Below is a detailed analysis of the best digital product marketplaces for affiliates, focusing on platforms that specialize in or heavily feature digital products. These marketplaces connect affiliates with digital products like eBooks, online courses, software, and memberships. I’ve selected the top platforms based on their reputation, commission structures, product variety, and affiliate support, drawing on recent web insights and industry trends. Each marketplace is evaluated with pros and cons to help you choose the best fit for your affiliate marketing strategy.
1. ClickBank
ClickBank is one of the oldest and most popular affiliate marketplaces, launched in 1998, with a focus on digital products such as eBooks, online courses, and software across niches like health, fitness, self-help, and business. It serves over 100,000 affiliates and has paid out over $6.8 billion in commissions.
Pros:
High Commission Rates: Offers some of the highest commissions, often 50-80% per sale, with some products offering up to 90%. Recurring commissions are available for subscription-based products.
Wide Product Variety: Features thousands of vetted digital products across diverse niches, making it easy to find products that align with your audience.
Flexible Entry: No website or social media handle is required to sign up, making it beginner-friendly. Affiliates can start promoting immediately after account verification.
Reliable Payments: Offers weekly or bi-weekly payouts via check, direct deposit, wire transfer, or Payoneer, with a low minimum threshold of $10.
Robust Analytics: Provides detailed tracking tools and a resource center for affiliates to monitor performance and optimize campaigns.
Educational Support: Offers “Spark,” a collection of courses and tools to help affiliates learn marketing strategies and maximize earnings.
Cons:
Product Quality Varies: While ClickBank vets products for FTC compliance, some products may be low-quality or overly hyped, requiring affiliates to carefully select offers to avoid refunds.
Outdated Interface: The marketplace interface hasn’t been updated significantly since 1998, which can feel clunky compared to modern platforms.
High Refund Rates: Some digital products, especially in competitive niches, may have high refund rates, which can reduce earnings.
Niche Saturation: Popular niches like weight loss or make-money-online can be oversaturated, requiring affiliates to stand out with unique content.
Best for beginners and experienced affiliates looking for high commissions and a wide range of digital products, especially in evergreen niches like health and personal development.
2. Avangate Affiliate Network (2Checkout)
Avangate, now part of 2Checkout, specializes in digital goods and software, including SaaS products, online courses, and digital downloads. It supports over 21,000 merchants and offers high commissions for digital products.
Pros:
High Commissions: Advertises up to 85% commission rates, which are among the highest for digital products, especially software and SaaS.
Long Cookie Durations: Merchants can set cookie durations from 30 to 180 days, ensuring affiliates have ample time to earn commissions from referred customers.
Geo-Targeted Tools: Offers geo-targeted shopping carts, allowing affiliates to tailor promotions to specific regions, improving conversion rates.
Niche Focus: Specializes in software and digital products, making it ideal for affiliates targeting tech-savvy or B2B audiences.
Merchant Transparency: Affiliates can browse the full merchant marketplace without signing up, helping them evaluate offers before committing.
Affiliate Support: Provides dedicated affiliate managers and marketing materials to support promotional efforts.
Cons:
Website Required: Affiliates must have a website to join, which can be a barrier for beginners without an online presence.
High Payout Threshold: Minimum payout is $100, higher than some competitors like ClickBank.
Complex Approval Process: Affiliates must apply to individual merchants within the network, which can be time-consuming.
Niche-Specific Products: The focus on software and digital goods may limit options for affiliates in non-tech niches.
Best for affiliates with tech or B2B audiences, particularly those promoting software or SaaS products, who have an established website.
3. ShareASale
ShareASale is a versatile affiliate network with a mix of digital and physical products, but it’s particularly strong for digital products like online courses, eBooks, and memberships. It works with over 12,000 advertisers, including 500 premium merchants.
Pros:
Diverse Product Range: Offers a wide selection of digital products, including niche-specific software, courses, and memberships, alongside physical products.
High Commissions: Some digital products offer commissions up to 90%, especially for smaller, niche digital goods like eBooks and courses.
User-Friendly Interface: The filtering interface makes it easy to find relevant programs, and deep-linking tools allow for targeted promotions.
Low Approval Barriers: Many programs don’t require pre-approval, making it easier for affiliates to start promoting quickly.
Recurring Commissions: Offers opportunities for recurring commissions on subscription-based digital products, providing passive income potential.
Reliable Payments: Payments are made monthly with a low minimum threshold, and the platform has a strong reputation for timely payouts.
Cons:
Merchant Approval: Some merchants require individual approval, which can delay campaigns for specific products.
Mixed Product Quality: While many products are high-quality, the large marketplace includes some less reputable offers, requiring careful selection.
Less Focus on Digital: Although strong for digital products, ShareASale’s broader focus on physical products may dilute its appeal for affiliates solely interested in digital goods.
Learning Curve: The platform’s extensive features and large merchant base can be overwhelming for beginners.
Affiliates seeking a balance of digital and physical products, particularly those targeting niche audiences with blogs or email lists.
4. Fiverr Affiliate Program
Fiverr is the largest marketplace for digital services, offering freelance services like graphic design, marketing, and content creation. Its affiliate program allows marketers to promote services, Fiverr Pro, and Fiverr Learn courses.
Pros:
Flexible Commission Plans: Offers CPA (Cost Per Acquisition) up to $150, or a hybrid model with $10 CPA plus 10% revenue share for 12 months, providing flexibility for affiliates.
High Conversion Potential: Fiverr’s popularity and vast service offerings increase the likelihood of conversions, as customers often purchase multiple services.
Comprehensive Support: Provides a dashboard for campaign management, creative assets, and sub-affiliate opportunities to earn from referred affiliates.
Global Reach: Appeals to a worldwide audience, making it suitable for affiliates with diverse followers.
Trusted Brand: Fiverr’s strong brand recognition builds trust, boosting conversion rates.
Cons:
Limited to First Purchase: Commissions are typically limited to the first purchase made via your link, reducing long-term earning potential compared to recurring commission programs
Competitive Niche: The freelance service market is highly competitive, requiring affiliates to create compelling content to stand out.
Variable Commissions: Commission rates vary by service and plan ($15-$150), which can make earnings unpredictable.
No Cookie for Repeat Purchases: The program doesn’t offer commissions on repeat purchases unless part of the hybrid model, limiting passive income.
Best for content creators and influencers with audiences interested in freelance services, such as small business owners or entrepreneurs.
5. PartnerStack
PartnerStack is a B2B-focused affiliate network specializing in SaaS and tech products, connecting affiliates with high-quality digital products like software and subscriptions. It’s used by top-tier SaaS brands and offers robust tools for affiliates.
Pros:
High-Quality SaaS Products: Focuses on premium B2B SaaS and tech products, which often have high price points and recurring commissions.
Long Cookie Duration: Offers up to 90 days for cookie tracking, longer than many competitors, increasing conversion opportunities.
Advanced Tools: Provides industry-specific filtering and recruitment tools to help affiliates find and promote relevant programs
High Conversion Rates: SaaS products often have strong landing pages and pre-selling by merchants, making conversions easier for affiliates.
Dedicated Support: Offers affiliate managers and real-time tracking to optimize campaigns.
Cons:
Niche-Specific: Limited to B2B SaaS and tech products, which may not suit affiliates in non-tech niches.
Complex Approval: Requires approval from individual merchants, which can be stringent for new affiliates.
Higher Learning Curve: The B2B focus and technical nature of products may require more expertise to promote effectively.
Limited Product Variety: Less diverse than general marketplaces like ClickBank or ShareASale, focusing solely on digital-first products.
Best for affiliates with tech-savvy or business-oriented audiences, particularly those promoting SaaS tools or subscriptions.
6. Gumroad
Gumroad is a platform for creators to sell digital products like eBooks, art, music, and courses directly to consumers. Its affiliate program allows marketers to promote a wide range of niche digital products.
Pros:
Niche Creator Products: Offers unique, creator-driven digital products (e.g., printables, templates, and courses), ideal for affiliates targeting creative or DIY audiences.
High Commissions: Many products offer commissions up to 50% or more, especially for high-value items like online courses.
Simple Platform: Easy-to-use interface for both creators and affiliates, with straightforward link generation and tracking.
Global Appeal: Products appeal to a global audience, and the platform supports multiple payment methods, increasing accessibility.
No Approval Needed: Affiliates can often promote products without merchant approval, reducing barriers to entry.
Cons:
Smaller Marketplace: Compared to ClickBank or ShareASale, Gumroad has fewer products, limiting options for affiliates.
Variable Product Quality: Creator-driven products can vary widely in quality, requiring affiliates to vet offerings carefully.
Limited Tracking Tools: Offers basic analytics compared to larger networks, which may hinder campaign optimization.
Niche Audience: Best suited for creative niches, which may not appeal to affiliates targeting broader markets.
Best for affiliates with audiences in creative niches like art, design, or education, looking for unique, high-margin digital products.
Recommendations
Beginners: ClickBank and ShareASale are ideal due to their low entry barriers, diverse product offerings, and extensive support resources. ClickBank’s high commissions and beginner-friendly setup make it a top choice.
Tech/SaaS Affiliates: PartnerStack and Avangate are best for promoting high-value SaaS products with recurring commissions, especially for affiliates with B2B or tech audiences.
Creative Niches: Gumroad is excellent for affiliates targeting creative or DIY audiences, offering unique products with high commissions.
Service-Based Audiences: Fiverr’s affiliate program is perfect for promoting freelance services to small business owners or content creators.
