OXTO research

State of Affiliate Commissions 2026: 226 Programs Analyzed

Published July 31, 2026 · every number sourced from public program pages and roundups · free to cite with a link

We pulled commission rates, cookie windows, and program terms for 226 affiliate programs across 23 niches in July 2026. This page is the summary. The per niche breakdowns with source links for every number live on the OXTO deals blog.

226programs analyzed
23niches covered
21pay recurring
8traps documented

Finding 1: recurring is rare and it clusters in software

Only 21 of 226 programs pay recurring commissions. Almost all are software: Copy.ai pays 45% recurring for year one, Skillshare 40%, Frase 30%, Teachable and Thinkific and Kajabi about 30%, HeyGen 25% for 12 months, ElevenLabs up to 22%. Physical product programs pay once. A 20% recurring subscription usually out earns a 40% one time sale within a year.

Finding 2: cookie windows are wildly unequal

ProgramCookieNote
SafetyWing364 dayslongest we found, travel insurance
Rogue Fitness, TestoGenlifetimetracked forever per their terms
YNAB180 daysinvite only program
Semrush120 days$200 flat per sale
lululemon90 daysrare for fashion
Amazon, Best Buy24 hoursAmazon credits the whole cart though
Dollar Shave Clubsession onlybuyer must convert in one visit

Same niche, wild gaps: Adidas gives 30 days at up to 10.5% while Nike gives 7 days at up to 4.2%. Warby Parker gives 30 days and even pays $0.50 per free home try on signup; Ray-Ban gives 15 days.

Finding 3: the 8 traps that cost affiliates money

TrapWhat happens
Midjourneyhas no affiliate program at all; every "Midjourney affiliate" site is a third party
Notionprogram closed to new applicants as of July 2026
DJI in housepays in DJI store credit, not cash; use a network instead
Shopee mother and baby (SEA)pays zero commission on formula, baby food, bottles
Jade Leaf Matchaaverage payment time 105 days after sale
Kraken referralpaused for maintenance, applications go nowhere
Brooklinenprogram paused; ran with a 1 day cookie
UPPAbaby and premium stroller brandsno program; promote via retailers like Pish Posh Baby (6%) instead

Finding 4: CPA offers beat percentage rates in some niches

Pet insurance pays per lead: Embrace pays $36 per lead with no sale needed. Finance pays per signup: SoFi up to $150 per lead, Monarch Money $20 per paid subscription. Meal kits pay flat: CookUnity $25 per subscriber plus $2.50 per repeat order with a 180 day cookie. In Vietnam, bank card CPA offers reach 619,076 VND per approved application.

Finding 5: the platform gap in Southeast Asia

On the same beauty product, TikTok Shop commissions run 25 to 40% while Shopee base rates run 0 to 3.68% plus brand bonuses. TikTok Shop passed Shopee in Vietnam ecommerce market share during Tet 2026, and its mother and baby category grew 135% in revenue in 9 months.

Method

Data collected July 2026 from public program pages and published roundups, one source link per program, stored with collection date. Rates change often: confirm on the program page before joining anything. We never invent numbers and we never promise income. Full methodology at how OXTO scores deals. Cite freely with a link to this page.

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