer BACS, international wire transfer, and ACH.
AWIN’s large network size means there’s a good chance you’ll find brands that fit your niche, whether you’re a blogger, influencer, or have a dedicated website. The ease of use and decent support make it a solid choice for many.
3. CJ Affiliate
CJ Affiliate, formerly Commission Junction, has been around since 1998, making it one of the veterans in the affiliate marketing space. They host a massive number of brands, over 3,800 globally, so you’re likely to find something that fits your niche. Getting started involves filling out your contact details and providing information about your promotional property, like your website or social media channels.
What’s pretty neat about CJ is their open developer portal. This means if you’re a bit more technically inclined, you can access tools and resources through their API. This can help with things like customizing offers for your audience or finding specific products to promote using keywords. It’s a good platform if you want to get into the details of your campaigns.
Here’s a quick look at the payment details:
- Payment Schedule: Typically paid around the 20th or 28th of the month, depending on the currency used.
- Payment Methods: You can get paid via direct deposit or Payoneer.
- Support: Yes, they offer affiliate support.
CJ Affiliate is a solid choice for many affiliate marketers, especially those who are looking for a wide variety of advertisers and have a bit of technical know-how to take advantage of their API resources. It’s a well-established network that’s been around for a long time for a reason.
4. ClickBank
ClickBank has been around for a while, since 1999 actually, and they’ve paid out a ton of money in commissions – over $6 billion. What’s cool is you don’t need a website or social media to sign up. Just give them your contact info, and you can start looking through their marketplace for products to promote. They have a lot of digital and physical items, over 4,000, so there are plenty of different niches you can get into. They also provide tools to track your sales and a resource center to help you out.
ClickBank is a solid choice if you’re looking for a wide variety of products, especially digital ones, and a straightforward signup process.
Here’s a quick look at how payments work:
- Payment Schedule: You can get paid weekly or every two weeks.
- Payment Methods: They offer checks, direct deposit, wire transfers, and Payoneer.
- Support: Yes, they offer affiliate support.
They have a pretty big selection of products, which is great for finding something that fits your audience. It’s not just about having a lot of options, though; it’s about having options that are actually selling well. That’s where their marketplace comes in handy, showing you what’s popular.
5. FlexOffers
FlexOffers is a pretty big player in the affiliate marketing world, connecting publishers with a massive number of advertisers – we’re talking over 10,000. It’s like a central hub where you can find partnerships with huge names like Samsung and Sephora, but also smaller, niche brands. This network is known for being a solid partner for businesses looking to grow their reach.
What’s cool is that FlexOffers works with other affiliate platforms too, so it’s a really interconnected system. They accept various website types, including popular blogging platforms like WordPress and Wix. They also offer a 30-day cookie duration, which is pretty standard but still gives you a decent window to earn commissions.
FlexOffers uses advanced AI technology to help optimize performance. This means they can provide insights into what consumers are doing, which can help you make your marketing efforts work better.
They have a wide range of merchants, and it’s a good place to look if you want to promote big brands or mix in some smaller ones to find more opportunities. Payouts are typically net 60, but there’s an option for advanced payments if you need the cash sooner, though it might cost a bit extra. You can get paid through bank transfer, wire transfer, ACH, check, or PayPal. It’s a network that really tries to give affiliates a lot of options to succeed. If you’re looking to partner with a wide variety of companies, FlexOffers is definitely worth checking out as a top partner.
6. Avangate Affiliate Network
Avangate, now known as 2Checkout, has been around since 2006 and is a solid choice if you’re into promoting software and digital products. They’ve got over 1,200 affiliates in their network, which is pretty good. One thing that really stands out is their geo-targeted shopping cart feature. Basically, if you’re trying to reach people in a specific country, you can link them straight to a shopping cart that’s set up for their region. It’s a smart way to make things easier for customers and potentially boost your sales.
To join, you’ll need a website, which makes sense given their focus on digital goods. They pay out monthly, usually about 20 days after the month ends, and you need to hit a $100 minimum before they send you your earnings. You can get paid via wire transfer, check, PayPal, or even a special Avangate Mastercard. They also offer affiliate support, which is always a plus when you’re trying to figure things out.
Here’s a quick rundown:
- Payment Schedule: Monthly (20 days after month-end)
- Payment Methods: Wire transfer, check, PayPal, Avangate Mastercard
- Minimum Payout: $100
- Website Required: Yes
They focus heavily on software and digital goods, so if that’s your niche, Avangate is definitely worth a look. The geo-targeting is a neat trick for international audiences.
7. Rakuten Advertising
Rakuten Advertising is a pretty big player in the affiliate marketing world, connecting over 25,000 advertisers and publishers. If you’re looking to promote a wide variety of brands, this is definitely one to check out. They’ve got everything from hotels like Hilton to fashion brands like AllSaints and sporting goods from ASICS. It’s a solid network if you want options.
What’s interesting is how they help both sides. For brands, they have tools like Affiliate Conversion Journey, which gives a clearer picture of how customers move through the sales process. For us publishers, they offer things like Audience Engine, which can help tailor your promotions to your specific audience, hopefully leading to more sales. They really seem to focus on giving you the tools to succeed.
Here’s a quick look at some details:
- Payment Schedule: You can expect to get paid Net 60 days.
- Payment Methods: Rakuten offers direct deposit, checks, or PayPal.
- Support: Yes, they provide affiliate support.
One thing to keep in mind is that while they have a huge number of brands, you do need to get approved by each individual retail brand you want to promote. So, it’s not always a guaranteed spot with every company, but if you fit their needs, it can be a great partnership.
Rakuten Advertising is a well-established network with a broad reach, making it a good choice for affiliates looking to partner with a diverse range of well-known brands. Their focus on providing tools for both advertisers and publishers suggests a commitment to a functional affiliate ecosystem.
8. Impact
Impact is a pretty solid platform, especially if you’re looking to partner with some big names. They were actually voted the best cost-per-sale network in North America for 2024, which tells you something. You’ll find brands like Adidas, Fabletics, and even tech companies like Shopify on there.
What’s cool is that they have a lot of tools to help you out. There’s a mobile app marketplace specifically for publishers to get more from mobile traffic, and they offer automation tools to make managing your partnerships easier. They also have a good reputation for partnership development, which is always a plus.
Getting paid is pretty flexible, with options for daily or threshold payouts, or you can set it for the 1st or 15th of the month. Payment methods include direct deposit, bank transfers, or PayPal.
If you’re serious about affiliate marketing and want to work with established brands, Impact is definitely worth checking out. It’s a good place to start if you want to grow your e-commerce business through partnerships. Check out their platform.
9. AffiliaXe
AffiliaXe is a global affiliate network that gives marketers tools to improve their performance and understand their traffic better. The dashboard keeps track of clicks, sales, and payments, which is pretty handy. They also assign you a dedicated affiliate manager to help find programs that fit your audience.
This network supports various ways to make money from your traffic, including pay-per-view, pay-per-click, social media promotions, and email marketing. It’s a solid option if you’re looking for a network that provides personalized support and a range of monetization methods. AffiliaXe also focuses on campaign integrity with anti-fraud systems, which is good for both brands and affiliates.
Here’s a quick look at their payment details:
- Payment Schedule: Bi-weekly (15th and end of the month)
- Minimum Payout: $100
- Payment Methods: PayPal, Payoneer, ACH, checks, or bank wire via Tipalti
If you’re interested in exploring different affiliate networks, checking out resources like Affpaying reviews can give you a broader perspective on what’s available in the market.
10. GiddyUp
GiddyUp is a platform that’s been around since 2013, and they’ve paid out over $200 million in commissions to affiliates. If you’re new to affiliate marketing, they aim to help you make money from your website or social media. They provide tools and real-time data to help boost your earnings, and you even get an affiliate partner manager to answer your questions. Plus, they offer creative assets like videos, images, and copy to help with your campaigns.
GiddyUp is particularly good if you’re interested in promoting physical products. They’ve been involved in over 150 direct-to-consumer product launches across various categories. So, whether you’re into wellness, electronics, or travel, there’s a good chance you’ll find something to promote.
Here’s a quick look at what they offer:
- Wide Brand Selection: Access to promote up to 150 different brands from a single platform.
- Performance Tracking: Keep an eye on your commissions and performance with real-time data.
- Affiliate Support: Get help from dedicated affiliate managers.
- Creative Assets: Utilize videos, images, and campaign copy provided by the network.
GiddyUp focuses on helping affiliates succeed by providing the resources and support needed to promote a diverse range of products effectively. Their emphasis on direct-to-consumer launches means you’re often working with brands that have a strong market presence.
Wrapping It Up: Your Affiliate Journey Starts Now
So, we’ve looked at a bunch of different places where you can start making money with affiliate marketing. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been doing this for a while, there’s something out there for everyone. From big names like CJ Affiliate and Rakuten Advertising to more specialized spots like ClickBank for digital products, the options are pretty wide. Remember, finding the right network often means matching it with your audience and what you like to promote. It might take a little trial and error, but with so many good platforms available in 2025, you’re bound to find a good fit. Good luck out there!
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between an affiliate program and an affiliate network?
Think of it like this: an individual brand’s affiliate program is like a single shop. An affiliate network, however, is like a big mall where you can find many different shops (brands) all in one place. This makes it easier for people who want to promote products to connect with lots of brands without having to sign up with each one separately.
Which affiliate network is best for someone just starting out?
For newcomers, networks like Shopify Collabs are great because they offer easy-to-use tools and clear reports to help you understand your progress. Big platforms like ShareASale and Impact also make it simple to join and give you access to thousands of different brands to promote.
What are the most popular affiliate networks right now?
Some of the most talked-about affiliate networks include Shopify Collabs, AWIN, CJ Affiliate, ClickBank, FlexOffers, Avangate Affiliate Network, Rakuten Advertising, Impact, AffiliaXe, and GiddyUp. These are popular because they offer a good mix of brands, decent payment rates, and helpful support.
Which affiliate networks pay the most?
Generally, you’ll find the highest payouts in areas like finance, software, and high-end products. For instance, promoting credit cards, web hosting services, or premium software can lead to commissions that are hundreds or even thousands of dollars for a single sale.
How can I find different affiliate networks to join?
You can discover affiliate networks by doing a simple search on Google, checking out lists or directories of affiliate networks online, or by visiting the websites of brands you like and looking for an ‘affiliate’ or ‘partner’ link, usually found in the footer.
Is it hard to get accepted into an affiliate network?
It really depends on the network and your application. Some networks, like ClickBank, are quite easy to join and don’t require a website. Others might want to see that you have a website or social media presence and that your content fits their requirements. It’s always best to check the specific rules for each network.