Are you looking to earn passive income while promoting top-notch software?
In this article, we explore the 12 best SaaS affiliate programs in 2024, featuring programs with high commissions, trusted products, and excellent support.
Whether you’re an experienced affiliate marketer or just starting and exploring your SaaS niche, these programs can help you maximize your earnings in the growing SaaS industry.
Key Takeaways
- SaaS Affiliate Program: A partnership where affiliates promote SaaS products and earn commissions for referrals or sales.
- How It Works: Affiliates join a program, promote products using unique links, and earn commissions for successful referrals tracked through cookies or codes.
- Benefits of Joining: Affiliate programs offer passive income, low start-up costs, flexibility, and access to training and promotional resources.
- Commission Rates: Look for SaaS programs offering competitive rates (usually between 20%-35%) with recurring commissions for subscription-based products.
- Cookie Duration: Programs with longer cookie durations (30-90 days) improve your chances of earning commissions from delayed purchases.
- Choosing the Right Program: Evaluate product demand, support, payment terms, and the provider’s reputation to ensure success in affiliate marketing.
What is a SaaS affiliate program?
A SaaS affiliate program is a partnership model where individuals or businesses promote a SaaS (Software as a Service) product and earn commissions for each referral or sale they generate.
Affiliates typically use unique tracking links provided by the SaaS company to market the product through websites, blogs, email campaigns, or social media.
These programs are a cost-effective way for SaaS companies to expand their reach and for affiliates to generate passive income by leveraging their audience or marketing skills.
How does an affiliate marketing program work?
An affiliate marketing program connects businesses with affiliate marketers who promote their products or services in exchange for commissions.
This is a popular model, where affiliate partners generate affiliate sales through their audience and marketing strategies.
Here is how it works:
- Sign-Up: Affiliate marketers join the program and receive a unique affiliate link or code to track their referrals.
- Promotion: Affiliates share their affiliate link on websites, blogs, email campaigns, or social media to direct potential customers to the product or service.
- Tracking: Most affiliate programs track activity through cookies or unique codes, ensuring accurate attribution of referrals.
- Conversion: When a customer completes a desired action (e.g., purchase or subscription), the affiliate earns a commission based on the predefined structure.
- Payment: Affiliates are paid for their affiliate sales, typically as a percentage of the sale or a fixed fee, depending on the program’s terms.
12 Top SaaS Affiliate Programs
Are you looking for passive income ideas? Are you interested in promoting top-tier software solutions to a growing market?
Below is a brief description of the best SaaS affiliate programs.
1. UpMenu Affiliate Program
Our list begins with one of the best affiliate programs – the UpMenu Affiliate Program. It is designed for individuals and businesses with a significant audience in the food industry or those who work closely with food businesses.
This program is perfect for content creators, such as bloggers, YouTubers, and influencers, as well as food industry professionals, including restaurant marketing agencies, restaurant consultants, restaurant web design companies, freelance website designers & marketers, and restaurant staff.
How it works
UpMenu is an online ordering system specifically tailored for the food service industry. Restaurants can use UpMenu to build custom websites and mobile apps, enabling their customers to place online orders effortlessly.
The system also offers a variety of restaurant marketing tools to promote customer engagement, boost sales, and enhance restaurant branding.
You can earn by promoting these solutions to restaurants as an affiliate partner.
Here are the steps you need to follow to start earning as an affiliate partner:
- Join the Program: Sign up for free and register as an affiliate.
- Get a Link: Access your unique affiliate link through your partner account.
- Promote UpMenu: Share your link with your audience through food blogs, social media, or other marketing channels.
- Earn Money: Earn up to 20% lifetime sales commissions, with monthly payouts.
Revenue Opportunities
The UpMenu Affiliate Program offers competitive commission rates based on the number of customers you bring in:
- 16.5% commission for 1–9 paying customers.
- 20% commission once you’ve referred 10 or more paying customers (applied retroactively to all referrals).
Example Calculations:
- 8 customers x $49 x 16.5% = $64.68 recurring monthly commission.
- 12 customers x $49 x 20% = $117.60 recurring monthly commission.
- 50 customers x $79 x 20% = $790 recurring monthly commission.
With no cap on earnings, the program provides excellent potential for recurring passive income, making it a highly attractive option for anyone with an audience in the food service industry.
Cookie duration: 60 days
2. Freshworks Affiliate Program
Freshworks is a leading provider of cloud-based business software solutions, offering products for customer service, IT service management, sales, marketing, and HR management.
Their suite of tools is designed to help businesses enhance customer engagement and streamline operations.
How it works
- Get a Unique Referral Link: After approval, access your personalized referral link through the partner portal.
- Promote Freshworks Products: Use ready-to-go marketing materials, including Freshworks’ best-performing marketing assets, to effectively promote their products to your audience.
- Track and Manage Referrals: Leverage your personalized dashboard to monitor insights, track your referrals, and easily manage withdrawals of earned commissions.
- Earn Recurring Commissions: Receive ongoing commissions for each customer you refer, advancing through tier levels as you achieve performance milestones.
Revenue Opportunities
The Freshworks Affiliate Program features a tiered commission structure:
- Freshworks Affiliate: Earn a 20% recurring commission for the first year.
- Power Affiliate: Receive a 25% recurring commission for the first year, plus performance bonuses.
- Champion Affiliates: Benefit from custom commission rates tailored to your performance.
This structure rewards affiliates with increasing commissions and bonuses as they refer more customers and meet specific performance criteria.
Cookie duration: 90 days
3. Moosend
Moosend is a comprehensive email marketing platform designed to help businesses create, manage, and optimize their email campaigns.
It offers features like a user-friendly newsletter editor, advanced segmentation, and marketing automation tools to enhance customer engagement and drive growth.
Moosend’s Affiliate Partner Program enables individuals and businesses to promote its services and earn commissions for each referred customer. Affiliates can access marketing resources and materials to support their promotional efforts.
How it works
- Join the Program: Sign up for free to become a Moosend affiliate.
- Access Resources: Utilize the Moosend Affiliate Resource Center, which provides marketing materials, banners, short video demos, and guides to assist in your promotional activities.
- Promote Moosend: Share your unique referral link through your preferred channels, such as blogs, social media, or email campaigns.
- Earn Commissions: Receive recurring commissions for every paying customer you refer, with the potential to increase earnings as you refer more customers.
Revenue Opportunities
Moosend offers a tiered commission structure to reward affiliates based on their performance:
- Bronze: 30% commission for 0-5 paid accounts.
- Silver: 33% commission for 6-10 paid accounts.
- Gold: 35% commission for 11-25 paid accounts.
- Platinum: 37% commission for 26-35 paid accounts.
- Diamond: 40% commission for 36 or more paid accounts.
This structure incentivizes affiliates to increase their referrals, offering higher commission rates as they reach higher tiers.
Cookie duration: 90 days
4. Semrush Affiliate Program
Semrush, a leading online visibility management platform, offers an Affiliate Program that enables partners to earn commissions by promoting its comprehensive suite of digital marketing tools.
Affiliates benefit from dedicated support, including access to seasoned experts and a dedicated affiliate manager to guide them through the process.
How it works
- Join the Program: Register for free to become a Semrush affiliate.
- Promote Semrush: Utilize pre-designed, high-converting promotional materials to share your unique referral link with your audience.
- Earn Commissions: Receive $200 for every new sale and $10 for each free trial sign-up generated through your referrals.
Revenue Opportunities
The Semrush Affiliate Program offers a tiered structure to reward affiliates based on their performance:
- Basic: 0–4 sales per quarter, earning $200 per sale.
- Silver: 5–19 sales per quarter, earning $250 per sale.
- Gold: 20–49 sales per quarter, earning $300 per sale.
- Platinum: 50+ sales per quarter, earning $350 per sale.
As affiliates progress through these tiers, they gain access to additional benefits, including increased commissions, advanced educational materials, extended Semrush access, personalized creatives, and dedicated account management.
Cookie duration: 120 days
5. ActiveCampaign Affiliate Program
ActiveCampaign, a leading customer experience automation platform, offers an Affiliate Partner Program that enables individuals and businesses to earn commissions by promoting its suite of email marketing, marketing automation, and CRM solutions.
This program is designed for influencers, educators, and marketers who wish to share ActiveCampaign’s services with their audience.
How it works
- Join and Get Your Link: Register for free. Once approved, you’ll receive a unique referral link that works immediately. Gain access to the exclusive Affiliate Portal, where you can manage referrals and explore additional resources.
- Access a Starter Pack: To set you up for success, ActiveCampaign provides a free starter pack, including graphics, video assets, evergreen webinars, and essential business materials. You can use these resources to create content and drive traffic to your referral link.
- Track and Promote: Use your personalized dashboard to monitor your progress, track earnings, and access updates about ActiveCampaign products. Share your link via blogs, social media, or email campaigns to start earning commissions.
- Earn Commissions: Affiliates earn up to 30% commission on referrals. The average affiliate earns $1,350 per referral, with top influencers making hundreds of thousands of dollars monthly.
Revenue Opportunities
The ActiveCampaign Affiliate Program offers a tiered commission structure:
- Silver Tier: 20% commission for new affiliates.
- Gold Tier: 25% commission for affiliates who have referred $100 of new business in the last three months or have $500 of active accounts.
- Platinum Tier: 30% commission for affiliates who have referred $500 of new business in the last three months or have $2,000 of active accounts.
This structure rewards affiliates as they grow, providing substantial earning potential through recurring commissions and long-term customer retention.
Cookie duration: 90 days
6. Shopify Affiliate Program
Shopify is a leading e-commerce platform that enables individuals and businesses to easily create, customize, and manage online stores.
It offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to facilitate seamless online selling, including website building, payment processing, and inventory management.
The Shopify Affiliate Program invites entrepreneurs, educators, influencers, and content creators to promote Shopify’s services and earn commissions for referrals.
By joining the program, affiliates can monetize their audience while providing valuable resources to aspiring business owners.
How it works
Joining the Shopify Affiliate Program starts with submitting an application. Once approved, you’ll receive a confirmation email along with a suite of resources to kickstart your journey.
Affiliates gain access to a wide range of creative materials, educational content, lead magnets, and a personalized dashboard to track performance and refine strategies.
To be eligible, you should:
- Manage an active website.
- Have an established and engaged audience.
- Produce original content, such as blogs, videos, or online courses.
Revenue Opportunities
Affiliates can earn commissions through two primary referral types:
- Shopify Plan Referrals: Earn commissions by referring new merchants to eligible Shopify plans.
- Shopify POS Pro Referrals: Receive up to $150 for each eligible Point of Sale Pro referral.
This structure provides affiliates with multiple avenues to generate income by promoting Shopify’s diverse offerings.
To get more details on commissions, contact Shopify directly.
Cookie duration: 30 days
7. Brand24 Affiliate Program
Brand24 is a comprehensive social listening tool that enables businesses to monitor and analyze online mentions across various platforms, providing valuable insights into brand perception and market trends.
The Brand24 Partner Program offers individuals and organizations the opportunity to promote this tool and earn recurring commissions for each referred customer.
How it works
The Brand24 Partner Program is open to content creators, marketers, bloggers, website owners, and influencers with a loyal audience. To get started, submit your application, and within a few days, it will be reviewed by the Brand24 team.
If approved, a Program Manager will reach out to your and guide you through the next steps, ensuring you’re ready to begin promoting and earning.
As a partner, you’ll enjoy:
- Simple Earnings Withdrawal: Easily access your earnings through the Partner Dashboard.
- Comprehensive Partner Dashboard: Monitor referrals and track performance with ease.
- Priority Access to Updates: Get the latest feature updates through the monthly newsletter.
- Dedicated Partner Support: Receive expert guidance, tutorials, and personalized assistance from a Program Buddy.
- Recurring Revenue: Earn up to 30% commissions on referred customers.
- Marketing Resources: Utilize promotional materials to boost your outreach efforts.
- Co-Marketing Rewards: Unlock additional incentives as you advance in the program.
Revenue Opportunities
The Brand24 Partner Program features a tiered commission structure:
- Bronze: 20% commission for 0-4 paid customers.
- Silver: 25% commission for 5-7 paid customers.
- Gold: 30% commission for 8 or more paid customers.
This structure incentivizes partners to increase their referrals, offering higher commission rates as they reach higher tiers.
Cookie duration: 90 days
8. Unbounce Partner Program
Unbounce is a leading platform that empowers businesses to create high-converting landing pages, pop-ups, and sticky bars without coding.
By offering a user-friendly drag-and-drop builder and AI-driven optimization tools, Unbounce enables marketers to enhance their online campaigns and boost conversions.
The Unbounce Partner Program is designed for individuals and organizations eager to promote Unbounce’s solutions while earning recurring revenue. This program is ideal for:
- Content Creators: Individuals who produce engaging content and have an active audience can monetize their platforms by referring Unbounce through blogs, newsletters, podcasts, videos, and social media posts.
- Educators: Experts who teach marketers about essential tools and technologies can earn additional income by recommending Unbounce to their students and followers.
- Service Providers: Agencies, freelancers, and consultants advising clients on marketing strategies can benefit financially by suggesting Unbounce as a solution.
- Community Leaders and Members: Those who frequently share tips and advice within their communities can create an additional revenue stream by promoting Unbounce.
How it works
- Sign Up as a Partner: Complete a simple registration process to join the program. Upon approval, you’ll receive a unique referral URL to invite others to try Unbounce.
- Share Your Referral Link: Distribute your unique URL to your audience. Referrals receive 20% off their first three months or 35% off their first year when they choose an annual plan.
- Earn Commissions: When your referrals convert from free trials to paid accounts, you earn a commission ranging from 25% to 35% of every transaction for 12 months.
Revenue Opportunities
Once your referrals convert from free trials to paid accounts, you earn a commission ranging from 25% to 35% of every transaction for 12 months.
For more specific details about commission rates and earning potential, contact Unbounce directly.
Cookie duration: 90 days
9. Coursera Affiliate Program
Coursera is a global online learning platform that offers access to courses and degrees from world-class universities and companies.
Their affiliate program allows partners to earn up to 45% commission by promoting over 4,000 courses and Specializations, providing resources like custom banners and tracking links to facilitate effective promotion.
How it works
Joining the Coursera Affiliate Program is simple and free. Affiliates can choose from over 4,000 courses and Specializations to promote using Coursera’s pre-designed banners, text links, or their own custom formats.
Easy-to-use tracking links make it simple to monitor the traffic and conversions you drive to Coursera.
Affiliates also benefit from weekly newsletters with updates and a daily-refreshed product merchandiser field to stay informed about new offerings.
Revenue Opportunities
Affiliates earn baseline commissions ranging from 15% to 45% on eligible purchases made within 30 days of a user clicking a qualified link.
While recurring commissions are not available, affiliates receive payouts for the first month of any subscription.
For additional details about commission structures, contact Coursera directly.
Cookie duration: 30 days
10. Survicate Affiliate Program
Survicate is a customer feedback platform that enables businesses to collect and analyze user insights through various survey methods, including email, website, in-product, and mobile app surveys. These insights help companies enhance customer satisfaction and drive growth.
The Survicate Affiliate Program offers individuals and organizations the opportunity to promote Survicate’s services and earn commissions for each new customer referred.
How it works
- Enroll in the Program: Complete the application form to become a Survicate Partner. Upon approval, you’ll gain access to promotional materials and resources to assist in your marketing efforts.
- Promote Survicate: Share your unique referral link with your audience or direct potential leads to Survicate. Utilize the provided assets to effectively communicate the platform’s benefits.
- Earn Commissions: For every new paying customer you refer, you’ll receive a commission. Survicate offers monthly payouts with no cap on earnings, allowing for unlimited income potential.
Revenue Opportunities
Affiliates earn a 20% revenue share for one year on each new sale generated through their referrals. This structure provides a consistent income stream for partners who successfully promote Survicate’s services.
Cookie duration: 90 days
11. Systeme Affiliate Program
Systeme is an all-in-one online business platform designed to simplify the process of launching, growing, and scaling digital ventures.
It offers a suite of integrated tools, including sales funnel creation, email marketing, online course hosting, website building, and marketing automation, all within a single, user-friendly interface.
The Systeme Affiliate Program enables participants to earn commissions by promoting the platform’s services and courses. Affiliates receive a unique ID upon registration, allowing them to share referral links and earn recurring commissions from sales generated through their promotions.
The program is open to everyone, including non-customers, and provides access to various promotional materials to support affiliate marketing efforts. 
How it works
- Automatic Enrollment: Upon signing up for Systeme, you are automatically enrolled in the affiliate program and assigned a unique affiliate ID.
- Promotion: Utilize your affiliate ID to promote Systeme’s free plan, annual plans (offered at a 30% discount), lead magnets, and online courses priced at $7.
- Lead Conversion: Direct leads into Systeme’s sales funnels; the platform handles the conversion process, turning leads into paying customers.
- Earnings: Earn recurring monthly commissions from customers who subscribe through your affiliate link.
Revenue Opportunities
- Commission Rate: Affiliates earn a 60% commission on all sales of Systeme services and courses, calculated before tax.
- Lifetime Affiliation: Referred contacts are permanently linked to your affiliate ID in Systeme’’s database. This means you continue to earn commissions on their future purchases, even if they occur months or years later.
- Last Cookie Attribution: The program operates on a last-cookie attribution model. If another affiliate refers the same lead after you, they receive credit for the sale. However, you will still earn commissions for subscriptions initially purchased through your affiliate link.
This structure provides affiliates with substantial earning potential through both immediate and long-term commissions.
Cookie duration: 1 year
12. NordVPN Affiliate Program
NordVPN is a leading virtual private network (VPN) service that provides users with secure and private internet access by encrypting their online activities and masking their IP addresses.
The NordVPN Affiliate Program allows individuals and businesses to earn commissions by promoting NordVPN’s services.
Affiliates can leverage NordVPN’s strong market presence and reputation for quality and security to enhance their own credibility and appeal.
How it works
- Apply to Join: Submit your application and share details about your platform and audience.
- Receive Resources: Gain access to all the promotional tools and materials needed to start marketing.
- Start Promoting: Create content, share your affiliate link, and grow your commissions as your referrals convert.
Revenue Opportunities
The NordVPN Affiliate Program offers a competitive commission structure:
- 1-Month Plan: Affiliates earn 100% commission on new sign-ups and 30% on renewals.
- 1-Year and 2-Year Plans: Affiliates receive 40% commission on new sign-ups and 30% on renewals.
Cookie duration: 30 days
What are the benefits of joining an affiliate program?
The main benefits of joining an affiliate program are the following:
- Earn Passive Income: Generate revenue through commissions on product promotions.
- Low Start-Up Costs: Most programs are free to join.
- Flexibility: Work from anywhere on your own schedule.
- Wide Product Range: Promote products that match your niche and interests.
- No Overhead: Merchants handle inventory, shipping, and customer support.
- Performance-Based Rewards: Increase earnings with more sales and leads.
- Support and Resources: Access training and promotional materials to boost success.
In summary, affiliate programs provide an accessible way to earn income while promoting products you believe in.
What to consider when choosing a SaaS affiliate program?
Below are the factors to consider when selecting affiliate partnerships.
- Commission Rates: Look for programs offering competitive rates, typically between 20% and 35%, with recurring commissions for subscription-based products.
- Cookie Duration: Longer cookie durations (e.g., 30 to 90 days) increase your chances of earning commissions for delayed purchases.
- Product Demand: Choose a program with in-demand SaaS products that align with your audience’s needs and interests.
- Support and Resources: Ensure the program provides promotional materials, training, and dedicated affiliate support.
- Payment Terms: Check the payment structure, frequency, and methods (e.g., PayPal, bank transfer) to ensure they align with your preferences.
- Brand Reputation: Partner with a reliable and trusted SaaS provider to ensure higher conversion rates and customer satisfaction.
- Recurring Revenue Potential: Opt for a program that offers recurring commissions to maximize long-term earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is SaaS affiliate marketing?
SaaS affiliate marketing is a strategy where individuals or businesses promote Software as a Service (SaaS) products in exchange for a commission on referrals or sales. This approach benefits both parties: affiliates earn passive income for successful referrals, while SaaS companies expand their customer base through cost-effective marketing efforts.
What percentage do SaaS affiliates get?
According to Rewardful, SaaS affiliates typically earn between 20% and 30% in commission. Some programs may offer rates as high as 50%, especially for high-ticket plans or premium tiers. Additionally, many SaaS affiliate programs provide recurring commissions, allowing affiliates to earn a percentage of the subscription payments as long as the referred customer remains active.
