Affiliate marketing is a proven way to generate income online, but affiliate programs with recurring commissions take it to the next level by providing a steady, long-term revenue stream.
Instead of earning a one-time payment for each sale, you can continue to receive commissions as long as the customer stays subscribed to the product or service.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the best affiliate programs that offer recurring commissions and how you can take advantage of them to build a sustainable income.
What Are Recurring Commissions?
In traditional affiliate marketing, affiliates earn a commission for each sale they refer, but the earnings stop after that initial sale.
Recurring commissions, however, allow affiliates to earn a commission every time the customer they referred makes a recurring payment, such as a subscription fee or monthly service charge.
This means you can continue earning passive income as long as the customer remains subscribed to the service.
Why Choose Recurring Commission Affiliate Programs?
- Sustainable Passive Income: Recurring commissions create a consistent stream of income, providing financial stability over time.
- Higher Lifetime Value (LTV): Instead of a one-time commission, you can earn multiple payments over the lifetime of a customer, significantly increasing the overall value of each sale.
- Long-Term Relationships: Recurring commissions encourage affiliates to promote products and services that deliver value over time, creating a win-win situation for both the business and the affiliate.
Best Affiliate Programs with Recurring Commissions in 2024
If you’re looking to build a steady income stream, here are some of the top affiliate programs with recurring commissions to consider:
1. ConvertKit
- Commission Rate: 30% recurring
- Cookie Duration: 30 days
- Why It’s Great: ConvertKit is a popular email marketing platform tailored for creators like bloggers, YouTubers, and course creators. Affiliates earn a generous 30% commission on every payment the customer makes, as long as they remain subscribed. Given that email marketing is essential for online businesses, customers tend to stick with the platform long-term, leading to ongoing commissions.
- Best For: Bloggers, marketers, and influencers promoting tools for creators.
2. Teachable
- Commission Rate: 30% recurring
- Cookie Duration: 90 days
- Why It’s Great: Teachable is a leading platform for creating and selling online courses. Affiliates earn 30% recurring commissions for each customer they refer, and given the long-term nature of most online education programs, this can lead to substantial ongoing earnings. Teachable’s affiliate program is ideal for creators in the education, coaching, or personal development niches.
- Best For: Bloggers, course creators, and educators.
3. SEMrush
- Commission Rate: 40% recurring
- Cookie Duration: 120 days
- Why It’s Great: SEMrush is one of the most well-known tools for SEO, content marketing, and digital advertising professionals. Its 40% recurring commission rate is one of the highest in the industry, and the tool’s essential role in digital marketing ensures long-term customer retention. This program is perfect for affiliates in the SEO, digital marketing, or business growth spaces.
- Best For: SEO specialists, digital marketers, and bloggers in the business or marketing niches.
4. Kinsta
- Commission Rate: Up to 10% recurring
- Cookie Duration: 60 days
- Why It’s Great: Kinsta is a premium managed WordPress hosting provider known for its high performance and excellent customer support. Kinsta’s affiliate program pays a generous upfront commission (up to $500) and offers a 10% recurring commission for as long as the customer continues using their service. This makes Kinsta’s affiliate program highly attractive for affiliates promoting WordPress-related services.
- Best For: Tech bloggers, website developers, and WordPress enthusiasts.
5. GetResponse
- Commission Rate: 33% recurring
- Cookie Duration: 120 days
- Why It’s Great: GetResponse is another major player in the email marketing and automation space, offering up to 33% recurring commissions on all payments made by referred customers. Since email marketing is essential for businesses of all sizes, customers often stay subscribed for the long haul, providing affiliates with stable recurring income.
- Best For: Marketers, email marketing specialists, and small business owners.
6. AWeber
- Commission Rate: 30% recurring
- Cookie Duration: 365 days
- Why It’s Great: AWeber is a popular email marketing service known for its user-friendly interface and robust features. Their affiliate program pays 30% recurring commissions, and with their excellent customer retention rate, affiliates can enjoy a steady stream of income as long as their referred customers continue using the platform.
- Best For: Email marketers, bloggers, and small business consultants.
7. ClickFunnels
- Commission Rate: 40% recurring
- Cookie Duration: 45 days
- Why It’s Great: ClickFunnels is a well-known platform for creating sales funnels and landing pages. Affiliates can earn up to 40% recurring commissions on ClickFunnels subscriptions, which can translate into significant income over time, especially since customers who use the service tend to be long-term users.
- Best For: Digital marketers, entrepreneurs, and course creators promoting sales funnel solutions.
8. TubeBuddy
- Commission Rate: 30% recurring
- Cookie Duration: 30 days
- Why It’s Great: TubeBuddy is a browser extension designed to help YouTubers optimize their channels and grow their subscriber base. Affiliates earn 30% recurring commissions, and since it’s a tool used by YouTubers at all levels, there’s a strong likelihood that subscribers will continue using it, leading to ongoing passive income.
- Best For: YouTube creators, video marketers, and influencers.
9. Sendinblue
- Commission Rate: 10% recurring
- Cookie Duration: 90 days
- Why It’s Great: Sendinblue is a marketing platform offering email marketing, automation, and CRM solutions. Affiliates can earn 10% recurring commissions on every payment made by referred customers. While the commission percentage is lower than some others, Sendinblue’s wide range of features and affordability make it a popular choice for businesses looking for all-in-one marketing solutions.
- Best For: Bloggers and digital marketers focusing on small businesses.
10. Thinkific
- Commission Rate: 20% recurring
- Cookie Duration: 90 days
- Why It’s Great: Thinkific is a leading platform for creating and selling online courses, similar to Teachable. Affiliates earn a 20% recurring commission on all referrals, and with online education growing rapidly, Thinkific’s program offers strong potential for long-term income. This program is particularly appealing to those promoting e-learning solutions.
- Best For: Course creators, educators, and bloggers in the e-learning space.
How to Succeed with Recurring Commission Affiliate Programs
While recurring commission programs offer great potential for long-term income, success doesn’t happen overnight. Here are a few strategies to help you maximize your affiliate earnings:
1. Promote Evergreen Products
Choose products or services that offer long-term value and have high retention rates. Subscription services like email marketing platforms, SEO tools, and membership-based products typically have lower churn rates, ensuring that you continue to receive commissions for an extended period.
2. Create In-Depth, High-Quality Content
To convince people to sign up for recurring subscription services, you need to build trust and authority. Create comprehensive reviews, tutorials, or case studies that showcase the benefits and features of the products you’re promoting. The more valuable your content, the more likely readers will use your affiliate link to sign up.
3. Focus on Niche Audiences
Targeting a specific niche allows you to connect more deeply with your audience and provide tailored recommendations. Whether you’re promoting tools for YouTubers, marketers, or course creators, focusing on a niche will improve your chances of converting visitors into paying customers.
4. Utilize Multiple Channels
Don’t limit yourself to just blog posts. Promote your affiliate links through various channels, including YouTube videos, social media, email newsletters, and podcasts. The more exposure your links get, the greater your potential earnings.
5. Track and Optimize
Most affiliate platforms provide detailed analytics on your performance. Regularly track your clicks, conversions, and recurring commissions to understand what’s working and what needs improvement. Adjust your content and promotional strategies based on these insights to increase your earnings.
Conclusion
Affiliate programs with recurring commissions are one of the best ways to generate long-term, sustainable income.
By promoting subscription-based services and tools that provide ongoing value, you can build a steady income stream that grows over time.
Whether you’re a blogger, digital marketer, or influencer, the affiliate programs listed in this guide offer great opportunities for earning recurring commissions in 2024.
