The software market is a severely underdeveloped niche for affiliate marketers. This means that if you become one of the few software affiliates around, you could build a name for yourself before others catch on.
There are several software affiliate programs available. Tens, in fact. But, we’re pretty sure you don’t want to waste your time searching for the top-paying affiliate programs.
So we’ve done it for you.
13 Best Software Affiliate Programs
1. Jvzoo
Jvzoo is a software affiliate program that is easy to join. There are lots of products to promote on the Jvzoo marketplace and more products are been launched daily.
New products about to be launched come with very low competition.
You can be on the lookout for these products, apply to promote them, and write reviews on them as soon as they are launched to the Jvzoo marketplace.
Commission: 50% and above
Cookie duration: N/A
2. Adobe Affiliates
If you create content in the software niche or are planning to, then you probably know Adobe. Adobe’s primary focus is on creating design software.
Their software makes it easy to design flyers and banners, create logos, edit pictures, etc. They’re one of the most popular brands in the software industry.
Despite having higher prices than other design software, their products are still in demand.
All of this makes them one of the best affiliate programs for beginners. It’s easier to promote something that’s already well-known.
Every person interested in design knows that Adobe is top-notch software. So, their reputation gives them extra trustworthiness, which makes it easier to market.
Plus, they provide affiliates with ready-to-publish marketing banners and links.
Commission: For Adobe Creative Cloud & Document Cloud: 85% of first month’s payment, and 8.33% of yearly subscriptions. For Adobe Stock: Monthly and annual subscriptions are $72. Single purchase: 8.33%. Three standard assets a month: 85%.
Cookie Duration: 30 days.
3. NetSuite Affiliate Program
NetSuite has been selling software for businesses before most businesses knew what software could do.
They’ve been around since 1998 and have maintained their position as one of the best providers of business management software.
NetSuite offers several services to businesses, including enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM).
This is one of the best software affiliate programs because it provides a relatively large income. NetSuite’s software affiliates can choose to receive a 10% commission from your referral’s first license fee.
NetSuite’s fees range from around a thousand to a few thousand dollars. 10% of that is at least $100, which is great for a one-time payment.
Commission: 10% of the first license fee.
Cookie Duration: N/A
4. AutoDesk Affiliate
AutoDesk makes software for people who make things. Their signature products AutoCAD, Revi, Maya, Inventor, are software produced for an individual that works with 3D designs for their businesses.
The major users of Autodesk’s services are engineers, architects, animators, entertainers, designers, and people who work with 3D concepts.
AutoDesk has over 80 products aimed at different industries. Yearly subscriptions for their products run into thousands of dollars.
Their most popular product, AutoCAD, is priced at $1690/year. AutoDesk’s affiliate program offers a 9% commission on all services. This means you can make $152 per purchase.
Commission: 9% on all products.
Cookie Duration: 60 days.
5. Norton Affiliate Program
Norton may have started as Norton Utilities, but today, they’re among the most popular choices for cybersecurity. Symantec acquired Norton in the early 1990s and soon released an antivirus software.
Norton has launched the Norton 360, a service that’s proved itself effective against malware and cybersecurity threats.
You may not know this, but Norton has a well-run affiliate program. The company has several services due to its expansion over the years, so there are lots of future referrals to choose from.
Norton offers a 20% commission on all products, except for LifeLock. That has a flat rate of $20 per referral.
This is one of our preferred software affiliate programs for new marketers.
The reason is that Norton is a well-known brand with a good reputation; it’s significantly easier to advertise than other less popular software.
Commission: 20% on all products, except LifeLock, which is $20 per sale.
Cookie Duration: 60 days.
6. Bill4Time
Bill4Time is a software service designed for law firms. Though there are similar products available, they’re sparse and not as well-thought-out as Bill4Time.
Bill4Time is a time tracking software for law firms to minimize losses. In an average law firm, time is money, and Bill4Time helps keep track of the minutes so lawyers can focus on work. This company also offers services for billing and accounting.
Commission: 40% recurring commission
Cookie Duration: N/A
7. Intuit QuickBooks
One of the most tedious parts of running a business is balancing the accounts. Unfortunately, this task is necessary, especially during tax season. Companies like QuickBooks make sorting out your funds much more manageable.
QuickBooks offers services like tracking income, expenses, and taxes, accepting payments, paying bills, organizing receipts, and more.
This affiliate program will be great for affiliates who have business people among their audiences.
QuickBooks offers up to 10% commission on its services. But to become a QuickBooks affiliate, you must have a website. This is an unnegotiable condition.
Commission: Up to 10% commission.
Cookie Duration: 30 days.
8. Dashlane
New research suggests that the average person has 70 to 80 passwords. That’s a massive headache, and it’s practically impossible for anyone to remember all of them.
That’s where software services like Dashlane come in. Their job is to make sure that all your passwords remain safe, secure, and accessible. They manage your passwords so that you don’t have to.
Dashlane’s affiliate program is great because they don’t just pay you for every new subscriber. They also pay a flat rate of $2, just for referring an individual that created an account.
Apart from that, affiliates also get a 25% commission on all subscriptions purchased.
The only downside to this software affiliate program is its short cookie Duration – only 24 hours.
Commission: 25%
Cookie Duration: 24 hours.
9. Backlog
Backlog is a project management tool used and trusted by over a million users worldwide. This software allows companies to track projects, bugs, and complaints on products and tasks.
In other words, it helps automate tasks and speed up the process of project management.
Backlog is also incredibly generous to its affiliates. Though it doesn’t pay a recurring commission, it does offer up to $150 in commission.
Affiliates get $40 when a referral subscribes to a starter pack, $100 with standard, and $150 for premium. They also have a longer-than-average cookie duration of 45 days and lots of great marketing graphics.
Commission: Up to $150 per sale.
Cookie Duration: 45 days.
10. Crexi
Crexi began as a platform where real estate brokers could list properties and find leads on tenants or buyers.
However, it has since evolved beyond that, adding marketing and innovative online auctioning services to its list of services.
Today, Crexi is now a platform that offers valuable information to real estate buyers and sellers. They offer brokers all the tools they need to sell their properties.
If you dabble in the real estate niche, Crexi’s affiliate program is a good place to start earning money. For every successful lead you bring, Crexi will pay you $50.
Commission: $50 per sale.
Cookie Duration: 7 days.
11. Qustodio
Qustodio is a parental control app that stops kids from wandering into places they shouldn’t, even when parents aren’t around.
This software automatically blocks and filters children’s content based on the parameters parents set. This way, guardians can let the kids have fun without worrying about what they might see.
Qustodio has both free and paid plans, with the most expensive being around $160. It offers a 20% commission, marketing materials, and a 60-day cookie duration.
It also has excellent ratings, so it’s one of our picks for beginner software affiliate programs.
Commission: 20%
Cookie Duration: 60 days.
12. Stellar
Reports have revealed that small instances of data loss can cause businesses to lose over $35,000.
Data breaches and loss have become more commonplace nowadays, and only companies like Stellar can minimize damage.
Stellar provides data recovery services. They can help individuals and companies extract data from phones, laptops, hard drives, USBs, etc.
Stellar has an excellent reputation and low plan prices so conducting software affiliate marketing for their services is not difficult. They offer a 20% commission on each sale.
But, when your total sales revenue exceeds $6000, you’ll get bumped up to 25%. You also get nearly four months to convince a referral to buy a plan.
Commission: Up to 25%
Cookie Duration: 120 days
13. Wrike Affiliate Program
Wrike is a work management platform that helps teams with collaboration. Wrike provides a virtual platform where team members can communicate effectively and transparently to get projects done.
Wrike can prove to be a big help with inter-departmental collaborations or even with combined efforts between two companies.
You can make between $100 to $200 per sale as an affiliate of Wrike, depending on your referral’s plan. There are also great marketing graphics to post on your website or platform.
Plus, there’s a 90-day cookie duration. These are some of the best terms on this list and officially make Wrike one of the high-paying affiliate programs. Talk about saving one of the best for last, eh?
Commission: $100 to $200.
Cookie Duration: 90 days.
How to Make Money from Software Affiliate Programs
There are more than a few ways to make money from software affiliate programs. We’ll explain four here.
1. Market software affiliate products on your website/blog
Some software affiliate programs like Adobe and Quickbook affiliates require you own a website/blog.
You can make a website and create content around topics related to software. You can buy a domain and get hosting online with sources like BlueHost.
Plus, you’ll get hands-on experience with the software, which is always a good thing when advertising a product.
If you already have a website, you could create blog posts around the problem your chosen software solves. In this way, you’re providing a solution for your audience, which will help conversions.
2. Promote Via landing page or sales funnel
You can choose to market your offers anywhere, but if you don’t have a website, it’s best to promote using landing pages/sales funnels.
Some platforms won’t allow you to post affiliate links directly, and you need to have a place to display your links to your audience.
3. Promote Software Affiliate Links Through eBooks
Creating content doesn’t have to be limited to blog posts. You can advertise your software affiliate program in your eBook about a related topic.
Making an ebook is simple and uncomplicated, especially with the help of eBook automation software like Designrr.
4. Social Media
Thankfully, we can post links on our social media pages, and this works great for affiliates.
You can advertise software on your social media page and even promote it to a larger audience. If you have a large following on social media, this can work great for you.
Where to Find More Software Affiliate Programs
We understand that you might want to take a look at some more available software affiliate programs for yourself.
There are some on sites like Clickbank, Viglink, CJ, Rakuten, Awin, and other general affiliate networks. However, there are lots more dedicated software affiliate networks like:
- Avangate
- OneNetworkDirect
- FastSpring
- MyCommerce
- Cleverbridge
In conclusion
So that’s it. Everything you need to know about software affiliate programs.
If you have a solid background in a software-related career, you have a bigger chance of becoming a successful software affiliate marketer.
I love reading your site.
Thank you!