About Zoho

Zoho Corporation is a multinational technology company that specializes in software development, cloud computing, and web-based business tools.

Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Chennai, India (with a major presence in the USA), Zoho offers a suite of over 55+ products designed to run an entire business—from CRM and mail to finance and HR.

The brand is well-known for its affordability, privacy-focused business model (they do not sell user data), and its comprehensive “operating system for business” known as Zoho One.

Zoho Affiliate Program Overview

The Zoho Affiliate Program allows partners to earn commissions by referring new customers to Zoho’s vast ecosystem of business apps. It is a straightforward performance-based program ideal for those in the B2B space.

Feature Details
Industry SaaS (Software as a Service) / Technology
Product Type Business Software & Digital Services (CRM, Mail, Books, etc.)
Affiliate Program Type CPS (Cost Per Sale) / Single-Tier

Zoho Affiliate Program Offers

Zoho provides a range of tools to help affiliates succeed, with a generous cookie duration that captures decisions made after the initial click.

Feature Details
Promotional Materials Banners, social media images, text links, and deep-link builders.
Affiliate Cookie Duration 90 Days
Accepted Traffic Source Blogs, Websites, Social Media, Email Newsletters, Video Tutorials.
Accepted Countries Worldwide (Global), excluding embargoed nations (e.g., North Korea, Iran).
Explicit Content Strictly Prohibited.
Religious or Political Content Generally Prohibited (Zoho prefers neutral, professional business environments).

Zoho Affiliate Commissions & Payments

The program offers a recurring commission model, which is highly attractive for promoting subscription-based software.

Feature Details
MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) No (This is a direct single-tier affiliate program).
Commission Rate 15% recurring commission.
Commission Structure 15% of the revenue from each qualified sale for the first 12 months of the customer’s subscription.
Payout Frequency On Request (You can request a payout once the threshold is met).
Payout Methods PayPal, Wire Transfer.
Minimum Payout $100

Suitable Affiliates for Zoho Affiliate

This program is B2B-focused, so it is best suited for creators who produce educational or business-related content.

  • Bloggers: Tech reviewers, business consultants, and niche bloggers (e.g., “Best CRM for Small Business”).
  • YouTubers: Channels focusing on software tutorials, productivity hacks, and business growth.
  • Influencers (LinkedIn/Twitter): Thought leaders in the startup, SaaS, and entrepreneurship space.
  • KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders): Industry experts whose recommendations hold weight in specific sectors (e.g., Finance experts promoting Zoho Books).
  • Video Editors: Can promote creative management tools or simply use their platform to recommend business suites.
  • Livestreamers: Tech Q&A hosts or business coaching streamers.
  • KOC (Key Opinion Consumers): Everyday users of Zoho products who share their genuine user experience.

Zoho Affiliate Software

Zoho uses an In-house Affiliate Management System. They do not rely on third-party networks like Impact or ShareASale for their main program. Instead, they use their own custom-built dashboard (often accessible via the Zoho Store or Zoho Affiliate portal) to track clicks, referrals, and payouts.

3 Alternatives for Zoho Affiliate Program

Below is a comparison of Zoho with three major competitors in the B2B SaaS space: HubSpot, Monday.com, and Freshworks.

Factors Zoho HubSpot Monday.com Freshworks
Average Bill Low/Medium (Affordable) High (Enterprise focus) Medium Medium
Entry Fees Free to join Free to join Free to join Free to join
Withdrawal Threshold $100 ~$10 – $50 (Varies) $25 $5 – $50
Payment Frequency On Request Monthly Monthly Monthly
Commission 15% recurring (12 mos) 30% recurring (up to 1 yr) Tiered: 25% – 100% (1st yr) 20% – 25% recurring (1st yr)
Conversion High (Due to free tier/low cost) Medium (High friction/cost) High (Visual/Viral product) Medium
Marketing Materials Good (Standard banners) Excellent (High-quality assets) Excellent (Dynamic assets) Good (Banners & whitepapers)

FAQs

1. Can I earn commission on my own Zoho subscription?

No, self-referrals are strictly prohibited. You cannot use your own affiliate link to purchase Zoho products for yourself or your own company.

2. How long does it take to get approved for the program?

Approvals are usually manual. It typically takes between 2 to 5 business days for the Zoho team to review your application and website/profile.

3. Does Zoho pay for free sign-ups?

No, Zoho uses a CPS (Cost Per Sale) model. You only earn a commission when a referral upgrades to a paid subscription plan. However, the 90-day cookie allows time for a free user to convert to paid.

4. What happens if a customer cancels their subscription after 3 months?

Since the commission is recurring for the first 12 months, you will stop receiving payments for that specific customer as soon as they cancel. You earn only while they are paying.

5. Is the Zoho Affiliate Program global?

Yes, you can refer customers from almost anywhere in the world. However, you must ensure that your referrals are not located in US-embargoed countries (like North Korea, Syria, or Iran), as Zoho cannot do business there.