12+ Best SaaS Affiliate Programs for Marketers (High-ticket Products)

Bloggers, social media influencers and content creators in general, all face a similar dilemma. How to monetize their content. The market is getting ever more saturated and sticking out is hard. The landscape is rapidly changing and search engines don’t make it any better with their ovidian algorithm and policy changes.

So, where do content creators stand now? Competition is tough and ads pay too little. What other alternatives exist out there? Sponsorships, merch, paywalls and subscriptions are some of the most well-known ones. But today we are going to talk about a different one. We are going to talk about affiliate marketing. We will see how it works, what you need to make money and examine our top 10 best SaaS affiliate marketing programs.

What is Affiliate Marketing

If we could explain affiliate marketing in two sentences, we would say that affiliate marketing is an agreement between a business and a content creator, in which the business pays a commission for sales and traffic the content creator sends their way.

In a more simplified version, you promote their product and they pay you per sale or click or subscription. Not too different from a sponsorship, although the methods differ.

How To Become an Affiliate Marketer

Step one of course is to be a content creator. Doesn’t matter the type of content. It could be a blog, social media, podcast, email newsletter, video or even training courses. You need to have a niche, although generalists could work too but it’s a lot harder. And you also need to have an established audience. The bigger, the better you might think. It’s not necessary though. Creators with small audiences can be as successful affiliate marketers as those with larger ones. It’s all in the conversion rates and authority.

Once you are established as a content creator, you can approach a business or a business might approach you. You will work out the details, things like commission rates, frequency of content, etc. The business will provide you with affiliate links that are tracked using cookies with a specific lifetime, which defines for how long they will track the user’s online activity. For example, if an affiliate link has a 30 day lifetime, your referral needs to make a purchase within 30 days of clicking your affiliate link for you to get paid.  Then it’s your job to weave the products and services you promote into your content and persuade your audience to try them out. The more clients you refer to the business, the bigger the profit for you.

Do’s and Don’ts of Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is straightforward and simple. Still, it requires some skill and work to turn it into a profitable revenue stream. We have compiled a short list of do’s and don’ts to help guide you through your affiliate marketing trip.

Do:

• Choose quality products and services: Promote products you genuinely believe in and that align with your niche and audience.
• Create valuable content: Focus on creating informative and engaging content that builds trust with your audience. Organically integrate your affiliate links within this content.
• Be transparent: Disclose your affiliate relationships clearly and honestly to your audience.
• Build trust with your audience: Focus on providing value and building genuine connections with your audience. This will make them more receptive to your recommendations.
• Optimize your content for search engines: Use relevant keywords and SEO best practices to increase your content’s visibility and attract potential customers.
• Track your results: Monitor your affiliate marketing performance to see what’s working and what needs improvement. Use analytics tools to understand click-through rates, conversion rates, and other key metrics.
• Diversify your income streams: Don’t rely solely on affiliate marketing income. Explore other monetization options like advertising, sponsorships, or selling your own products.

Don’t:

• Promote irrelevant products: Avoid promoting products or services that don’t fit your niche or target audience.
• Spam your audience: Don’t overload your content with affiliate links or constantly push sales pitches. This will turn your audience away.
• Make misleading claims: Be honest and upfront about the products you promote. Don’t make exaggerated promises or guarantees.
• Neglect your audience: Focus on providing value to your audience first and foremost. Don’t prioritize affiliate commissions over building relationships.
• Ignore SEO: If you want organic traffic, don’t neglect search engine optimization.
• Join every affiliate program: Be selective about the programs you join. Focus on high-quality programs that offer products relevant to your audience.
• Give up easily: Affiliate marketing takes time and effort to succeed. Be persistent, keep creating quality content, and track your results to make adjustments as needed.

Affiliate Marketing Types

Here’s a breakdown of the different ways you can participate in affiliate marketing:

1. Search Affiliates (SEO Focus):

• Affiliates promote offers using search engine optimization (SEO) tactics or social media advertising.
• They manage their own marketing campaigns and cover the associated costs.
• This approach is ideal for marketers with strong SEO skills.

2. Influencer Programs (Audience Focus):

• This is a popular option for content creators with established audiences on blogs or social media (regardless of size).
• Partner with companies offering products relevant to your audience’s interests.
• For example, a fitness influencer might promote supplement companies, while a marketing blogger could focus on marketing automation software.

3. Review Sites (Evaluation Focus):

• Review sites are a crucial stop for customers during the buying process.
• If you run a review site, you can partner with individual companies or affiliate networks to review products and services in exchange for affiliate links.

4. Coupon Sites (Discount Focus):

• Similar to review sites, coupon websites collaborate with companies to offer discounts to shoppers.
• They earn a commission on each sale generated through their unique coupons.

5. Email Marketing (Targeted Reach):

• Leverage your email subscriber list to promote affiliate offers directly.
• However, avoid bombarding subscribers with constant sales pitches. Maintain a balance and prioritize valuable content.

6. Affiliate Networks (Centralized Marketplace):

• Affiliate networks act as a one-stop shop for affiliate marketers.
• Unlike single-company programs, they offer a vast selection of brands and deals under one roof.
• This is a goldmine for beginners, allowing you to explore various options and avoid juggling multiple partnerships.
• You can join as many networks as you wish, opening doors to a wider range of opportunities.

Top 12 Best SaaS Affiliate Programs

And now, the moment you have been waiting for. It’s time to present our top 10 best SaaS affiliate programs.

Name	Commission	Cookie Life	Payout Method	Minimum Sales Threshold
Unbounce	Up to 35%	90 days	Paypal Bank Transfer	50$
Nimbata	15%	60 days	PaypalWiseBank Transfer	No minimum
Moosend	30% to 40%	90 days	Wire Transfer Paypal Stripe	5$
Hubspot	30%	180 days	Direct Deposit Paypal	One Sign-Up
Kajabi	30%	30 days	Paypal	Not mentioned
Constant Contact	5$ per free trial105$ per new account	120 days	PaypalEFTCheckDirect Deposit	One Sign-Up
Elementor	50%	45 days	PaypalPrefered Method	200$
Typeform	20$ per referral	Unknown	PaypalStripe	One Sign-Up
Outgrow	20%	30 days	Unknown	Unknown
Thinkific	30%	90 days	PaypalStripe	25$
Semrush	200$ for every new sale, $10 for every new trial	120 days	PaypaEFT	10$
Clickfunnel	45%	45 days	Unknown	100$

Unbounce

Commission: Up to 35% recurring for 1 year

Cookie life: 90 days

Payout Methods: PayPal, Bank Transfer, or Both

Minimum Sales Threshold Before Payout: $50

Best for: Marketers, agencies and content creators with a highly qualified audience.

Unbounce, a landing page creation platform, is used by various brands for building high-converting landing pages. These pages can be tailored for different industries, including Software as a Service (SaaS) businesses, e-commerce websites, and agencies.

Unbounce offers an affiliate program where participants can earn a commission on referred customers’ recurring subscription fees. The commission rate can reach up to 35% for the first 12 months of a referred customer’s subscription.

In addition, website visitors or social media followers referred through the program can benefit from a 20% discount on their first three months of using Unbounce.

Unbounce equips its affiliates with various tools to promote the platform effectively. These tools include a dedicated partner coach, a personalized dashboard for tracking progress, and access to training materials and promotional resources.

If you’re a marketer interested in helping clients improve their landing page conversion rates, Unbounce’s affiliate program could be a mutually beneficial partnership.

Moosend

Commission: 30% to 40% Lifetime Recurring

Cookie life: 90 days

Payout Methods: Wire transfer, PayPal or Stripe

Minimum Sales Threshold Before Payout: $5

Best for: Content creators in the email marketing space.

Moosend, an all-in-one email marketing automation platform, caters to marketers seeking an affordable solution. It offers functionalities designed to create engaging email campaigns and expand customer bases. Tools include a user-friendly email editor, online forms, landing pages, audience management features, and segmentation and personalization functionalities, all aimed at converting subscribers into brand advocates.

Moosend’s affiliate program allows participants to earn recurring commissions (up to 40%) for any plan purchases made by referred contacts. The program offers a 90-day cookie window, giving referred users ample time to make a purchase and potentially generate additional commissions for affiliates if those users upgrade their plans.

To aid affiliate success, Moosend provides pre-made marketing materials (banners and templates) within the affiliate dashboard, along with additional resources and dedicated affiliate support to address any issues.

Hubspot

Commission: 30% recurring for 1 year

Cookie life: 180 days

Payout Methods: Direct deposit (EFT) or PayPal

Minimum Sales Threshold Before Payout: One sign-up

Best for: Content creators in the marketing, sales, service, website, and operations for small businesses, enterprises, and individual professionals space.

Hubspot, a major customer relationship management (CRM) platform, offers a suite of tools designed to empower businesses. Their product range includes Marketing Hub, Sales Hub, Service Hub, CMS Hub, and Operations Hub, alongside a free CRM tier. Hubspot caters to tens of thousands of businesses, providing them with the functionalities needed to effectively manage their customer interactions.

Hubspot also boasts a tiered affiliate program. The program offers varying commission structures:

• HubSpot Affiliate: Earn a recurring 30% commission for up to a year on every sale generated.
• Super Affiliate: In addition to the standard commission, Super Affiliates receive additional bonuses for their sales efforts.
• Elite Affiliate: This top tier offers custom commission structures for high-performing affiliates.

Hubspot utilizes Impact for affiliate program management. Their pricing plans range from $50 to over $3,000 per month, with customers often purchasing multiple products at once, potentially increasing affiliate commissions. To support their affiliates, Hubspot provides a library of over 400 promotional assets, including marketing copy, demo videos, and banner advertisements.

Kajabi

Commission: 30% lifetime recurring

Cookie life: 30 days

Payout Methods: PayPal

Minimum Sales Threshold Before Payout: Unknown

Best for: Current Kajabi clients

Kajabi, an all-in-one platform empowering users to create online courses, launch marketing campaigns, build landing pages, and design websites, offers a Partner Program exclusively to its existing users.

The program incentivizes affiliates with a 30% lifetime commission for each new paying member referred to Kajabi who remains active beyond the trial period. Additionally, partners can unlock special rewards as they progress through the program’s tiers. Each level unveils exciting bonuses reserved exclusively for Kajabi Partners.

Constant Contact

Commission: $5 for each referral that signs up for a free trial, and $105 when your referrals pay for a new account

Cookie life: 120 days

Payout Methods: PayPal, electronic fund transfer, check, or direct deposit

Minimum Sales Threshold Before Payout: One sign-up

Best for: Content creators with an audience of small to medium businesses.

Constant Contact, a powerful email marketing platform designed for small businesses, bloggers, and entrepreneurs, equips users with a range of tools to streamline their marketing efforts. These functionalities include crafting Instagram and Facebook Ads, automating email campaigns, targeting new ecommerce customers, and generating revenue-boosting follow-up emails for online stores.

The company extends an affiliate program, allowing you to earn $5 per qualified lead and a significant $105 commission when a referral converts into a paying Constant Contact customer. To empower your success within the program, Constant Contact provides promotional materials, a dedicated tracking dashboard, and personalized support. Notably, major brands like Facebook, WordPress, and Shopify trust Constant Contact’s services. If your clients or prospects require robust email marketing tools, this affiliate program presents a valuable partnership opportunity.

Elementor

Commission: 50% per sale

Cookie life: 45 days

Payout Methods: PayPal or your preferred method

Minimum Sales Threshold Before Payout: $200

Best for: Content creators who talk about web design, WordPress and digital creation.

Elementor is a website builder software used to create a significant portion (over 7%) of websites globally. It utilizes a drag-and-drop interface and offers hundreds of widgets, integrations, website templates, and design tools. This allows users to customize and scale their WordPress website-building process without needing to code. Notably, Elementor also integrates cloud hosting features, setting it apart from other WordPress website builders.

Beyond the software itself, Elementor fosters a community of web creators. This online community, boasting over 100,000 members, provides a space for sharing advice, hosting meetups, and encouraging professional growth amongst its members.

An affiliate program is available for those interested in promoting Elementor. This program offers affiliates a 50% commission on each sale they generate. The software itself has five pricing packages, ranging from $49 to $999 annually. This variety in pricing tiers allows affiliates to strategically market different plans to specific audiences.

With some affiliates reportedly earning over $10,000 per month, Elementor’s affiliate program presents itself as a potentially lucrative option for those interested in promoting website building tools.

Typeform

Commission: $20 per referral

Cookie life: Unknown

Payout Methods: PayPal or Stripe

Minimum Sales Threshold Before Payout: One sign-up

Best for: Content creators with an audience that needs or uses form tools.

Typeform, a platform known for its conversational forms and surveys like contact forms, employee satisfaction surveys, and event lead capture forms, provides a referral program with a $20 commission. This program awards you $20 for each referred customer who subscribes to Typeform, irrespective of their subscription duration. The program’s potential for earnings accumulates rapidly, considering the affordability of Typeform’s subscriptions. To illustrate, referring 100 customers to the monthly basic plan could yield $2,000.

Outgrow

Commission: 20% upfront and 20% recurring

Cookie life: 30 days

Payout Methods: Unknown

Minimum Sales Threshold Before Payout: Unknown

Best for: Content creators and marketers whose audience could use interactive content tools.

Outgrow, an interactive content creation platform, empowers marketers to craft personalized experiences like calculators, viral quizzes, and more. This personalized approach offers significant value to customers by boosting user engagement, improving conversions, and generating leads that can be leveraged for segmentation and retargeting efforts.

The Outgrow affiliate program incentivizes participation with a compelling earning potential. Affiliates earn a 20% commission on both the initial and recurring payments of referred customers. Outgrow further supports its affiliates with 24/7 chat support and opportunities to be featured on the company’s webinars and podcasts.

Thinkific

Commission: 30% lifetime recurring

Cookie life: 90 days

Payout Methods: PayPal or Stripe

Minimum Sales Threshold Before Payout: $25

Best for: Content creators for other content creators and entrepreneurs.

Thinkific empowers individuals to share their knowledge, cultivate their audience, and expand their existing businesses through its robust all-in-one platform. The platform allows users to create, market, and sell online courses and membership sites under their own brand.

Thinkific’s affiliate program is a perfect fit for those who cater to audiences including:

• Content creators with expertise to impart
• Business leaders looking to develop courses for their customers
• Entrepreneurs seeking to establish additional revenue streams

As a Thinkific affiliate partner, one can benefit from a compelling compensation structure that includes a 30% lifetime recurring commission, a generous 90-day cookie window, and access to ready-made creative and promotional materials. Thinkific affiliate partners have the potential to earn up to $1,700 per referral annually.

Semrush

Commission: 200$ for every new sale, $10 for every new trial

Cookie life: 120 days

Payout Methods: PayPal or EFT

Minimum Sales Threshold Before Payout: $10

Best for: Content creators with an audience interested in SEO.

Semrush, a popular SEO (Search Engine Optimization) platform, empowers digital marketers of all stripes, including online business owners, bloggers, and freelancers, with tools for keyword research, competitor analysis, site audits, and more.

Digital marketers can leverage Semrush, a popular SEO platform, to conduct keyword research, competitor analysis, and more. The Semrush affiliate program offers a compelling opportunity to earn commissions by promoting their services. Affiliates can earn $200 for each new sale and $10 for each new trial, with a generous 120-day cookie window to track conversions. This extended window significantly surpasses industry standards, allowing affiliates more time to earn commissions. Additionally, Semrush provides robust analytics data to optimize affiliate link performance and a streamlined application process with quick turnaround times.

Clickfunnel

Commission: 40% recurring commission

Cookie life: 45 days

Payout Methods: Unknown

Minimum Sales Threshold Before Payout: $100

Best for: Content creators with an audience that is trying to monetize their website.

ClickFunnels, a marketing platform for website owners seeking conversions, offers a lucrative affiliate program. Affiliates earn recurring commissions (thanks to “sticky cookies”) for the lifetime of a referred customer’s subscription. While commission rates have decreased (from 40% to 20%), the potential for ongoing earnings remains high. ClickFunnels also provides a supportive community and resources for affiliates, making it a compelling program for those looking to promote sales funnels.

Conclusion

Affiliate marketing is a compelling alternative for content creators, influencers and bloggers to add another income stream to their business. To succeed though, you need to have your audience first in mind and always make sure that you pick products that you believe in. Remember, your purpose is to help your audience, not simply sell to them.

We’ve also explored some of the top SaaS affiliate programs available, offering a range of commission structures, cookie window durations, and payout methods. Carefully consider which programs best suit your niche and target audience to lay the foundation for a successful affiliate marketing journey.