There are many ways to generate income online, and affiliate marketing is one of them. With affiliate marketing, you earn affiliate commissions by promoting the products and services of businesses through your content.
To succeed in affiliate marketing, choosing the right affiliate marketing programs, products, and services is essential. You should also offer competitive commission rates and provide high-quality marketing materials.
In this article, we will look closely at 10 of the top UK affiliate programs you can join.
Let’s begin!
Maximise Earnings with Top 10 Best UK Affiliate Programs
We can say that the best use of affiliate marketing is to reach more customers and increase sales.
For any UK merchants who want to start, consider using UpPromote – the most favored affiliate marketing app on Shopify.
UpPromote empowers UK merchants to create and manage effective affiliate programs. You can flexibly set commission rules, decide who promotes your brand, manage payouts, and track overall performance.
Awin
Coming at the top of the list best 10 UK affiliate programs is the Awin affiliate network. Awin is a leading affiliate marketing network that has won the Publishers’ Choice of Network award at the Performance Marketing Awards 14 times in 16 years. It is part of a more extensive network that includes ShareASale and Affilinet.
In 2022, Awin paid out £920 million in commissions to its 241,000 publishers. The network adds 260 new affiliates every day.
Awin offers various advertisers, from finance and fashion to tech and web services. It is open to traditional publishers, vloggers, bloggers, affiliate marketing on social media enthusiasts, and extensive media houses.
You don’t need a website. Awin accepts affiliates from social media like YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest. Their compliance team reviews all affiliate applications, and there’s a $5 deposit to join, which you get back after earning enough commissions.
- Commission/ cookie: Varied based on rates decided by sellers on the network
- When you get paid: on the 1st and 15th of every month for the previous month’s commissions
- Payment threshold: 20$
- Payment method: BACS, international wire transfer, or ACH
- Brands: MyProtein, LookFantastic, Marks & Spencer, Clarks, The Hut Group, Asos, Glossybox, Boots, Boohoo
CJ Affiliate
CJ is a major affiliate network holding 8.14% of the market share. It collaborates with prominent brands such as Priceline, J.Crew, and Barnes & Noble. It offers a wide range of products and services to promote, suitable to any UK affiliate marketer.
CJ is easy to join and get started, and the affiliate platforms offers a variety of tools and resources to help affiliates succeed.
Individuals in CJ’s affiliate program gain access to popular brands and tools to make money for their online business. The commission rates vary, and CJ provides advanced features like ads, omnichannel tracking link, and a user-friendly onboarding process for joining programs and quickly making sales.
- Commission/ cookie: Varied depending on the seller’s commission rates
- When you get paid: on the 15th of every month
- Payment threshold: 50$
- Payment method: Direct deposit, check, Payoneer
- Brands: Sainsbury, Argos, Puma, Dell
Rakuten Advertising
Rakuten is a cashback website that pays people for shopping through it. It’s becoming trendy and made $3.4 billion in revenue in Q2 2021, up 15.8% from last year. It’s the third most popular affiliate networks at 7.85% market share
Like Amazon Affiliates, Rakuten’s UK affiliate program works with over 2,500 stores, so you can promote their stuff and earn money. They offer three types of commissions to help you sell more.
As a Rakuten’s UK affiliate, you get helpful tools and insights to improve your campaigns. You can promote products from different brands and earn three to seven percent commissions for each sale or action.
The program offers a 90-day window for you to earn commissions, and you can get paid through direct deposit or PayPal once you’ve earned at least $50.
Moreover, Rakuten’s affiliate partner program offers three commission options to help you boost your sales:
Dynamic Commissioning: give you information about the advertiser’s goals and how much you’ll earn as revenue increases.
Coupon Commissioning: control and track coupon code rules more effectively with this option.
Multi-touch Commissioning: receive credit for your role in the customer’s journey, no matter when it happens.
- Commission/ Cookie: Varied depending on the merchant’s commission rates
- When you get paid: After 90 days only pays out after Rakuten receives the commission from the sellers
- Payment threshold: 50$
- Payment method: Direct deposit or Check
- Brands: NARS Cosmetics, Fully, OPI, Virgin Wines, Udemy, COS
ShareASale
Top fourth of the list of UK affiliate programs, ShareASale is an affiliate marketing network with over 2,500 programs available. What’s appealing is that signing up is free, and its user-friendly interface is perfect for newcomers to affiliate marketing when earning money with referral link.
It boasts various merchant partners across multiple niches, ensuring you’ll find relevant products to promote. Like other networks, ShareASale’s affiliate program offers diverse commission rates set by merchants.
Moreover, ShareASale has a few payout options and requires a website for affiliate sign-up.
- Commission/ Cookie: Varied depending on the advertisers
- When you get paid: on the monthly 20th (or the nearest business day)
- Payment threshold: 50$
- Payment method: Paper check, direct deposit, wire transfer, and Payoneer
- Brands: Smart Nora, Plus CBD Oil, Rockford Collection, Harber London
Skimlinks
Skimlinks collaborates with 60,000 publishers and 48,500 merchants globally, resulting in daily sales of £1.9 million.
Skimlinks sets itself apart from the mentioned UK affiliate programs and networks by providing access to all advertisers on its network. This saves time as you don’t need to apply individually for each program.
Your commission rate isn’t fixed; it varies based on the advertisers you feature on your site. Skimlinks negotiates with merchants for better rates. However, they charge 25% of your earnings for their services. Your earnings take three months to reach your bank account, longer than many other networks.
Despite the significant cut, for new affiliate marketers, Skimlinks can be valuable as they handle much of the work for you. The SKinlinks Editors Toolbar will show you the commission rate and create affiliate links. Also, their affiliate hub offers live reports displaying clicks, revenue per seller, and your top-performing material.
- Commission/ Cookie: varies
- When you get paid: about 3 months as Skimlinks need to be paid by the advertiser first
- Payment threshold: 65$
- Payment method: Direct deposit or PayPal
- Brands: Sephora, Dream Cloud, Hello Fresh
FlexOffers
FlexOffers is an affiliate network partnering with over 10,000 advertisers and 75,000 publisher programs across various categories and locations.
With access to data feeds and affiliate marketing tools providing up-to-date product info, affiliates can tap into a vast product range of 650 million items. The platform features a dedicated feed for promotions, making finding the latest deals and coupons from all advertisers easy.
For top performers, FlexOffers offers perks like weekly payments and provides live affiliate support and strategic account management. The FlexRev-Share program allows affiliates to earn more by referring new businesses and concepts to the platform using a revenue-sharing model.
- Commission: vary depending on the product or service being promoted, typically ranging from 5% to 20%
- Cookie: 30 days
- When you get paid:
- Payment threshold: 50$
- Payment method: Bank transfer, wire transfer, check, PayPal
Impact
Impact is a top-tier affiliate marketing platform, connecting over 2,500 partners across diverse sectors like retail, travel, beauty, fitness, and finance. It offers more than traditional affiliate networking, extending opportunities to bloggers, publishers, and influencers for brand campaigns and sponsorships.
Using advanced tracking technology, Impact enables affiliates to earn commissions through various actions, from retail sales to app installations and phone calls. Exclusive promotional codes ensure you earn commissions from sales made through your code, even if the purchase begins on another site.
Commissions vary depending on the products promoted, and you can withdraw on a specific date or once your earnings hit a predefined threshold of 50$.
- Commission: varies
- Cookie: 30 days
- When you get paid: 15th of each month for commissions earned in the previous month
- Payment threshold: 50$
- Payment method: direct deposit, Payoneer, PayPal, and check
Amazon Associates UK
Amazon is the biggest online store with everything you can think of; it sells everything like electronics, clothing, books, home goods, toys, beauty products, groceries, and much more. If you’re a blogger or influencer in the UK, their affiliate program is fantastic for your content.
The commission rate for Amazon Associates varies depending on the product category and the seller. The commission rates of some popular categories:
- Games: 20%
- Luxury Beauty: 10%
- Furniture: 8%
- Headphones: 6%
- Musical Instruments: 6%
- Business & Industrial Supplies: 5.5%
- Digital Music: 5%
- Physical Books: 4.5%
- Health & Personal Care: 4.5%
- Sports: 4.5%
- Kitchen: 4.5%
You’re paid monthly with Amazon’s affiliate program, but there’s a 60-day wait. For example, January’s earnings are paid at the end of March. They pay once you reach $10 and offer payment via direct deposit, check, or Amazon gift card.
Lastly, the cookie lasts 24 hours, and they provide affiliate support.
- URL: Amazon Associates UK
- Commission: from 1-20% per sale based on the products
- Cookie: 24 hours
- When you get paid: monthly
- Payment threshold: 10$
- Payment method: direct deposit, check, or Amazon gift card
- Products: Almost everything in daily life
eBay Partner Network
eBay has been a big player in e-commerce since its launch in 1995 as an online auction site. Presently, it hosts a whopping 1.4 billion product listings, primarily consisting of 80% new items. The company boasts 183 million registered buyers spread across 190 markets.
eBay remains an industry giant while not scaling as fast as Amazon, with the UK’s yearly net revenues reaching $10.4 billion in 2021. Like Amazon Associates, eBay frequently adjusts its commissions, varying across different product categories.
Currently, eBay’s partners earn 1% on real estate purchases and 4% on fashion and cars, with other categories falling in between. Some popular categories’ commission rates are:
- Electronics: 5%
- Fashion: 4%
- Home & Garden: 3%
- Toys & Games: 2%
- Sports & Outdoors: 2%
- Business & Industrial: 1%
However, eBay shares the same 24-hour cookie duration (as Amazon). On a positive note, eBay’s Partner Network tools offer multiple strategies for enhancing sales. These include specialized creative materials for different categories, frequent deals and promotions, and comprehensive sales reports.
- Commission: 1-5%
- Cookie: 24 hours
- When you get paid: about 3 months as Skimlinks need to be paid by the advertiser first
- Payment threshold: 65$
- Payment method: Direct deposit or PayPal
- Brands: Sephora, Dream Cloud, Hello Fresh
Fiverr
Fiverr is a platform linking freelancers and businesses across 300+ service categories. Clients prepay for “gigs,” outlining their needs, and freelancers bid for them.
Fiverr’s affiliate program is profitable, offering two commission options.
- Fixed-rate for each acquisition of $15 – $150 per sale based on category
- A fixed CPA for a first-time course/ subscription purchase plus a 10% revenue share for 12 months
The platform also offers an influencer affiliate program, paying up to 100% more commission than the standard program. However, it requires influencers to have at least 5,000 subscribers to join.
The program offers a 30-cookie window and pays commissions under $1000 through PayPal and Payoneer, while commissions over $1000 will be paid through wire transfer with a minimum payment threshold of $100, quite higher than other UK affiliate programs and networks.
- URL: Fiver affiliate program
- Commission: $15 – $150 CPA, or $10 CPA + 10% RevShare
- Cookie: 30 days
- When you get paid: once per month
- Payment threshold: 100$
- Payment method: PayPal for payouts under $1,000; wire transfers for payouts over $1,000
Tips for Choosing the Best UK Affiliate Program
Relevance and Niche
Remember to choose an affiliate program that matches with your niche or area of expertise. Promoting products or services that resonate with your audience will increase engagement and conversion rate.
Product Quality and Reputation
Prioritize programs that offer high-quality products or services from reputable brands. Promoting reliable and trusted items builds credibility with your audience, leading to more sustainable long-term partnerships.
Commission Structure
Commissions are the main reason website owners choose affiliate networks – to earn money. Before joining, understand how the program pays you.
- Pay Per Sale
Most common commission type. You get a percentage of the profit from each sale. Rates vary (usually 5-30%) based on the product.
- Pay Per Action
You’re paid based on actions like form submissions or mailing list sign-ups by your site visitors.
- Subscriptions and Memberships
Some programs offer ongoing commissions for subscription renewals. It could be long-term or short-term based on the deal.
Cookie Duration
Longer cookie durations allow you to earn commissions on sales even after the initial referral. Opt for programs with extended cookie durations, which can significantly impact your earnings.
Support and Resources
Affiliate programs that offer comprehensive support, including access to promotional materials, banners, widgets, and data feeds, should be considered. Adequate resources will simplify your marketing efforts and enhance your chances of success.
Payment Schedule and Threshold
Understand the program’s payment on influence schedule and minimum payment threshold. Some programs pay monthly, while others might have more extended intervals. Choose a program that aligns with your financial preferences.
FAQs
- Is affiliate marketing legal in the UK?
Yes, affiliate marketing is legal in the UK as long as you follow advertising regulations and disclose your affiliate relationships.
- What are the most lucrative affiliate marketing niches in the UK?
Some lucrative niches in the UK include finance, health and wellness, fashion, technology, and home improvement.
- Do you have to pay tax on affiliate marketing in the UK?
Yes, you need to pay tax on affiliate marketing earnings in the UK. It’s treated as a source of income; you should report it to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
Closing words
To sum up, these are the top 10 largest affiliate marketing programs and networks in the UK for 2024. They offer diverse niches, varying commissions, and unique advantages, catering to beginners and experienced affiliate marketers.
Choosing the right program aligned with your audience and interests can unlock significant earning potential and effectively grow your affiliate marketing journey.
