About CJ
CJ (formerly Commission Junction) is one of the world’s oldest and most established affiliate marketing networks. Founded in 1998 in Santa Barbara, California, it is currently a subsidiary of Publicis Groupe, a global leader in communication. CJ acts as an intermediary that connects thousands of advertisers (brands) with publishers (affiliates) to drive sales and leads.
Over the years, the brand has evolved from a simple affiliate network into a comprehensive performance marketing ecosystem. It is known for its “Content Certification” program, which vets high-quality publishers, and its deep data insights that help enterprise-level brands optimize their partnerships. CJ is widely respected for its reliability, timely payments, and portfolio of premium, Fortune 500 brands.
CJ Affiliate Program Overview
CJ operates as a massive marketplace where you can apply to individual programs hosted by different brands. It covers almost every vertical imaginable.
| Feature | Details |
| Industry | Affiliate Marketing Network / Performance Marketing |
| Product Type | Diverse: Covers Retail, Travel, Finance, Software, Home Services, Fashion, Tech, and B2B services. |
| Affiliate Program Type | Primarily CPA (Cost Per Action) (Sale/Lead), but also supports CPL (Cost Per Lead) and Pay-Per-Call. |
CJ Affiliate Program Offers
Once you join the network, you must apply to individual advertisers. The specific terms (cookie duration, allowed traffic) are set by each advertiser, but the network provides the framework.
| Feature | Details |
| Promotional Materials | Varies by Merchant: Standard banners, text links, deep links, product widgets, and HTML/Javascript code snippets. |
| Affiliate Cookie Duration | Varies by Merchant: Advertisers set their own windows, typically ranging from 1 day to 90 days (30 days is a common standard). |
| Accepted Traffic Source | Websites, Social Media, Email, & Search: Most advertisers accept blogs and social media. Paid search (PPC) and coupon sites are often restricted or require special approval. |
| Accepted Countries | Global: CJ accepts affiliates from almost every country, provided they can receive payments via the supported methods. |
| Explicit Content | Prohibited: The Publisher Service Agreement bans obscene, sexually explicit, or pornographic content. |
| Religious/Political Content | Restricted: Content that is deemed “hate-oriented,” “bigoted,” or “violent” is banned. Standard political or religious discussion is generally permitted, but individual brands may refuse to partner with polarized sites. |
CJ Affiliate Commissions & Payments
CJ is known for its reliable “Net 20” payment schedule, meaning they pay out commissions for a given month around the 20th of the following month.
| Feature | Details |
| MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) | No: It is not an MLM. However, they do offer a “Publisher Referral” program where you earn for referring other affiliates. |
| Commission Rate | Varies by Merchant: Rates are set by the brand. Physical products usually range from 3%–10%, while software/digital services can go up to 30%–50%. |
| Commission Structure | Performance-Based: mostly % of Sale or Flat Fee per Lead. Some advertisers offer tiered bonuses for high volume. |
| Payout Frequency | Monthly: Payments are sent around the 20th and 28th of each month. |
| Payout Methods | Direct Deposit (Bank Transfer), Check, and Payoneer (for international affiliates). Note: PayPal is not supported. |
| Minimum Payout | 100 for Checks. |
Suitable Affiliates for CJ Affiliate
CJ is a professional network that favors established content creators. It is “suitable” for anyone with an audience, but “ideal” for those with consistent traffic due to strict advertiser approvals.
- Bloggers: (Ideal) Especially in niches like tech, finance, lifestyle, and travel where high-ticket items are common.
- YouTubers: (Suitable) Can use deep links in descriptions for tech reviews, tutorials, and hauls.
- Influencers (IG/Twitter): (Suitable) CJ has specific tools for influencers, but you often need a verified or high-quality account to get approved by premium brands.
- TikTokers: (Growing) CJ has recently integrated more influencer-friendly tools, but deep-linking on TikTok remains a challenge compared to blogs.
- KOC / KOL: (Ideal) Key Opinion Leaders with high trust can drive the sales volume needed to stay active in CJ programs.
- Video Editors / Livestreamers: (Niche) Suitable if promoting relevant software or gear (e.g., cameras, editing software) available on the network.
CJ Affiliate Software
CJ is the software provider. They do not use a third-party tool like Impact or Tune; they built and maintain their own enterprise-grade tracking, reporting, and payment platform. This allows for deep data insights and cross-device tracking that many smaller networks cannot match.
3 Alternatives for CJ Affiliate Program
Here is a comparison of CJ against three major competitors: ShareASale (great for beginners/SMBs), Impact (modern, tech-focused), and Rakuten Advertising (premium brands).
| Factor | CJ Affiliate | ShareASale | Impact | Rakuten Advertising |
| Entry Fees (for Affiliates) | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Average Order Value (AOV) | High (Many premium/enterprise brands) | Medium (Mix of SMBs and some large brands) | High (Tech/SaaS & big retail brands) | Very High (Focus on luxury & fashion) |
| Withdrawal Threshold | $50 (Direct Deposit) | $50 | $10 (Electronic Funds Transfer) | $50 |
| Payment Frequency | Monthly (Net 20) | Monthly (Net 20) | Monthly (Flexible dates) | Weekly or Monthly (Varies) |
| Commission Rates | 3% – 50% (Varies widely by merchant) | 5% – 20% (Generally good for retail) | Varies (Often high for SaaS/Tech) | Varies (Often lower % on high-ticket items) |
| Conversion Rates | High (Trusted big-name brands convert well) | Medium (Niche products may vary) | High (Advanced tracking helps optimize) | Medium-High (Depends on luxury demand) |
| Marketing Materials | Deep links, Banners, Widgets | Banners, Text Links, Datafeeds | Promo codes, Vanity URLs, Deep links | Deep links, Banners, Rotating Feeds |
