15 Best Influencer Affiliate Programs & Networks

Influencers with a large following on social media platforms can monetize their online presence in many ways. One of the best and easiest ways to do that is to join a good influencer affiliate program. This way, they can partner with brands and promote their products or services to their followers in exchange for attractive commissions.

Even though anyone with a large online following can be an affiliate marketer, in order to succeed and earn plenty of passive income, you need to join the right affiliate program. This means choosing a program that offers good commissions and, most importantly, sells products that align with your followers’ interests.

However, finding the right influencer affiliate program for you can be challenging and time-consuming. For that reason, we’ve compiled a list of the top 15 affiliate programs and networks for influencers. But before you take a look at their reviews, you may want to learn what these programs are and how they work, especially if you’re a beginner.

What Is an Influencer Affiliate Program?

Influencer affiliate programs are a marketing strategy businesses use to partner with social media influencers and pay them commissions for promoting their products or services to their followers.

Influencers who participate in affiliate programs receive a unique affiliate link or coupon code that they can share with their audience. When their followers complete a purchase using that link or code, the influencer earns a commission on that sale.

Influencer affiliate programs typically provide a win-win situation for both the influencer and the business. The influencer earns a commission on sales they generate, which can be a lucrative way to monetize their online presence. Meanwhile, the business benefits from increased exposure and sales and the trust and credibility that comes with an endorsement from a well-respected influencer.

Influencer affiliate networks, on the other hand, are platforms that connect brands with influencers who want to promote their products or services through affiliate marketing. These networks act as intermediaries between brands and influencers, providing a range of tools and services to make the partnership more effective and efficient.

Why Join an Influencer Affiliate Program?

If you already have an established audience on social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok, you can easily monetize it by joining the right affiliate program. This will allow you to promote a product or service that aligns with their interests and earn a commission whenever someone uses your link to buy it. It can be a great way to earn money and build partnerships with brands.

Participating in an influencer affiliate program can lead to other opportunities for sponsored content or collaborations in the future. As long as you promote a product you believe in, you can provide value to your audience and build trust and credibility with your followers.

Besides, joining an influencer affiliate program is usually free, so it won’t hurt to try it. As long as you promote high-quality products or services in your niche, you can succeed as an affiliate.

Full Examples Review

Now that you know what affiliate programs and networks are and how they work, it’s time to look at some of the best options available right now.

We’ve provided a short review of each program, along with some of the most important factors to consider when choosing one, including the commission rate, payment process, and cookie duration.

1. Pawns.app

Pawns.app is a free, global desktop and mobile app that pays users money in exchange for their internet bandwidth and opinions on different topics. Basically, it lets you earn some passive income in your free time by sharing your internet connection with others and taking short surveys.

So if you think your followers may want or need an extra source of passive income, promoting it on your channel can be a great way to earn attractive commissions. Unlike most brands with one affiliate program for anyone with an audience, Pawns.app has an affiliate program designed explicitly for influencers.

The Pawns.app influencer program pays high lifetime commission rates of up to 20% of the referrals’ earnings. In other words, whenever someone uses your affiliate link to register on the app and make money, you get a 20% of their earnings for life! The free program supports instant payments via PayPal and provides a dedicated account manager to help you succeed as an affiliate.

• Commission rate – up to 20% lifetime commissions per referral’s earnings.
• Getting paid – instant payments are available 30 days after your referrals have started using the app.
• Payment methods – PayPal, bank, crypto, and more.
• Cookie duration – 90 days.

2. YouGov

YouGov is a platform that pays users to take online surveys. It uses a point system, so whenever someone completes a survey, it gives them a certain number of points which can then be exchanged for cash. If you think your followers could be interested in taking online surveys to make some side money, joining the YouGov affiliate program is definitely a good idea.

Although we couldn’t find much information about the program, we know it’s free to join. As an affiliate, you get a unique link to share on your social media and earn about $3 commission per lead.

This means your commission doesn’t depend on how much your referrals earn but on how many people you introduce to the brand. On the downside, it’s a one-time commission, so there’s no chance for you to earn more from one referral source.

• Commission rate – about $3 per lead.
• Getting paid – N/A
• Payment methods – N/A
• Cookie duration – 30 days.

3. Ipsos i-Say

Ipsos-i-Say is another survey site that lets people earn a little extra cash in their free time by completing online surveys. The site rewards users with points they can exchange for virtual prepaid cards, donations, or gift cards.

Even though it’s not the highest-paying survey site out there, it can still help your followers make some easy money. As an influencer, you can join it for free and get access to an original link that you can share with your followers.

Whenever someone uses it to register on Ipsos i-Say and verify their email address, you get a one-time commission of $2.74. But there’s a catch. Your referral must complete at least one survey so you can actually earn the commission. Fair enough!

• Commission rate – a one-time $2.74 per referral.
• Getting paid – five days after your referral completes the first survey.
• Payment methods – PayPal.
• Cookie duration – N/A

4. CJ or Commission Junction

CJ Affiliate is one of the largest and most established affiliate networks, with thousands of advertisers and affiliates participating in its program. The platform offers a range of tools and features to help them optimize their campaigns and track performance, including advanced reporting, affiliate management, and automated payouts.

To participate in the CJ Affiliate program, you must apply and get approved for individual advertiser programs based on your niche, traffic, and other criteria. Advertisers can set their own commission rates and payouts, as well as customize their offers and marketing materials to attract the right affiliates for their campaigns.

CJ Affiliate takes a percentage of each sale as its fee for facilitating the transaction.

• Commission rate – depends on the program/advertiser.
• Getting paid – within 20 days of the end month, once you reach the $50 payout threshold if you’re in America, or the $100 payout threshold if you’re somewhere else.
• Payment methods – check, direct deposit, and Payoneer.
• Cookie duration – anywhere between 1 and 120 days, depending on the program.

5. ShareASale

ShareASale is an affiliate marketing network that connects advertisers with affiliates to promote products and services in exchange for commissions on sales or other desired actions.

As an affiliate or influencer, you can sign up for free and apply to join individual merchant programs within ShareASale’s network. Once approved, you can access various promotional materials, including links, banners, and product feeds, to promote the merchant’s products on your marketing channel.

ShareASale offers a range of features and tools to help you optimize your campaigns, including real-time tracking and reporting, automated affiliate payments, and a dedicated support team.

• Commission rate – depends on the program/advertiser.
• Getting paid – once a month, on the 20th after reaching the $50 payout threshold.
• Payment methods – direct deposit, paper check, and Payoneer.
• Cookie duration – 60 days.

6. Awin

Awin is another popular affiliate network, providing a platform for advertisers to increase their online presence and drive sales. In contrast, affiliates can earn commissions by promoting relevant products to their followers.

It operates in over 180 countries and has a network of over 21,000 advertisers, so it’s a great place to look for an affiliate program to join. Moreover, Awin doesn’t require owning a website to become its affiliate, so it’s perfect for influencers with a social media channel.

The platform offers a variety of tools and resources to help you succeed as an affiliate. It also offers a range of commission models, including pay-per-sale, pay-per-lead, and pay-per-click. The only downside is that you must pay $5 to join it, but you’ll get your money back once you earn $20.

• Commission rate – depends on the program/advertiser.
• Getting paid – monthly, on the 1st or 15th of the month, for commissions earned in the previous month.
• Payment methods – BACS, international wire transfer, and ACH.
• Cookie duration – 30 days.

7. Amazon Influencer Program

The Amazon Influencer Program is an affiliate marketing program offered by Amazon, which allows social media influencers to earn commissions by promoting Amazon products on their social media accounts.

Unlike Amazon Associates, this one is designed with social media influencers in mind, but it still offers the same commission rates, ranging from 1% to 20%. However, Amazon gives you your very own page on the platform with a vanity URL. Everyone that comes to your Amazon page and makes a purchase will give you the same commission as if they used your link to buy.

This is a great way to promote Amazon products verbally or on Instagram, where hyperlinking is not an option. To join the Amazon Influencer Program, you must have a YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook account with significant following and high engagement rates. Also, you need to reside in the US, UK, Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, or India.

• Commission rate – ranging from 1% to 20% commission per sale, depending on the product type.
• Getting paid – once you earn at least $10, you’ll be paid 60 days from the end of the month.
• Payment methods – direct deposit, check, and Amazon gift cards.
• Cookie duration – 24 hours.

8. TubeBuddy

TubeBuddy is one of the most popular browser extensions or apps that help YouTube creators drive more views and subscribers. With over 10 million users, including popular brands like BBC and Adobe, TubeBuddy is an attractive product to promote if your followers are YouTubers, business owners, or anyone else who wants to grow their YouTube channel.

TubeBuddy has an in-house affiliate program that pays recurring commissions per sale. In other words, when some of your followers subscribe to a paid TubeBuddy plan, you get a 30% commission as long as your referral stays a paying customer.

As an affiliate, you can belong to one of the three available tiers, Standard, Vip, and Super which pay the same commission but provide different perks.

• Commission rate – a 30% recurring commission per sale for life.
• Getting paid – once a month, between the 1st and 15th of the month, after reaching the $10 minimum payout threshold if you’re part of tier Standard or Vip.
• Payment methods – PayPal.
• Cookie duration – 365 days.

9. Expedia

Expedia is a popular website and mobile app that allows you to book hotel reservations, flight tickets, cruise ships, car rentals, and vacation packages. The reliable online travel agency functions as a middleman between you and genuine travel operators, letting you compare prices from numerous options simultaneously.

The company’s affiliate program is a great option to consider if your channel is focused on traveling. Promoting hotels and flights to your followers can be an easy way to monetize your online presence. As an influencer who’s part of the Expedia affiliate program, you can get a one-time commission of 2% to 6% per sale.

However, if you own a travel agency, you can apply to Expedia’s other affiliate program and earn commissions as high as 11% per sale.

• Commission rate – 2% to 11% commission per sale.
• Getting paid – monthly.
• Payment methods – direct deposit.
• Cookie duration – 7 days.

10. ShopYourLikes (SYL)

ShopYourLikes is an influencer marketing platform that allows social media influencers to monetize their content by promoting products from various brands on their social media channels. The platform connects over 5,500 influencers and over 600 retailers together, including big names like Old Navy, Target, and Walmart.

The ShopYourLikes affiliate network supports CPC and CPA pricing models, so the more followers click on your posts and make a purchase, the more money you earn. In other words, the program monitors the clicks you drive and the sales you make to determine your earnings per click. In other words, commission rates vary.

If you want to become part of their affiliate program, you need to sign up for an account and link your social media account. As long as you have a strong community, create original and relevant content, and meet the SYL quality requirements, you can start earning as their affiliate.

• Commission rate – varying.
• Getting paid – 45 days after the month ends, once you reach a minimum payout threshold of $25.
• Payment methods – PayPal.
• Cookie duration – varying, depending on the retailer.

11. MagicLinks

MagicLinks is another influencer marketing platform that helps influencers find a brand to promote and get a share of the sale. The platform connects leading brands like Fendi, Lacoste, and ELF and video influencers in their niches together.

Once you become a MagicLink creator, which you can only do if you’re an influencer on TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram, you can work with thousands of brands in the following niches: fashion, lifestyle, tech, home, and beauty. The platform makes it easier for you to find the perfect program by providing 12 filtering options, such as cookie duration and commission rate, which vary depending on the brand.

• Commission rate – depending on the brand.
• Getting paid – on the 1st of every month, once you reach the $50 minimum payout threshold.
• Payment methods – PayPal.
• Cookie duration – depending on the brand.

12. LikeToKnow (LTK)

LikeToKnow, or LTK, is a platform that includes over 7,000 retailers, 200,000 creators, and one million brands from all over the world. The idea is to help lifestyle creators and brands monetize their digital space. So, if you are a lifestyle influencer focusing on any category, from travel to tech, joining LTK can be the best thing you can do for your channel and wallet.

As an LTK creator or affiliate, you get access to the platform’s network of more than 5,000 brands, your own personalized shop with visibility to more than 300,000 LTK shoppers, retargeting capabilities to re-engage your followers, one-on-one growth consulting, and a variety of useful tools.

To become part of the LTK platform as a creator, you need to have an active social media profile, an engaged audience, and high-quality content. Commission rates and cookie duration vary depending on the brand.

• Commission rate – depending on the brand.
• Getting paid – bi-weekly once you reach the $100 minimum payout threshold.
• Payment methods – PayPal.
• Cookie duration – depending on the brand.

13. ShopStyle Collective

ShopStyle Collective is an online platform that enables content creators, bloggers, and influencers to monetize their content by promoting products from various retailers. The platform provides access to thousands of brands and retailers, including high-end fashion brands, beauty products, home decor, and more.

As an influencer, you can apply to either the Standard or the Advanced affiliate program, depending on your experience in influencer affiliate marketing. However, you must have at least 18 years, rich and high-quality content, an engaged target audience, and an Instagram business or creator account with a connected Facebook business page.

Both programs offer CPA commissions which vary depending on the brand. Keep in mind that if you don’t generate at least $50 over six months, the platform has the right to terminate your account.

• Commission rate – depending on the brand.
• Getting paid – monthly, once the sales are confirmed and you meet the minimum payout threshold of $25, £25, CA$25, AUD$2, or €25.
• Payment methods – PayPal.
• Cookie duration – depending on the brand.

14. Refersion Marketplace

Refersion Marketplace is an online platform that connects affiliates with merchants and brands, allowing them to earn commissions by promoting and selling their products. The platform provides a marketplace where affiliates can browse and search for products and programs to promote while merchants can list their products and programs for affiliates to join.

As an influencer or affiliate, you can look for a brand to promote in one of the following niches: food and beverage, health and wellness, home and furnishings, and fashion and beauty. What makes this platform attractive to affiliates is that it pays higher commissions per sale than similar networks.

That’s because it works directly with brands, so you can find ones that pay up to 70% commissions per sale for certain products.

• Commission rate – ranging from 5% to 70% commission per sale, depending on the brand.
• Getting paid – N/A
• Payment methods – PayPal, bank transfer, and gift cards.
• Cookie duration – depending on the brand.

15. Rakuten Advertising

Rakuten Advertising is an online advertising platform that helps brands and retailers reach and engage with their target audience through a variety of channels, including display advertising, affiliate marketing, influencer marketing, and more.

The affiliate marketing network specializes in working with brands in the finance, retail, travel, and direct-to-consumer niches. If you want to become an affiliate, you just need to fill out some basic information about yourself and your channel.

Once approved, you get access to popular brands and dedicated support to help you get to where you want to be.

• Commission rate – depending on the brand.
• Getting paid – 60 days after you’ve earned your commissions and reached the minimum payout threshold of $50.
• Payment methods – PayPal, check, and direct deposit.
• Cookie duration – depending on the brand.

How Influencers Can Thrive in Affiliate Marketing

Today, people tend to trust influencers more than brands, so if you have a large or loyal audience on social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok, the chances are a lot of them will trust your recommendation.

So why not recommend a product or service that will help them solve a problem or improve their lives, and simultaneously increase your budget?

After all, you already have a custom-made audience, making it easier for you to find a type of product or service they will love. As long as the product is of high quality and the followers that bought it are satisfied, you can expect a lot of sales and even more followers.

Of course, you should create high-quality and original content that showcases the products you’re promoting in an engaging and informative way. This can include product reviews, tutorials, or lifestyle posts that feature the product in a natural and organic way.

And if you have a blog or any other channel, you can use it to reach a wider audience and increase the chances of generating sales.

The bottom line is that influencers who know their audience well can make money from affiliate marketing and grow their audience as long as they promote the right brand or product.

Pros and Cons of Influencer Affiliate Programs & Networks

Before you decide to join an influencer affiliate program or network, you may want to consider their biggest pros and cons:

Pros

• Additional income by earning commissions on the products you promote.
• Building relationships with brands that could lead to long-term partnerships and collaborations.
• No upfront costs of investment on your part, so you can promote products and earn commissions without any financial risk.
• A chance to promote products or services that align with your brand or personal values, which can result in more authentic and engaging content for your followers.

Cons

• Limited control over the messaging and creative assets used in the promotion if the brand has specific requirements that you must follow.
• Highly competitive as there could be many other influencers promoting the same products or services.
• In many countries, influencers are required to disclose their relationship with brands when promoting products or services, which can be a tedious and time-consuming process.

Conclusion

If you’re an influencer with a huge and engaged following on any social media platform, you should consider joining an affiliate program or network to help you monetize your channel. It’s an easy way to make money from a channel you already have and followers that trust you.

To make things easier for you, we’ve picked the 15 best influencer affiliate programs and networks currently available. Check them out and choose the one that works best for you.

FAQ