The internet is not short of affiliate program round-ups. Most of them are scraped from other round-ups, stuffed with the same dozen programs, and optimised for search ranking rather than your actual experience recommending them. This list comes from a different place: programs I or contributors to this site have personally used, recommended, and received commissions from.
The criteria: minimum 20% commission on the first sale, recurring commission or high average order value, a product or service we would recommend to a close friend, and a company with a track record of actually paying on time.
1. Convertkit / Kit (email marketing)
30% recurring commission for the lifetime of the referred customer. Kit is the email platform most blogging-adjacent creators actually use, which means your recommendation is credible. The recurring structure means a single referral can pay you for years. Cookie window: 90 days.
2. Teachable (course hosting)
30% recurring commission. Course creation is booming in 2026 and Teachable remains one of the most beginner-friendly platforms. If your audience includes aspiring course creators, this converts well with minimal promotional effort. Their affiliate portal is well-managed and pays reliably.
3. Canva Pro
Up to $36 per Pro subscriber referred. Canva's free tier is so widely used that recommending the Pro upgrade is a natural, low-friction conversation. High conversion rate because the free tier already has your reader's trust. Cookie window: 30 days.
4. Semrush
$200 per subscription sale, $10 per free trial activation. High commission for a high-value B2B tool. Best for blogs with an audience of bloggers, content marketers, or business owners interested in SEO. The commission per sale is among the highest in the content marketing niche.
5. Bluehost / SiteGround (web hosting)
$65–150 per referred customer depending on the plan. Web hosting affiliate programs are a staple of blogging income because every new blogger needs hosting. Best suited for blogs that teach blogging or online business basics. High competition in SERPs, but high conversion rates when the audience is actively shopping.
6. Amazon Associates
1–10% commission depending on category, but unmatched in breadth. Works for almost any niche. The commission is lower per transaction, but the conversion rate is high because readers already trust Amazon. Best used for product roundups and physical product recommendations. Cookie window: 24 hours.
7. Thrivecart (shopping cart software)
35–50% commission on a lifetime deal product. Thrivecart is a one-time-purchase shopping cart platform used by digital product creators. Lifetime deals convert well when promoted to the right audience. The commission on a single sale can be $150–300+.
The trust rule
Never promote a product you have not used or would not use. Readers who trust you enough to click an affiliate link will notice — and remember — if your recommendation turns out to be hollow.
Frequently asked questions
How many affiliate programs should I join at once?
Start with two to three that are most relevant to your current content. Depth beats breadth — a blog that genuinely understands and recommends three tools converts better than one that passively mentions twenty.
When do affiliate commissions get paid?
Most programs pay 30–60 days after the transaction clears their refund window. Check the payment schedule and minimum threshold before promoting any program heavily.