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How To Scale Your Passive Income Through Email Marketing Partners
Top 5 Email Marketing Platforms Offering Generous Commissions in 2025
Linda Hwang
April 12, 2025
Are you an email marketer struggling to maximize your income while juggling content creation?
The challenge of generating passive revenue can be daunting, but there’s a solution—referral programs for email marketing tools.
By promoting products you genuinely love, you can earn commissions while connecting businesses with effective email solutions.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best referral programs available for email marketing, highlighting the advantages of recurring commissions over one-time payouts.
As the leading email marketing platform, beehiiv is an expert in the email marketing space.
Join us as we dive into the world of email marketing referrals and discover how you can turn your recommendations into a reliable source of income.
Table of Contents
How Do Email Marketing Referral Programs Work?
Email marketing referral programs are a great way to earn commissions by referring friends, your community, or even colleagues to specific email marketing tools.
When you join these programs, you'll receive a unique referral link to share.
If someone signs up using your link and becomes a paying customer, you earn a commission—either as a one-time payout or as recurring income, depending on the program.
Recurring commissions provide a steady income stream as long as your referrals continue using the service.
This system creates a win-win-win situation: the customer discovers a valuable solution, the company gains a new customer without incurring traditional advertising costs, and you receive compensation for facilitating the connection.
Understanding how these programs function can help you maximize your earnings while helping others find the tools they need.
One-Time Payouts vs. Recurring Commissions
When it comes to maximizing your earnings in email marketing, the choice between one-time payouts and recurring commissions can make all the difference.
One-time payouts offer immediate rewards, giving you a flat fee or a percentage of the first payment when someone signs up through your link. However, while these can be lucrative in the short term, they lack the long-term income potential of their counterpart.
On the other hand, recurring commissions provide a steady income stream by allowing you to earn a percentage of your referral's payments for as long as they remain a customer, often for months or even years.
For example, consider a 30% recurring commission on a $50/month plan—this would net you $15 each month. In just 7 months, this model could surpass a one-time $100 payout, and it will continue to generate income as long as your referral stays subscribed.
Ultimately, while one-time payouts provide quick gratification, recurring commissions usually prove to be more profitable over time, making them an enticing option for those looking to build a sustainable income in the email marketing landscape.
How Much Can You Earn With Email Marketing Referrals?
If you've built an audience that trusts your recommendations, email marketing referrals can transform into a significant source of passive income.
Imagine referring just 10 customers to a platform with a 30% recurring commission on a $99/month plan—that's about $297 in monthly earnings for you. Now, scale that up to 50 or even 100 referrals, and you could be looking at some serious cash flow!
There are creators out there raking in over $5,000 a month from email marketing referrals alone.
The magic happens when you connect your audience with tools that truly meet their needs.
With referral programs like beehiiv, which offers 50% of all referred revenue for an entire year—this can lead to amazing earnings if you bring in multiple users (we will discuss this more later).
Just ask Mady Maio about beehiiv.
In an interview in 2022, Maio said, “Lemme talk about beehiiv for a second. We’re on week 4 of CamberApp newsletter using their platform, and the UX [user experience], no-code referral program, and customization options are 🤌.”
Maio added, “[beehiiv] helps brands and writers create beautiful newsletters that are tailored to their brand, helps them grow their audience, and really supercharges their newsletter growth.”
The possibilities really are endless!
Why Trust Me
Linda Hwang has extensive experience in B2B marketing and previously worked at a renowned international facilities management company. There, she played a crucial role in creating effective content and social media marketing plans. Now, Hwang is a marketing consultant who helps small businesses create compelling brand stories.
Best Email Marketing Referral Programs To Join
After testing dozens of programs, here are the top picks based on commission structure, product quality, and overall earning potential.
Winners that made our list:
beehiiv – 50% Recurring Commissions for a Year
We have to talk about the elephant in the room – you are on our blog.
If you're looking for a standout email marketing platform, beehiiv is definitely worth considering, and it comes with an amazing referral program.
Andy Austin, founder of Adsora and creator of the Growth Catalyst Club newsletter, once said, “I think if it weren’t for beehiiv, I would not even start my newsletter.”
Austin continued, “beehiiv stood out because of its extra monetization capabilities, like beehiiv Boosts, and its lower cost compared to alternatives."
Before we talk about the referral program, let’s talk about the platform.
beehiiv is an all-in-one newsletter service. Never before has a platform executed a full newsletter service at the level of beehiiv.
And the best part? beehiiv won’t penalize you for scaling or monetizing your newsletter.
beehiiv is also packed with features, from standard features like designing and customizing to some advanced ones like premium sponsors in the beehiiv ad network and segmentation using advanced analytics.
Austin also mentioned, “beehiiv has the fastest execution and building time in the space. Plus, they actually focus on what's important for their customers."
Now, let’s discuss some of our weaknesses. (Yes, we’re addressing it head-on. We aren’t ashamed.)
Some reviewers have mentioned that custom domains are only available on paid plans, which makes beehiiv less appealing, and the website customization could use some work.
Users have also commented on the limited integrations and commerce options. As a new player in the market, we are continually rolling out new features and updates, so there’s no need to worry!
Ok, now let’s talk about beehiiv’s referral program.
As mentioned above, beehiiv offers a fantastic 50% recurring commission for an entire year—one of the best in the industry!
Just think about it: if someone signs up for their $49/month plan through your referral link, you pocket a sweet $24.50 every month for a whole year.
With a cookie duration of 30 days, that means you have a solid window for your referrals to sign up and still get credit for it.
Plus, the minimum payout is set at $50, making it easy to cash in on your efforts.
Mike Miller, writer and editor of The Field of 68 Daily, had this to say about the beehiiv referral program: “We moved The Field of 68 Daily from Substack to beehiiv… From the superior analytics to the referral program, and most especially the incredible design options, beehiiv has helped our newsletter grow and thrive.”
beehiiv has quickly become a favorite among newsletter creators and content marketers thanks to its creator-friendly features.
beehiiv’s referral program really reflects this creator-first mindset, making it my top recommendation for anyone looking to monetize their email marketing efforts.
So why not give it a shot?
You could be raking in thousands annually just by spreading the word!
ConvertKit (Kit)
“I’ve been using ConvertKit for a while,” said Victoria Kurichenko, founder of Self Made Millennials.
Kit is a well-established email marketing and newsletter platform. It has garnered a loyal following among creators and boasts a pretty appealing referral system.
Before we dig into their referral program, let’s pull the layers back on their platform.
Kit has a few key strengths when it comes to ways to help its users:
Advanced Email Automation: Kit offers automated email sequences and workflows for rapid audience nurturing.
Segmentation Capabilities: The platform provides robust options for segmenting audiences, allowing tailored messaging.
Emphasis on Creator Economy: Kit supports the creator economy by offering Sponsor Network, Paid Recommendations, and Commerce that help turn subscribers into paying customers.
Some users have said Kit’s weaknesses lie in their landing page being a bit limited, the platform not being good for blogging and SEO, and the lack of importing and exporting capabilities.
Kit’s price point is also higher compared to other email marketing tools if you have thousands of subscribers.
Some users have noted that Kit has a steeper learning curve compared to other email newsletter platforms due to its many features and components. If you aren’t particularly tech-savvy, it might take some time to become comfortable using Kit.
Now, let’s talk about their referral program.
Long-term, Kit has one of the best referral programs out there.
The commission structure offers a generous 50% recurring commission for the first 12 months as a customer, with a cookie duration of 60 days—twice as long as beehiiv!
Plus, you get 10-20% recurring revenue beyond 12 months when you earn Kit’s Bronze, Silver, or Gold status. This means that if you refer at least 10 customers per year, you’ll earn recurring revenue for the lifetime of that customer as long as you retain at least Bronze status.
The minimum payout is just $5, and it’s super accessible.
So, if you're looking for a reliable and well-loved email marketing platform to promote, Kit could be your ticket to a stable income stream!
MailerLite
MailerLite is a great choice for email marketers, offering a straightforward and user-friendly platform along with a generous commission structure.
The platform offers user-friendly tools like a drag-and-drop email editor, a website builder, and an intuitive interface.
MailerLite also offers the following features: customizable templates, personalization, segmentation capabilities, as well as landing pages and integration options with popular E-commerce platforms.
The only issues some users had with MailerLite were the lack of ability to trigger workflows from web page visits or the lack of social media and ad functionalities that other email newsletter platforms are able to provide.
Now for the referral program...
MailerLite gets the win when it comes to long-term referral income potential.
You can earn a 30% lifetime commission on all purchases made by your referrals, which means the more you refer, the more you earn—recurring as long as your referral remains a customer!
The cookie duration is 45 days with a minimum payout of $100—a bit higher payout minimum than others. Still, if you refer a lot of people, it can be a great revenue opportunity.
What makes MailerLite’s platform really appealing is its combination of reasonable pricing and robust features, making it an easy sell for beginners.
GetResponse
GetResponse is a comprehensive marketing tool that allows users to move between channels with ease, connecting with customers wherever they are.
GetResponse offers an all-in-one solution that features an artificial intelligence (AI) autoresponder, extensive data segmentation options, a high deliverability rate, and webinar features.
The main con many reviewers pointed out was that GetResponse wasn’t as user-friendly as other email marketing tools. Many users complained about the navigation and editor being complex and buggy.
How did GetResponse’s referral program compare?
GetResponse is a fantastic choice if you're looking to earn some solid recurring commissions. Commission rates range between 40-60%, depending on your commission tier.
The cookie duration is 90 days, meaning you have plenty of time to get credit for referrals!
The payout threshold is $5, which is the same as Kit, allowing for a quick payday!
AWeber
If you’re a small or medium-sized company in need of a tailored set of tools for email marketing, AWeber is the platform for you.
AWeber offers stellar deliverability, customer service, and strong analytics reporting.
As we mention the pros, we should also mention some cons.
Some users have reported AWeber to be a bit clunky and hard to navigate, suggesting a refresh of their dashboard and offering newer templates and more customization features.
Other users have reported errors when it comes to their mobile optimization and image uploads.
But how does AWeber’s referral program compare? It has a solid affiliate opportunity.
This well-established email marketing platform offers a generous 30-50% commission on all paid accounts and even sweeter rates for those who bring in multiple users.
The three different commission payout structures:
30% Commission: For referring 0-99 new paid accounts within a trailing 12-month period
40% Commission: For referring 100-499 new paid accounts within a trailing 12-month period
50% Commission: For referring 500+ new paid accounts within a trailing 12-month period
With a 90-day cookie duration, AWeber gives you a substantial amount of time to convert visitors into loyal customers.
With a reputation for reliability and stable payouts, AWeber is a trusted name in the industry.
They offer minimum payouts of $30 for U.S. advocates and $50 for non-U.S. advocates, making it a wonderful referral program.
Which Referral Program Pays the Most?
If we're strictly comparing dollar amounts, beehiiv's 50% recurring commission for a year typically generates the highest returns in the first 12 months.
However, for very long-term relationships (3+ years), Kit's lifetime 10-30% commission or MailerLite's 30% lifetime could eventually overtake it.
Let's compare potential earnings on a $50/month plan:
The "best" program ultimately depends on your timeframe and how long you expect referrals to remain customers.
Which Email Marketing Referral Program Is Best?
When it comes to choosing the right referral program, it ultimately hinges on your audience and overall marketing strategy.
If you're aiming for the highest quick-earning potential, beehiiv's 50% commission program is truly hard to beat.
Shilpa Bhim, founder of Glowreel, once said, “I switched to beehiiv as my newsletter platform as I wanted access to purpose-built tools and services like newsletter template builders and referral programs.”
Bhim continued, “I find putting together the Glowreel newsletter to be a much smoother process (compared to before I joined beehiiv), and I've been able to build a referral program really easily. beehiiv is an excellent newsletter tool - 10 out of 10 would recommend.”
However, if you're looking for a more stable income over the long haul, both ConvertKit and MailerLite offer fantastic alternatives.
Whether you're an influencer or a seasoned marketer, these programs provide a great opportunity to earn significant commissions by promoting some of the best email marketing tools out there.
Final Thoughts: Making the Most of Email Marketing Referrals
The choice of referral program hinges on your individual goals and the nature of your audience.
beehiiv’s impressive 50% recurring commission stands out as the most lucrative option, especially for those able to generate a steady stream of referrals.
Not only does beehiiv have an outstanding referral program, but its email newsletter platform also has people buzzing!
Moyo Sulyman, founder of AI With Vibes newsletter, said, “In my opinion, beehiiv is just the best email tool right now. If you are looking to be a newsletter, beehiiv is for you.”
Sulyman added, “And beehiiv releases new features like every two weeks, which is mind-blowing because most companies [can] take two months.”
Regardless of the path you choose, diving into email marketing referrals can be a game-changer for your income potential.
So why hesitate?
Embrace the opportunity and leverage the power of beehiiv's exceptional referral program to maximize your earnings today.
Sign up with beehiiv and start converting your influence into substantial rewards now!
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