Last updated: September 30, 2026
Quick Answer: SaaS affiliate programs pay you for referring customers to software products, either as a one-time cut of the first purchase or as a recurring share of what the customer keeps paying. Among the 10 programs below, rates run from 10% to 55%, cookies from 30 to 90 days, and recurring terms from 12 months to lifetime. This guide compares them and shows how to choose.
Summary in short
- Recurring models pay a percentage for as long as the referred customer keeps paying (lifetime, or a fixed term such as 12 or 24 months); one-time models pay only on the first purchase
- Cookie windows among these 10 programs range from 30 to 90 days
- Elementor pays 45-55% of the first purchase, the highest rate in this list
- ClickFunnels (30%), BugHerd (20%) and Dataslayer (20%) pay recurring commission for the lifetime of the customer
- Where a brand does not publish a detail, such as BugHerd's minimum payout, this guide says so instead of guessing
- Minimum payouts, where published, run from $10 (Avoma, via PayPal) to $200 (Elementor)
- Databox approves affiliates automatically and immediately; ClickFunnels, Elementor, BugHerd, CHEQ Essentials, DataForSEO and Brizy use manual approval
- Our directory lists 37 Software and SaaS programs and 49 B2B and Tools programs, so you have many more options beyond this top 10
What Is a SaaS Affiliate Program and How Does It Work
A SaaS affiliate program is a partnership where a software company pays you a commission for sending paying customers its way. You receive a unique tracking link, share it through your content, and earn money when someone clicks and subscribes.
The affiliate network or in-house platform records the click with a browser cookie, tracks the signup or purchase, and credits your account. Commissions are either paid once (on the first purchase) or recur for as long as the referred customer keeps paying, sometimes for a fixed term and sometimes for life.
Key terms to know:
- Cookie duration: How long after a click you still get credit for a conversion (30 to 90 days for the programs in this guide)
- Recurring commission: A percentage of the customer's payments, paid for a set term or for life
- One-time commission: A percentage of the first purchase only
- Affiliate network: A third-party platform (PartnerStack, Awin, CellXpert, Rewardful, FirstPromoter, iDevAffiliate) that handles tracking and payouts for a brand
The 10 Best SaaS Affiliate Programs Compared
The programs below were chosen for commission structure, cookie length and fit with content-driven audiences. The figures come from each brand's published program terms; always confirm them on the official page before you apply.
| Program | Commission | Duration | Cookie | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elementor | 45-55% of first purchase | First purchase only | 45 days | In-house |
| ClickFunnels | 30% recurring | Lifetime | 45 days | In-house |
| BugHerd | 20% recurring | Lifetime | 90 days | PartnerStack |
| CHEQ Essentials | 25% recurring | 24 months | 30 days | CellXpert |
| DataForSEO | 25% of all top-ups | 365 days from registration | 90 days | PartnerStack |
| Dataslayer | 20% recurring | Lifetime | 60 days | iDevAffiliate |
| Adalo | 20% recurring | 12 months | 60 days | Rewardful |
| Databox | 20% recurring | 12 months | 90 days | FirstPromoter |
| Brizy | 30% per new sale | Per sale (not recurring) | 30 days | Awin |
| Avoma | 10% recurring | 12 months | 30 days | In-house |
Elementor: Highest One-Time Rate
Elementor pays 45-55% of a customer's first purchase. The 55% rate applies to a first purchase of Elementor One (a launch-phase rate), and 45% applies to Editor Pro and Elementor Host. Only the first purchase per user counts, with no commission on renewals or upgrades. The cookie window is 45 days, approval is manual, the minimum payout is $200, and payment is by PayPal. The program is worldwide, excluding countries under Israeli or US sanctions.
ClickFunnels: Lifetime 30% Recurring
ClickFunnels pays 30% recurring commission for as long as a referred account stays active, with a 45-day cookie and a $100 minimum payout. Approval is manual and the program is worldwide, excluding sanctioned territories.
BugHerd: Lifetime Recurring on PartnerStack
BugHerd offers 20% of every transaction for the lifetime of each referred subscription, with a 90-day cookie, managed through PartnerStack. Approval is manual and payouts are made through PayPal or Stripe. BugHerd does not publish a minimum payout.
CHEQ Essentials: 25% for 24 Months
CHEQ Essentials (now branded ClickCease again) pays a 25% revenue share on each paying customer's subscription for the first 24 months. The cookie is 30 days, the minimum payout is $100, approval is manual, and tracking runs through CellXpert. The brand does not publish which regions are eligible.
DataForSEO: 25% for a Full Year
DataForSEO pays 25% of every top-up or data purchase a referred customer makes within 365 days of registration, with a 90-day cookie and tracking through PartnerStack. Total commission per customer is capped at $1,000. Approval is manual and can take up to one week. DataForSEO does not publish a minimum payout.
Dataslayer: Lifetime Recurring for Data Teams
Dataslayer pays 20% recurring for the lifetime of the customer, with a 60-day cookie, run through iDevAffiliate. The minimum payout is $100 and payment is by PayPal. The program asks for a valid website or social media profile. Dataslayer does not publish how approval works. It suits audiences in marketing analytics who work with Google Sheets or Looker Studio.
Adalo: No-Code App Builder
Adalo pays 20% of all payments from referred accounts for the first 12 months, with a 60-day cookie, through Rewardful. It is open worldwide. Adalo does not publish a minimum payout or its approval process.
Databox: Instant Approval
Databox approves affiliates automatically and immediately. It pays 20% of a referred customer's subscription payments for the first 12 months (upgrades within that period included), with a 90-day cookie, through FirstPromoter. Payment is by PayPal, and Databox does not publish a minimum payout.
Brizy: Page Builder via Awin
Brizy pays 30% each time you bring in a new customer, with a 30-day cookie, through Awin. The commission is not recurring, and approval is manual. Brizy does not publish a minimum payout or eligible regions.
Avoma: Low Payout Threshold
Avoma runs a referral program open to anyone, not only customers. It pays 10% of subscription fees for up to one year after the referred user signs up, with a 30-day cookie. The minimum payout is $10 via PayPal, with no minimum if you take the payout as Avoma account credit. Payouts are made quarterly. Avoma does not publish an approval process.
Which SaaS Affiliate Programs Pay the Highest Commission Rates
For raw commission percentage, Elementor leads at 45-55% of the first purchase. For recurring rate, ClickFunnels leads at 30% for life. CHEQ Essentials pays 25% for 24 months, and DataForSEO pays 25% of top-ups for one year, capped at $1,000 per customer.
Choose based on your content type:
- One-time payout (Elementor, Brizy): the commission is earned once, so it suits content that drives fast purchase decisions
- Lifetime recurring (ClickFunnels, BugHerd, Dataslayer): suits evergreen content that keeps sending new customers
- Fixed-term recurring (CHEQ Essentials, DataForSEO, Databox, Adalo, Avoma): commission continues, but only for 12 to 24 months per customer
How Much Can You Make With SaaS Affiliate Marketing
Earnings depend on traffic, audience fit and the price of the product you promote, and no program guarantees any income. To see how the models differ, here is an illustrative calculation with made-up numbers: assume you refer 20 customers to a program paying 20% recurring, and each customer pays $50 per month. That is 20 x $50 x 20% = $200 per month while all 20 stay subscribed. On a lifetime program, that $200 continues for as long as they stay. On a 12-month program such as Databox, it stops after 12 months per customer, so you need new referrals to keep the income going.
Factors that drive results:
- Volume of targeted traffic (search, YouTube, newsletter)
- Audience match (for example, Databox for marketing analysts rather than a general audience)
- Content format, such as comparison articles and tutorials
- Cookie duration relative to how long your audience takes to decide
SaaS Affiliate Programs for Beginners With Low Barriers
Databox is the easiest to start with: approval is automatic and immediate, and the cookie lasts 90 days. Avoma has the lowest published minimum payout at $10 via PayPal. Compare this with Elementor's $200 minimum, which means several sales before your first payout.
Beginner checklist before applying:
- Have at least one active content channel (blog, YouTube channel, newsletter, or social account)
- Understand the product category you are promoting
- Read the program's terms for restrictions on paid ads, brand bidding and coupon sites (Elementor, ClickFunnels, CHEQ Essentials and Databox all restrict brand-name bidding)
- Start with an auto-approval program such as Databox to build a track record
How to Get Approved for SaaS Affiliate Programs
Databox approves immediately. ClickFunnels, Elementor, BugHerd, CHEQ Essentials, DataForSEO and Brizy review applications manually. Only DataForSEO publishes a timeframe: up to one week. Dataslayer requires a valid website or social media profile, and the other brands in this list do not publish detailed approval criteria.
How to improve your application:
- Apply with an active website, YouTube channel or newsletter that covers relevant topics
- Explain briefly how you plan to promote the product
- Read the program terms first, so your plan does not break rules on paid ads, coupon sites or self-referrals
SaaS Affiliate Programs vs. Dropshipping: Which Is Better
The two models work differently. A SaaS affiliate program involves no inventory, shipping or customer service on your side: you refer customers and the software company handles the product. Dropshipping involves physical products and supplier relationships, and you are responsible for the order process.
Choose SaaS affiliate programs if:
- You create content and want to earn from existing articles or videos
- You prefer not to manage suppliers or returns
- Your audience uses software tools professionally
Dropshipping may suit you better if:
- You want to build a standalone e-commerce brand
- Your audience is product-focused rather than software-focused
SaaS Affiliate Programs That Don't Require a Website
Some brands ask for a website or a social profile rather than a website only. Dataslayer, for example, requires a valid website or social media profile. For the other programs in this list, the published terms do not say which promotion channels are allowed, so ask the brand or check its full terms before you build a plan around a YouTube channel, newsletter or social account.
Common Mistakes People Make With SaaS Affiliate Marketing
The most common mistake is promoting software that does not match your audience's needs, which produces clicks but no conversions. A second is ignoring cookie length: a 30-day cookie (CHEQ Essentials, Brizy, Avoma) is a weaker match for a long-form article aimed at readers who take a long time to decide than a 90-day cookie (BugHerd, DataForSEO, Databox).
Other frequent errors:
- Applying to too many programs at once instead of focusing on one or two that fit
- Ignoring minimum payouts: with Elementor's $200 minimum, you need several conversions before you see any money
- Not disclosing affiliate relationships: the FTC says an endorsement should make it obvious when you have a financial relationship with the brand, and Elementor's terms require the relationship to be disclosed
- Breaking program rules, such as bidding on brand names in paid search or self-referring
- Choosing a program on commission rate alone without looking at the product and its cancellation rate
SaaS Affiliate Programs for Bloggers and Content Creators
Bloggers benefit from long cookie windows and recurring commissions, because readers often return days or weeks after the first visit. BugHerd (90-day cookie, lifetime recurring), Databox (90-day cookie, instant approval) and DataForSEO (90-day cookie) fit that pattern.
Newsletter writers can match a product to their audience: Dataslayer suits a data and analytics newsletter, and Avoma suits a sales productivity newsletter.
Our directory lists 37 Software and SaaS programs and 49 B2B and Tools programs, so you can find niche matches beyond this top 10.
What's the Difference Between SaaS Affiliate and Referral Programs
An affiliate program is aimed at publishers such as bloggers, YouTubers and media sites who promote a product to their own audience for a commission. A referral program is usually aimed at existing customers who recommend the product to people they know, often for account credit or discounts.
The line is not always sharp. Avoma calls its program a referral program, yet it is open to anyone and pays cash through PayPal (or account credit if you prefer). Read the program terms rather than relying on the name.
How Long Does It Take to Make Money With SaaS Affiliates
There is no fixed timeline. If you already have an audience, such as a newsletter or YouTube channel, commissions can start soon after you publish a relevant review or tutorial, subject to each program's approval and payout schedule. If you are building traffic from scratch, you need to publish, get indexed and earn visibility first, which varies widely.
Payout timing also matters. Avoma pays quarterly, BugHerd and DataForSEO pay monthly on the 16th of the following month, and Elementor pays only after its 30-day refund period has cleared.
Frequently asked questions
Can you join multiple SaaS affiliate programs at the same time?
Nothing in the published terms of these 10 programs prohibits it, but check each program's terms. Focus on two or three that match your audience closely rather than spreading across all ten.
Do SaaS affiliate programs require you to use the product yourself?
None of the programs in this guide lists it as a requirement. Using the product does help you write credible, detailed content.
What is a cookie duration and why does it matter?
A cookie duration is the window after a click during which a conversion is still credited to you. A 90-day cookie (BugHerd, DataForSEO, Databox) gives your audience three months to sign up after clicking your link. A 30-day cookie (CHEQ Essentials, Brizy, Avoma) requires a faster decision.
What is the difference between recurring and one-time commission?
A recurring commission pays a share of the customer's payments for a set term or for life (for example, ClickFunnels for life, Adalo for 12 months). A one-time commission pays only on the first purchase (Elementor, Brizy).
Which of these programs approve affiliates immediately?
Databox approves automatically and immediately. ClickFunnels, Elementor, BugHerd, CHEQ Essentials, DataForSEO and Brizy use manual approval, and DataForSEO says it can take up to one week. Dataslayer, Adalo and Avoma do not publish their approval process.
Which networks do these programs use?
BugHerd and DataForSEO use PartnerStack, Brizy uses Awin, CHEQ Essentials uses CellXpert, Dataslayer uses iDevAffiliate, Adalo uses Rewardful and Databox uses FirstPromoter. Elementor, ClickFunnels and Avoma run their programs in-house.
Are SaaS affiliate commissions taxable?
Tax rules for affiliate income differ by country, so check with a local tax advisor for your situation.
Conclusion
The programs in this guide fall into two camps: a high one-time payer like Elementor (45-55%), and recurring programs such as ClickFunnels, BugHerd and Dataslayer that pay for the lifetime of the customer. The right choice depends on your content format, your audience's decision timeline and how much you value recurring income.
Actionable next steps:
- Pick one or two programs that match your content niche, not just the highest commission rate
- Start with Databox if you want immediate approval and a 90-day cookie while you build a track record
- Apply to BugHerd or ClickFunnels once you have a content platform that shows audience relevance
- Disclose your affiliate relationships in every piece of content, and check the disclosure rules in your country
- Track conversions by program with UTM parameters so you can see which content drives revenue
Browse our full directory of 37 Software and SaaS programs and 49 B2B and Tools programs to find more matches for your niche.
Earnings disclaimer: commission rates and terms are set by each brand and can change, and no income is guaranteed. Always confirm the current terms on the program's official page before you apply.