AliExpress Affiliate Program

What You Need to Know About AliExpress

AliExpress is one of the world’s largest online marketplaces. The Alibaba Group in China owns it. Think of it as the shopping site for regular customers. Alibaba is for businesses buying wholesale.

The site sells products in almost every possible area. Electronics, clothes, things for your home, toys, jewelry, tools—if you can think of it, AliExpress likely sells it. Their list of items includes more than 150 million products from thousands of different sellers.

What makes AliExpress special? The prices are much lower than US-based sites like Amazon. Products ship straight from Chinese factories and suppliers. This removes the middleman costs.

That low price comes with a few problems. Shipping times often take two to six weeks. Sometimes they take even longer. The quality of products changes a lot between sellers. Customer service can also be very difficult to deal with.

These things matter a lot for affiliates. It is hard to sell products when delivery takes a month. It is also tough when you don’t know about the quality. Buyers are hesitant even if the price is great.

Key insight: Low prices make people click your link. But low prices do not always lead to a sale. Buyers will stop when they see a 30-day shipping time. They also get nervous about mixed reviews from sellers.

How the AliExpress Affiliate Program Really Works

AliExpress runs its affiliate program through several different places. This is confusing. It causes confusion about commission rates, cookie duration, and payment rules.

You can join the program through these channels:

• AliExpress Portals (Direct): This is the program managed by AliExpress itself.
• FlexOffers: A third-party affiliate network.
• Awin: A large, global affiliate network.
• CJ Affiliate: Also called Commission Junction.

Each platform has different rates, cookie times, and payment rules. This makes it hard to compare the program to others. Why? Because there is not one single program. There are four different versions of it.

The Application Process Is Messy

Signing up for the direct AliExpress Portals program can be very annoying. When you apply, they send you to several websites. One of them uses a .ru domain, which is Russian. This feels sketchy right away.

You give them your email for a code to finish your application. Then, you wait. You wait some more.

Many people who apply never hear back about being accepted. AliExpress seems to struggle with the huge number of applications. Maybe they don’t have enough staff for the affiliate program.

My take: If they cannot handle the simple application process, imagine needing help with tracking or payment problems. This is a major warning sign.

The affiliate network paths (Awin, FlexOffers, CJ) are smoother. You are dealing with well-known networks that actually reply to people who want to promote products.

Commission Structure: The Fake “90%” Claim

Let’s talk about the money you will actually earn. This is where AliExpress uses tricky marketing. It is misleading on purpose.

Here is the breakdown of commissions across the platforms:

• AliExpress Portals (Direct): Up to 90% on special “hot products.”
• FlexOffers: 6% to 10% commissions.
• Awin: 2.4% to 7%, based on the product type.
• CJ Affiliate: 4% flat rate worldwide.

Do you see that “up to 90%” claim? Let’s be totally honest about what it really means.

That 90% rate applies only to select “hot products.” These are usually items on a limited-time sale. They might be expensive electronics or clothing items. These products make up maybe 0.01% of the whole AliExpress catalog.

For the rest of the items—the 99.99% you will actually promote—expect to earn between 2% and 4%.

Here is the math on typical sales:

• A $10 product at 3% commission gives you $0.30 per sale.
• A $25 product at 3% commission gives you $0.75 per sale.
• A $50 product at 4% commission gives you $2.00 per sale.

You must send massive amounts of traffic to the site to earn any real money with these small rates.

Compare this to Amazon Associates. They pay 4% to 10%. Or compare it to special e-commerce programs that pay 10% to 20%. AliExpress’s real commission rates are among the lowest in all of affiliate marketing.

Bottom line: The 90% commission is just marketing bait. Do not make your decision based on big numbers that don’t apply to what your audience buys.

Cookie Duration: Session vs. 3-Day Windows

The cookie duration controls how long you get credit for a sale after someone clicks your link. This is extremely important for tracking conversions.

AliExpress’s cookie duration changes based on the platform:

• AliExpress Portals (Direct): Session-based (The cookie dies when the browser closes).
• FlexOffers: Session-based (The cookie dies when the browser closes).
• Awin: 3 days.
• CJ Affiliate: 3 days.

Session-based cookies are terrible for affiliates. What if someone clicks your link, looks at products, closes their browser to think, and then buys an hour later? You earn nothing. The cookie ended when they closed the browser.

The 3-day cookie through Awin and CJ is a bit better, but still very short. Compare this to Amazon’s 24-hour cookie. Some programs give you 30 or even 90 days.

Pattern we see repeatedly: Shorter cookie times mean you only earn money from people who buy right away. Anyone who looks around, checks prices, or thinks about it overnight before buying will not give you credit.

Because AliExpress has long shipping times and quality concerns, most buyers do not buy impulsively. They research, read reviews, and compare sellers. This decision process usually takes longer than your short cookie window.

Payment Terms and Processing

If you do earn commissions, here is when and how you get paid:

• No minimum payout threshold: You get payments no matter how little you earn.
• Monthly payment schedule: Paid once per month at the end of the month.
• NET 60 payment terms: Your earnings are paid 60 days after the month you earned them.
• Bank wire transfer only: There is no PayPal option.

That NET 60 timeline means very long delays for your money. Did you earn $100 in January? You will receive that payment at the end of March—a full 60+ days later.

The need for a bank wire transfer also causes problems. International wire transfers usually cost $15 to $30 for each transaction. If you earned $50 in commissions, you are paying $20 in fees just to get your money.

Let’s be honest: These payment terms are some of the worst in affiliate marketing. Most other programs pay NET 30 through PayPal. They usually have no transfer fees.

Available Marketing Materials

AliExpress gives you basic affiliate creative assets through their networks:

• Banner ads: Different sizes promoting deals and products.
• Product links: Direct links to specific items with tracking.
• Deep links: Links to specific search results or product groups.
• Data feeds: XML or CSV files of their product lists.
• API integration: For people with advanced technical skills.

The quality of these materials is fine, but not special. Nothing here will greatly improve your conversion rates.

The AliPlugin for WordPress

AliExpress sells a WordPress plugin called AliPlugin for $47. They used to market it at $99. That $99 price likely never really existed.

The plugin includes these features:

• Custom website themes for affiliate sites.
• Functionality for filtering products.
• Automatic product updates.
• Instant posting capabilities.

Here is the main problem: Support is almost nonexistent. Do you run into technical issues? You are on your own. AliExpress support rarely replies to affiliates.

My take: Do not build your whole affiliate plan around a plugin that has no support. If it breaks or stops working, you will be stuck.

Who Can Actually Join?

AliExpress technically accepts applications from:

• Bloggers and content creators.
• Social media influencers.
• Coupon and deal sites.
• Agencies.
• Anyone with an online presence and traffic.

They have not posted any minimum traffic requirements. However, approval seems random. Some big websites with lots of traffic get rejected. Others with minimal presence get approved.

Key insight: Apply through affiliate networks (Awin, FlexOffers, CJ) instead of directly. Network applications have clearer rules and faster response times.

What Actually Makes Money on AliExpress?

If you decide to promote AliExpress despite the issues, some product groups sell better than others:

• Electronics and gadgets: Smartphones, accessories, and smart home tools.
• Fashion and accessories: Jewelry, watches, and clothes.
• Home and garden: Decor, tools, and things for organizing.
• Toys and hobbies: RC vehicles, collectibles, and craft supplies.
• Beauty and personal care: Makeup, skincare, and hair tools.

Focus on products where the price is the biggest factor in the buying choice. Buyers who are willing to wait 3 to 4 weeks for delivery are looking to save money. They are hunting for deals.

Do not promote products where quality, authenticity, or fast delivery are important. You will get clicks but very few sales.

Pros and Cons

Let’s ignore the marketing talk and discuss what truly works and what doesn’t.

The Few Advantages

• Product variety is huge. With 150+ million items, you can find things in almost any niche you can imagine. Selection is not the problem.
• Low pricing attracts attention. Products cost 30% to 70% less than the same items on Amazon. People who care about price will click these links.
• No minimum payout means you get paid even if you earn very little. But remember, the wire transfer fees will eat up small earnings anyway.
• Deep linking lets you link to specific products, categories, or search results. You don’t have to just link to the main homepage.
• Global shipping means you can promote to audiences all over the world. But the long shipping times are still a major issue.

The Significant Problems

• Commission rates are extremely low. That 2% to 4% on cheap items means you earn $0.30 to $2 per sale. You need huge sales to make a real income.
• The 90% commission claim is misleading. It sets false hopes. Most products pay 2% to 4%, nowhere near 90%.
• Session-based cookies (on the direct and FlexOffers sites) mean you lose credit when users close their browser. This is awful for sales.
• NET 60 payment terms delay your earnings by more than 60 days. When combined with wire transfer fees, this payment structure is punishing.
• The application process is confusing and unreliable. Many affiliates never get a response about their status.
• Support is basically nonexistent. If you have payment or tracking problems, you will have trouble getting an answer.
• Long shipping times (2–6 weeks) hurt sales rates. Modern buyers expect 2- or 3-day delivery.
• Product quality is wildly inconsistent. One seller might be great, another might be terrible. Both could be under the same product listing.
• The commission setup is complicated across multiple platforms. This makes planning difficult.

Bottom line: The problems are much greater than the benefits for most affiliates. AliExpress only makes sense if you run a massive coupon or deal site. In that case, huge sales volume makes up for the tiny commissions. It also works if you are dropshipping and setting your own prices.

Should You Actually Promote AliExpress?

Let’s be direct about who this program works for and who should avoid it.

Consider AliExpress if:

• You run a very high-traffic deal or coupon site. You get 100,000+ visitors per month. High volume can beat low commission rates when you send massive traffic.
• You are building a dropshipping business. You control the final price. AliExpress’s low wholesale prices create great profit margins for dropshippers.
• You promote to audiences in developing countries who are very sensitive to price. Buyers might wait a month for delivery to save a lot of money.
• You are trying to use many different programs. You see AliExpress as extra income, not your main source of money.

Skip AliExpress if:

• You want to build an affiliate business that earns meaningful commissions. Almost every other major e-commerce program pays better.
• You have limited traffic. Low rates on cheap products mean you need huge volume to earn anything real.
• You want reliable payments and good support. AliExpress fails on both of these.
• You sell products where your audience cares about quality, authenticity, or fast shipping. AliExpress struggles in all three areas.
• You need predictable monthly income. That 90% claim creates false hope. The reality is $0.30 per sale.

My take: I have reviewed dozens of e-commerce affiliate programs. AliExpress is one of the least attractive for real affiliate marketers. The combination of misleading marketing, tiny payouts, terrible cookie duration, slow payments, and no support makes this program very hard to recommend.

The only people who succeed with AliExpress are huge sites. They generate tens of thousands of sales each month. In that scenario, even $0.30 per sale adds up. Dropshippers also use it for sourcing, but not for affiliate commissions.

How to Sign Up (If You Still Want To)

If you decide to proceed even after reading about the problems, here is the process:

Option 1: Direct Through AliExpress Portals

• Go to the AliExpress affiliate page. Click “Register” or “Start Earning.”
• You will be sent to the account creation page.
• Give your location, email address, and create a password. This takes a few minutes.
• After your account is made, you will list your websites or social media pages. Then, you wait for approval. You might never hear back.

Warning: This path gives you the worst experience. The application process is broken for many people. Buttons don’t work, and the redirects are confusing.

Option 2: Through Affiliate Networks (Recommended)

Join through established affiliate networks for easier application processing:

For Awin:

1. Create an Awin publisher account at awin.com.
2. Search for “AliExpress” in the list of advertisers.
3. Apply to join the AliExpress program through Awin.
4. Wait for approval (usually 3 to 7 days).

For FlexOffers:

1. Sign up as a FlexOffers publisher.
2. Look through the available programs and find AliExpress.
3. Apply for the program.
4. Get your approval notification.

For CJ Affiliate:

1. Create a CJ publisher account.
2. Search for “AliExpress” in the advertisers list.
3. Send in your application.
4. Wait for the review.

Key insight: Network applications have clearer rules, faster responses, and actual support when you need it. Always choose the network route over applying directly.

Alternatives That Actually Pay Better

Are you wondering what else to promote? These e-commerce affiliate programs offer a much better chance of earning money:

Amazon Associates

Amazon Associates is the main alternative to AliExpress. It has a massive product selection. People already know and trust the Amazon brand. Amazon offers 4% to 10% commissions. They have a 24-hour cookie duration. Their fast 2-day shipping helps sales convert better.

Most buyers already trust Amazon and shop there often because of Prime. The commission rates are better than AliExpress on most products. The 24-hour cookie is short but still much better than AliExpress’s session-based tracking.

• Best for: General e-commerce affiliates who sell many types of products. Use this if your audience wants fast shipping.

eBay Partner Network

This is another large online store. It features auctions and fixed-price items in countless niches. eBay lets you create flexible links and banners. It also offers geo-targeting.

Commissions are based on eBay’s seller fees. This works out to about 4% to 9% depending on the category. The site has as many types of products as AliExpress. However, it has much better quality control and buyer protection.

• Best for: People who look for deals and bargains. It also works for audiences who are comfortable with auction-style buying.

Temu Affiliate Program

Temu offers very low prices, similar to AliExpress. It focuses on viral, budget-friendly items. Temu uses aggressive promotions. The site provides ready-made ads and social media deals that work well on mobile.

Temu’s big marketing budget makes the brand well-known. This helps affiliates make sales. Commission rates are usually better than AliExpress. They still keep the prices low.

• Best for: Social media influencers and content creators. Use this if your audience mainly shops on their phones for bargain deals.

Key insight: Almost every alternative listed here gives you better commission rates. They also have more reliable tracking, faster payments, and real affiliate support. Unless you have a specific reason to use AliExpress (like dropshipping or huge traffic), you will earn more promoting almost anything else.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can I realistically earn with AliExpress?

Most affiliates earn $0.30 to $2 per sale. The real commission rates are 2% to 4% on normal products. The “up to 90%” rate is for fewer than 0.01% of all items. You need a huge amount of traffic—tens of thousands of visitors each month—to earn any meaningful income.

How do I make money with the AliExpress affiliate program?

You promote products on your website, blog, YouTube channel, social media, or email list. You include your tracking links. When someone clicks your link and buys within the cookie window, you earn a commission. Because the rates are so low, you must focus on strategies that bring in very high traffic volume.

Are Alibaba and AliExpress the same site?

No. Alibaba focuses on B2B. That means businesses buying in bulk. AliExpress is for individual customers shopping for single items. Both are owned by the Alibaba Group, but they serve different needs.

Which affiliate network offers the best AliExpress commission rates?

FlexOffers usually offers the highest rates, from 6% to 10%. CJ pays a flat 4%. Awin ranges from 2.4% to 7%. You must compare the commission rate against the cookie duration when choosing. Remember, FlexOffers uses terrible session-based cookies.

Why is the AliExpress affiliate application process so confusing?

The direct AliExpress Portals signup process is badly designed. It has broken features and confusing redirects. Many affiliates never get a response about their approval. You should use affiliate networks (Awin, FlexOffers, CJ) instead. They provide easier applications and real support.