Affiliate Network or Affiliate Program? Which is Best?

Last Updated on August 26, 2024 by Jan Barley

Affiliate marketing is one of the best make-money online models. It’s free to get started and, in most cases, is quick and easy to set up. However, many budding affiliate marketers get it wrong because they’re unsure whether to promote a network or program product, and some don’t know the difference between the two.

I believe in ethical marketing, so I don’t promote anything I haven’t used myself. It’s a good rule of thumb because your audience learns to trust your recommendations.

If you only focus on making money, you can come across as a bit of a snake oil salesperson.

What is an Affiliate Network?

An affiliate network is a marketplace that promotes multiple digital products. It brings merchants together with affiliate marketers. Most merchants provide a sales page, offer a fixed commission, and may have several sub-affiliate layers.

Examples of affiliate networks include ClickBank, Commission Junction, ShareaSale, FlexOffers, and Rakuten Marketing.

Affiliate Networks: The Pros and Cons

Pros

• Typically, it is easy to join with instant approval
• You can access hundreds of different niches and products
• Typically, a generous commission
• Fully automated cookie tracking
• Get your link and start promoting

Cons

• Because approval is easy, many others may be promoting the same products
• Affiliate networks are intermediaries, so you’re dealing with a third-party
• The affiliate network takes a commission as well, so you could be making less
• You may not have used the products or service, so don’t know about the quality or lack of
• Popular products can saturate the market

What is an Affiliate Program?

Affiliate programs are those offered directly by the merchant. It could be a company offering a product or service, such as a web hosting or SaaS company, that provides a commission for introducing others to their platform. Most B2C software providers offer affiliate programs. You can also affiliate with fashion houses and other niches you enjoy.

Affiliate Programs: The Pros and Cons

Pros

• There is generally less competition than an affiliate network
• You work directly with the merchant. There are no middlemen to deal with
• Commissions tend to be higher (for example, Systeme offers a whopping 60% commission)
• Most affiliate programs provide a dedicated support team
• You can seek subscription-based affiliate offers with a lifetime monthly payout
• If you use software, the company may have an affiliate program so you can promote a product or service you love
• It’s easier to find a niche aligned with your brand

Cons

• It can be harder to get approved. Many companies want affiliates with a significant online presence
• You may not be able to track analytics
• The company may not have a sales page/funnel for affiliates
• Some companies offer a pitiful commission (Amazon is around 4% on average, for instance)

I don’t use affiliate networks. I much prefer affiliate programs. That said, some of the products I love rejected my application because I don’t have a large following (yet), and that kind of pissed me off a bit from using their products. However, I got over it and chose to work with other companies like Systeme because it’s an easy sell with the free account offering so much value. Systeme offer 60% recurring commisions. What’s not to love? I’m a paid member and use all of their marketing tools for my business.

You can also read about the pros and cons of affiliate marketing.

I hope this article has helped you clarify the difference between affiliate networks and programs.

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this page. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.