7 best e-commerce affiliate programs in 2026 (+1 alternative)

Affiliate marketing is one of the easiest ways to monetize online content — especially for creators, bloggers, and marketers working in the e-commerce space. And as e-commerce keeps growing, so do the opportunities to earn from it.

Global e-commerce sales are projected to reach $7.89 trillion by 2028, reflecting the massive scale of online commerce today. With millions of businesses launching online stores and consumers purchasing more products digitally, the e-commerce ecosystem has become an attractive space for affiliates looking to generate passive income.

Whether you’re reviewing tools, sharing marketing insights, or recommending products, the right e-commerce affiliate program can help turn your audience into a steady revenue stream. However, not all programs are equal — commission rates, cookie durations, and conversion performance can vary significantly.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the seven best e-commerce affiliate programs in 2026, compare their offerings, and discuss an alternative strategy that many affiliates are using to boost their long-term earnings.

What is an e-commerce affiliate program?

An e-commerce affiliate program is a partnership model that allows individuals or businesses to earn commissions by promoting e-commerce products, platforms, or services through unique referral links. When someone clicks the link and completes a purchase or subscription, the affiliate earns a percentage of the sale.

This model has become an important part of digital marketing. Many e-commerce brands rely on affiliates to reach new audiences, while affiliates benefit from promoting products without managing inventory, customer support, or logistics.

However, affiliate earnings can vary widely depending on strategy, niche, and experience. Research shows that 48 percent of affiliate marketers earn less than $20,000 per year, while the top 15 percent generate between $80,000 and $1 million annually. This gap often comes down to how strategically affiliates choose programs and structure their content.

Successful affiliates usually combine product recommendations with educational resources that help their audience solve real problems. For example, creators often build content around topics like sales pipeline management, e-commerce automation, or marketing workflows while recommending tools along the way.

For this reason, choosing the right affiliate program is about more than commission rates. It’s about finding products that genuinely fit your audience’s needs and your overall content strategy.

7 best e-commerce affiliate programs in 2026

There are hundreds of e-commerce affiliate programs available today, but only a handful consistently offer strong commissions, reliable tracking, and products that convert well.

The programs below represent a mix of e-commerce marketplaces, e-commerce platforms, and marketing tools commonly used by online businesses.

Program	Commission	Ease of entry	Cookie duration	Conversion tech
Jotform Affiliate Program	30% recurring commission	Easy	60 days	High
Shopify Affiliate Program	$150 per referred paying merchant	Medium	30 days	High
Amazon Associates	1–10 percent per product	Easy	24 hours	High
eBay Partner Network	~1–4 percent	Easy	24 hours	Medium
Etsy Affiliates	Up to 4 percent	Medium	30 days	Medium
Nike Affiliate Program	~7–11 percent	Medium	30 days	High
Yotpo	30 percent commission for the first 3 months, competitive commission for 12 months	Medium	90 days	High
Omnisend	Up to 20 percent recurring	Medium	60 days	High

Let’s look at each program in more detail.

1. Shopify Affiliate Program

Shopify is an e-commerce platform built to help entrepreneurs launch, manage, and scale online stores — making it one of the most widely used store-building tools in the world. Because of this, the Shopify Affiliate Program is especially popular among content creators who teach e-commerce or online business, allowing creators, educators, and marketers to earn commissions by referring new users to the platform.

• Best for: Bloggers and educators, marketing influencers, e-commerce consultants, agencies working with online retailers
• Pros
  • Highly trusted e-commerce brand
  • Large audience of potential new store owners
  • High conversion rates for e-commerce content
• Commission: $150 per referred paying merchant
• Cookie duration: 30 days
• How to get started
  • Applicants submit their information through Shopify’s affiliate portal
  • After approval, affiliates receive access to referral links, promotional assets, and tracking tools
  • The unique referral link can be shared in tutorials, product comparisons, and e-commerce guides
  • When someone signs up for Shopify through that link and becomes a paying customer, the affiliate earns a commission
  • Many affiliates promote Shopify through content such as “how to start an online store” or e-commerce platform comparisons

2. Amazon Associates

Amazon is the world’s largest online marketplace, connecting millions of buyers and sellers across virtually every product category imaginable. Amazon Associates taps into that scale by allowing affiliates to earn commissions by recommending products from its extensive catalog — making it one of the largest and most beginner-friendly affiliate programs available today.

• Best for: Product review bloggers, YouTubers, influencers, niche content websites
• Pros
  • Massive product selection
  • Trusted brand with strong conversion rates
  • Easy approval process for beginners
• Commission: 1–10 percent depending on product category
• Cookie duration: 24 hours
• How to get started
  • Create an Amazon Associates account and generate custom referral links to Amazon product pages through the dashboard
  • When users click those links and purchase items, the affiliate earns a commission based on the product category
  • One advantage of the program is that affiliates can earn commissions on additional items added to the shopper’s cart during the same visit

3. eBay Partner Network

eBay is a global online marketplace that specializes in connecting buyers and sellers, with a particular strength in unique, refurbished, and secondhand goods. The eBay Partner Network builds on that inventory advantage by allowing affiliates to earn commissions when they promote listings across its global platform — making it a strong fit for those who cater to niche or deal-seeking audiences.

• Best for: Niche product bloggers, collectibles websites, deal and coupon sites, influencers reviewing secondhand or vintage products
• Pros
  • Large marketplace with unique inventory
  • Strong appeal for niche audiences
  • Flexible promotion options
• Commission: Around 1–4 percent
• Cookie duration: 24 hours
• How to get started
  • Sign up for the eBay Partner Network and start generating referral links to eBay listings or category pages
  • When users click the link and complete a purchase, the affiliate receives a commission

4. Etsy Affiliates

Etsy is an online marketplace dedicated to handmade, vintage, and creative goods, giving independent sellers a platform to reach buyers who value unique, one-of-a-kind products. The Etsy Affiliate Program extends that creative community by allowing its partners to earn commissions by promoting its marketplace, making it particularly attractive to bloggers and creators who focus on design, crafts, and lifestyle content.

• Best for: Lifestyle bloggers, craft and DIY creators, gift guide websites, influencers who highlight unique products
• Pros
  • Unique products that stand out from mass marketplaces
  • Strong engagement during holidays and gift seasons
  • Loyal community of creative sellers and buyers
• Commission: Up to 4 percent
• Cookie duration: 30 days
• How to get started
  • Apply through Etsy’s affiliate network partnership page
  • Share links to Etsy product listings or curated collections
  • When someone clicks the link and purchases an item, you receive a commission

5. Nike Affiliate Program

Nike is one of the world’s leading sportswear brands, designing and selling footwear, apparel, and athletic gear for athletes and fitness enthusiasts across the globe. The Nike Affiliate Program lets partners tap into that global brand recognition by earning commissions through promoting its sportswear, footwear, and athletic products — making it a natural fit for affiliates in the fitness and lifestyle niches.

• Best for: Fitness influencers, athletic bloggers, lifestyle content creators
• Pros
  • Globally recognized brand
  • High demand for sportswear and fitness gear
  • Strong engagement from fitness audiences
• Commission: Around 7–11 percent
• Cookie duration: 7 days
• How to get started
  • Nike’s program is available through affiliate networks such as Rakuten
  • Affiliates generate tracking links for Nike products and collections
  • When users click those links and make purchases, the affiliate receives a commission

6. Yotpo Affiliate Program

Yotpo is an e-commerce marketing platform that helps online stores collect customer reviews, build loyalty programs, and run SMS and email campaigns to drive repeat purchases and long-term growth. It offers an affiliate program designed for creators, marketers, and e-commerce experts who want to promote tools that help online stores grow. 

• Best for: E-commerce consultants, SaaS reviewers, marketing bloggers
• Pros
  • Popular among growing e-commerce brands
  • Strong demand for customer engagement tools
  • Fits well into e-commerce marketing content
• Commission: 30 percent commission for the first 3 months, competitive commission for 12 months
• Cookie duration: 90 days
• How to get started
  • Apply through Yotpo’s affiliate partner portal
  • Affiliates share referral links with their audience through blog posts, tutorials, product comparisons, or marketing guides
  • When e-commerce businesses sign up for Yotpo through those links and become customers, affiliates earn commissions

7. Omnisend Affiliate Partner Program

Omnisend is an e-commerce marketing automation platform that helps online businesses manage email, SMS, and multi-channel campaigns — all designed to drive more sales with less manual effort. The Omnisend Affiliate Partner Program allows partners to earn commissions by recommending those automation tools to online businesses, making it a particularly strong fit for creators who teach e-commerce growth strategies.

• Best for: E-commerce bloggers, marketing educators, SaaS comparison websites
• Pros
  • Recurring commissions for subscriptions
  • High demand for e-commerce automation tools
  • Strong fit for e-commerce marketing content
• Commission: Up to 20 percent recurring
• Cookie duration: 60 days
• How to get started
  • Apply through Omnisend’s affiliate program page
  • Affiliates refer e-commerce merchants to Omnisend
  • When those merchants subscribe, affiliates earn commissions

Why creating an e-commerce system is the new e-commerce affiliate strategy

As affiliate marketing evolves, many creators are moving beyond promoting individual tools and products. Instead, they’re focusing on recommending complete e-commerce systems that help businesses manage sales, marketing, and customer interactions in a single place.

One reason for this shift is the rise of mobile commerce. Studies show that 51 percent of global e-commerce sales now happen on mobile devices, meaning checkout experiences, forms, and sales funnels must work seamlessly on smartphones.

When affiliates promote tools that support a seamless mobile experience, they improve the chances that their referral links will convert before cookies expire. A mobile-friendly checkout flow, for example, can make the difference between a completed purchase and an abandoned cart.

Because of this, many affiliates now focus on systems that combine several e-commerce capabilities instead of recommending one tool at a time. A modern e-commerce workflow often includes features such as payment collection, lead capture, marketing automation, and customer communication tools that work smoothly across devices.

Creating content around these broader workflows also helps affiliates provide more value to their audiences. Instead of simply recommending a product, they can show readers how to build a complete e-commerce process — from capturing leads to accepting payments and managing customer relationships.

This shift toward system-based recommendations is one reason that flexible platforms are becoming more attractive to affiliates. Tools that combine mobile-friendly design, automation, and payment capabilities can fit into many e-commerce workflows, making them easier to recommend across a wider range of content topics.

Jotform Affiliate Program as a strategic alternative

While most programs in this list focus on promoting ecommerce marketplaces or store-building platforms, the Jotform Affiliate Program offers a broader and more flexible opportunity. Instead of positioning a single tool, affiliates can introduce a platform that complements existing ecommerce stacks.

Jotform integrates directly with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, allowing users to extend their store functionality beyond the basics. With Jotform AI Agents, merchants can automate customer interactions, build intelligent product recommendation flows, and create custom checkout or lead capture experiences — all without complex development.

Combined with its wide range of integrations across ecommerce, payments, and workflow tools, Jotform becomes not just a standalone product, but a powerful automation layer that enhances how online businesses operate.

Here are several areas where Jotform stands out:

• Mobile-first design: Jotform is built with mobile experiences in mind, helping ensure forms, checkout pages, and workflows function smoothly on smartphones and tablets. This is especially important as mobile commerce continues to dominate online purchasing.
• AI and automation capabilities: Built-in AI tools help users optimize forms, streamline workflows, and automate processes, which can improve efficiency and increase conversion potential.
• No-code store creation: Users can create a simple ecommerce store with a prompt, while still having access to powerful customization options and integrations.
• Flexible payments: Jotform supports 40+ payment gateways, including popular options like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Venmo, giving businesses flexibility in how they accept payments.
• Zero transaction fees: Unlike some ecommerce platforms that charge additional transaction fees, Jotform allows users to collect payments without extra platform fees, which can be especially valuable for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

How the affiliate program works

Affiliates receive a unique referral link that can be shared through blog posts, tutorials, social media, product reviews, or educational content. When someone clicks the link and signs up for Jotform, the referral is tracked.

If that user later upgrades to a paid Jotform plan, the affiliate earns a commission. One of the key advantages of the program is that commissions are recurring, meaning affiliates continue earning as long as the referred user remains subscribed to a paid plan.

Benefits

1. 30% recurring commission for every paid user you refer, allowing affiliates to earn ongoing revenue.
2. A wide range of use cases across industries, which increases the chances of converting referrals.
3. Easy application process with fast approval and helpful affiliate resources.

Who can be an affiliate partner?

Jotform’s affiliate program is open to a wide range of partners, including:

• Bloggers and content creators
• Marketing educators and course creators
• SaaS reviewers and technology websites
• Agencies and consultants
• Influencers who create tutorials or productivity content

Because Jotform has such a broad range of use cases—serving businesses, freelancers, students, nonprofits, and individuals—affiliates can promote it to many different audiences. 

How to get started

Joining the Jotform Affiliate Program is simple and involves three easy steps:

1. Submit your affiliate application through the Jotform affiliate page.
2. Wait for approval, which is typically reviewed within about one business day.
3. Once approved, start sharing your referral link across your website, blog posts, tutorials, or social media channels.

• Commission: 30% recurring commission for every paid user referred.
• Cookie Duration: Conversions are attributed if users subscribe within about 60 days of clicking your referral link.

If you’d like to start earning recurring commissions while recommending a flexible tool used by businesses worldwide, you can apply to the Jotform Affiliate Partner Program!