16 Best Mobile App Affiliate Programs

With the ever-increasing popularity of smartphones and mobile devices, there’s a high demand for mobile apps, making it a lucrative niche for affiliate marketers. By partnering with mobile app developers and promoting their apps, you can earn commissions for every download or in-app purchase made through your link.

Finding the best mobile app affiliate program for you, however, can be challenging. You have to ensure it’s legitimate, available, a good fit for your niche, and with commissions worth considering. For that reason, we’ve scoured the internet to find the top 15 programs that can help you monetize your traffic.

But first, let’s explain what mobile app affiliate programs are. We’ll also cover their benefits and drawbacks so you can understand everything about them before you get started.

What Is a Mobile App Affiliate Program?

Mobile app affiliate programs are partnerships between mobile app developers and affiliates who promote their apps in exchange for a commission. As an affiliate, you promote a mobile app by sharing a unique affiliate link with your audience via your website, blog, social media channels, or email.

When someone clicks on your link and downloads the app or makes an in-app purchase, you earn a commission. The commission rate varies between different mobile app affiliate programs. Some mobile app affiliate programs also offer bonuses for high-performing affiliates or provide promotional materials to help affiliates promote the app effectively.

Mobile app affiliate programs offer a unique opportunity for affiliates to earn passive income by promoting popular mobile applications to their audience. As the mobile app industry continues growing, the potential for earning through mobile app affiliate programs is also increasing.

How Does App Affiliate Marketing Work?

In simple words, app affiliate marketing works like an exchange program between app developers and affiliates, such as bloggers, content creators, or social media influencers. Let’s break it down so you can better understand each stage or action:

1. Partnership — An app developer partners with an affiliate;
2. Promotion — The affiliate promotes the app through their channels using a unique affiliate link;
3. Download — Someone clicks on the link and downloads the app;
4. Tracking — the download is tracked using cookies, affiliate tracking software, custom tracking links, pixel tracking, postback tracking, or any other similar method;
5. Commission — The affiliate gets money for every successful app download.

It’s important to review the advertising policies of affiliate programs because they can vary and, as you know, the devil is in the details. So make sure to read the Terms and Conditions, check for compliance requirements, and review cookie policies. Even when you’re in the program, make it a habit to regularly check for updates in advertising policies.

Tracking app downloads is also an important step since that ensures affiliates their commission. You’ll come across many conversion tracking methods, such as affiliate IDs, UTM parameters, server-side tracking, and others. It’s important that affiliates understand how the tracking works before bringing in users.

Benefits of Mobile Affiliate Network

Mobile app affiliate programs are getting more popular for a reason. Some of the most significant benefits of joining them include:

• High potential for revenue

Mobile software and applications are a rapidly growing industry, with more and more people using apps on their mobile devices. This presents a significant opportunity for affiliates to earn revenue by promoting and selling mobile applications to their audience.

• Easy to promote

Mobile solutions are often easy to promote because they solve a specific problem or provide a particular function. This makes it easier for affiliates to target a specific audience and promote the app as a solution to their needs.

• Multiple offers

Mobile affiliate networks provide access to a wide range of mobile app offers, giving you the flexibility to choose which offers to promote based on your niche and audience.

• Low barrier to entry

Joining a mobile app affiliate program is often easy and requires minimal investment. This means affiliates can get started quickly and begin earning commissions without having to invest significant resources upfront.

• Recurring revenue

Some mobile app affiliate programs offer recurring commissions for as long as the user continues to use the app. This provides affiliates with a reliable source of income and allows them to earn passive income over time.

Drawbacks of Mobile Affiliate Networks

Like anything else in life, mobile affiliate networks have a downside you need to be aware of. Here are some potential drawbacks to consider before making a decision:

• Competitive market

With the popularity of mobile apps, there is a lot of competition among affiliates to promote and sell these products. This can make it challenging for new affiliates to gain traction and generate significant revenue.

• Limited product lifespan

Some mobile applications have a short lifespan and may lose popularity quickly. This can lead to a decline in sales and revenue for affiliates who are promoting these products.

• Technical challenges

Promoting mobile software or apps can sometimes require technical expertise, particularly if the affiliate creates content or ads that feature the app. This may be a barrier for affiliates unfamiliar with app development or mobile technology.

• Limited earning potential

Some mobile app affiliate programs offer lower commission rates compared to other affiliate programs, which can limit an affiliate’s earning potential. This is why it’s important to choose a program that offers decent commissions.

• Adherence to app store policies

Many mobile app affiliate programs require affiliates to adhere to strict policies set by app stores, such as the Apple App Store or Google Play. These policies can restrict the ways in which affiliates can promote the app, which may limit their ability to generate conversions.

Full Provider Review

Now that you know all the pros and cons of joining a mobile app affiliate network, it’s time to choose the best one for your needs. Take a look at our suggestions below and read the short reviews carefully before making a decision.

1. Pawns.app

Pawns.app is a free app that allows users to make passive income in their free time from anywhere in the world. By installing the app on their Android and iOS mobile devices, users can enable the bandwidth-sharing option and earn money while sleeping. Another way to increase their earnings is by taking short surveys that pay money after completing them, but there are plenty of other options as well, such as paid games.

This makes Pawns.app attractive to anyone who wants to earn some extra money while waiting in line or commuting. Joining the Pawns.app affiliate program is free and easy, allowing you to earn generous commissions of up to 20% per referral’s earnings.

What’s really great is that the commissions are for life, so you’ll keep on getting paid for every referral every time they make a withdrawal.

• Commission rate – up to 20% lifetime commission per referral’s earnings.
• Payout cycle – instant payouts are available as long as your referrals are active for 30 days.
• Minimum withdrawal – $5
• Payment methods – PayPal, crypto, bank, etc.
• Cookie duration – 90 days.

Check out this video to learn about Pawns.app affiliate program in 1 minute:

2. PrizeRebel

PrizeRebel is a survey platform that offers rewards in exchange for users’ honest opinions on different topics. Basically, you take online surveys and earn points which you can later exchange for gift cards or cash. The app is available for Android and iOS users residing in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada.

The PrizeRebel partnership program allows you to earn recurring commissions whenever your referrals make money with the app. As an affiliate, you can get up to 30% commission on all payments made by your referrals. And there’s no maximum amount you can earn per referral, which is another plus.

• Commission rate – up to 30% commission on payments made by referrals.
• Payout cycle – 24 hours.
• Minimum withdrawal – $5
• Payment methods – PayPal cash, gift cards, Bitcoins.
• Cookie duration – N/A

3. Toluna

Toluna is another popular survey platform that lets people earn some side cash by giving their honest opinions and thoughts on major brands and products. This software affiliate program is available for both Android and iOS mobile users, giving them points after taking each survey. The points can be redeemed for cash, donations, or gift cards once they make $30.

The Toluna affiliate site allows you to join it for free and promote it to your audience, no matter the type of blog or social media channel you own. It pays a one-time commission whenever someone uses your link to register on the app. There’s a lack of information about the program, but based on what we’ve found, the commission is $1.20 per sign-up.

• Commission rate – $1.20 per new registration on the app.
• Payout cycle – once a month, before the 20th.
• Minimum withdrawal – doesn’t say.
• Payment methods – PayPal.
• Cookie duration – 45 days.

4. YouGov

Here’s one more legitimate survey platform that enables people to earn passive income in their free time. As a YouGov user, you can take paid online surveys while taking a break or waiting in line because the platform has a mobile version. The app pays in points after completing the surveys and lets you exchange them for cash.

This is why you can consider promoting YouGov to your audience as long as they are interested in making money online and taking paid surveys. Once you join the affiliate program, you’ll get access to a unique link that you can share on your platform. The program pays a flat $3 per every lead you bring to the platform.

• Commission rate – a $3 flat commission per lead.
• Payout cycle – can take from 15 to 30 days.
• Minimum withdrawal – 5000 points ($50).
• Payment methods – bank transfers and gift cards.
• Cookie duration – 30 days.

5. Awin

This global affiliate marketing network connects advertisers with affiliates to promote their products or services online. As an affiliate, you have thousands of advertisers and offers to choose from, including some of the world’s most popular brands. And you don’t even have to own a website to become an Awin affiliate.

On the downside, the network charges you $5 to join it, but you can get your money back once you earn $20, the first payout threshold. When it comes to commissions, they vary depending on the program or advertiser selected.

• Commission rate – depending on the advertiser.
• Payout cycle – once a month (on the 1st or 15th) for last month’s earnings.
• Minimum withdrawal – $20
• Payment methods – international wire transfer, BACS, and ACH.
• Cookie duration – 30 days.

6. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN provides a virtual private network (VPN) service that allows users to connect to the internet securely and privately. It offers apps for a variety of devices and operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux.

Since more than 50% of smartphone users use a VPN mobile app, promoting ExpressVPN to your audience can be very profitable for you. The partnership program pays commissions of up to $36 per sale, depending on the package your referrals choose.

• Commission rate – $13 for each new monthly subscription, $22 for a 6-month subscription package, and $36 for an annual subscription.
• Payout cycle – once a month, after reaching the minimum payout of $50.
• Minimum withdrawal – $50
• Payment methods – PayPal and direct wire transfer (only for commissions higher than $1,000).
• Cookie duration – 30 days.

7. Instamobile

Instamobile is a mobile app development company that helps entrepreneurs and small businesses develop and style their own mobile apps. They offer a wide range of mobile app templates for both iOS and Android platforms, designed to cater to various industries, such as eCommerce, social media, food delivery, and many more.

So if you have an audience full of mobile developers, freelancers, entrepreneurs, or anyone interested in developing mobile applications, promoting Instamobile can be a great idea.

To earn commissions from the company’s affiliate program, you must create an affiliate account and bring customers to the Instamobile website. For every purchase generated by your traffic, you get a 30% commission.

• Commission rate – a 30% commission per sale.
• Payout cycle – doesn’t say.
• Minimum withdrawal – doesn’t say.
• Payment methods – PayPal.
• Cookie duration – 30 days.

8. Blinkist

Blinkist is a subscription-based app that offers summaries of non-fiction books in a bite-sized format. The app provides users with key insights and takeaways from the world’s best-selling non-fiction books in a condensed format that can be read or listened to in just 15 minutes.

This makes Blinkist a great app to promote on your blog or social media channel if you have many followers interested in reading and learning. As an affiliate, you can earn a 20% commission per sale, meaning anyone that uses your link to subscribe to a paid plan will bring you around $2.50.

However, this is not the only type of commission they offer, so if you plan to become their affiliate, it’s best to contact them to learn more about it. 

• Commission rate – various commission types, from one-time commissions for registrations and sales to long-term revenue share commissions.
• Payout cycle – you must wait 30 days until your commission is confirmed due to Blinkist’s 30-day refund policy. Any approved transaction is paid 30 days after it’s been invoiced.
• Minimum withdrawal – doesn’t say.
• Payment methods – doesn’t say.
• Cookie duration – 30 days.

9. Envato

Envato is a digital marketplace that provides a platform for creative professionals to buy and sell digital assets, such as website templates, graphic design elements, audio and video files, stock photos, and 3D models.

This makes it an excellent service to promote if you have an audience full of graphic designers, photographers, developers, video professionals, or a DIY crowd. As an affiliate, you can earn by promoting Envato’s digital assets, their DIY design tool, and unlimited creative subscription.

The program pays varying commissions depending on the product you promote. For example, you can earn up to $60 for everyone that uses your link to sign up for a monthly unlimited creative subscription and up to $120 for annual subscriptions. Or, if you promote their DIY design tool, you can earn up to $50 on annual subscriptions and 50% on one-time transactions.

• Commission rate – varying commissions, depending on the Envato product you promote. In general, they range between $20 and $120 per subscriber or 30% on the first purchase.
• Payout cycle – via the Impact platform on the 16th of the month for last month’s commissions.
• Minimum withdrawal – $50
• Payment methods – PayPal and electronic funds transfer (only for certain locations).
• Cookie duration – 90 days for Envato Market and 60 days for Envato Elements and Envato Placeit.

10. Apple App Store

Apple App Store doesn’t need an introduction, but Apple’s affiliate program for its App Store most definitely does. There’s not enough information about the partnership network of this giant, but we’ll share with you everything we’ve found, which is not much.

Right now, the program known as Performance Partners Program pays commissions on Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, Apple News+, and Apple Books on qualifying memberships or sales. This means you can’t earn by promoting paid or free apps.

• Commission rate – one-time commissions on memberships and monthly or annual subscriptions, or 7% commission on sales revenue.
• Payout cycle – once you reach the $30 payout threshold, your commissions will be available around 60 to 90 days after the month’s end.
• Minimum withdrawal – doesn’t say.
• Payment methods – bank transfer.
• Cookie duration – 30 days.

11. Algo Affiliates

Algo Affiliates is a well-established affiliate site boasting over 1,500 offers from advertisers in many niches. You can find a product or service to promote whether you’re in the loans, insurance, finance, health and beauty, dating, pets, travel, diet, real estate, or any other niche.

The network’s mobile offers have strong CPA payouts, and the AI-powered Smartlinks help affiliates earn more with less work. The commissions are usually high, up to 70%, and so is the minimum payout of $250, which can make things more difficult for newcomers.

• Commission rate – depending on the offer you choose, but usually up to 70%.
• Payout cycle – once you earn the $250 minimum payout threshold.
• Minimum withdrawal – $500
• Payment methods – PayPal.
• Cookie duration – depending on the offer.

12. Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based service that provides access to various Microsoft applications and services. It includes the latest versions of Microsoft Office apps such as Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, as well as cloud-based services such as OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and Exchange.

If you join the Microsoft 365 affiliate site for business, the chances are your audience will react to any offer from a popular and trusty brand like Microsoft. This particular program is powered by Rakuten Marketing and allows you to earn a bounty amount of up to $15 per registration for Microsoft 365 Business.

• Commission rate – a bounty amount depending on the product purchased.
• Payout cycle – through Rakuten, around 90 days once the order is placed.
• Minimum withdrawal – $50
• Payment methods – PayPal and ACH.
• Cookie duration – 30 days.

13. CrakRevenue

CrakRevenue is a cost-per-action (CPA) affiliate marketing platform that helps affiliates convert traffic into sales. Right now, the platform has over 700 high-paying offers in the webcam, dating, gaming, and health niches. As an affiliate, you’ll get help from their affiliate management team to succeed.

For that reason, they’ll provide you with a variety of marketing tools and resources so you can drive traffic and increase conversions. Affiliates can earn up to 70% revenue share on some offers, as well as other commission structures such as pay-per-sale, pay-per-lead, and lifetime revenue share.

• Commission rate – depending on the offer.
• Payout cycle – weekly or bi-monthly.
• Minimum withdrawal – $100
• Payment methods – MassPay, Bitcoin, Paxum, PayPal and Wire (bank transfer).
• Cookie duration – 30 days.

14. V.Partners

We’ll round out our list of best mobile app affiliate programs with V.Partners – a partnership program in the iGaming industry. The program is ideal for anyone who has an audience interested in online casinos and sports betting platforms. It works with popular brands like Vulcan Vegas, SlotV, Frank Casino, and MrBit, so it’s worth considering if you’re in the niche.

V.Partners offers competitive commission rates, including revenue share and CPA (cost per acquisition) models, which can range up to 50% of the net revenue generated by referred players. It also pays commissions for referring other affiliates.

• Commission rate – €350+ CPA and revenue share up to 50%, sub-affiliate available.
• Payout cycle – weekly.
• Minimum withdrawal – €100
• Payment methods – bank wire transfer, Skrill, Bitcoin, etc.
• Cookie duration – 30 days.

15. Google Play Store

Google Play Store is an official store for Android devices and has a wide user base. Their app affiliate program offers a chance to earn a commission by promoting Google apps available on Google Play, such as movies, books, and TV.

Google Play affiliates can sign up via the Partnerize platform and create affiliate links with Google Play Link Builder or manually. The platform provides various assets and tools to boost your downloads and sales. As an affiliate, you get access to banners, product feeds, and tracking tools.

If you have access to an audience with Android devices that loves Google apps, this program can become a good source of income for you.

• Commission rate – 7% per sale.
• Minimum withdrawal – doesn’t say.
• Payout cycle – unknown.
• Payment methods – PayPal, bank transfer.
• Cookie duration – 24 hours.

16. Twinr

Twinr is a solution that converts websites into mobile apps, if they are built on popular platforms like WordPress, Woocommerce, Wix, and numerous others. Being a no-code solution, it’s immensely useful for solopreneurs and small companies that may find developing a mobile app costly.

You can sign up to the affiliate program in just a few simple steps. Twinr provides various assets, promotional materials and even personalized guidance from their affiliate team, if needed.

• Commission rate – 20% recurring commission per sale
• Minimum withdrawal – $50.
• Payout cycle – upon request.
• Payment methods – doesn’t say.
• Cookie duration – doesn’t say.

Why Choose a Mobile App Affiliate Program?

The mobile app industry is huge and growing daily, and joining the right mobile app affiliate program can help you take advantage of it. As long as you have an established audience, you can earn money by promoting apps among them.

Also, mobile apps tend to have higher conversion rates than other types of products and services. That’s because they are usually free to download and use, so once a user downloads an app, they are more likely to continue using it.

In addition, they usually have a low cost per acquisition (the cost to acquire a new user), making it easier for affiliates to generate a high return on investment.

Some mobile app affiliate programs offer recurring revenue, meaning that affiliates can earn commission every time a user they referred makes an in-app purchase or subscribes to a premium service.

Why Referral Programs Work so Well on Mobile Apps

Referral programs work particularly well on mobile devices because mobile devices are highly personalized. This means that referrals from friends and family members are more likely to be trusted and acted upon than referrals from other sources.

Not to mention that our smartphones are always with us, making it easy to share referral links and promote products or services on the go. Their built-in sharing capabilities allow users to quickly and easily share referral links with their contacts via text message, email, social media, or other messaging apps.

On top of that, mobile apps and services often provide immediate value to users, such as discounts, freebies, or access to exclusive content. This makes it more likely that users will act on a referral at the moment rather than waiting to take action later.

Overall, referrals work well on mobile devices because they leverage the personalized, always-on, and highly social nature of mobile devices to encourage users to share and promote products and services with their networks.

What To Look Out for When Choosing the Best Affiliate Program for Yourself?

When choosing the best affiliate programs for your needs, you should consider a few factors:

• Commission rates — higher commission rates will help you generate higher income. However, different programs can offer various rate structures. Some programs give a percentage of sales, while others provide a fixed amount. Evaluate which option will help you get the most profit.
• Product or service quality — research the products or services you’ll be promoting and make sure their quality won’t harm your personal brand. Good quality products will add to your credibility and trustworthiness.
• Cookie duration — carefully check the cookie duration because this determines how long after a user clicks your link you’ll receive credit. The longer the cookie duration, the better your chances of getting a commission.
• Terms of payment — check the payment frequency, payment methods, and minimum payout threshold. This will help you manage your income and get paid on time.
• Resources and support — the more resources a program offers, the more likely you will achieve good results. Look for programs that provide marketing materials, training, and even a dedicated affiliate manager.
• Tracking and reporting — tracking is essential for ensuring your commission. Make sure to find out how the program tracks your affiliate downloads and see if they offer reporting tools. These will help you understand and track your performance and generate better results.

Commonly, people misread (or don’t read) the fine print, which can lead to lost commissions. So it’s important to familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions beforehand.

Conclusion

The mobile app industry is booming, and many mobile app affiliate programs are available for marketers and influencers to promote. These programs offer a variety of benefits, including high conversion rates and commissions.

Our unbiased list of the best mobile app affiliate programs will help you find the right one for your needs and increase your chances of success as an affiliate marketer.

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