Affiliate marketing is becoming very popular, with 81% of brands and 84% of publishers using it to increase sales and brand awareness. The global affiliate marketing industry is expected to grow to $27.78 billion by 2027, showing its potential for great opportunities.
Subscription-based affiliate programs might just be the golden ticket you've been searching for. These programs offer a steady stream of revenue, thanks to their recurring commission structure.
Instead of a one-time payout, you'll earn a slice of the pie every time your referred customer renews their subscription. It's like planting a money tree that keeps on giving!
But which affiliate program is good to go? To cover almost all of these things, I have listed some of the best in the game subscription based affiliate programs offering commissions up to 50%.
What Does Subscription Based Affiliate Programs Mean?
Subscription-based affiliate programs are a powerful way for marketers to drive regular earnings. Affiliates, often trusted by their audience, promote subscription services, leading to higher conversion and retention rates.
The subscription e-commerce market has grown over 100% annually in recent years, highlighting the potential for affiliates. Successful programs offer competitive, recurring commissions, encouraging affiliates to maintain long-term promotion efforts.
Especially, 31% of publishers cite affiliate marketing as a top revenue source, with 81.2% earning over $20,000 annually. This model is particularly effective for services like SaaS, curated boxes, and content subscriptions, providing measurable, low-risk results for businesses.
Influencers and content creators can significantly increase brand awareness and customer acquisition in this growing market.
Top 18 Subscription-Based Affiliate Programs
| Subscription Based Affiliate Programs | Niche | Commission |
|---|---|---|
| AWeber | Email marketing and automation services | 30 to 50% |
| ConvertKit | Email marketing and automation | 30% |
| WP Engine | Hosting, specifically managed WordPress hosting | Upto $200 |
| ClickFunnels | SaaS (Software as a Service), specifically focusing on sales funnels and online marketing tools | 30 to 40% |
| MailerLite | Email marketing | 30% |
| GetResponse | Email marketing and online marketing solutions | 33% |
| Leadpages | Lead generation and marketing tools for small businesses | 10 to 50% |
| Shopify | E-commerce platform for creating and managing online stores. | $150 |
| NordVPN | VPN (Virtual Private Network) | 30% to 40% |
| Mangools | SEO tools and digital marketing | 30% |
| Semrush | Digital marketing and SEO tools | $10 to $200 |
| Cloudways | Web hosting, cloud hosting | $50 to $125 |
| Wishpond | Digital marketing tools and services for small businesses | 30% |
| Podia | SaaS (Software as a Service), specifically for creating and selling online courses, memberships, and digital products | Upto 30% |
| Kinsta | Hosting (Managed WordPress Hosting, Application Hosting, Database Hosting) | 5% to 10% |
| Elegant Themes | WordPress themes and plugins, specifically targeting web designers, developers, and online entrepreneurs | 50% |
| SamCart | eCommerce, digital products, and online courses | 40% |
| Instapage | Media and Marketing, specifically landing page builders | 30% to 50% |
1. AWeber
AWeber is an email marketing platform that helps businesses grow by providing tools to create and send newsletters, automate email campaigns, and manage subscriber lists. It offers a simple drag-and-drop editor, sign-up forms, and landing pages to engage audiences and drive conversions.
The AWeber affiliate program allows you to earn by promoting AWeber's email marketing services. With over 100,000 small business clients in 182 countries, AWeber is a trusted platform. Affiliates benefit from recurring commissions and extensive support materials, making it a profitable opportunity.
2. ConvertKit
ConvertKit is an email marketing software designed for creators, bloggers, and online businesses. It simplifies the process of building an audience, creating and sending emails, and selling digital products. ConvertKit offers powerful automation capabilities, customizable forms, and a unique subscriber-based pricing model.
The ConvertKit Affiliate Program is popular among marketers, with affiliates earning up to 30% recurring commissions. ConvertKit’s plans range from $9 to $2,000 per month, and its user base has grown to over 30,000 creators, making it a beneficial deal for affiliates.
3. WP Engine
WP Engine is a managed WordPress hosting platform optimized for performance, security, and scalability. It provides features like one-click staging, global CDN, automated updates, and expert WordPress support. WP Engine is designed to help businesses focus on growing their online presence without worrying about technical aspects.
The WP Engine affiliate program offers substantial earning potential, with affiliates reportedly making up to thousands of dollars monthly. WP Engine has empowered over 1.5 million websites and is recognized as a top performer in the industry, having won the Pinnacle Award for Merchant of the Year and being listed in ShareASale's Top 100 PowerRank Program.
4. ClickFunnels
ClickFunnels is an all-in-one marketing platform that enables entrepreneurs to create high-converting sales funnels. It provides a drag-and-drop editor, pre-built templates, and seamless integrations to help businesses generate leads, sell products, and grow their online presence without relying on multiple tools.
The ClickFunnels affiliate program has paid out over $100 million in commissions, contributing to the company's impressive growth. In 2023, ClickFunnels achieved $265.3 million in revenue and served 150,000 users, making it a profitable option for affiliates.
5. MailerLite
MailerLite is a simple and intuitive email marketing tool and website builder. It offers a simple drag-and-drop editor, responsive templates, and subscriber management features. MailerLite helps businesses of all sizes create engaging newsletters, automate email campaigns, and build professional websites with ease.
MailerLite’s affiliate program has driven over $5.9 million in revenue, supporting more than 1 million businesses globally. With a team of 130 members across 40 countries, affiliates benefit from extensive support and resources. Currently, 472,304 websites actively use MailerLite, providing a vast market for affiliates.
6. GetResponse
GetResponse is a comprehensive email marketing and automation platform that helps businesses grow their online presence. It offers features like a drag-and-drop email editor, landing page builder, webinar hosting, and advanced automation workflows. GetResponse enables users to create targeted campaigns, nurture leads, and increase conversions.
GetResponse's affiliate program is ideal for marketers aiming to earn commissions by promoting a platform with over 1 million users. With more than 4.4 billion emails analyzed annually, GetResponse ensures reliability. Affiliates can utilize diverse tools like autoresponders and webinars to attract different audiences.
7. Leadpages
Leadpages is a landing page builder and lead generation platform that helps businesses capture leads and drive conversions. It offers a drag-and-drop editor, mobile-responsive templates, and built-in conversion guidance. Leadpages integrates with popular email marketing and CRM tools to streamline lead management.
The Leadpages affiliate program is a top choice for marketers, offering 10-50% recurring commissions. With over 46,000 global customers, Leadpages provides high-converting tools for landing pages, pop-ups, and alert bars. Affiliates benefit from extensive promotional materials and a easy-to-use dashboard, making it easy to track performance and optimize campaigns.
8. Shopify
Shopify is an all-in-one ecommerce platform that enables businesses to create online stores and sell products. It offers customizable templates, secure hosting, payment processing, and inventory management features. Shopify makes it easy for entrepreneurs to launch and grow their online businesses.
The Shopify Affiliate Program allows affiliates to earn commissions by referring new merchants. Approximately 80% of brands engage in affiliate marketing, contributing to 16% of global eCommerce revenue. Shopify affiliates can leverage this trend to monetize their audience and achieve financial success while promoting a trusted platform.
9. NordVPN
NordVPN is a virtual private network (VPN) service that enhances online privacy and security. It encrypts internet traffic, hides IP addresses, and protects against cyber threats. NordVPN offers fast speeds, a strict no-logs policy, and access to servers in multiple countries.
The NordVPN affiliate program is an attractive opportunity for marketers, offering up to 100% commissions for new sign-ups and a global customer base exceeding 12 million users. This high potential for earnings, combined with industry-leading conversion rates, makes it a favorite for affiliates looking to monetize their platforms effectively.
10. Mangools
Mangools is an SEO toolset that simplifies keyword research, backlink analysis, and rank tracking. It offers accessible tools like KWFinder, SERPChecker, and LinkMiner to help businesses improve their search engine rankings and drive organic traffic. Mangools provides actionable insights and suggestions for optimization.
The Mangools affiliate program offers a compelling opportunity for earning, with an average monthly payout of $487. With over 2 million users, it promises high conversion rates. Affiliates receive a 30% lifetime commission on each sale and can join without an approval process, accessing numerous promotional resources to maximize their earnings.
11. Semrush
Semrush is an all-in-one digital marketing toolkit that helps businesses improve their online visibility. It offers features for SEO, PPC, content marketing, and social media management. Semrush provides competitive analysis, keyword research, site audit, and backlink analysis to optimize marketing strategies.
The Semrush affiliate program offers substantial earnings, with $200 per sale and $10 per trial activation. Trusted by over 10 million users, including 30% of Fortune 500 companies, it provides affiliates with extensive promotional materials and support. This program is ideal for digital marketers and content creators looking to monetize their influence effectively.
12. Cloudways
Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform that simplifies the deployment and management of web applications. It offers one-click installation, automatic backups, and 24/7 support. Cloudways partners with top cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean to deliver high-performance hosting solutions.
The Cloudways affiliate program offers significant earning potential, with affiliates making up to $125 per sale and benefiting from lifetime commissions. Over 15,000 businesses currently use Cloudways for their hosting needs, highlighting the program's popularity and success in the cloud hosting market.
13. Wishpond
Wishpond is an all-in-one marketing platform that helps businesses generate leads, engage customers, and drive sales. It offers tools for landing pages, forms, contests, and marketing automation. Wishpond enables users to create targeted campaigns, nurture leads, and analyze performance.
The Wishpond affiliate program empowers marketers to earn recurring revenue by promoting its marketing suite. Wishpond reported $6.1 million in Q1-2024 revenue, with a 39% increase in adjusted EBITDA year-over-year. Known for its reliability, it supports affiliates with various promotional resources and strategies.
14. Podia
Podia is an online course and digital product platform that enables creators to monetize their knowledge. It offers features for creating and selling courses, memberships, and digital downloads. Podia provides a simple interface, custom branding, and seamless payment processing.
Podia's affiliate program is highly rewarding, with affiliates earning up to $267 monthly for ten referred customers. Podia supports over 50,000 creators who use the platform to sell courses, webinars, and digital downloads. Affiliates benefit from Podia's exceptional customer support and a high conversion rate of 11%, making it a lucrative opportunity for marketers.
15. Kinsta
Kinsta is a premium managed WordPress hosting provider that focuses on performance, security, and scalability. It offers features like automatic backups, one-click staging, and 24/7 expert support. Kinsta uses Google Cloud Platform's infrastructure to deliver fast and reliable hosting for WordPress sites.
The Kinsta affiliate program offers a high-earning potential with up to $500 per referral and 5-10% monthly recurring commissions. Affiliates benefit from Kinsta's 2% churn rate, ensuring long-term earnings. With 37 global data centers, Kinsta's program is ideal for those promoting high-performance WordPress hosting.
16. Elegant Themes
Elegant Themes is a WordPress theme and plugin provider known for its popular Divi theme and builder. It offers a collection of customizable themes and plugins to help users create professional-looking websites without coding. Elegant Themes provides regular updates, extensive documentation, and reliable support.
Elegant Themes' affiliate program offers a lucrative opportunity for affiliates, having paid over $38 million in commissions. With Divi powering nearly 1 million websites, affiliates can tap into a vast market. Top affiliates earn over $15,000 per month, thanks to recurring revenue from subscription renewals and marketplace purchases.
17. SamCart
SamCart is an ecommerce platform designed for selling digital products and services. It offers features like one-click upsells, order bumps, and subscription management. SamCart provides customizable checkout pages, affiliate management, and integrations with popular payment gateways and email marketing tools.
SamCart's affiliate program is highly rewarding, with over 75,000 clients generating more than $2.8 billion in sales. Top creators on SamCart earn up to 20% of their revenue from subscriptions, and those making $500K+ GMV have double the subscription revenue compared to others.
18. Instapage
Instapage is a landing page builder and optimization platform that helps businesses create high-converting landing pages. It offers a drag-and-drop editor, customizable templates, and A/B testing capabilities. Instapage provides advanced features like dynamic text replacement and personalization to improve conversion rates.
The Instapage affiliate program is a great chance for marketers. It offers up to 40% lifetime commissions. Instapage has an impressive average mobile landing page conversion rate of 28.63%, which is much higher than the industry average of 2.35%. More than 30,000 brands around the world use Instapage to improve their digital advertising.
Subscription Affiliate Program Promotion Ideas
Promoting a subscription affiliate program can be highly effective if approached strategically. Here are some key ideas:
Common Queries on Subscription Based Affiliate Programs
How do Subscription-based Affiliate Programs differ from Traditional Ones?
They offer ongoing commissions for the duration of a customer's subscription, rather than a one-time payment for a single purchase.
What Types of Products Typically offer Subscription-based Affiliate Programs?
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), streaming services, meal delivery kits, subscription boxes, online courses, and membership sites often offer these programs.
How do Recurring Commissions Work in Subscription-Based Affiliate Programs?
Are Subscription-based Affiliate Programs More Profitable than Traditional Ones?
Are there any Downsides to Subscription-based Affiliate Programs?
Commissions may decrease if customers cancel subscriptions early, and some programs have complex terms or tiered commission structures.
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Sum It Up
Subscription-based affiliate programs are increasingly popular, offering marketers a reliable income stream through recurring commissions. Unlike traditional one-time payments, these programs provide ongoing earnings as long as customers remain subscribed.
Platforms like AWeber and ConvertKit offer 30% lifetime recurring commissions, making them highly attractive for affiliates. This model not only benefits businesses by ensuring customer retention but also empowers affiliates with a steady revenue source.
With the affiliate marketing industry projected to grow significantly, how can you capitalize on these opportunities to enhance your income?
