Ultimate guide to WordPress affiliate programs & plugins

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If you’re a WordPress owner and want to leverage affiliate marketing for your business, you have an edge.

You can run an affiliate program on your site instead of relying on an affiliate network. This means no transaction fees eating into your profits and more control over your terms. It’s no surprise that affiliate marketing on WordPress is becoming increasingly popular.

This guide covers all you need to know, from picking the right plugin to managing payments for your WordPress affiliate program. We’ll also address some of the most frequently asked questions.

Let’s get started.

Overview of WordPress affiliate programs

Simply put, WordPress affiliate programs are partnerships. Affiliates promote products and earn commissions on sales or leads. Companies manage these programs externally and provide unique referral links.

However, managing and tracking affiliate marketing activities can be complex for businesses. WordPress affiliate plugins simplify this process. These tools help you manage multiple affiliate links, track performance, and handle payouts.

For example, a plugin typically provides a dashboard displaying earnings, commission payment status, and other relevant details.

Setting up an affiliate program for WordPress offers several benefits:

• Seamless integration: Establishing an affiliate program within WordPress ensures smooth integration. It blends well with your website’s existing structure and functionalities.
• Wide range of plugins: WordPress offers a wide variety of affiliate plugins. It gives you options to choose one that best fits your preferences.
• Community support: WordPress offers access to a vast community of developers, users, and resources. You can leverage this support network for advice related to your affiliate program.
• Scalability: WordPress allows your affiliate program to be easily scalable. You can adjust commission rates, add new affiliates, or expand your product offerings.

7 best WordPress affiliate programs of 2024

Choosing the right WordPress affiliate program involves evaluating product relevance, commission structures, and support quality. Below, explore our picks for the top seven WordPress affiliate programs in 2024.

1. WordPress.com Affiliate Program

The WordPress.com Affiliate Program allows affiliates to earn commissions by referring customers to the platform’s paid plans.

Participants receive compensation for attracting new customers. Alongside, affiliates can generate income by persuading existing ones to upgrade.

Commission rates: 20% of qualifying purchase amounts

Cookie duration: 30 days

Payment methods: Payments can be issued via PayPal, ACH, wire transfer, or even a check

Payout threshold: No minimum payout

Joining requirements: None, but affiliates who consistently have less than $100 in earnings will be removed

Unique features

• Unique tracking links provided to affiliates
• Uses Tipalti for payment processing, offering multiple payment options

2. ThemeForest & CodeCanyon by Envato Market

When it comes to WordPress marketplaces, Envato stands out as the leading name. It is the parent company of seven prominent marketplaces. This includes ThemeForest, which offers thousands of WordPress themes. Additionally, CodeCanyon provides over 5,000 plugins.

With its wide range of products, recommending Envato is a great way to drive conversions.

Commission rates: A 30% commission on the first purchase made by a new customer

Cookie duration: 90 days

Payment methods: Affiliates receive commissions through direct transfer, BACS, or PayPal

Payout threshold: Withdrawals can be triggered upon earning $10 or more, or on a chosen monthly payout date if earnings exceed $50

Joining requirements: Affiliates need to apply for program membership and Envato will review and determine acceptance

Unique features: Sometimes, Envato hosts affiliate competitions, which provide ample opportunities for affiliates to boost their earnings.

3. Elegant Themes Affiliate Program

Elegant Themes, a renowned WordPress company, is famous for its versatile Divi theme. It provides generous commissions for referrals resulting in theme and plugin sales.

Promoting products is straightforward. This is due to the popularity of the Divi theme and its drag-and-drop page builder. Additionally, WordPress website owners widely use plugins like Bloom and Monarch.

Commission rates: 50% commission on sales of the Divi WordPress theme and page builder

Cookie duration: 30 days

Payment methods: PayPal is the sole withdrawal method available

Payout threshold: $200

Joining requirements: Affiliates must fill out an application form and await approval, there are no specific requirements for joining

Unique features: This WordPress theme affiliate program runs on a recurring revenue model, so affiliates earn commissions on initial and subsequent payments from referred customers

4. WP Engine Affiliate Program

WP Engine is a leading provider of managed WordPress hosting. Although its plans are a bit pricier than shared hosting services, it ensures lightning-fast speed and exceptional customer service.

Affiliates can earn commissions by promoting WP Engine hosting plans. For this purpose, they’re given various marketing tools and resources, including promotional materials and detailed performance-tracking capabilities.

Commission rates: $200 per sale or the full amount of the first month’s payment, whichever is greater

Cookie duration: 180 days

Payment methods: Payouts are issued monthly through ShareASale

Payout threshold: No minimum payout

Joining requirements: Affiliates need to create a ShareASale account if they don’t have one

Unique features

• It has a 180-day referral window, which is longer than most programs
• Bonuses up to $1,500 for high sales, in addition to regular commissions

5. Bluehost Affiliate Program

Bluehost stands out among web hosting affiliate programs for its generous offerings. It is also a trusted provider known for excellent performance and uptime, which makes recommending its services much easier. 

Additionally, Bluehost provides custom promotional banners and links in affiliate portals. This further simplifies the process of generating referrals.

Commission rates: At least 70% of each sale, up to a maximum of $100 per sale

Cookie duration: 30 days

Payment methods: Commissions are distributed through affiliates’ Impact accounts, and they can receive payments via direct deposit or PayPal

Payout threshold: $100

Joining requirements: Affiliates must visit the Bluehost affiliates page and follow the steps to join

Unique features

• Seasonal promotions streamline product marketing
• Special discount coupons for affiliates

6. Elementor Affiliate Program

Elementor is one of the most widely used WordPress page builders globally. What sets it apart is its commitment to user-friendly design and versatility.

The tool helps you build landing pages, home pages, posts, portfolios, and more. Unsurprisingly, it has been downloaded nearly a million times.

Elementor is perfect for selling to an audience passionate about no-code web development.

Commission rates: 50% on all new sales and a fixed commission of $70 for new subscribers to Elementor Cloud

Cookie duration: 90 days

Payment methods: PayPal or other agreed-upon methods

Payout threshold: $200

Joining requirements: There are no strict requirements, however, affiliates should ideally have a website, blog, YouTube channel, or social media presence with an established audience

Unique features: This WordPress affiliate program rewards those who reach specific milestones, and bonuses can go up to $12,500

7. SiteGround Hosting Affiliate Program

SiteGround is yet another web hosting provider for WordPress. It offers diverse hosting options, including shared, cloud, and enterprise solutions. 

Its affiliate program is designed to be lucrative and accessible. Moreover, affiliates need not be existing SiteGround customers.

SiteGround is worth suggesting to visitors seeking top-notch hosting at an affordable price.

Commission rates: Progressive commission rates range from $50 to $100 per referral

Cookie duration: 60 days

Payment methods: Affiliate commissions are disbursed through PayPal, and wire transfer is available for high-volume earners

Payout threshold: No minimum payout

Joining requirements: There are no minimum sales requirements or approval processes — this WordPress affiliate program is open to all

Unique features

• Brief withholding period for weekly payments
• Customized commissions for affiliates with over 21 monthly sales

How to set up an affiliate program on WordPress

Setting up an affiliate program for your business may seem daunting if you’re not tech-savvy. However, it’s quite simple. Here’s a step-by-step guide for setting up an affiliate program on WordPress.

1. Identify goals and strategy

Before setting up your affiliate program, take the time to define clear goals. This could involve increasing sales, driving traffic, or enhancing brand awareness. 

Once you have that chalked out, move on to the next step. Outline your commission structure, promotional tactics, and target audience.

2. Select the right WordPress affiliate plugin

Choosing the right plugin is crucial as it forms the basis of your affiliate program. It directly impacts its functionality, efficiency, and success.

You can find affiliate plugins by searching in the Plugins section of your WordPress account.

Here are some popular plugins and what makes them sought-after:

• AffiliateWP: A robust plugin for creating and managing affiliate programs. It boasts real-time reporting and integrations with popular ecommerce platforms. 
• Easy Affiliate: This plugin shines because of its user-friendliness. It provides intuitive tools for creating affiliate links, tracking referrals, and managing commissions.
• ReferralCandy: ReferralCandy helps businesses grow by encouraging customers to refer their friends and family. It automates the referral process by offering incentives, such as discounts or rewards. Overall, it helps drive sales through word-of-mouth marketing.
• Affiliates Manager: Affiliates Manager is a flexible affiliate marketing solution for WordPress websites. It enables unlimited affiliate management, referral tracking, and diverse commission structuring.

3. Configure the WordPress plugin

Once you’ve chosen an affiliate plugin, activate it on your WordPress site:

• Log in to your WordPress dashboard
• Go to Plugins and click Add New
• Search for your chosen affiliate plugin
• Click Install Now and then Activate

Next, configure the plugin settings as needed. Set commission rates, payment methods, cookie durations, and other program parameters. 

An introductory percentage rate is ideal for newcomers’ commissions. As you gain insights into affiliate performance, adjust your approach for better results.

4. Recruit affiliates

Now it’s time to recruit affiliates who align with your niche and target audience. Reach out to influencers, bloggers, and industry partners. The more authentic the endorsements, the better they’ll resonate with your audience.

It’s important to highlight the benefits of joining. These may include competitive commissions, high-converting products, and dedicated support. Expand your network using social media, email marketing, and affiliate directories.

Remember, many plugins require you to approve affiliates manually. This might seem like extra work, but it’s essential to ensure that new affiliates are a good match.

5. Monitor performance

Regularly tracking performance is crucial for both your earnings and your affiliates’. Most affiliate plugins include a set of tracking tools. These help you measure metrics like clicks, conversions, and earnings. 

Identify top performers and successful strategies. Then, optimize your program’s effectiveness based on the data.

Exploring WordPress affiliate plugins

WordPress offers many plugins to simplify affiliate marketing efforts. They handle everything from tracking affiliate activities to managing commissions and payouts.

It’s possible to handle much of this without a plugin. This is typically done using spreadsheets or other manual methods. However, an affiliate plugin will streamline the process and is highly recommended.

Key features of affiliate plugins

Here are some typical features of WordPress affiliate plugins. Explore them to see how a plugin can benefit your affiliate program.

Affiliate tracking

Affiliate plugins accurately monitor referrals and conversions. They provide real-time data on affiliate performance. This helps businesses analyze campaign effectiveness and optimize strategies.

Commission management

These plugins allow for customizing commission structures and rates. This ensures fair and flexible compensation models that align with affiliate performance.

Payouts

Affiliate plugins automate the distribution of commissions. This ensures timely and accurate payments to affiliates. A reliable payment system helps build loyalty among affiliates.

Recruitment tools

Plugins include tools for attracting and onboarding new affiliates. Features such as registration forms and marketing resources help expand the affiliate network.

Integration with ecommerce plugins

Integration with ecommerce platforms ensures precise sales tracking and commission management. This makes the process efficient for both businesses and affiliates.

Many affiliate plugins integrate with platforms like WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads. Look for such plugins if this feature is essential for you.

Top WordPress affiliate plugins

With so many WordPress affiliate plugins, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. We’ve compiled a list of the top options to simplify your decision.

Tool name	Key features	Starting price
AffiliateWP	Integration with various tools, real-time reporting, customizable cookie duration	$374/year
EasyAffiliate	User-friendly dashboard, customizable graphs, email marketing support	$249/year
Solid Affiliate	WooCommerce coupons, refund protection, automated emails	$29/year
SliceWP	Ecommerce integrations, affiliate dashboard, auto-approval of affiliates	$229/year
Amazon Affiliate WordPress Plugin (AAWP)	Various link formats, automatic localization, comparison tables	$49/year
Ultimate Affiliate Pro	Custom currency options, major plugin integrations, unlimited affiliates	$99/lifetime
WooCommerce Affiliate Program	Flexible commission types, social media link distribution, front-end affiliate reporting	$49/year

Now, let’s examine each tool’s capabilities, pros, and cons. We’ll also examine their pricing plans so you can determine whether these plugins are worth it.

1. AffiliateWP

AffiliateWP is the top choice for building a robust affiliate program in WordPress. It offers unlimited affiliates and creatives for quick and effective promotion.

Features

• Seamless integration with various tools, including WPForms
• Option for manual or automatic approval of affiliate requests
• Real-time reporting with easy-to-read graphs
• Customizable cookie duration for referral link tracking
• Referral link generator for affiliates
• Convenient payment options directly to affiliates’ bank accounts or debit cards

Pricing

• Personal: $374/year
• Plus: $499/year
• Pro: $749/year

Pros

• User-friendly interface with easy updates
• One-click payouts via Stripe or PayPal
• 14-day money-back guarantee

Cons

• No free version or trial is available

2. EasyAffiliate

Crafted for quick affiliate program setup, EasyAffiliate excels in user-friendliness. It’s user-friendly and feature-rich, with reliable support, updates, and competitive pricing.

Features

• User-friendly dashboard for tracking outbound links
• Customizable performance graphs for better data visualization
• Creative management for links and banner ads
• Support for one-time and recurring payments via PayPal, Authorize.net, and others
• Compatibility with various email marketing tools

Pricing

• Basic: $249/year
• Plus: $374/year
• Pro: $499/year

Pros

• Quick setup for a fully functioning WordPress affiliate program
• An intuitive affiliate dashboard
• 14-day money-back guarantee

Cons

• No free version

3. Solid Affiliate

Solid Affiliate is one of the most feature-rich, intuitive, and well-supported affiliate plugins. It lets you create affiliate programs directly from the WordPress dashboard, and its installation wizard ensures accessibility even for beginners.

Features

• Supports WooCommerce coupons for affiliate rewards
• Affiliates can create referral links from their dashboard
• Refund protection prevents paying commissions for refunds
• Banner ads and videos to share with affiliates
• Supports automated notification emails

Pricing

• $49/month, billed monthly
• $29/month, billed yearly
• 7-day free trial

Pros

• Four-step setup wizard
• Friendly and responsive support
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

• No custom fields in affiliate registration

4. SliceWP

SliceWP is a user-friendly WordPress affiliate plugin. It’s relatively new, launching in 2020, and has garnered extremely positive reviews from users. The plugin simplifies tasks like approving new affiliates and facilitating mass payments.

Features

• Integrates with popular ecommerce and membership plugins
• User-friendly affiliate dashboard for link generation and commission tracking
• Customizable commission rates for products/services
• Option for performance bonuses
• Auto-approval feature for new affiliates

Pricing

• Pro: $229/year or $589 for lifetime access
• Pro Plus: $349/year or $899 for lifetime access

Pros

• Intuitive interface
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

• Premium plans are limited to use on up to 10 sites

5. Amazon Affiliate WordPress Plugin

The Amazon Affiliate WordPress Plugin (AAWP) integrates Amazon Associates into WordPress sites. This allows for easy addition of affiliate links, and the plugin directly fetches all relevant product data from the API.

Let’s explore why AAWP is rated as the top WordPress plugin for Amazon affiliates.

Features

• Supports various affiliate link formats: text, buttons, images, and styled blocks
• Automatically localizes links based on visitor location
• Fully mobile responsive
• Generates top-selling product lists from Amazon categories
• Comparison tables for product comparisons

Pricing

• Personal: $49/year or $199 for lifetime access
• Plus: $129/year or $499 for lifetime access
• Pro: $249/year or $999 for lifetime access 
• Ultimate: $399/year or $1,599 for lifetime access

Pros

• Not tied to WordPress themes
• Automated price updates
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

• Requires separate Amazon browsing for product search

6. Ultimate Affiliate Pro

Ultimate Affiliate Pro is a widely used affiliate plugin on CodeCanyon. It offers advanced features such as custom rewards and affiliate slugs. For premium features on a budget, it’s a great choice.

Features

• Templates for login, registration, and account pages
• Option to add your currency if the one you need isn’t listed
• Integrates with major plugins (WooCommerce, Easy Digital Downloads, MailPoet)
• Unlimited affiliates to maximize reach and sales
• PayPal and Stripe payouts to facilitate payments smoothly

Pricing

• Ultimate Affiliate Pro: $99/lifetime
• Pro AddOns Bundle: $466/yearly

Pros

• Supports multi-level marketing, allowing affiliates to recruit others
• Easily customizable templates
• 14-day money-back guarantee

Cons

• Limited support via Envato profile and knowledge base

7. WooCommerce Affiliate Program

WooCommerce is a leading ecommerce platform for WordPress. This affiliate program by eplugins enables affiliates to promote your products. It offers easy setup, flexible commission types, and comprehensive reporting.

Features

• Enable or disable affiliate programs with a simple toggle
• Flexible commission types
• User role-based affiliate conversions for accurate attribution
• Social media link distribution and profit tracking for affiliates
• Front-end reporting for affiliates to monitor performance

Pricing

• Single plan costing $49/year

Pros

• 24/7 customer support
• Simplified setup and user-friendly management
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

• Limited flexibility due to the absence of multiple plans

Omnisend for affiliate marketing

Omnisend offers affiliates a host of beneficial features. Here are some advantages it offers:

• Increased sales and conversions: Omnisend provides advanced segmentation and personalization tools. This enables dynamic content in emails. This targeted marketing approach boosts sales potential for affiliate products.
• Improved customer engagement: With Omnisend’s automated workflows, you can effectively nurture leads. This boosts engagement, keeping leads interested in your affiliate offerings over time.
• Data-driven optimization: Omnisend provides robust data and analytics tools and boasts advanced reporting features like segment performance analysis. These features help you optimize your affiliate marketing campaigns for better results.

What’s more, Omnisend provides one of the best affiliate email marketing programs out there.

Best practices to earn more money with a WordPress affiliate program

We’ve discussed affiliate programs and their management so far. Now, let’s shift our focus to affiliates themselves. 

Affiliate marketing can be a profitable source of passive income, but it demands careful strategy. Here are key tips for affiliates aiming to maximize earnings.

1. Choose relevant programs

Select a niche that aligns with your interests or expertise. This makes the process enjoyable for you and genuine for your audience. Ensure the products you choose have a solid reputation. Also, seek a commission structure that fairly compensates your efforts.

2. Focus on creating quality content

Create content that educates, entertains, and addresses your audience’s problems. This could be a detailed review, a listicle, or an explainer video. Affiliate marketing isn’t about pushing products on people — it’s about providing help and solutions through relevant products and services.

3. Leverage email marketing

Implement email marketing strategies to grow and nurture your subscriber list. Encourage website visitors to opt-in by offering incentives like free guides. 

Once you have a sizable email list, segment your subscribers. Then, craft newsletters with personalized affiliate product recommendations. Email automation can further help with sending timely and relevant messages.

4. Engage on social media

Find out where your target audience spends the most time. This could be Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, or another platform. Once identified, post content consistently and engage with people. Build a trustworthy presence and position yourself as an expert.

5. Optimize for search engines

Create valuable articles and use SEO techniques to improve search engine ranking. Optimize content titles and meta-descriptions to target your audience effectively. Make sure your site loads quickly, is easy to navigate, and works well on mobile devices.

6. Include disclosures for transparency

Always be upfront about affiliate partnerships. Including a simple statement disclosing any affiliate links is important, and the transparency builds trust with your audience. Such disclosures are a legal requirement in many countries, but they’re worth including even if they aren’t legally required.

7. Track performance consistently

Use online tools to monitor the performance of affiliate links. This helps you understand visitor behavior and identify what works and what doesn’t. Content marketing is always evolving, so tracking and improving are key to optimizing affiliate marketing strategies.

With these tips, you can achieve lasting success with your WordPress affiliate programs.

Wrap up

With minimal risk involved, affiliate marketing offers a lucrative opportunity for both businesses and affiliates. 

If you’re an affiliate, start by selecting a suitable WordPress affiliate program. Then, market to the right audience, and earn commissions on sales. The seven programs listed in this article are top choices for promotion.

Alternatively, consider establishing your affiliate program if you’re a business owner. You can do this using WordPress plugins tailored to your needs. This way, you can boost your reach and sales through organic marketing.

Affiliate marketing offers a high-reward, low-risk opportunity for both parties to achieve growth.

FAQs

1. What is the most lucrative affiliate program?

The most lucrative affiliate program depends on factors like niche and audience engagement. Some popular ones include Amazon Associates, the HubSpot Affiliate Program, and the WP Engine Affiliate Program.

2. What is the easiest affiliate program to make money?

Generally, affiliate programs with broad appeal, high conversion rates, and generous commissions can be easier to make money with. Beginners often find success with the Amazon Associates Program. This is due to its wide product range.

3. What is the best free affiliate plugin for WordPress?

Several WordPress plugins operate on a freemium model. They offer basic services for free and charge for advanced features. Examples include ThirstyAffiliates and WP Affiliate Manager.

4. How do I track affiliate sales on WordPress?

You can track affiliate sales on WordPress using dedicated affiliate plugins like AffiliateWP. Alternatively, you can integrate tracking codes provided by affiliate networks into your website.