Clickbank is one of the best affiliate networks available, but like every program, it is not without its drawbacks. If it were perfect, there would be no competition. Given that it’s a massive, long-established organization, Clickbank is slow to move. They take a long time to add features that other affiliate networks add at the drop of a hat. They’re reliable and they’re high paying - having paid out more than $6.5 billion in commissions over two decades to more than 100,000 affiliates worldwide - but they also have a lot of competition.
They also strive to stay on the far end of legitimate, which means anything that even looks vaguely like a low-quality site might be blocked from the program. Want to advertise a product that helps build lists or generate traffic? You’re probably going to be rejected. You may not be blocked from the program, but if you can’t advertise what you came there to advertise, it’s effectively the same, isn’t it?
Whatever your reason for turning away from Clickbank, you’re no doubt looking for a reasonable alternative. Heck, maybe you’re just looking for something to supplement an active Clickbank account. Either way, give one of these options a shot.
Key Takeaways
- CJ, JVZoo, Awin, PartnerStack, MarketHealth, and Rakuten Advertising are highlighted as strong Clickbank alternatives.
- PartnerStack stands out for recurring commissions of 20-50%, paying over $45 million annually to affiliates promoting SaaS products.
- JVZoo commonly offers 50%+ commissions on digital products, but product quality varies, requiring careful vetting before promotion.
- MarketHealth specializes exclusively in health and beauty, offering high commissions but only suits affiliates with relevant audiences.
- Rakuten Advertising is reliable and credible but tends to offer lower commissions than other networks on this list.
CJ (Commission Junction)
CJ, formerly known as Commission Junction, is consistently rated among the top affiliate networks online, rivaling even Clickbank. It has virtually no restrictions on the types of products you can advertise, and the rates are surprisingly high. You can run both physical products or digital products, everything from ebooks to software to vacuums to cars, if you so desire.
CJ is also surprisingly easy to get into. You would think that a high-rate, high-variance affiliate network would be extremely exclusive, but CJ defies those expectations. Perhaps the one real drawback to the site is that the interface takes a bit of getting used to; if you’re not an experienced affiliate marketer, you might face a fairly steep learning curve before you hit your stride.
One of the most unique aspects of CJ as an advertiser is the ability to completely outsource every aspect of the advertising program to CJ themselves. It’s an expensive option, but if you have the traffic, niche, and presence to support it, it can be well worth it for the passive income.
Awin
Awin is one of the largest and most well-respected affiliate networks in the world, providing access to over 13,000 different merchants across a huge range of niches. Whether you’re in fashion, finance, travel, tech, or retail, Awin likely has advertisers that fit your audience. Their global reach is particularly strong, making them an excellent choice if your traffic comes from multiple countries.
The platform is clean, well-organized, and packed with reporting tools that make it easy to track performance and optimize campaigns. Awin does charge a small deposit fee to join, which is refunded once you reach your payout threshold - a minor hurdle that keeps the network quality relatively high on both sides.
Commission rates vary widely by merchant, but many programs offer competitive payouts, and the sheer volume of available brands means there’s genuine opportunity for affiliates in almost any niche.
JVZoo
JVZoo is one of the most popular Clickbank alternatives for digital product affiliates, and for good reason. It commonly offers commissions of 50% or more on products typically priced around $97, meaning you can earn $45 or more per referral without much difficulty. That’s a payout structure that competes directly with Clickbank’s best offers.
The platform focuses heavily on internet marketing, software, and digital education products, so if you’re in those niches, you’ll feel right at home. Approval to promote individual products is handled by the vendors themselves rather than the network, which can speed things up considerably once you’ve built a reputation.
JVZoo has a minimum payout threshold of $50, and payments are generally processed quickly once approved. The main caveat is that product quality can vary significantly, so it pays to vet what you promote carefully before sending your audience to any given offer. If you’re not seeing results, it may be worth revisiting why affiliate marketing isn’t making you money.
PartnerStack
PartnerStack has emerged as one of the most exciting affiliate networks in recent years, particularly for those interested in promoting SaaS and software products. The platform hosts over 300 free affiliate programs and pays out over $45 million in commissions every year - numbers that make it impossible to ignore.
What really sets PartnerStack apart is its recurring revenue model. Many programs on the platform offer 20-50% recurring commissions per sale, meaning you earn month after month from a single referral as long as that customer remains subscribed. For affiliates focused on building long-term passive income, this is an enormous advantage over one-time commission networks.
The payout threshold is just $5, and payments are made monthly via PayPal or Stripe, keeping things simple and accessible. If you’ve been sleeping on PartnerStack, it’s well worth a serious look - and if you want more ways to grow your earnings, check out these creative tips for increasing your affiliate income.
MarketHealth
MarketHealth is a highly specialized affiliate network that focuses exclusively on health, beauty, and wellness products. Rather than covering a wide variety of niches, they go deep on one, and that focus has helped them build a strong reputation over many years in the industry.
MarketHealth has two primary benefits going for it. First are the payouts; because of the markup on items typical in their niches, affiliates are able to rake in impressive commissions, among the best in the industry. Second are the products. Health and beauty items are perennially in high demand, and they can produce some incredibly consistent sales volume. High volume plus high commissions means strong earning potential for focused niche sites.
The challenge with MarketHealth is that same narrow focus. If your audience isn’t aligned with health or beauty content, this network simply won’t be the right fit. But if it is, it’s one of the better options available.
Rakuten Advertising
Formerly known as LinkShare, this affiliate network is backed by Rakuten, one of the world’s largest e-commerce and technology companies. That backing lends the platform exceptional credibility and stability - they’re not going anywhere.
Rakuten has solid tracking tools, works with many well-known brand-name advertisers, and is genuinely trustworthy when it comes to payments. If you’re operating in retail, electronics, or lifestyle niches, there are some strong programs available here.
The main drawback is that commissions tend to run a bit lower than some competitors, partly because advertisers pay meaningful fees to be on the platform. It’s not the highest-earning network on this list, but it’s a reliable and reputable one worth having in your toolkit. If you’re ever concerned about what happens if an affiliate doesn’t pay you, Rakuten’s backing makes that far less of a worry.
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Which ones are free to join?