About Nike
Nike, Inc. is a globally recognized American corporation headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, that specializes in the design, development, manufacturing, and worldwide marketing and sales of athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories. Founded in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight, it officially became Nike, Inc. in 1971, taking its name from the Greek goddess of victory.
Nike has grown to become the world’s largest supplier of athletic shoes and apparel. The brand is deeply associated with innovation, quality, and high-profile athlete sponsorships, solidified by its iconic “Swoosh” logo and the enduring tagline, “Just Do It.” The company targets a broad audience, from professional athletes to the general public, across various sports and lifestyle segments.
Nike Affiliate Program Overview
The Nike Affiliate Program is a partnership opportunity that allows approved individuals, content creators, bloggers, influencers, and website owners to earn commissions by promoting a wide range of Nike products to their audience.
Affiliates use unique tracking links to drive traffic to the Nike online store and earn a percentage of sales resulting from those referrals. The program offers the advantage of promoting a globally recognized and highly trusted brand with a vast, high-demand product catalog.
| Factor | Detail |
| Industry | Sports Footwear, Apparel, Accessories, and Equipment (Athleisure/Fitness) |
| Product Type | Physical Products (Shoes, Clothing, Gear) |
| Affiliate Program Type | Cost Per Sale (CPS) |
Nike Affiliate Program Offers
The program provides affiliates with the tools and terms necessary to effectively promote the brand. Note that specific terms like commission rates and cookie duration can vary significantly based on the affiliate network, the affiliate’s location, and the product category being promoted.
| Factor | Detail (Approximate/Common Terms) |
| Promotional Materials | Banners, category-specific banners, text links, automated product feeds, and sometimes early access to promotions/product launches. |
| Affiliate Cookie Duration | Varies significantly: commonly 7 to 30 days. (Some networks report 1-day or 7-day, others report 30-day). |
| Accepted Traffic Source | Websites, blogs, social media, YouTube, email marketing, content creators (video/photo), display advertising. Generally, incentivized/forced clicks are not allowed. |
| Accepted Countries | Global brand, but program availability and specific terms are managed through regional affiliate networks (e.g., US, UK, Australia, various European and Asian countries). |
| Explicit Content | Generally not accepted. Affiliates must maintain content quality that aligns with Nike’s brand values. |
| Religious or political content | Generally not accepted. Content must align with the brand’s professional and athletic focus. |
Nike Affiliate Commissions & Payments
The commission structure for the Nike Affiliate Program is based on a percentage of the sale value. It is generally competitive, but commission rates can be lower than those for lesser-known brands, reflecting the high conversion rate associated with promoting a globally dominant brand.
| Factor | Detail (Approximate/Common Terms) |
| MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) | No. This is a standard affiliate program (single tier). |
| Commission Rate | Varies: Commonly 5% to 11% per sale (often tiered by product category or affiliate performance). Some reports show a base of 10%, with up to 15% for top performers. |
| Commission Structure | Percentage of sale value (Per Sale basis). No recurring/residual commissions. |
| Payout Frequency | Monthly (Typical for affiliate networks). |
| Payout Methods | Varies by affiliate network (e.g., PayPal, Direct Deposit/BACS, Check, Payoneer). |
| Minimum Payout | Varies by network; commonly around $50. |
Suitable Affiliates for Nike Affiliate
The Nike Affiliate Program is highly suitable for content creators and platforms that focus on areas aligned with sports, fitness, and lifestyle, as they have an audience already interested in Nike’s product categories.
| Affiliate Type | Suitability | Rationale |
| Bloggers | High | Fitness, running, athleisure, or sneaker review/fashion blogs. |
| TikTokers | High | Short-form video content showcasing products, styling, or workout routines. |
| KOC (Key Opinion Consumer) | High | Authenticity in product reviews and unboxing appeals to niche audiences. |
| KOL (Key Opinion Leader) | High | Credibility in fitness, fashion, or sports segments drives strong conversions. |
| Influencers | High | Lifestyle, fitness, and fashion influencers with engaged social media audiences. |
| YouTubers | High | Product reviews, “what to wear” videos, training guides, and style hauls. |
| Video editors | Low-Medium | While they create high-quality content, they need an owned platform (like YouTube or social media) to be a direct affiliate. |
| Livestreamers | High | Live product showcases, try-ons, and Q&A sessions, especially on platforms like Twitch or YouTube. |
Nike Affiliate Software
Nike typically does not use an in-house affiliate management software to run its global program directly. Instead, it partners with large, reputable third-party affiliate marketing networks (platforms) to manage and track its affiliate program across different regions.
Common affiliate networks that manage the Nike program include:
- Awin
- CJ Affiliate (Commission Junction)
- Rakuten Advertising
- FlexOffers
- Impact
Affiliates apply and manage their links, track performance, and receive payments through the chosen affiliate network’s dashboard.
3 Alternatives for Nike Affiliate Program
Three strong competitors and alternatives in the sportswear and apparel affiliate niche are Adidas, Under Armour, and Reebok. They offer similar product lines and represent highly recognizable brands that can be promoted to the same target audience.
Here is a comparison of their affiliate program factors:
| Comparison Factor | Nike Affiliate Program | Adidas Affiliate Program | Under Armour Affiliate Program | Reebok Affiliate Program |
| Average Bill (AOV) | High (Premium pricing) | High (Premium pricing) | High (Focus on performance gear) | Medium-High (Wide range of prices) |
| Entry Fees | $0 (Free to join through networks) | $0 (Free to join through networks) | $0 (Free to join through networks) | $0 (Free to join through networks) |
| Withdrawal Threshold | Varies by network (e.g., approx. $50) | Varies by network (e.g., approx. $50) | Varies by network (e.g., approx. $50) | Varies by network (e.g., approx. $50) |
| Payment Frequency | Monthly (Typical for networks) | Monthly (Typical for networks) | Monthly (Typical for networks) | Monthly (Typical for networks) |
| Commission | 5% – 11% (Variable by network/product) | 7% – 10% (Generally competitive) | 5% – 8% (Typical range) | 7% (Commonly reported) |
| Cookie Duration | 7 – 30 days (Variable by network) | 30 days (Commonly reported) | 30 days (Commonly reported) | 30 days (Commonly reported) |
| Marketing Materials | Banners, Text Links, Product Feeds, Deeplinks | Banners, Text Links, Product Feeds, Seasonal Ads | Banners, Text Links, Product Feeds, Promotions | Banners, Text Links, Product Feeds, Updates |
