12 Best affiliate marketing platforms You Should Know

Ready to scale your e-commerce business beyond paid ads and organic search? Affiliate marketing is a powerful, performance-based channel that can drive significant revenue, but only if you have the right foundation. Choosing from the many best affiliate marketing platforms can feel overwhelming, especially when you're busy running a successful store. This guide is built to cut through the noise.

We’ve created a no-fluff resource specifically for established e-commerce owners like you. Forget generic feature lists and marketing jargon. Instead, you'll find an in-depth, practical breakdown of the top platforms available today. We’ll dive into what actually matters: real-world use cases, honest pros and cons, and clear recommendations based on your business model, whether you're a high-volume Etsy seller or a Shopify store owner looking to build a powerful partner program.

Each platform review includes screenshots for a clear visual tour and direct links to get you started faster. Our goal is simple: to help you confidently select the perfect platform to manage, track, and grow your affiliate program. Let’s find the right fit to unlock your next level of growth.

1. impact.com (Brands Marketplace)

If you're looking for a modern, all-in-one hub to manage brand partnerships, impact.com is a fantastic starting point. It feels less like a traditional, clunky affiliate network and more like a sleek, professional partnership platform. Its central Brands Marketplace is a game-changer, allowing you to discover and apply to programs from a huge variety of vetted, often US-based brands, from major retailers to niche e-commerce stores. The unified dashboard makes tracking performance and commissions across different partners incredibly straightforward.

Unlike some older platforms, impact.com excels with transparent application timelines and helpful onboarding resources, making it one of the best affiliate marketing platforms for both newcomers and seasoned publishers. While you do need to complete a profile and verify your media properties (like your website or social channels) before getting marketplace access, this step helps maintain a high-quality ecosystem. It’s free for affiliates to join, but remember that individual brand approvals are still required after you apply to their programs.

Key Details & Use Case

• Best For: E-commerce store owners and creators who want a diverse selection of high-quality brand partners and a modern, unified interface for tracking.
• Standout Feature: The centralized Brands Marketplace and first-party tracking technology provide a reliable and efficient way to manage multiple partnerships.
• Pro Tip: Take time to thoroughly complete your marketplace profile. Brands review this information, and a detailed, professional profile can significantly increase your approval rate.

Website: impact.com

2. CJ (formerly Commission Junction)

As one of the oldest and most established networks, CJ (formerly Commission Junction) is a powerhouse for connecting with thousands of top-tier advertisers, particularly in the US retail and travel sectors. Its platform offers a vast marketplace where publishers can discover and apply to programs from globally recognized brands. The interface provides robust, real-time reporting and deep linking tools that give experienced affiliates granular control over their campaigns and performance tracking.

While the dashboard can feel a bit dated compared to newer platforms, its reliability and the sheer volume of premium advertisers make it one of the best affiliate marketing platforms for publishers with established traffic. It's free for publishers to join, but you must have an active, high-quality website to be accepted. Be prepared for a rigorous application process, as many of the top brands on CJ have strict admission criteria to maintain program quality.

Key Details & Use Case

• Best For: Experienced bloggers and established website owners who want access to a massive selection of well-known, enterprise-level US brands.
• Standout Feature: The immense network of advertisers, including many household names that aren't available on other platforms, combined with powerful real-time analytics.
• Pro Tip: Use the "Advertiser Search" filters to find high-performing programs with strong network earnings and high conversion rates to maximize your efforts.

Website: cj.com

3. Rakuten Advertising (Rakuten Affiliate Network)

For publishers focused on premium brands, Rakuten Advertising is a powerhouse with deep roots in the industry. It's one of the oldest and most respected networks, known for its curated collection of major retail, fashion, and travel advertisers. If you're looking to partner with household names like Walmart, Macy's, or Sephora, this is often the place to find them. The platform provides a centralized dashboard to manage campaigns, track clicks, and view commissions from all your approved partners in one place.

While the interface might feel slightly more traditional compared to newer platforms, Rakuten's strength lies in its quality control and direct brand relationships. It's free for publishers to join, but the application process is thorough, and you'll still need to apply to each brand's program individually. Their focus on high-quality partnerships makes Rakuten one of the best affiliate marketing platforms for established content creators and e-commerce sites with a clear niche and engaged audience. The available Quick Start guides and tutorials are also helpful for those new to the network.

Key Details & Use Case

• Best For: Content creators and e-commerce publishers in the fashion, retail, and travel niches who want to partner with well-known, premium brands.
• Standout Feature: Access to an exclusive roster of globally recognized brands and a strong emphasis on maintaining high-quality, reliable campaigns.
• Pro Tip: Brands on Rakuten are often selective. Ensure your website or social media presence is professional and highly relevant to the advertiser's niche before applying to increase your chances of approval.

Website: rakutenadvertising.com

4. Awin (ShareASale migration hub)

With the upcoming migration of ShareASale in 2025, Awin is solidifying its position as a global affiliate marketing powerhouse. This platform is a massive hub connecting affiliates with thousands of merchants, ranging from well-known US retailers to major international brands. Its strength lies in its sheer scale and the diversity of its program offerings across nearly every vertical imaginable. The interface feels modern and provides robust reporting tools and deep integrations with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce.

For publishers already on ShareASale, Awin offers a clear path forward, simplifying long-term partnership management by consolidating everything onto one platform. The transition period might present a learning curve, but the long-term benefit is access to a more streamlined and technologically advanced network. It remains one of the best affiliate marketing platforms for those seeking a vast and varied merchant base. Joining is free for affiliates, but you will still need to apply and be approved by individual merchant programs, each with its own commission rules.

Key Details & Use Case

• Best For: Publishers and e-commerce creators looking for a massive, diverse international merchant portfolio, especially those migrating from ShareASale.
• Standout Feature: Its extensive global network of over 25,000 advertisers, providing unparalleled access to brands in the US, UK, and EU markets.
• Pro Tip: Use the Advertiser Directory filters to find high-performing programs with strong conversion rates or high average order values (AOV) to maximize your earning potential.

Website: https://www.awin.com/us

5. Amazon Associates

For creators in the B2C space, Amazon Associates is often the first and most accessible entry point into affiliate marketing. As the official program for the world's largest online retailer, it allows you to promote nearly any product from its massive catalog. Its power lies in its simplicity and the universal trust consumers have in the Amazon brand, which often leads to higher conversion rates, especially for physical products. The interface is straightforward, with simple tools for creating product links and a reporting dashboard that tracks clicks and earnings.

While the commission rates can be lower than those on dedicated networks, its ease of use makes it one of the best affiliate marketing platforms for beginners and content creators focused on consumer goods. It's completely free to join, but you must adhere strictly to its detailed program policies to avoid account suspension. You also need to generate a few qualifying sales within your first 180 days to keep your account active, which encourages new affiliates to start promoting right away.

Key Details & Use Case

• Best For: Bloggers, YouTubers, and niche site owners who review or recommend a wide variety of consumer physical products.
• Standout Feature: The unparalleled product selection and high brand trust, which can lead to commissions on not just the promoted item but any other products a customer buys within the 24-hour cookie window.
• Pro Tip: Use multiple tracking IDs to segment your links by channel (e.g., one for your blog, one for YouTube, one for social media). This helps you understand which platforms are driving the most revenue.

Website: affiliate-program.amazon.com

6. eBay Partner Network (EPN)

The eBay Partner Network (EPN) offers a unique opportunity to tap into one of the world's largest and most diverse marketplaces. Instead of promoting a single brand, you can link to millions of new and used products, from collectibles and electronics to fashion and auto parts. This platform is particularly effective for niches where physical goods are central, giving you an almost endless inventory to recommend to your audience. EPN provides robust tools, including deep linking and advanced reporting, to help you optimize campaigns effectively.

Unlike typical affiliate networks, EPN offers multiple ways to earn, including commissions on the specific item you link to and on other "qualified transactions" the user makes after clicking your link. It's free to join, but you’ll need an active eBay account. The platform recently introduced the eBay Ambassador program for US-based creators, offering a simpler, more streamlined entry point. As one of the original and best affiliate marketing platforms for physical products, its sheer scale makes it a powerful option for many e-commerce-focused creators.

Key Details & Use Case

• Best For: Niche site owners, YouTubers, and bloggers in specific product categories like electronics, collectibles, auto parts, or fashion who can leverage eBay's vast inventory.
• Standout Feature: The immense and ever-changing product catalog combined with a flexible commission structure that rewards you for driving overall sales activity.
• Pro Tip: Use EPN's bookmarklet tool to quickly generate affiliate links for any eBay page directly from your browser, which saves a significant amount of time when creating content.

Website: https://partnernetwork.ebay.com/

7. ClickBank

As one of the oldest and most well-known affiliate marketplaces, ClickBank has carved out a distinct niche, primarily focusing on digital products and direct-response offers. It’s a popular entry point for many new affiliates because of its straightforward signup process and a vast marketplace filled with products across nearly every imaginable category, from e-books and online courses to supplements. The platform’s strength lies in its simplicity and the high commission rates often offered on digital goods.

Unlike platforms focused on mainstream retail brands, ClickBank is home to thousands of smaller vendors, making it one of the best affiliate marketing platforms for finding unique, high-converting offers. Joining is free for affiliates, and generating a unique tracking link (called a HopLink) is incredibly easy. However, the open nature of the marketplace means product quality can vary significantly, so it’s crucial for affiliates to carefully vet the products and sales pages before committing to a promotion.

Key Details & Use Case

• Best For: Affiliates in niches like health, self-help, and online marketing who are comfortable promoting direct-response digital products and are looking for high commission rates.
• Standout Feature: The extensive marketplace with performance metrics (like Gravity score) helps affiliates identify popular and currently converting offers.
• Pro Tip: Pay close attention to a product's "Gravity" score in the marketplace. A higher score generally indicates that more affiliates are successfully making sales with that offer, which can be a good sign of its conversion potential.

Website: https://www.clickbank.com/

8. PartnerStack (B2B SaaS partner marketplace)

For affiliates operating in the B2B tech space, PartnerStack is an absolute must. This platform is specifically designed to manage partnerships for SaaS companies, making it the go-to marketplace for promoting software and earning recurring revenue. It connects publishers directly with hundreds of top-tier SaaS brands, from project management tools to marketing automation software, all within a clean, unified dashboard. The platform handles all the tracking and consolidates your earnings into a single monthly payout, simplifying the entire process.

PartnerStack's focus on recurring commissions is a huge differentiator, offering a sustainable income stream rather than just one-off payouts. Joining as a partner is free, and you can apply to various programs directly through its marketplace. While some advanced marketplace features only unlock after you earn your first commission, its powerful focus on B2B partnerships makes it one of the best affiliate marketing platforms for tech reviewers, agencies, and business-focused content creators.

Key Details & Use Case

• Best For: B2B content creators, agencies, and tech bloggers who want to promote SaaS products and earn recurring commissions.
• Standout Feature: Its dedicated SaaS marketplace and automated, consolidated monthly payouts via Stripe or PayPal make managing recurring revenue simple.
• Pro Tip: When applying to programs, highlight your specific B2B audience and how you can drive qualified leads. SaaS companies on PartnerStack are looking for true partners, not just clicks.

Website: partnerstack.com

9. FlexOffers

FlexOffers stands out as a massive affiliate network that aggregates offers from over 10,000 advertisers, essentially acting as a mega-hub for publishers. Instead of signing up for dozens of individual networks, FlexOffers gives you access to a huge catalog of programs across almost every vertical imaginable, from finance to retail. This consolidation makes it an incredibly efficient platform for publishers who want to diversify their income streams without managing countless logins and dashboards.

One of its most powerful aspects is its sub-affiliate model, where FlexOffers has direct partnerships with other networks. This means you can sometimes get access to brands that might be harder to join directly. The platform offers dedicated account support and a suite of advanced linking tools, like FlexLinks, to automate product link creation. While managing offers from so many sources can feel complex at times, FlexOffers is one of the best affiliate marketing platforms for accessing an unparalleled breadth of opportunities, especially for US-focused traffic. It is completely free for publishers to join and start applying to programs.

Key Details & Use Case

• Best For: Publishers who want maximum offer diversity and access to a vast range of US-centric brands without joining dozens of separate networks.
• Standout Feature: The aggregation model, providing access to over 10,000 advertisers and 65+ networks under a single, unified account.
• Pro Tip: Lean on your dedicated affiliate manager. They can help you navigate the massive catalog to find top-performing and exclusive offers you might otherwise miss.

Website: flexoffers.com

10. AvantLink

For niche publishers, particularly in the outdoor, sporting goods, and specialty retail spaces, AvantLink is a top-tier choice. It deliberately positions itself as a quality-focused network, prioritizing established, content-driven publishers over mass-market affiliates. This focus means you'll find a curated selection of highly respected merchants like REI, Patagonia, and other premium brands that are often exclusive to the platform, lending credibility to your recommendations. The platform is known for its rigorous publisher approval process, but this exclusivity is precisely its strength.

AvantLink provides robust tools, including dynamic ad creatives and detailed reporting, designed for serious publishers who analyze their data. Its strict, manual application review ensures a high-quality ecosystem, making it one of the best affiliate marketing platforms for authoritative creators. While the approval process can be slower than other networks, getting accepted signals to brands that your site is a valuable partner. It’s completely free for affiliates to join, but be prepared to demonstrate that you have an established, quality website.

Key Details & Use Case

• Best For: Authoritative bloggers and content creators in specific niches like outdoor recreation, hunting, and high-end retail who want to partner with premium, often exclusive, brands.
• Standout Feature: A highly curated merchant roster filled with industry-leading brands and a commitment to maintaining a quality-over-quantity network.
• Pro Tip: Ensure your website is well-established, professional, and has a clear privacy policy before applying. AvantLink manually reviews every application and is known for its strict quality standards.

Website: https://www.avantlink.com/

11. Skimlinks

For content creators and editorial publishers who want to monetize their commerce content with minimal effort, Skimlinks is a brilliant solution. Instead of manually applying to dozens of programs and updating links, Skimlinks automatically converts your existing product links into affiliate links. You install a simple piece of JavaScript on your site, and it handles the rest, giving you access to over 48,000 merchants through a single platform and contract. This "set it and forget it" approach is perfect for teams that want to focus on creating great content rather than managing affiliate logistics.

The platform is free to join, but Skimlinks takes a percentage of the commissions you earn as their fee. While this may result in slightly lower rates than a direct partnership, the time savings and access to a vast merchant network often provide a net positive. It’s one of the best affiliate marketing platforms for automating income from existing and future content without the operational headache. Approval is typically fast, often within 48-72 hours, making it easy to get started.

Key Details & Use Case

• Best For: Editorial sites, bloggers, and forum owners with large amounts of commerce-related content who need an efficient, scalable monetization solution.
• Standout Feature: Automatic link conversion technology that turns standard outbound product links into affiliate links without any manual work from the publisher.
• Pro Tip: Use the Skimlinks Editor Tool (a browser extension) to easily create affiliate links on the fly, even for platforms where you can't install the JavaScript, like social media.

Website: skimlinks.com

12. Sovrn Commerce (formerly VigLink)

For creators and publishers focused on producing high-volume commerce content, Sovrn Commerce offers a brilliant, low-effort way to monetize. Instead of manually signing up for individual affiliate programs, Sovrn automatically converts your existing, standard outbound product links into commissionable affiliate links. This process works behind the scenes, scanning your page for links to one of its 50,000+ supported merchants and affiliating them on the fly. It's a "set it and forget it" solution that saves a massive amount of operational time.

This platform is one of the best affiliate marketing platforms for those who want to monetize their back catalog of content without painstaking manual updates. The single snippet of code is easy to install, and its Chrome extension allows for quick link creation on the go. While you trade potentially higher direct-partnership commissions for convenience, the ability to instantly monetize a vast network of retailers from a single dashboard is a powerful advantage for scaling your commerce strategy efficiently.

Key Details & Use Case

• Best For: Content-heavy sites, blogs, and forums that want to automate link monetization and capture revenue from existing un-affiliated links.
• Standout Feature: Its automatic link conversion technology is incredibly efficient, turning standard product links into revenue-generating affiliate links with minimal setup.
• Pro Tip: Use Sovrn to monetize long-tail merchant links that you don't have direct affiliate relationships with. This allows you to earn from a much wider range of products mentioned in your content.

Website: sovrn.com/commerce/

Top 12 Affiliate Platforms Comparison

Final Thoughts

Whew, that was a deep dive! We've navigated the vast ocean of affiliate marketing platforms, from industry giants like impact.com and CJ to specialized powerhouses like PartnerStack for B2B and content-focused tools like Skimlinks. It’s clear that finding the single "best" affiliate marketing platform is less about a definitive winner and more about finding the perfect fit for your unique e-commerce business.

The journey from a thriving Etsy shop or a growing e-commerce store to a brand with a powerful affiliate program is a significant one. The right platform acts as your command center, helping you forge profitable partnerships, track performance with precision, and ultimately, drive more sales without relying solely on paid ads.

Key Takeaways for Your Decision

As you weigh your options, remember to circle back to your core business needs. Don't get distracted by a platform that has a million features if you'll only ever use three of them.

• For Beginners & Physical Product Sellers: Platforms like ShareASale (Awin) and CJ offer a massive pool of potential affiliates and a relatively gentle learning curve. They are fantastic starting points for stores selling physical goods who want broad reach.
• For Established Brands & Direct Partnerships: If you're ready for more control and want to build direct, high-value relationships, impact.com is an undeniable leader. Its robust tracking and contracting features are built for serious scale.
• For B2B & SaaS Companies: Don't look past PartnerStack. It's purpose-built for the unique needs of recurring revenue models and SaaS partnerships, a niche where other platforms often fall short.
• For Content Monetization: If you're more focused on monetizing your blog or content site alongside your store, automated tools like Skimlinks and Sovrn Commerce can be a low-effort way to generate revenue from existing content.

Your Actionable Next Steps

So, what now? Don't let analysis paralysis set in. The key is to take deliberate action. Start by shortlisting your top two or three contenders from this list. Visit their websites, and more importantly, book a demo. Seeing the user interface firsthand and asking specific questions about how it would integrate with your store (whether you're on Shopify, BigCommerce, or another platform) is the most critical step you can take.

Think about your ideal affiliate. Is it a mega-influencer, a niche blogger, or a loyal customer? Your answer will heavily influence which of the best affiliate marketing platforms has the right network for you. Start small, learn the ropes, and build a program that becomes a true engine for growth. This isn't just about finding partners; it's about building a community that champions your brand.

Ready to give your new affiliates a high-converting, lightning-fast website to send traffic to? An optimized storefront is the most crucial part of your affiliate strategy. At Wand Websites, we build stunning, conversion-focused e-commerce sites designed to turn that hard-earned affiliate traffic into sales. Check out how Wand Websites can build the perfect home for your brand.