In 2023, businesses in the U.S. spent around $9.56 billion on affiliate marketing, according to Statista. The spending is expected to reach about $12 billion by 2025.

What if you could earn high commissions through affiliate marketing by sharing tools you already use and love? That’s the beauty of affiliate marketing!

Affiliate programs let you earn a commission by promoting different products or services. You sign up, get your own affiliate link, and earn money when someone makes a purchase through it. Some programs pay you a one-time commission, which is great if you're after quick wins. Others offer recurring commissions, so you keep earning monthly as long as the customer sticks around. 

Nowadays, one of my favorite programs is beehiiv’s Partner Program. If you're in the content or newsletter space, this one’s worth checking out. Unlike many other brands, beehiiv offers up to 60% recurring commissions for an entire year.

In this article, I’ll share my top picks for the highest-paying affiliate programs and walk you through what makes each one worth your time. I’ll also discuss recurring vs. high-ticket affiliate programs and which ones offer better returns. 

Ready to find your next income stream?

Let’s jump in.

Why Trust Me?

I’m an SEO expert and content writer with my own website. Over the past year and a half, I’ve made nearly $20,000 by sharing tools I use and trust. I’ve also been a proud beehiiv affiliate since 2021.

According to AffiliateWeb, 81.2% of affiliate marketers make more than $20,000 annually. Not bad, right? But to reach decent affiliate earnings, you should first understand what makes up a high-paying affiliate program. 

In my experience, there are several criteria to take into account. Together, they make a program truly worth your time:

Let me break down these criteria for you. 

There's one thing that truly matters when it comes to high-paying affiliate programs, which is the commission percentage. The higher it is, the more money you make with each sale. Simple as that.

For example, beehiiv pays up to 60% commission per sale. That’s probably one of the biggest commissions I’ve seen on the web. Most companies usually offer around 20 to 30%.

But wait, there’s more! The payout structure is just as important. Some programs may hold your funds for 30-60 days before letting you withdraw them. 

Before you join an affiliate program, it’s a good idea to check how often they pay and how reliable they are. If an affiliate program has unreasonable withdrawal requirements, like Frase.io, it’s better to refrain from the collaboration. I learned it the hard way. So, if something feels off, it’s better to skip it.

And don’t forget about cookie duration! If a brand uses cookies to track and assign sales, you’d typically see a 60-90-day tracking period. 

A longer cookie window means you still earn if someone buys days or even weeks after clicking your link. 

In my humble opinion, recurring revenue wins! 

For example, some beehiiv users have been paying for the service and generating me affiliate commissions for years — and I don’t do anything to make it happen. That’s because they genuinely love beehiiv and are ready to pay for it. 

On the other hand, some brands, like Semrush, pay $200–$350 per sale. Pretty decent one-time commission, right? But once that deal is done, it’s over. 

With recurring revenue, like subscriptions or retainers, you keep earning month after month. It’s more stable and easier to build on over time. 

Both models can work, but if you aim for steady, long-term income, recurring revenue is a more reliable choice. 

Trust is everything when it comes to the best affiliate programs for influencers. People won’t buy from a brand they don’t trust, especially when the product is expensive. 

If your audience knows you only promote things you genuinely believe in, they’ll feel more confident clicking your links. It’s not just about making a sale. It’s also about showing up with honesty, over and over.

Brands also look for trustworthy affiliates who won’t damage their reputation. So, the more trust you build with your audience and partners, the better your chances of landing those high-paying deals and keeping them long-term. Trust always pays off!

That’s why I’ve been with beehiiv for years. The team is super responsive and always ready to help you thrive. After all, when you win, beehiiv wins too!

If you are looking for high-ticket affiliate programs, I’ve got a few options to share below. 

If you're looking for the best affiliate programs to make money and like luxury travel, high-ticket programs can be a goldmine.

One great example is the Villiers Jets affiliate program, which pays a 30% commission on each sale, in addition to recurring revenue from future bookings made by referred clients. 

They provide private jet charters worldwide, and their customers aren’t shy about spending big. These kinds of services are perfect if your audience appreciates luxury, comfort, and exclusive experiences. Plus, landing just one sale could be a game-changer for your month.

Their website says that the top affiliates make tens of thousands of dollars every month, and many others earn over $5,000 monthly. 

If you're into blogging, YouTube, or building an email list, promoting luxury travel can really pay off! 

According to the Influencer Marketing Hub, SaaS products have the highest commissions, between 20% and 70%.

From my experience, teaming up with SaaS companies is one of the best ways to get paid for the content you create. You can naturally mention and link to the services you actually use!

For example, I’ve been promoting the marketing tools I use on:

Out of all the SaaS affiliate programs I work with, Semrush has been the most rewarding. They offer a one-time commission of $200–$350 per sale.

By casually mentioning Semrush's tools in my content, I’ve earned nearly $6,000 in just 4 months. 

If you’re into SEO or online marketing, I definitely recommend checking out Semrush!

Finance is also a strong sector, with a stable commission rate of 35–40%, according to the Influencer Marketing Hub chart I’ve shared earlier. 

Compared to other niches, finance tends to pay more consistently. This is a smart choice if you want to build reliable affiliate income over time.

One good example is the Fundrise invitation program. It rewards affiliates when new investors sign up and fund their accounts. 

It’s a win-win because you help people grow their money, and you earn up to $100 in return. 

Do you know what might be even better than big one-time commissions? Getting paid every month from the same referral.

Getting affiliate commissions from users you referred months or even years ago is real passive income!

Below, I’ll share some of the best affiliate programs that offer good recurring commissions.

Let’s start with beehiiv. It offers one of the highest commission rates out there.

If you’re looking for one of the best recurring commission affiliate programs, I highly suggest checking out beehiiv Partner Program. 

Most SaaS tools offer 30% commission, but beehiiv pays up to 60% recurring! Yep, you heard that right. Here's how their Partner Program is set up:

Right now, I’m a Bronze partner with beehiiv and have 26 conversions so far. I haven’t even been actively promoting it, but I’ve already made over $5,330. 

I’m actively working toward hitting the Silver tier by sharing beehiiv more on my website.

Honestly, the beehiiv Partner Program is one of the best-paying affiliate deals I’ve come across in the SaaS world. You can earn up to 60% in recurring commissions for each sale—pretty impressive!

And I’m not the only one thinking this way!

Omid G, the founder of Marketer Milk, shares his thoughts about the beehiiv Partner Program in the beehiiv’s creator spotlights: 

If you’re starting or growing a newsletter, beehiiv offers one of the best referral programs for email marketing. You get a solid tool and a chance to make money by recommending it. 

It’s rare to see a platform treat creators this well. If newsletters are your thing, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Big news if you’re a ClickFunnels user and thinking of becoming their affiliate partner.

With ClickFunnels Affiliate Program, you can earn a 30% monthly recurring commission for every active account that signs up using your affiliate link, no matter the plan they choose. It includes all pricing tiers, monthly or annual! 

ClickFunnels has already paid affiliates over $136 million, and there’s still plenty of room to earn. 

You can promote their 14-day free trial, and if someone sticks around, you’ll keep getting paid month after month. It’s truly passive income. 

So, if you’re looking for a simple way to grow your income while recommending a powerful, proven tool, this is your chance. All plans are commissionable, so your earning potential is up to you!

If your niche is related to website design and development, the Webflow Affiliate Program is a solid pick.

As a Webflow affiliate, you can earn up to 65% commission on a new customer’s first subscription for up to 12 months. That’s pretty generous. 

They’ve also added some rewards that get better with each tier:

To get paid as an affiliate, you’ll need to have a PayPal or Stripe account.

It's a great setup if you recommend a tool people tend to stick with, and Webflow users usually do!

If you're looking to make steady passive income with affiliate marketing, you're in the right place.

I've picked out some of the best high-paying affiliate programs that offer solid affiliate commissions. These aren't random suggestions. I've tested many of them and still earn from a few, including the ones I partner with, such as Semrush, Search Atlas, and Koala AI. 

There are so many ways for marketing experts to make money with affiliate marketing. You can promote tools, courses, events (both online and in-person), and more.

As an SEO specialist and content creator, I believe that the best way to earn solid affiliate income is by genuinely sharing the tools I use and showing how they help, again and again.

By being real about what works for me and talking about the tools I truly like, I earn over $4,000 a month from my small website without doing any heavy promotion. It all comes down to being honest and only recommending products that are truly helpful.

Below, I’ve listed some of the top-paying affiliate programs, including brands I personally promote on my site, like Semrush.

If you’re a course creator, you’ve probably spent a good amount of time building and selling your own digital products. You might’ve even used some of the platforms and tools I listed below.

Why not turn that experience into income? I recommend sharing your honest thoughts about the course platforms you’ve tried. Your audience will appreciate your insights and honesty, especially if they’re just starting out.

You’ll help them choose the right tool and steer clear of common mistakes, and you’ll earn some passive affiliate income in the process. Win-win!

If you sell digital or physical products, chances are you’ve spent quite a bit of time using popular e-commerce or dropshipping platforms. This hands-on experience is extremely valuable! You can make money by sharing what you’ve learned and helping others choose the right platform for their needs.

Once people see you as someone they can trust, they’re more likely to come back for advice. And when they do, you’ll have more chances to recommend useful tools and earn affiliate commissions along the way.

Picking the right affiliate program isn’t about chasing big commissions. Instead, it’s about finding the right match for you and your audience. 

I’d recommend starting by thinking about your niche:

For instance, I often talk about SEO writing and side hustles on my website. So, promoting various SEO tools makes total sense. It fits what my audience is looking for and doesn’t come off as pushy or too salesy.

After that, take a look at the key details I mentioned earlier, like how often you get paid (is it a one-time thing or recurring?), how long the affiliate cookie lasts, and how the payouts work.

Most importantly, make sure the recommended product is worth paying for! If your audience buys something based on your recommendation and has a bad experience, that hurts your credibility. 

Therefore, all product reviews on my website, including the beehiiv review, are detailed with my personal insights from using the tool. Otherwise, how can I recommend the tools to users? 

When everything aligns, that’s when affiliate marketing works and pays off!

So, which high-paying affiliate program is best? It really depends on your niche, goals, and promotion efforts. 

If you want big one-time payouts, programs like Semrush ($200–$350 per sale) or HubSpot (up to $1,000 per sale) are solid picks. 

For something more unique, luxury travel programs like Villiers Jets can offer generous commissions.

But if you want to make decent long-term affiliate earnings, beehiiv is probably one of the best options on the market nowadays. 

beehiiv Partner Program offers up to 60% recurring commission, which means you keep earning month after month as long as your referrals stay. It can really add up over time, helping you make from a few hundred to thousands of dollars monthly — nice passive income! 

So, whether you're after big instant wins or steady income, there's something for everyone. Just pick what fits your audience best and stay consistent.

Join beehiiv Partner Program and start getting paid for spreading the word about your experience using beehiiv. It’s free to join, easy to promote, and a smart way to grow your earnings month after month.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the highest-paid affiliate program. In my opinion, it depends on your niche. 

For instance, in SEO and digital marketing, Semrush is a big player, paying affiliates $200-$350 for each sale, plus offering bonuses and rewards.

But before you jump in, I’d recommend researching affiliate programs. Check out the commission percentage, whether payments are one-time or recurring, the payout conditions, and how reputable the brand is. Doing a little research upfront can help you choose the best programs and make the most out of your affiliate marketing efforts.

Technically, yes. But it won't happen overnight.

To make decent money with affiliate marketing, you need to consistently get people to visit your blog or website. And not just random visitors. You want people who are interested in you and what you have to offer. When people trust you, they’re more likely to buy through your affiliate links. That’s how you earn commissions.

For example, my small website, SelfMadeMillennials, has about 100 indexed pages and gets around 14,000 visitors monthly. In April 2025, it made over $4,200 from affiliate commissions. To hit $10,000 a month, I’ll need to at least double that traffic. And to do that, I’ll have to create more valuable content that people want to read.

It’s definitely possible. But it takes time, effort, and content that’s worth people’s attention.

According to Hostinger, affiliate marketers’ monthly income varies significantly by niche, with e-learning ($15,551) and travel ($13,847) among the highest earners. The lowest-earning niches include pets and animals ($920)​​, sustainability and environment ($550). 

It’s definitely possible.

It all depends on your niche and the affiliate programs you promote. In some cases, just one or two affiliate commissions per day can help you hit the $100 mark.

Take the beehiiv Partner Program, for example. If you refer someone who builds a newsletter with a few thousand subscribers, that alone could earn you $100 or more per day. Here’s the proof: