Affiliate Networks

At Revpanda, a leading digital agency, we cover the topic of affiliate networks in detail, helping you understand the industry and how to benefit from it. By providing insightful reviews of the best and largest affiliate networks in today’s market, you can find the best ones to try, which will ensure better affiliate sales and other long-term benefits. The information gathered by our team is relevant to newbies who need a better grasp of affiliate marketing. In addition, our up-to-date feedback on today’s platforms can also help seasoned businesses improve the impact of their affiliate marketing programme. Let’s get started!

What Are Affiliate Networks and How Do They Work?

Publishers, also known as “affiliates,” and merchants with their affiliate programmes are connected through affiliate networks. On such affiliate marketing platforms, affiliates and merchants who offer an affiliate marketing programme can find each other easier, benefiting both parties’ operations.

For good offers, publishers need to find the best affiliate marketing merchants and programmes. On an affiliate network, they can browse and connect with these merchants. For merchants, an affiliate network is a marketplace to inform as many relevant affiliates as possible of their offerings. An affiliate network will help promote a merchant’s affiliate marketing programs to publishers, giving the program more exposure. Basically, an affiliate platform saves both parties time by easily connecting them.

Today’s top affiliate networks offer additional services, such as tracking and analytics tools for reporting, to help with marketing efforts and make the best business decisions for their brands. Affiliates can use all the tools provided to improve their marketing campaigns, ensuring more clicks on each affiliate link they share, earning them more money online. There are different ways that fees are set up, but in most cases, merchants pay to join a network, while affiliates get services for free.

Affiliate Networks vs. Affiliate Programmes: What Are Their Differences?

With an affiliate network, there’s a third party acting as a middleman between affiliates and the merchants whose digital and physical products they promote. On a network, affiliates receive benefits such as help securing commission payments, tools for advertising campaigns, designs, and more. Alternatively, affiliates and merchants can also engage directly. In this scenario, an affiliate will join a merchant’s affiliate programme without any third-party assistance.

7 Best Versatile Affiliate Networks for Every Business

While some affiliate marketing platforms focus on certain niches, also called “verticals,” others cater to almost any physical or digital product. The wide product range makes them relevant to almost any advertiser or publisher.

Various features determine whether one can label a network as one of the best affiliate marketing resource options. A reliable affiliate network will offer good security and also help users with marketing efforts to maximise affiliate sales. You also want payment solutions that suit you, a user-friendly affiliate dashboard, and an easy way to generate links. We look at some of the best affiliate marketing networks that are versatile in their product offerings.

Amazon Associates

With Amazon being the market leader when it comes to selling physical and digital products, one can expect a quality platform for affiliates to use. The Amazon Associates platform is one of the biggest affiliate networks, and the information provided is mostly focused on affiliates. The products to be showcased are items merchants advertise on Amazon itself. In a way, Amazon’s product pages along with the Amazon Associates programme form the affiliate network.Amazon keeps it simple with user-friendly navigation that helps you sign up, but you’ll need to be approved before becoming an affiliate. Amazon offers such a diverse range of products from various industries, and the platform’s versatility makes it relevant to almost anyone who has an affiliate marketing business.

With the programme being around since 1996, there’s also been a lot of time to fix glitches and align it with user expectations. Another benefit is that the popularity of the Amazon brand means higher income for both merchants and publishers.

Our Verdict About Amazon Associates

We give the Amazon Associates affiliate programme a thumbs up because, from its wide variety of goods to the user-friendliness of its operations, it scores highly. There are some drawbacks, which aren’t likely to change soon since the established Amazon Associates brand doesn’t have to worry much about competition. But since it’s relevant to many different industries, no matter your current activities, you are guaranteed to benefit from using this reliable affiliate network.

Pros

• Wide range of products
• User-friendly dashboard
• Can use with a website or app
• Dedicated influencer program also available

Cons

• Can easily get kicked off the program for minor issues
• Only link to product pages, not category pages
• Short cookie duration
• Complicated, long contract to review
• Can’t use links as email marketing tools

Awin (Formerly Affiliate Window)

Awin as an affiliate network has been around since 2010 and has some impressive numbers. You can browse the products of over 21,000 advertisers, and there are more than 240,000 publishers who all contribute to this brand’s success. Awin’s success can be seen in the calibre of merchants you’ll find there, including partners like HP and Marks & Spencer.The affiliate network exists thanks to a series of acquisitions after taking over companies like Affiliate Window and Zanox. The main marketing company, carrying the Awin name, is of German origin and was founded in 2000.

Our Verdict About Awin

Overall, Awin is a helpful tool for affiliates and merchants to use. We think they can improve the navigation to certain information. For example, if you’re involved in a very niche market, you may struggle to find appropriate merchants through keyword searches. However, publishers do appreciate its user-friendly layout and welcome its stellar customer service. 

Pros

• Easy to navigate
• Wide variety of merchants
• Many affiliates to choose from
• Great integration with platforms like WordPress

Cons

• Reporting can be improved
• Some affiliates may need better screening

CJ (Formerly Commission Junction)

CJ, formerly known as Commission Junction, was founded in 1998, and it’s been around long enough for the team to learn what this market requires. The CJ affiliate brand is also very proud of the technology they use to support their activities.With the CJ affiliate network, there are around 3,800 brands from around the world and over 165,000 affiliates. Because this is a versatile network with thousands of products relevant to multiple industries, it caters to billions of end users. 

From Forbes and Fortune Magazine to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, CJ has received numerous awards and accolades. It proves their worth as an affiliate network and employer in the modern market.

Our Verdict About CJ

At CJ, you get it all, from good reporting to excellent security. Just be prepared for a long onboarding process. 

For any brand that wants exposure and experienced affiliates who want to partner with big brands, CJ is worth a try. Note that if your marketing efforts don’t show results within six months, they’ll stop your account on the platform. So, it’s wise to only use this established affiliate network if you already have followers and an engaged audience. 

Pros

• Quality reporting
• Helps affiliate marketers and merchants grow
• Wide range of products
• Good security features

Cons

• Not suited for newbie affiliates
• Account can be shut down if not active enough
• Long onboarding process

ClickBank

Here’s another brand that’s been around for quite a while, starting back in 1998. It’s an affiliate network for both physical and digital products in over 250 categories, making it relevant for many merchants and publishers. As an affiliate, you can pick from tens of thousands of products!ClickBank provides a service that helps users make a bigger impact in the world of e-commerce. For example, there are training options, impressive reporting, and customised order forms. The marketplace provides a range of information about each product, so publishers can easily identify the best ones to share in their content. 

Do note any additional fees that may be payable, such as dormant account fees. Therefore, once you commit to using the platform, keep the momentum going.

Our Verdict About ClickBank

Even if you are new to affiliate marketing, ClickBank is a good, versatile affiliate network to try. It’s user-friendly and covers many niches. However, we feel they can improve their customer service in terms of response times. 

Not all the products are of good quality, though, so identify very high-quality products to avoid low sales numbers. Also, make sure you understand the small print regarding extra charges.

Pros

• Dedicated account management for premier businesses
• Easy signup
• High commission rates

Cons

• Lots of competition for affiliates
• Slow customer service response

eBay Partner Network

eBay started in 1995, mostly as an online auction platform, but it’s also an online shopping site. Having established a multifaceted platform with decades of experience, the eBay Partner Network is one of the most popular affiliate networks today where affiliates and merchants are able to work with a well-established brand with which they can form long-term relationships.The eBay Partner Network understands the needs of users, as can be seen in the reporting they provide as well as helpful tools. For example, affiliates can create ads and plan campaigns with the help of the platform, which can assist them in improving sales figures.

Our Verdict About eBay Partner Network

For affiliates that are sure they can generate a lot of traffic and have an audience that will make quick decisions, the eBay Partner Network is worth joining. However, because of the low commission rates, you must make many sales to match the amount you could earn on some other affiliate programmes. It’s a trustworthy brand, but there are better affiliate networks to consider.

Pros

• Payment for sales as well as driving traffic
• Fast sign-up and approval
• Tools to improve sales
• Low minimum payout

Cons

• Some products not eligible for commission
• Low commission rates
• Short cookie duration

Rakuten

With Rakuten, you can see the trust the market has in the brand thanks to partnerships with companies like Udemy and Virgin Holidays. Rakuten hails from Japan and has become a strong contender thanks to acquiring other companies in the industry, such as LinkShare.Rakuten Advertising has been in operation for well over two decades, building up experience for what’s needed to help merchants and publishers excel. With a data-driven process, they’re able to connect affiliates with relevant brands. It’s easy for affiliates to find relevant products and affiliate programmes thanks to a user-friendly search and filter process. However, they still need improvement in some areas, as users do complain about things like customer service.

Our Verdict About Rakuten

With benefits like a low payment threshold, there are many reasons to join Rakuten as an affiliate. However, we’ve heard reports about payment delays, so be prepared to complain in order to get your payments resolved.

Pros

• User-friendly tools, including creating affiliate links
• Products from well-known brands
• Established network

Cons

• Site isn’t aesthetically pleasing
• Not clear about details such as EPC for each product
• Payments delayed because of approval process

Avangate Affiliate Network

Avangate, which has won a Best CPS/Affiliate Network Award as recently as 2019, was specifically created to solve the problem of selling more digital goods, such as software products. The founders, who were already active in the tech industry, established Avangate in 2006. A private equity firm, Francisco Partners, acquired the brand in 2013. Today, there are 1,200+ affiliate programmes that publishers can pick from, offering around 50,000 digital products.With offices in different countries around the globe, they provide a solid presence that all users can trust. However, note that users have reported issues, such as waiting long for payments and concerns about the security of private information; some issues do get resolved eventually after lengthy waiting periods.

Our Verdict About Avangate

With Avangate, you can learn a lot about affiliate marketing thanks to their reporting setup. However, it’s not for everyone because the product range is restricted to the tech industry. Also, make sure to check your payments regularly and follow up if you suspect there’s been a mistake.

Pros

• Dynamic and helpful reporting
• Quick signup process
• Award winning brand

Cons

• Niche product range
• Some concerns about payments and usage of private information

Best Specialised Affiliate Networks by Category

While versatile affiliate networks create a platform for a diverse range of products, there are also specialised affiliate networks. Specialised networks focus on one or a few verticals and create an opportunity to boost passive income if affiliates find the best products that are more relevant to their target audiences. Publishers can use these platforms to scour the market for very high-quality products and good offers that may not be on the more versatile networks.

For merchants, it’s valuable to use these specialised affiliate networks, too. For one thing, the affiliates they connect with may be more knowledgeable about their product range. This will help them produce digital marketing content that is more powerful and relevant, which will lead to more engagement, clicks, and sales.

Gambling Affiliate Networks

When you consider becoming an affiliate that helps increase traffic for online casinos and gambling, you’re joining an industry that’s valued at over $70 billion a year. Therefore, it’s worth trying to generate passive income from this popular market. This is a unique niche that requires affiliates to keep themselves informed on topics like legislation about online gambling, which can change from time to time in different countries. Still, with gambling and casino affiliate networks, it’s a much easier marketing process than you may think.

On a gambling affiliate network, affiliates and gambling brands with affiliate programmes can connect. In this niche, there are unique features in terms of earning and different earning methods. For example, with some contracts, you may receive a set fee if someone has registered with the specific casino, while with others, you get paid a percentage of what an individual loses on the casino site. Furthermore, this affiliate niche has features like negative carryover, giving you a negative balance if one of your acquired players wins. It’s best to avoid platforms with this feature.

The industry has many online gambling vendors, but some may close down without warning. Therefore, make sure the content you use in your digital marketing campaigns contains correct information and working links that will benefit not only your audience but also your sales figures.

RevenueLab

RevenueLab is an affiliate network that solely focuses on the iGaming industry. Instead of having to divide their attention to cover other verticals, they become experts in this niche.Since 2011, they’ve been running as an affiliate network, which has given them a lot of time to learn what customers, affiliates, and partners need. This is why they have been able to attract over 1,200 betting brands and 11,000+ affiliates thus far. As winners of awards such as “Affiliate Network of the Year,” one can also see that they carry the respect of the industry.The platform offers flexibility to affiliates since you can earn in many ways, including revenue share, CPA, and flat fee.

Our Verdict About RevenueLab

RevenueLab’s origins are affiliates who created a platform for others like them, resulting in a marketplace that’s very user-friendly for publishers. Features like a personal manager make life much easier for the modern affiliate who doesn’t want to waste time and energy.

Pros

• At a glance dashboard for affiliates
• Personally assigned managers
• Flexibility in earning options
• Multiple payout options
• 1200+ casino brands
• Quality support

Cons

• Website could be more informative

Vortex Alpha

Originating in the UK, Vortex Alpha quickly became a global affiliate marketing network. It doesn’t exclusively focus on the online gambling niche but offers programmes in this vertical. So, use this network if you’re looking for some flexibility in the types of products you feature in your digital marketing content. Affiliates benefit from a very robust tracking system. Also, features like dedicated account managers, affiliate marketing tools to use, and success stories from users around the globe prove it’s a winning team to join.

Our Verdict About Vortex Alpha

Try Vortex Alpha if the multiple verticals they provide will be beneficial in terms of having product variety to share with your audience. Other benefits include the fact that the casino industry is one of Vortex Alpha’s strengths and having a dedicated account manager.

Pros

• Account managers
• Flexible payment options
• Live tracking of performance

Cons

• High minimum payout
• Joining as an advertiser can take a long time

CBD Affiliate Networks

With the CBD and marijuana industries being somewhat controversial, it’s important to do CBD business with the right partners—and that rule applies to CBD affiliates too. You don’t want to refer individuals to unreputable suppliers, especially in countries and states where rules are strict. This makes it worthwhile to use trusted CBD affiliate networks to find the CBD affiliate programmes you’ll be proud to be part of.

This is a unique affiliate niche since affiliates must make sure their audience will be interested in the products they share links to. Otherwise, it won’t be a very lucrative business idea. For any CBD merchant or affiliate looking for the best in the business, the following networks are worth a try.

CrakRevenue

CrakRevenue was envisioned in 2004, and the company started in 2010. Since the CEO and founder were affiliates themselves, the platform has features that are very relevant to publishers, as well as advanced services and helpful tools that help advertisers too.Along with the CBD niche, this affiliate network has many other verticals, such as dating and gaming, which are both interesting if you want to venture out and try your hand at other niches too.

Our Verdict About CrakRevenue

CrakRevenue is great as a CPA network, and thanks to its user friendliness, it’s a good place for newbies to start. Because of its range of adult-focused programmes and available products, it’s very appropriate for those interested in CBD affiliate work.

Pros

• Can supplement income with pop-unders/back offers
• Good customer support with fast replies
• Flexible payout options

Cons

• Occasional blocked accounts without warning
• Shorter track record than some other brands

Algo-Affiliates

Algo-Affiliates is a reputable affiliate network that affiliates interested in the CBD niche can trust. Affiliates can also easily find other related products, as this platform can connect them to merchants in the beauty, health, and weight loss industries.The company uses in-house-designed algorithms to help you easily navigate between various steps in the affiliate marketing process. For example, its Traffic Monetization Algorithm helps customise ads to suit a target audience’s preferences. This is sure to affect affiliates’ CTR performance positively.

Our Verdict About Algo-Affiliates

When working with Algo-Affiliates, you can benefit from some of the best technology appropriate for this type of marketing. For CBD affiliates, there are many other relevant categories that your adult audiences will appreciate.

Just be prepared for the fact that it’s a bit difficult to plan since there’s such variance in terms of commission rates and even cookie duration. 

Pros

• Personal publisher manager
• Supplement income by referring other affiliates
• Supports multiple languages
• Uses impressive technology
• Free trial

Cons

• Vague about some important details
• Doesn’t focus on the CBD niche only, so the expertise may lack

Armorica Network

It’s worth noting that Armorica Network has only been around since 2017, so the platform has less experience than many others on our list. Still, for CBD affiliate programmes, Armorica Network is a wise option since a large percentage of its verticals relate to this niche. The niches and brands create a large scope in terms of product options that will be relevant to people who are part of the CBD community. You’ll find many helpful tools on this platform that result in more effective affiliate marketing.

Our Verdict About Armorica Network

Compared to versatile networks, this shorter list of verticals makes it easier to find CBD and a few other closely related products to publish links for. Therefore, newbies to affiliate marketing won’t feel overwhelmed by too much information and products to consider. Still, for the CBD community, there’s a lot to choose from. 

Pros

• Can place request to research market for offer types
• Real time reporting
• Well-known brands
• Huge focus on CBD and related programs

Cons

• Short period of operation compared to some other networks

Fintech Affiliate Networks

Consumers think very carefully when it comes to anything related to financial management. Instead of trusting the marketing jargon of a brand, they may rather trust the influencers and bloggers they’ve come to value, making affiliate links valuable for merchants.

It’s not the most interesting topic to discuss, but for influencers and bloggers who create financial content, this may be a vital avenue to consider. While consumers can be directed towards products that affiliates deem worthwhile, fintech brands have the advantage of an engaged audience discovering their offerings.

Therefore, all parties involved can benefit extremely from fintech affiliate networks. With the right message, individuals and even businesses may realise there are better methods, in the form of digital resources, to enjoy more control over their finances.

Acceleration Partners

Founded in 2007 by Robert Glazer, Acceleration Partners is operational in over 40 countries, and you’ll find 170+ brands on their merchant list. It actually has various other affiliate networks as their network partners. You’ll find some big names on the list of brands they manage affiliate programmes for. This includes Noom, Target, and Reebok. While fintech is not the only niche they’re active in, it’s always smart to choose platforms that have proven to be efficient enough to impress big names.

Our Verdict About Acceleration Partners

Here, you benefit from the company’s partnerships with many other trusted affiliate networks. Also, their other verticals closely relate to the fintech niche. So, on one platform, affiliates can easily obtain information on products and offers that a specific target audience is very likely to be interested in and respond to.

Pros

• Market leading brands trust them
• Wide variety of products to pick from
• Verticals relevant to fintech industry

Cons

• Payment and cookie details depend on merchants
• Less advanced reporting than other brands

ShareASale

ShareASale is actually part of Awin since the latter acquired it in 2017, and has been in business for 21 years. Today, they have offices in over 20 locations worldwide, and they offer a very flexible platform. For example, you can apply even if you only use social media as an affiliate and don’t have an existing website.

Our Verdict About ShareASale

We appreciate that ShareASale takes the time to vet the retailers it features. For fintech products, this helps affiliates have peace of mind about what they’re promoting to their audience.

Although complaints about payments and the closing of accounts are concerning, many users still enjoy the ShareASale experience, their user friendliness, and the range of product options.

Pros

• Provides real time reporting
• Offers thoroughly vetted merchants
• Easy setup accounts

Cons

• Account are closed without warning for being inactive
• Outdated UI

Impact

Impact offers a more diverse range of services than many affiliate networks in this niche. It supports multiple languages and can assist affiliates from various countries. The brand has a huge focus on automating processes, including the process of recruiting partners in the affiliate industry. For brands, there are dedicated processes on topics such as business development and influencer marketing, all on one platform—Impact. Its website allows easy access to relevant information, whether you’re an affiliate, someone interested in the SaaS market, or specifically want to earn via in-app sales.

Our Verdict About Impact

A reason to use Impact for the fintech niche is that affiliates can share links about brands that already have a good reputation in the industry. By adding their personal support, a trusting audience will have no reason not to click and find out more.

Pros

• Easy campaign management with customizable dashboards
• Good reporting to track ROI
• Well-known brands
• Practical filtering to identify relevant brands/products
• Use of AI to make recommendations

Cons

• Range of products can be overwhelming for newbies
• Annual agreements at high prices
• Reporting platform sometimes crashes

Crypto Affiliate Networks

Because of the controversies and excitement surrounding the crypto industry, the number of cryptocurrencies and crypto affiliate networks available has skyrocketed. No matter the ups and downs this industry has seen over the years, it seems to maintain popularity. 

A major attraction of crypto affiliate networks is that affiliates don’t only get paid for one sale because, due to the nature of this market, people are likely to buy more cryptocurrency after the first purchase and even on an ongoing basis. This creates the opportunity to keep earning long-term from each lead that turns into a sale.

The following affiliate networks are worth considering for quality merchants looking to connect with affiliates.

ClickOut

With crypto being such a unique “product” to sell and with many people battling to grasp how exactly it works, it’s comforting to work with an affiliate network that specialises in this niche. If affiliates have questions, they’ll have access to experts, not only random sales agents. But the network also has programmes for affiliate networks in niches like health and finance. So, affiliates have a bit of flexibility; by using this one platform’s links, they can meet multiple needs and interests their audience may have.ClickOut partners with well-known brands in the crypto market, including Binance. ClickOut originated in the UK and has a global reach, offering attractive features such as real-time tracking.

Our Verdict About ClickOut

ClickOut is a good network for influencers and affiliates to use because it works with multiple traffic sources. While some other networks don’t allow emailed links to earn you money, with ClickOut you have the freedom to share and earn commission via social media, email, and many more sources.

Pros

• Dedicated account managers
• Real-time performance tracking
• Cryptocurrency experts
• Free sign up for merchants and affiliates

Cons

• Haven’t been active as long as some other networks
• Low number of affiliates
• High payout threshold

FPM.global

FPM stands for Financial Partners Marketing, and the company uses the Libertex platform. This can be used to trade not only cryptocurrencies but also stocks, commodities, and more. So, affiliates who want to take advantage of different opportunities in the financial industry have a lot of choices with FPM.The company started in 1997, so it’s well-established in finance and the newly emerging world of crypto. Though they are based in Hong Kong, today they have activities in over 100 countries. The modern-looking website gives one the idea that they move with the times in terms of their offerings and technology.

Our Verdict About FPM.global

It gives you peace of mind to work with an affiliate network that has been around for a long time. We also appreciate the informative website, and account managers reportedly help users a lot.

Pros

• Supports 5+ languages
• Promo materials provided
• Demo trading account with $50,000 to practise with, for all users
• Free training resources

Cons

• Not able to change compensation plan once it’s confirmed
• Not much public information on the brand
• Only crypto – no diversity for affiliates to market

Biggico

This is a brand associated with gambling and betting affiliate programs, but respected crypto brands also showcase their affiliate programs on this network. The company was reportedly started in 2017 by an IT entrepreneur in Belarus called Dmitri Yelin. So, it has less experience compared to some other market-leading networks on our list. Do note that the Biggico site is easy to navigate but lacks vital information other networks provide. This creates some concern about their transparency as a company.

Our Verdict About Biggico

This is a very appealing platform to join because you can earn a lot of money through revenue share and get paid high commission rates. However, though they look promising, only time will tell whether they can keep up with some of the more established brands.

Pros

• Can earn from all types of traffic, including email and apps
• Real time tracking of performance
• Experts on crypto niche

Cons

• Lack of available information
• Less experience in the affiliate market

Dating Affiliate Networks

The affiliate network industry stretches far beyond physical products! The general public always has an interest in creating new relationships, no matter what politics or the economy look like. The dating industry even projects growth in future, so using dating affiliate networks to connect with an audience can result in positive outcomes for publishers and advertisers. However, experts will tell you that earning a steady income via this niche requires hard work—perhaps more than in some other affiliate verticals.

Below, we list some affiliate networks that are worth considering for this niche. 

Cpamatica

Cpamatica is a network that serves a diverse range of niches. However, along with sweepstakes, gaming, and streaming, dating is one of the main verticals they focus on.Cpamatica started in 2015, so it doesn’t have as much experience as some other brands. But, with dating being a prime vertical that Cpamatica covers, it’s definitely worth using. Also, the other types of niche products that the brand focuses on can be a good fit for an affiliate’s activities and their adult audiences.

Our Verdict About Cpamatica

It’s clear that the dating niche is one of this platform’s strengths, and Cpamatica understands the unique aspects of the market. Furthermore, with low payout amounts and a variety of payment methods, they make it fairly easy for affiliates to operate their businesses.

We believe that merchants and publishers who need help boosting sales figures can sign up with peace of mind. 

Pros

• Fast payouts
• Flexible payment system
• Personal managers
• 24/7 support

Cons

• Less experienced than more prominent brands
• High minimum payment for wire payouts

Datify.Link

Dating is one of the main verticals on Datify.Link operates in conjunction with certain games and cams. Compared to some networks, this is a newbie, as it was started in 2019 only. However, there are already over 2,000 offers that affiliates can consider and Datify.Link is active in over 100 countries. So, it can be valuable to try it out. Users benefit from a company that does what it promises, so there’s little chance that affiliates will ever have to wait for the payments they requested. Other benefits include the network’s implementation of Smartlinks, and there are many helpful services—from hosting and analytics to SEO.

Our Verdict About Datify.Link

Here’s something you don’t often see in the affiliate network environment: daily payments. This makes it easier for affiliates to plan budgets and enjoy steady cash flow throughout the month. 

Datify.Link also caters to a range of consumers, which gives affiliates more scope in terms of how they can benefit their business operations. 

Pros

• Flexible payment schedules
• Multiple payout options
• Verticals relevant for audience interested in dating niche
• 24/7 support

Cons

• Less than 5 years’ experience
• Difficult to plan budget because commission varies

Mirelia Networks

For almost a decade, Mirelia Networks has focused on dating affiliate programmes. Today they can boast of good relationships with brands in Canada, the US, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.This platform offers real-time tracking of data, which helps affiliates keep an eye on their business so they know when to make adjustments if necessary. Helpful details of reporting include seeing traffic percentage by device, which guides affiliates in determining where their audiences are targeted best.

Our Verdict About Mirelia Networks

Mirelia Networks has dedicated their work to the dating niche, and that makes it a valuable affiliate network to consider. The merchants are relevant for all types of dating—casual or serious—so no matter what the audience’s preferences are, affiliates are likely to find relevant offerings.

Pros

• Transparent about CPC and CPM payments
• Information is readily accessible
• Good security and fraud protection
• Casual and mainstream dating

Cons

• High minimum payout
• USD payouts only
• Not ideal for affiliates and merchants with interest in wider selection of products

CPL Affiliate Networks

Some merchants and affiliates may not prioritise using an affiliate network in a specific niche but simply prefer concentrating on leads rather than sales. This falls into the CPL affiliate networks category. With CPL networks, affiliates can get paid when they help generate leads for the merchants whose affiliate programmes they join.

The most common feature that registers as a “lead” is when someone fills out a form, which provides merchants with their personal details. This helps sales funnels have more leads to follow up on, and merchants pay affiliates for helping with this process. 

As seen from the network reviews above, affiliate networks can offer CPL programmes as part of their earning programmes. We look at some more of the best networks in terms of CPL earning plans.

MyLead

MyLead has been active in the affiliate market since 2014 and is located in Poland. While not one of the oldest, it is a very respected brand.Apart from CPL, you can opt for other earning programmes too, such as CPA (cost per action), PPI (pay per instal), COD (cash on delivery), and CPS (cost per sale). However, the CPL offer is a popular one. 

Often, the lead the merchant requires is in the form of creating an account. There doesn’t necessarily have to be an exchange of money between the new client and the merchant in order for the affiliate to earn his or her dues.

MyLead is diverse in its verticals, so whether an affiliate’s audience likes information on financial institutions or something as fun as lotteries, there should be suitable affiliate programmes to join.

Our Verdict About MyLead

We agree with the many positive reviews from users that MyLead is a trustworthy affiliate network to consider. They cater to many verticals and many earning strategies, including CPL. So, almost any affiliate can try them out—joining is free, after all.

Pros

• Fun and informative website
• Steady growth in users on the platform
• Supports multiple languages
• Easy viewing and exporting of reports

Cons

• Customer service is slow at times
• Varying commission rates and unpredictable income

lemonads

lemonads only started in 2018, but their high-tech approach has already garnered respect from the industry. With partners like Netflix, Uber Eats, and Booking.com, it’s a reputable platform to consider. lemonads makes it easy to operate in unique niches, such as earning affiliate income from travel bookings. The brand reports impressive numbers, such as having over 60,000 affiliate programmes to consider and processing payments to affiliates in over 200 countries. lemonads cater across a long list of verticals, giving affiliates lots to choose from. And with Smartlinker technology, it’s very easy to generate links.

Please keep in mind that the company currently does not accept new accounts and directs all inquiries to TORO, its affiliate network. You’ll need to keep checking to see if this changes in the future.

Our Verdict About lemonads

If you’re interested in CPL, consider lemonads because the network is adamant about only partnering with high-quality merchants. A good reputation for these brands increases the chance that clients will feel inclined to fill in that form or register so affiliates can earn CPL income.

Pros

• Quality tracking technology
• Realtime performance monitoring
• Partners across the globe
• Good fraud protection

Cons

• Limited contact options for support
• No new accounts at times

FlexOffers

FlexOffers started in 2008 and has its headquarters in Miami, USA. The brand has a wide variety of merchants and verticals that affiliates can use, making it relevant for almost anyone who wants to try their hand at affiliate marketing.This network has 10,000+ advertisers that affiliates can connect with, and these merchants originate from 27 countries. The network provides a fairly user-friendly platform, and tasks like creating affiliate links are pretty easy to do.

Our Verdict About FlexOffers

The combination of user friendliness and a wide range of merchants from which you can generate leads makes this a smart CPL affiliate network to use. There are respected brands, and their popularity prompts clients to register, sign up, or share their information. This helps affiliates get higher payouts for CPL campaigns.

Pros

• Detailed, practical reporting
• User friendly
• Referral program can increase earnings
• Market leading advertisers

Cons

• Detailed application process can take a while
• Waiting 60 days for the first payment

CPA Affiliate Networks

CPA marketing stands for cost per action. When affiliates choose to make money through CPA offers, you’ll get paid every time one of your customers does something the merchant requires them to do. For example, an affiliate can get paid when a client completes a sale, but the desired action can also be a client playing a video or asking for a quote. Even just filling in a form is sufficient in some cases, but it all depends on what the merchant’s goal is with the CPA campaign. 

Affiliates can earn an impressive income without waiting for a financial transaction to take place. Usually it’s a one-time payment, but if a sale is the desired action, affiliates may keep on earning when that client completes future sales as well.

Using the right CPA affiliate networks will connect merchants and publishers where one’s offerings align with the other’s audience needs. Success is up to the affiliate’s ability to direct traffic to the merchant’s page and persuade them to take some sort of action. 

MaxBounty

This brand started in 2004, and today they have over 30,000 affiliates and 3,000 campaigns that are active and generating revenue for merchants and publishers. MaxBounty has a good reputation in the affiliate industry, in part because of their thorough vetting of affiliates, which results in excellent outcomes for merchants.They are versatile since they also offer CPS, CPL, and CPI earning models. However, since CPA is their focus, it’s the ideal brand to consider when looking for CPA affiliate networks.

Our Verdict About MaxBounty

This network is strict in its operations, so MaxBounty is one of the best CPA affiliate networks for more experienced users. As a newbie, you could make a mistake, seem to act fraudulently, and get kicked off the platform. Therefore, we suggest beginners rather use other networks to get experience and then use MaxBounty to grow their income later on.

Pros

• Solid security against fraud
• Excellent vetting process
• Quality leads for merchants
• Provides helpful tools like software and tracking data
• Offers performance bonuses

Cons

• Not so easy to get approved
• Can easily get kicked off
• Daily caps on some products limit earnings

CPAlead

Since 2006, CPAlead has helped merchants get their apps installed on users’ devices. Affiliates do get paid when they help complete the installation of an app, but there are also CPE (cost per event) campaigns. Video reward ads are one way of monetizing via CPAlead, and the completion of a questionnaire is another. The brand is based in the US and boasts over 100 million apps installed already. From customer service to prompt payments, users love the platform. Affiliates do need to ensure they deliver good traffic to merchants because you can get penalised, and merchants may not pay if they suspect any fraudulent activity on your part.

Our Verdict About CPAlead

Across the board, users, merchants, and affiliates praise CPAlead, which gives one peace of mind that it’s a network worth joining. They focus on a niche market, but with apps becoming more popular all the time, it may be a good market to start accessing, no matter your current interests as an affiliate.

Pros

• Instals for both iOS and Android
• Low minimum payout
• Daily payouts possible

Cons

• Some low quality advertisers that don’t pay diligently
• Doesn’t always reply to complaints

Perform [cb]

Perform [cb] has been around for over 20 years, but was first known as Clickbooth back in 2002. It’s another brand that has proven its worth by surviving in a competitive market for a long time. Some of the well-known partners on this platform include world-famous names like Tempur-Pedic. They have a global presence, with offices in the US as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina. They give affiliates ways to make money through CPI, CPL, CPE, CPS, and PPC, but it’s their CPA options that get them the most praise. Just note that their website does need some updating since not all their menu items navigate to the correct pages, making it difficult to find information sometimes. 

Niche/product types | Lifestyle, Entertainment, Health, Beauty, Finance, Software, E-commerce and many more

Our Verdict About Perform[cb]

This brand has earned respect in the world of affiliate networks because of the quality and uniqueness of its offers, as well as the developers that create helpful technology. For example, they have algorithms that help bring suitable offers to the consumer who is most likely to take advantage of the opportunity. For CPA earnings, this benefits both merchants and affiliates.

Pros

• Fraud-fighting software protects users 24/7
• Weekly platform updates to improve performance and fix problems
• App available to use platform on the go

Cons

• Website requires updating for correct navigation
• Difficult to plan budget because of commission rates that vary

Revenue Share (RevShare) Affiliate Networks

Affiliates can make a lot of money over a long period of time if they choose the RevShare way to earn commissions because the affiliate gets a percentage of the money spent or a specific amount for each sale. For optimal earnings, the client must keep on buying from the specific merchant. 

In comparison to other earning plans, such as CPA, there may be fewer clients completing sales than performing other actions such as watching a video or filling in a form. However, getting paid on a consistent basis is very appealing, especially if you earn a high commission rate.

Adsterra

Adsterra was founded in 2013 and has been in business for less than a decade, but with 33,000 partners, it is clear that they provide quality services. They offer all the popular pricing models, including CPL, CPI, CPA, CPC, and CPM.For both advertisers and publishers, there are user-friendly solutions to boost their business results, such as assistance to help affiliates reach their KPIs and a wide variety of advertising formats to utilise, from banners and pop-unders to video ads and social bars. They also prioritise security and anti-adblock, so your ads won’t always be blocked by plugins.

Our Verdict About Adsterra

It’s worth working your way up the ranks in Adsterra because you can acquire a dedicated manager that is of great value for affiliates. Also, the website helps you determine what to focus on for the best results.

Their high number of partners proves their worth, but only opt for RevShare earnings and CPA pricing models when you know your audience well enough that you’re sure they’ll commit to sales and help you earn.

Pros

• Low minimum payment
• Exclusive offers
• Good security and anti-fraud features
• Excellent customer service

Cons

• Only highly efficient for certain niches
• Some ads increase bounce rates

Chilli Partners

This platform was created as recently as 2020. With the online gambling and casino environment becoming more popular all the time, there’s a good chance it will keep growing as it has.Chilli Partners is great for RevShare earnings, but do note that it’s an affiliate network focused on the casino industry, so it may not carry offers appropriate for all affiliates’ audiences.

The platform provides information on each brand that the network has partnership with, such as the number of games available, so affiliates can compare and pick the advertisers they want to be associated with. 

Our Verdict About Chilli Partners

If casino offers are relevant to an affiliate’s audience, it’s worth joining a platform like Chilli Partners. However, make sure you’ll get the traction you hope for and that your revenue won’t be negatively affected by countries’ legislation that doesn’t allow online gambling.

Pros

• No negative carry over
• Instant stats available continuously
• Design team available for ad creation

Cons

• Limited number of payout options
• Can’t earn in all countries

Traffic Cake

Traffic Cake was started in 2018 and seems to be going strong since they are authorised partners of multiple well-known projects in the business. It’s another affiliate network that’s good for RevShare earnings and focuses on iGaming, which is an industry that gives you a chance to earn a lot in commission.The website is simple but easy to use, with easy-to-reach communication icons on each page. They don’t cater to many languages, but both English and Russian are covered at the moment.

Our Verdict About Traffic Cake

The platform allows hybrid deals, so you can really benefit from the best of both worlds: CPA and RevShare. You can customise the guidelines of your agreement, such as doing hybrid earning, making this platform very user-friendly. However, consider that they only accept traffic from certain countries, so make sure the links are relevant to your audience.

The platform gives each user a personal manager. Having help from an expert can make it much easier to make money.

Pros

• All traffic sources are valid, including social media
• App for iOS and Android available
• Regular payments
• Hybrid deals are possible

Cons

• Only relevant for certain countries
• Doesn’t appeal to all affiliates’ audiences

Affiliate Networks Conclusion

Affiliate networks play a crucial role in affiliate marketing. They give businesses and affiliates a place to meet, work together, and make money through advertising based on commissions. The benefits of using affiliate networks include easier access to a wider selection of affiliate programmes, streamlined tracking and payment procedures, and a centralised platform for managing campaigns.

However, it’s important to research and compare different networks to find the best fit for your business needs. Commission rates, the variety of products available, and the network’s level of support are all important factors to take into account. By using affiliate networks, businesses and publishers can get the most out of affiliate marketing, which can help them grow and increase their revenue.