The highest commissions usually come from software and hosting programs that pay recurring percentages or larger flat payouts per referral. Which one fits you depends on whether you want recurring income or one-time payouts… and on who your audience is. Most lists stop at the numbers. This one also asks a simpler question: can a beginner with no list actually earn from it?
How we ranked these affiliate programs
A big percentage looks great on a screenshot. It looks a lot less great when nobody clicks. So here’s the scorecard:
- Payout type. Recurring commissions keep paying while the customer stays. Flat payouts pay once, usually bigger up front.
- Commission size. Typical ecommerce programs pay around 10% to 15% per sale; high commission programs pay 20% to 50%, or flat payouts of $100 to $500+, according to a 2026 roundup from Time2book. If that range is new to you, our guide to the typical affiliate commission rate breaks it down.
- Beginner fit. Can someone start without an audience, a blog or a budget?
- Product and audience match. The best program is the one your people actually need.
- Cookie length. Longer cookies give you more time to get credited. Backlinko’s list of high paying affiliate programs tracks cookie duration for several picks below.
Argue with the criteria if you like. Just pick a program using some criteria, not just the biggest number.
Quick summary
- HubSpot. Best Overall
- Jeff Aman‘s Easy Commission Funnel: free prebuilt affiliate system with a unique link. Best Free for Beginners
- ClickFunnels: recurring commissions from funnel builders. Best for Funnel Audiences
- ActiveCampaign: 20% to 30% recurring on email software. Best for Email Marketers
- Shopify: flat payout up to $150 per POS Pro referral. Best Flat Payout
- Bluehost: flat per-sale hosting payouts. Best for Tutorial Bloggers
- Canva: high percentage on new Pro subscriptions. Best Broad Appeal
At a glance: highest commission affiliate programs compared
| Rank | Program | Payout type | Commission | Best for | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HubSpot | Recurring | See vendor | B2B and marketing audiences | Well-known CRM brand |
| 2 | Easy Commission Funnel (the brand) | Funnel system | Free to register | Beginners with no list | Free paid-traffic bonus at sign-up |
| 3 | ClickFunnels | Recurring | See vendor | Funnel and online business audiences | Product audience already sells funnels |
| 4 | ActiveCampaign | Recurring | See vendor | Email marketing audiences | PayPal payouts |
| 5 | Shopify | Flat | Up to $150 per POS Pro referral | Retail and ecommerce audiences | Clear flat fee |
| 6 | Bluehost | Flat | See vendor | Blog and tutorial content | One-time hosting payout |
| 7 | Canva | Per new Pro sub | See vendor | Wide creator audiences | Broad appeal |
The takeaway: recurring rows build slowly but stack up; flat rows pay faster. Pick based on what your bank account needs.
1. HubSpot
HubSpot sits at #1 because recurring income on a known marketing brand is about as good as it gets.
- Payout: Backlinko lists 30% recurring on net new customers, with a defined cookie window.
- Best for: B2B bloggers, agency owners and marketing creators.
- Why it works: businesses that adopt a CRM tend to stick around, so recurring checks keep coming.
Caveat: the sales cycle is longer. Business buyers compare, demo, then ask their boss… so you’ll wait for that first commission.
If your audience runs businesses, start here.
2. Easy Commission Funnel (The Brand)
Here’s the honest problem with the list above: every program assumes you already have traffic. Most beginners don’t.
The Easy Commission Funnel (ECF) is a free, prebuilt affiliate marketing system. You register, get a unique link, and send people to it. It’s a done-for-you funnel with a prebuilt page, expert video content and automated follow-ups from day one.
What you get:
- Free registration
- A free paid-traffic bonus at sign-up
- LeadsLeap integration for lead management and SendShark for broadcast emails
- New leads routed into your own autoresponder, so you build an independent list
Who it’s for: beginners and struggling marketers chasing their first affiliate commissions. ECF was founded by the brand. See how the Easy Commission Funnel works for the full walkthrough.
Caveat: this is a funnel system, not a single vendor with one payout rate. Your earnings depend on the programs inside it and the follow-up you do.
The list part matters. It’s the asset that outlives any one program, and our guide on how to build an email list for affiliate marketing shows why.
3. ClickFunnels
ClickFunnels pays recurring commissions to affiliates who refer funnel builders.
- Payout type: recurring
- Best for: creators who teach online business, coaching or selling
- Why it works: people who build funnels keep paying for the software
Caveat: you need traffic, and that traffic must care about funnels. A cooking blog won’t move it.
For the details, read our ClickFunnels affiliate program explained breakdown. If funnels themselves are new to you, start with how to create a sales funnel for affiliate marketing.
4. ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign is email marketing software, and Backlinko lists its partner program at 20% to 30% recurring, with a 90-day cookie and payouts only through PayPal.
- Best for: affiliates whose readers already send newsletters
- Perk: Backlinko notes starter packs with tips for affiliates
Caveat: your audience must already use, or be ready to use, email tools. Backlinko also notes you must be an ActiveCampaign user to access all affiliate benefits.
If you write about email, this one’s a natural fit. Our article on affiliate marketing email marketing covers that overlap.
5. Shopify
Shopify’s own blog says it pays up to $150 for each successful POS Pro referral. That’s a clean flat payout… nice and predictable.
- Payout type: flat, one-time
- Best for: retail, ecommerce and small business audiences
Caveat: the qualifying product is narrow. POS Pro is for in-person retail, so you need readers who run physical stores.
If your audience has a storefront, this is a tidy fit.
6. Bluehost
Bluehost is the classic blogger pick. A Reddit compilation of high-paying programs lists it at $65 to $100 per sale.
- Payout type: flat, one-time
- Best for: “how to start a blog” tutorials and website guides
Caveat: it’s one-time, not recurring. And that figure comes from a forum post, so check current terms with Bluehost before you build content around it.
Great for tutorial content that earns organic traffic. Our guide to organic traffic generation for affiliate marketing explains how to get those readers.
7. Canva
Canva has huge appeal: creators, small businesses, teachers, students. The same Reddit list puts it at up to 80% per new Pro subscription.
- Best for: broad creator and social media audiences
- Why it works: almost everyone designs something
Caveat: that number is forum-sourced, so confirm current terms directly with Canva before promoting.
Wide audience, easy pitch. Just verify the payout first.
How to choose
Start with payout type: if you want income that builds, go recurring (HubSpot, ClickFunnels, ActiveCampaign); if you need faster cash, go flat (Shopify, Bluehost). Then match the product to your audience, because a 30% commission on something nobody wants is still zero. If you have no audience at all, a free prebuilt system like ECF lets you start building a list without paying to register. Our guide to start affiliate marketing with no money walks through that path. Pick one, commit for 90 days, then judge.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Which affiliate products offer the highest commissions?
Software and subscription products usually pay best, often 20% to 30% recurring. Hosting and retail tools tend to pay flat fees, such as Shopify’s up to $150 per POS Pro referral. High-priced B2B tools sit near the top.
Who is the highest paid affiliate marketer?
There’s no single verified ranking. Top earners usually own big audiences, email lists or websites built over years. The pattern matters more than the name: a trusted audience plus products that audience genuinely needs.
What are the top 5 affiliate programs?
By this article’s criteria: HubSpot, Easy Commission Funnel, ClickFunnels, ActiveCampaign and Shopify. The right top five for you depends on payout type, your audience and whether you already have traffic.
What is a typical commission rate versus a high one?
Typical ecommerce programs pay around 10% to 15% per sale. High commission programs pay 20% to 50%, or flat payouts of roughly $100 to $500 or more per sale, according to a Time2book roundup.
Is recurring or flat commission better?
Recurring is better for long-term income because one customer keeps paying you monthly. Flat is better when you need cash sooner. Many affiliates mix both, using flat payouts early and recurring ones to build stability.
Can beginners start without paying anything?
Yes. Many affiliate programs are free to join, and the Easy Commission Funnel is free to register. The real cost is time spent getting traffic and following up with leads through email.
Conclusion
Rank programs by payout type, commission size, beginner fit, audience match and cookie length, not by the flashiest percentage. If you’re starting from zero, the free Easy Commission Funnel gives you a prebuilt page and a unique link to begin with. And when you want to go deeper, Jeff Aman also creates affiliate marketing courses, plus plenty of beginner guides at jeffaman.com. Pick one program this week… and send your first click.
