About AvantLink

AvantLink is a premium affiliate marketing network founded in 2005 and headquartered in Park City, Utah. Unlike other networks that focus on volume, AvantLink distinguishes itself by focusing on quality over quantity, maintaining strict standards for both its merchant partners and affiliate publishers.

It is widely recognized as the leading network for the Outdoor, Fitness, and Lifestyle industries, hosting major brands like REI, Patagonia, Backcountry, and Yeti. The platform operates three distinct networks for the United States, Canada, and Australia.

AvantLink Affiliate Program Overview

AvantLink operates as an intermediary network that connects independent publishers (affiliates) with merchant brands.

Feature Description
Industry Primarily Outdoor, Sports, Fitness, & Lifestyle (e.g., Hiking, Cycling, Snow sports). Also covers Tech and Eco-friendly goods.
Product Type Physical Goods (Apparel, Gear, Equipment) and some Digital Services.
Affiliate Program Type Affiliate Network (Aggregates multiple merchant programs under one login).

AvantLink Affiliate Program Offers

AvantLink provides robust tools and maintains strict quality controls for traffic sources.

Feature Description
Promotional Materials Banners, Text Ads, Datafeeds (API), Custom Tracking Links, Coupon Codes, Widget Builders.
Affiliate Cookie Duration Merchant Dependent (Typically ranges from 30 to 120 days; e.g., REI offers 30 days, others may offer more).
Accepted Traffic Source Content Sites (Blogs/Reviews), Social Media (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok), Email (Verified lists only).
Accepted Countries The network has specific platforms for US, Canada, and Australia. Affiliates can be global, but traffic must target these regions.
Explicit Content No. Strictly prohibited.
Religious or Political Content Generally Allowed, provided it is not offensive or hateful (subject to individual merchant approval).

AvantLink Affiliate Commissions & Payments

The network offers a reliable payment schedule and standard commission structures.

Feature Description
MLM No (Single-tier affiliate marketing).
Commission Rate Varies by Merchant. Typically 5% – 20%. (e.g., Major retailers like REI may be ~5%, while niche brands offer 15%+).
Commission Structure CPS (Cost Per Sale). You get paid a percentage of the final sale amount.
Payout Frequency Monthly. Payments are processed on the 25th of the month.
Payout Methods Direct Deposit (ACH), PayPal, and Tipalti (International Bank Transfer).
Minimum Payout $25 USD.

Suitable Affiliates for AvantLink Affiliate

Because AvantLink focuses on high-quality partnerships and “enthusiast” markets, it is most suitable for content creators who have a genuine connection to the outdoor/lifestyle niche.

  • Bloggers: Especially those in hiking, camping, survival, cycling, or fitness niches.
  • YouTubers: Gear reviewers, outdoor adventure vloggers, and tutorial creators.
  • Influencers (KOL/KOC): Instagram and TikTok creators focusing on “Van Life,” sports, or eco-conscious living.
  • Livestreamers: Creators streaming outdoor activities or gear setups.
  • Video Editors: Less common as direct affiliates unless they run a channel/site about video gear (AvantLink has some tech/photo merchants).

AvantLink Affiliate Software

AvantLink does not use third-party software like Impact or TUNE. Instead, they use their own in-house proprietary technology (often praised for its robust API and “Arches” platform interface). This allows them to build custom tools like the “AvantMetrics” attribution system.

3 Alternatives for AvantLink Affiliate Program

Here is a comparison with three major alternative networks: ShareASale, CJ Affiliate (Commission Junction), and Impact.

Comparison Factor AvantLink ShareASale CJ Affiliate Impact
Average Bill (AOV) High (Outdoor gear is expensive) Medium/Varied (Huge mix of low & high ticket) High (Many enterprise brands) High (Tech & SaaS brands)
Entry Fees (Affiliate) Free (But strict approval) Free (Easy approval) Free (Moderate approval) Free (Moderate approval)
Withdrawal Threshold $25 $50 $50 (Direct Deposit) / $100 (Check) $10 (Lowest threshold)
Payment Frequency Monthly (25th) Monthly (20th) Monthly (20th) Monthly or Bi-Weekly (Flexible)
Commission ~5-20% (Niche focus) Varies (1-50%+) Varies (3-30%+) Varies (Dynamic contracts)
Conversion High (Targeted enthusiast traffic) Varied (Depends on niche) High (Trustworthy big brands) High (Advanced tracking help)
Marketing Materials Advanced (API, Datafeeds) Standard (Banners, Links) Standard + Deep Linking Advanced (Promo codes, tracking)