About ClickBank
Founded in 1998, ClickBank is one of the oldest and most established affiliate networks and e-commerce platforms in the world. Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, it acts as a global marketplace connecting “Sellers” (product creators) with “Affiliates” (marketers).
ClickBank is famous for its vast library of digital products (such as e-books, software, and online courses) and high-converting physical products (such as health supplements). It is widely regarded as an excellent starting point for new affiliate marketers because it does not require an approval process for most products and offers an integrated payment processing system.
ClickBank Affiliate Program Overview
ClickBank operates as an open marketplace, making it unique compared to traditional CPA networks that require individual offers to approve you.
| Feature | Details |
| Industry | E-commerce / Digital Marketing / Affiliate Marketing |
| Product Type | Digital Products (E-books, Video Courses, Software) & Physical Products (Supplements, Gadgets) |
| Affiliate Program Type | Affiliate Network / Marketplace (Acts as an intermediary between vendors and affiliates) |
ClickBank Affiliate Program Offers
ClickBank provides a robust environment for affiliates with fewer restrictions than many competitors.
| Feature | Details |
| Promotional Materials | Provided by individual vendors via “Affiliate Tools” pages. Typically includes Hoplinks (tracking links), email swipes, banners, landing pages, and VSLs (Video Sales Letters). |
| Affiliate Cookie Duration | 60 Days (Standard for most products). |
| Accepted Traffic Sources | Broadly Accepted: Social Media (organic & paid), Email Lists, SEO/Blogging, YouTube, Native Ads, PPC (Google/Bing).
Note: Spamming and misleading ad copy are strictly prohibited. |
| Accepted Countries | Global (150+ Countries).
Note: Some high-risk countries may be restricted from receiving payments (e.g., parts of Africa or the Middle East depending on banking regulations), though affiliates often use services like Payoneer to bridge this. |
| Explicit Content | Prohibited. ClickBank does not allow the sale or promotion of sexually explicit materials or adult content. |
| Religious or Political Content | Restricted. While products about politics or religion (e.g., survival guides or spiritual books) are allowed, content that promotes hate speech, discrimination, or illegal activities based on religion or politics is strictly prohibited in the Client Contract. |
ClickBank Affiliate Commissions & Payments
ClickBank is famous for its reliability; they have never missed a payment in over 25 years.
| Feature | Details |
| MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) | No. (It is a single-tier affiliate program, though some vendors offer 2nd tier commissions, it is not an MLM structure). |
| Commission Rate | High. Typically 50% to 75% per sale. (Some digital products offer up to 90%). |
| Commission Structure | RevShare (Percentage of sale) or CPA (Cost Per Action / Flat fee per sale). Recurring commissions are available on subscription products. |
| Payout Frequency | Weekly or Bi-Weekly. |
| Payout Methods | Check, Direct Deposit (ACH/International XACH), Wire Transfer, Payoneer. |
| Minimum Payout | $10 (You can set your own threshold between $10 and $1,000,000). |
Suitable Affiliates for ClickBank Affiliate
ClickBank’s products are often “impulse buy” items with high-converting Video Sales Letters (VSL), making them suitable for:
- Bloggers: Especially those in “How-to,” Health, Fitness, Self-Help, and Wealth niches.
- TikTokers: Short-form content works well for visual physical products (like weight loss supplements) or “make money online” tips.
- KOC (Key Opinion Consumers): Everyday users who review products honestly can drive high trust and sales for ClickBank’s consumer goods.
- KOL (Key Opinion Leaders): Experts in specific niches (e.g., a Keto diet coach) can easily monetize their authority with relevant ClickBank courses or diet plans.
- Influencers: Lifestyle influencers can promote supplements or manifestation/spirituality offers which are popular on the platform.
- YouTubers: Review channels and tutorial channels (e.g., “How to train your dog”) are highly effective for selling digital guides.
- Video Editors: Can create compelling ad creatives for other affiliates or vendors (ClickBank offers are heavy on video marketing).
- Livestreamers: Can demonstrate products live or answer questions about courses to close sales in real-time.
ClickBank Affiliate Software
ClickBank uses its own proprietary In-House Affiliate Management Software and Marketplace.
Detail: They built their own tracking, reporting, and payment system from the ground up. Affiliates use the “ClickBank Analytics” dashboard to track “Hops” (clicks), sales, and earnings per click (EPC) in real-time.
3 Alternatives for ClickBank Affiliate Program
Here is a comparison between ClickBank and three major competitors: JVZoo, WarriorPlus, and CJ Affiliate.
| Comparison Factor | ClickBank | JVZoo | WarriorPlus | CJ Affiliate |
| Focus / Niche | Broad (Health, Wealth, Relationships) | Digital Marketing, Software, PLR | “Make Money Online” (MMO), BizOpp | Major Brands, Retail, Web Hosting |
| Average Bill (AOV) | $50 – $150 (High due to supplements) | $30 – $60 (Digital tools often cheaper) | $20 – $100 (Low front-end, high upsells) | $100 – $200+ (Depends on brand) |
| Entry Fees | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Withdrawal Threshold | $10 | $50 | $15 (Varies by vendor payout rules) | $50 (Direct Deposit) |
| Payment Frequency | Weekly / Bi-Weekly | Varies (Instant PayPal or Delayed) | Varies (Instant PayPal or Wallet) | Monthly |
| Commission | 50% – 75% (Standard) | 50% – 100% (Often 100% on front-end) | 50% – 100% (High on front-end) | 5% – 30% (Lower, but on big brands) |
| Conversion | Moderate to High (Aggressive VSLs) | High (Targeted B2B audiences) | High (Warm traffic/Email lists) | Moderate (Standard E-commerce) |
| Marketing Materials | VSLs, Email Swipes, Affiliate Pages | Banners, Email Swipes, Webinars | Email Swipes, Bonus Pages | Standard Banners, Deep Links |
