Guide · Updated June 2026
Best affiliate programs in Australia (2026)
Affiliate marketing is one of the cleanest ways for Australians to earn from a website, a newsletter or a YouTube channel. You recommend a product you actually rate, someone buys through your link, and the company pays you a cut at no extra cost to the buyer. The hard part is not the idea, it is knowing which of the hundreds of programs are worth your time. Below is a working shortlist of well-known programs relevant to Australians, grouped by category, with the commission structures and cookie windows they are commonly known for.
A note on the numbers. Commission rates, cookie windows and network details change often and vary by region and promotion. Everything here is a widely published, general structure to help you compare, not a live quote. Always confirm current terms with the program before you rely on a figure. This is business and marketing education, not financial or tax advice.
Browse by category
Software & SaaS
Software companies tend to run the most generous programs because a subscriber is worth a lot over time. Many pay a one-off bounty; the best pay recurring.
| Program | Typical commission | Cookie window | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | One-off bounty per referred merchant (varies by plan and region) | Around 30 days | Impact (in-house partner program) |
| Semrush | Typically a flat amount per subscription sale, plus a smaller amount per trial | Around 120 days | Impact |
| HubSpot | Flat or recurring tiers, commonly cited around 30% for up to a year | Around 90 days | Impact |
| Canva | Modest per-Pro-signup bounty | Around 30 days | Impact / in-house |
| Notion | Share of first-year subscription revenue | Around 90 days | in-house (Partnerstack) |
| Fiverr | CPA or hybrid per first-time buyer, varies by category | Around 30 days after first click | in-house (Fiverr Affiliates) |
Web hosting
Hosting is a classic high-payout niche. Because a host keeps a customer for years, many pay large one-off bounties or a hybrid of bounty plus recurring.
| Program | Typical commission | Cookie window | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kinsta | Large one-off bounty plus an ongoing recurring share, commonly cited | Around 60 days | in-house |
| WP Engine | Flat per-sale bounty (often quoted as the higher of a set amount or first-month value) | Around 180 days | ShareASale / Impact |
| Cloudways | Choice of a tiered one-off slab or a hybrid with recurring | Around 90 days | in-house |
| Bluehost | Flat per-sale bounty | Around 45 days | Impact / CJ |
| SiteGround | Tiered per-sale bounty that rises with volume | Around 60 days | in-house |
Finance & fintech
Fintech pays well per action but carries the strictest rules. Financial promotions are regulated, geo-restricted, and some products are not open to Australian referrals at all, so read the terms carefully.
| Program | Typical commission | Cookie window | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| eToro | CPA per verified, funded account (region-restricted; not available everywhere) | Varies by program | in-house partner program |
| Wise | Per qualified referral / partner terms | Varies by program | in-house |
| Airwallex | Partner program, commonly per qualified business signup | Varies by program | in-house |
Health & wellness
Wellness and supplements convert well with an engaged audience. In Australia, be careful with health claims and any regulated products, and keep to general, compliant messaging.
| Program | Typical commission | Cookie window | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| iHerb | Percentage of order value, commonly in the high single digits | Around 30 days | in-house |
| Myprotein | Percentage of sale, varies by promotion | Around 30 days | Awin / Commission Factory |
| Bulk Nutrients (AU) | Percentage of sale | Varies by program | Commission Factory |
Retail & marketplaces
The easiest programs to join and the lowest per-sale rates. Volume is the game here, and short cookie windows mean you are paid for near-immediate purchases.
| Program | Typical commission | Cookie window | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Associates | Category-based rate, roughly 1% to 10% depending on product type | 24 hours (longer for items added to cart) | in-house |
| Booking.com | A share of Booking.com's commission per completed stay | Session-based | in-house / Partnerize |
| THE ICONIC (AU) | Percentage of sale | Varies by program | Commission Factory |
| Catch (AU) | Percentage of sale, varies by category | Varies by program | Commission Factory |
Courses & education
Education platforms convert well with how-to and review content. Rates range from modest per-course cuts to generous shares on premium subscriptions.
| Program | Typical commission | Cookie window | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coursera | Percentage of eligible purchases, commonly cited up to around 45% | Around 30 days | Impact / Rakuten Advertising |
| Udemy | Percentage of sale (lower during heavy discount periods) | Around 7 days | Rakuten Advertising |
| Skillshare | Per qualified new subscription / lead | Around 30 days | Impact / CJ |
The shortcut
Skip the research. Start from a vetted shortlist.
The list above scratches the surface. We built the Referral Growth Blueprint because most people waste weeks chasing programs that do not fit their audience. It is a curated database of more than 250 vetted affiliate and referral opportunities, plus a personalised strategy brief that maps the right programs to your niche and how you plan to promote them. One flat fee, delivered in 48 hours.
How to join an affiliate program
There are two doors into most programs, and they lead to the same place. The first is direct: a company like Shopify, Kinsta or beehiiv runs its own affiliate program, and you apply on their site. The second is through a network. Australian affiliates lean heavily on Commission Factory for local retail brands, and on Impact, Awin, Rakuten Advertising and CJ for everything else. You join the network once, for free, then apply to individual programs inside it.
Either way, expect to be asked how you plan to promote the brand. Most programs want to see a live website, newsletter or social channel before they approve you, because they are trying to filter out spam. Once you are in, you get a unique tracking link. Every sale made through that link within the cookie window is credited to you, and you are paid on the program's schedule, usually monthly once you clear a minimum threshold.
What makes a good affiliate program
A high headline rate is the wrong thing to chase first. The programs that actually pay are the ones where the product genuinely fits your audience, because a 3% commission on something people want beats a 40% commission on something they do not. Start there.
After fit, weigh four things. Commission model: a recurring commission on software people keep for years usually beats a slightly larger one-off payment. Cookie window: longer is better, since most people do not buy on the first click. Payout reliability: established networks and well-known brands pay on time and track properly. And average order value: a small percentage of a large purchase, like web hosting or a SaaS plan, often out-earns a big percentage of a cheap one.
If you are working out which programs match your niche before you commit time to any of them, that is exactly the gap the Referral Growth Blueprint fills.
Go deeper
Highest paying affiliate programs
The high-commission niches, SaaS, hosting, finance and courses, with the biggest per-sale payouts.
Best recurring commission programs
Subscription and SaaS programs that pay you every month a customer stays. The most reliable income.
How to start affiliate marketing in Australia
The beginner path: choose a niche, pick programs, build a platform, disclose properly, and drive traffic.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best affiliate programs in Australia?+
It depends on your audience. If you write about software, SaaS and hosting programs like Shopify, Semrush, Kinsta and WP Engine pay the most per referral. Creators and newsletter writers do best with recurring programs like beehiiv and Kit. Retail programs like Amazon Associates and the Commission Factory brands (THE ICONIC, Catch) are the easiest to join but pay the least per sale. There is no single best program, only the best fit for what your readers actually buy.
Which affiliate networks operate in Australia?+
The networks Australians most commonly use are Commission Factory (very strong for local retail brands), Awin, Impact, Rakuten Advertising, CJ (Commission Junction) and Partnerize. Many software companies also run their own in-house programs directly or through platforms like Impact and Partnerstack. You can join most networks for free, then apply to individual programs inside them.
How do I join an affiliate program?+
Most programs are free to join. You either sign up directly on the company's affiliate page, or you join a network (like Commission Factory or Impact) and apply to the program from there. You will usually need a website, newsletter or active social channel so the program can see how you plan to promote them. Once approved you get a unique tracking link, and you earn a commission when someone buys through it within the cookie window.
What is a cookie window in affiliate marketing?+
A cookie window is how long after someone clicks your link you still get credit for a purchase. If a program has a 30-day cookie and your reader buys three weeks later, you are still paid. Amazon's is famously short at 24 hours, while many SaaS and hosting programs run 60 to 120 days. A longer cookie window is generally better for you, because most people do not buy on the first visit.
What makes a good affiliate program?+
Four things: a product your audience already wants, a fair commission (recurring beats one-off for subscription products), a reasonable cookie window, and reliable tracking and payment. Recurring commissions on software people keep for years usually beat a slightly higher one-off rate. Beyond the numbers, the program has to fit your content honestly, because promoting something your readers do not need burns trust faster than any commission can repay.
Do I have to disclose affiliate links in Australia?+
Yes. Under Australian Consumer Law and the ACCC's guidance, any commercial relationship behind a recommendation should be clear to your audience. In practice that means a plain-English disclosure on any page with affiliate links, and honest editorial that does not misrepresent a product. It is good practice and it protects your credibility.
How does Refer Labs fit in?+
Refer Labs is an independent Australian comparison publisher. We run affiliate links ourselves, disclosed on every page, and we never sell rankings. We also built the Referral Growth Blueprint, a curated database of 250-plus vetted affiliate and referral programs plus a personalised strategy brief, for people who would rather start from a shortlist than research from scratch.
Refer Labs is independent and this page carries disclosed affiliate links. Program terms change, so verify current details before relying on them. How we work: our editorial standards.