The Best Referral Programs to Make Money in 2024

If you struggle to pay your bills with your regular job, you could start a side hustle to meet your financial needs. There are many ways to earn extra income and live without worrying about expenses. One of the best ways is to register with one of the best referral programs to make money.

You can also start promoting products or services and earn a commission on each sale. You do not have to make a product or service yourself. Instead, you only promote other brands and make money on sales through your affiliate link.

Affiliate Links

Promoting your affiliate links is essential to making money through affiliate marketing. Different ways to promote referral links depend on your target audience, budget, and goals.

If you have a blogging website, you can write review articles about the products or services and include the referral link in your content. This can be a great way to reach a broad audience and earn a good affiliate income.

For example, Blogging, Money, Life swears by the SEO keyword sites RankIQ and SEMRush.

Social Media Outlets

Another great way to promote referral products is through videos. You can make a Youtube channel and create informative and engaging videos to educate the audience about the product or service.

This can be a more authentic way to promote referral links and earn extra income. Moreover, you can promote your affiliate links on the social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Pinterest.

Social media has millions of people, and if you grab your desired audience’s attention, it will generate a lot of extra income through affiliate commissions.

With so many options available on the internet, it can take time to choose the best referral programs which pay you good money. In this post, we will share the best-paying referral programs that are easy to participate in and offers excellent referral bonuses.

#1: The Amazon Associates Program

Amazon’s affiliate program pays up to 10% referral fees for products purchased through your unique referral link. Amazon Associate Program is one of the top referral programs from which you can earn a handsome amount of extra income.

Amazon is the biggest eCommerce marketplace where millions of customers shop online. It offers a great affiliate program in which you can earn up to 10% referral commission on every sale through the referral link.

The Basics

The Amazon Associate Program is free to register for. This allows you to promote and sell existing products on Amazon and earn an affiliate commission.

The registration process is pretty simple. All you have to do is give basic information about yourself.

After your account get the approval mail from Amazon, you can start generating unique referral link for any product to promote via an online platform. You can promote the links on a website, social media, Youtube videos, and email newsletters.

How It Works

When a visitor clicks on your referral link and completes the purchase, you will earn a specific percentage of the referral commission. The commission rate will differ for every product category and can range from 1% to 10%.

When you successfully sign up for the program, you will get a personalized Amazon Associate Dashboard. You can view your earnings, generate referral links, and access other valuable tools to promote affiliate links.

There will be a text link to use for blog posts or to generate images to place on your website to showcase the products. You’ll receive an affiliate commission when someone clicks on your referral link and purchases the product on Amazon. You can link your bank account with your Amazon Associate profile to receive the money you earned.

How to Earn

One of the most significant advantages of this program is that you can use multiple online channels to promote Amazon products. If you own a blogging website, you can write product review articles or product comparison guides. This is a comparatively easy way to do Amazon affiliate marketing.

Another effective way is to create quality content and give your referral link on social media if you have a good following. This also helps grow your social media presence and earn from new customers buying through your referral links.

In addition, you can create videos on Youtube to show the product and tell your audience the pros and cons of the product. Using these ways of promotion, you can build trust and credibility to increase your affiliate income.

What Should You Promote?

One of the great things about Amazon Associate is that Amazon has a variety of products to promote. The platform has a vast collection of products, from clothing and home goods to books and electronics.

So, you can find many products according to your niche to promote and earn affiliate commissions. In addition to products, you can promote different services offered by Amazon as a Bounty event and increase your income with a special commission.

These services include Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Baby Registry, Amazon Business, Amazon Home Services, and much more. When a customer successfully registers for any of these services, you will receive a specific amount as an affiliate.

Overall, Amazon Referral Program is best for content creators to earn extra income. With a wide range of products to choose from and various ways to promote them online, you can find a perfect fit for your niche and interest.

#2: eBay Partner Network

eBay Partner Network is a referral program that allows you to earn affiliate commission by promoting eBay products through online platforms. You can monetize your blog traffic or social media audience by recommending products to buy on eBay.

As a result, you receive a commission on every qualifying sale. Partners can get up to 70% share of the sale price depending on the product category.

How to Earn

To start earning with eBay Referral Program, you have to apply to join. Once approved, you can create text links, banners, and product feeds to promote on your website or social media.

By creating niche-specific quality content, you can build trust and credibility among the audience. You can place links in your content and get a referral commission when anyone purchases on eBay.

Moreover, you can track your performance and earnings on the eBay partner dashboard. With extensive data, you can also improve your content to increase the conversion rate and make more money through referral commissions.

Bonus, anyone?

In addition to affiliate commissions, eBay affiliates also get bonus points for reaching certain performance milestones. For example, partners can earn a $50 bonus for generating $500 in sales.

This bonus and referral incentive can encourage affiliate marketers to consistently promote more products and drive more sales to increase their affiliate commission revenue.

Sharing Is Caring

One significant advantage of the eBay Affiliate Network is that you can promote it along with other affiliate programs such as Amazon. If you have a product available on both platforms, you can place referral links from both referral marketing programs on your website or social media.

You earn affiliate income when a visitor clicks on your referral link and purchases the product on any of these platforms. So, this is a win-win situation for you as an affiliate marketer.

When customers click on your referral link, the cookie is stored in their browser for 24 hours. So, you don’t have to worry if a customer does not buy at the moment because you will still receive an affiliate commission if they buy the product within this duration.

Joining the eBay affiliate program as a partner can increase your online income by monetizing your website or social media platform. You can start promoting products through your content and earn so much money that you can not imagine. eBay Referral Network is an excellent opportunity for those who want extra cash in their bank accounts.

#3: Rakuten Referral Program

Rakuten is a world-famous online shopping platform that offers cashback to its customer on every item they purchase. There are over 3500 stores in every product category, from clothing to electronics, where you can buy anything and receive a cashback on every purchase.

Rakuten collaborates with these brands to earn a commission on every referring customer via their platform, and in return, Rakuten shares this commission with you.

No Limits

Rakuten also offers a referral program. It offers up to 40% referral commission when someone purchases any item through your affiliate link. There is no limit to earning money with Rakuten Referral Program, and you can invite as many people as possible.

The more you share your referral link, the more you earn. So, you can maximize your affiliate revenue with this fantastic program.

Referrals

Now let’s talk about how Rakuten Referral Program works. When you sign up, you receive a unique referral link that you can use to invite friends and family members.

If someone clicks on your link and registers on Rakuten, they become your referral. After they spend $30 on the platform, you and your referral receive the $30 in return.

Remember that to earn with a Rakuten referral, you and your referees should live in the 50 United States, Canada, or the District of Colombia and meet all the terms and conditions of this program. Moreover, you will not get any cashback commission when someone cancels, exchanges, or returns a qualifying purchase.

One of the main advantages of participating in the Rakuten referral program is the ability to earn extra cashback on purchases. By referring your friends and family to join the program, you can earn bonuses on top of the cash back you already earn on your purchase. This can add up quickly and can help you save a significant amount of money on online shopping.

To maximize your earnings with the Rakuten referral program, share your affiliate link with as many people as possible. The more people you refer, the more commissions and cashback you can earn. Blogging websites, social media, and email newsletters are the easiest ways to promote the Rakuten platform and make real money with an affiliate commission and cashback.

Reminding Your Followers

Another helpful tip to increase your earnings is to remind your referrals from time to time to purchase through your link every time they shop. Because if they do not use your link, you will not get the share or cashback.

Also, keep an eye on referral bonus amounts offered by different stores. Some brands may offer more referral bonuses than others. So, it is worth checking which stores offer the best deals.

Following the above tips can maximize your earnings and save money online shopping. So, hurry up and start referring people to join through your link and earn a handsome passive income.

The Rakuten Referral Program is a great way to earn money while promoting a wide range of products. Through this program, you can earn cashback on your own purchases and on purchases made by your referrals.

The referral process is simple, just share your unique referral link with friends and family and earn a percentage of their cashback rewards. Rakuten offers a wide range of products, including clothing, electronics, travel, and more, providing plenty of opportunities for individuals to earn money through their referrals.

Plus, with no limit on the number of referrals you can make, the earning potential is endless.

#4: Airbnb Referral Program

Airbnb is a famous booking platform that operates in 191 countries. People list their apartments, homes, and hotel rooms for a competitive price. The referral program pays up to $150 in referral fees per booking.

Airbnb charges a small commission from the owner for each booking. You can book a luxury hotel room or an entire apartment for your family to stay in anywhere in the world.

Promote!

Airbnb also offers a fantastic referral program through which you can earn a good amount of passive income by promoting the platform. Airbnb has one of the most successful referral programs in which you invite friends and family through an affiliate link.

When someone books a stay through your link, you can get up to $150, depending on the value of the booking. The referral program benefits the referrer, helps expand the Airbnb community and provides more lodging options for travelers worldwide.

In addition, referrers can receive promotional coupon credits known as Travel Credits for new members on Airbnb through your unique link. These travel credits can be used for bookings in the future.

The Airbnb Referral Program is the best way to save money on your next trip and earn extra cash by sharing your referral link with your family and friends. This program is totally different from other referral programs like Amazon or eBay.

It’s a Bit Different…

You can only share your link personally, so it is more of a friend program. In addition, if you try to promote your link commercially, like on a website or social media, your account will be restricted.

Airbnb does not allow its members to spread the link everywhere on the internet. Whereas it only allows sharing the affiliate link with friends and family. This is to keep their customers safe so that no scam can happen to them on Airbnb’s platform.

So, it is crucial for you as an affiliate marketer to read the terms and conditions of the Airbnb referral program and stay away from all the activities that this platform disallows.

One thing to keep in mind is that when someone receives more than one referral invitation, you will only receive the Travel credit if they sign up via your link. Otherwise, travel credits go to whom of which the link is used to register.

The Airbnb referral program is an excellent way for users to earn passive income and save money on future trips. You can earn extra cash by sharing the platform with friends and family.

It is easy to use, tracks performance, and there is no limit to the number of referrals you can make. So if you are a passionate Airbnb user, take advantage of this earning source and increase your passive income.

#5: Cashback Websites

Cashback websites such as Ebates and TopCashback offer a percentage of what you spend back to you as a reward for shopping through their links.

Cashback sites are one of the best channels to earn extra cash while shopping online. These websites work by offering cashback on purchases made through their referral link.

Different brands collaborate with these platforms to increase their customers and, in return, give them a commission on every sale. As a result, when you buy something on these cashback websites, they share their commission in the form of cashback, which you can use in the future for more shopping.

Start With a Free Account

To start making extra income with cashback sites, the first step is to sign up and register an account. Many of these sites offer a free account but read all the terms and conditions before signing up.

Once you have an account, you can start browsing the site to find different retailers and products that can give you good cashback after a purchase. When you find the desired product that you want to buy, click on the link.

Then, you will be redirected to the retailer’s website, where you can make a purchase as you would typically do. After a successful qualifying sale, cashback will be credited to your account to use in the future. You can use a credit or debit card to shop online on these cashback websites.

Share, Share, Share!

You must share your unique referral code with friends and family to earn referral income. Users who use your link to sign up for an account become your associated referrals. When they buy something through these cashback websites, they also receive a share of the referral fee.

It is important to note that different cashback websites offer different referral programs. Some sites only pay for the first purchase, and some programs pay the affiliate commission on every qualifying purchase. Moreover, some of the sites only pay for a certain period.

There Are Minimum Thresholds

Another critical thing to remember is that some cashback websites have a minimum payment threshold. You can withdraw your payment once you have earned a certain amount. So, before promoting them, you should inquire about their payment cycle and make the final decision.

Cashback sites are a great way to earn extra cash while shopping online. With referral income, you can increase earnings through these platforms. However, you should explore and know everything before promoting your referral links.

#6: Affiliate Networks

Affiliate networks such as ShareASale and Commission Junction offer a variety of referral programs from different merchants. If you own a blogging website, affiliate marketing would be the best source of income.

Many affiliate networks offer you to promote different merchants and earn commission on every sale through your affiliate link. You only have to create content related to the products they are selling, and when someone buys from your link, you will receive a referral commission.

ShareASale and Commission Junction are two of the most famous affiliate networks. These networks bridge merchants offering affiliate programs and affiliate marketers looking to join these programs.

A Bit About ShareASale

ShareASale was founded back in 2000 and currently has 21,200+ merchants partners. Affiliate marketers earned around $1.3 Billion on ShareASale the previous year.

This affiliate platform is easy to use, and you can choose your niche-related top brands. After successfully partnering up with brands, you can start creating content on your website to promote their products.

Keep Track of Your Sales

Also, ShareaSale offers a dashboard for their affiliates to track their campaign performance and commission earnings. Moreover, ShareASale offers tools that will help you to improve your performance and help in content creation.

A Bit About Commission Junction

Commission Junction, also known as CJ Affiliate, is another fantastic affiliate marketing platform with thousands of merchants. You can choose any merchant to start promoting their products and earn commissions.

CJ Affiliate Program offers fantastic tools that help you analyze your targeted audience and increase your conversion rate. Moreover, CJ Affiliate partnered with Payoneer to provide a reliable payment method to its partners.

So, if you have a website, Commission Junction would be the best affiliate platform to improve your financial situation and earn a handsome income by promoting well-known brands worldwide.

Joining an affiliate network is an excellent way for affiliate marketers to find and join affiliate programs. You can search for programs that match your niche or interest and apply to join them.

Once accepted by the affiliate programs, you can start promoting the merchant’s products and earning commissions on every sale. Affiliate networks also provide tools to enhance the performance of your content, track your earnings, and tips to improve your profits.

Overall, these affiliate networks like ShareASale and Commission Junction make it easy for brands to set up and manage their affiliate programs and for affiliate marketers to find and apply for referral programs and track their performance and earnings. It is a win-win situation for both merchants and affiliate marketers.

#7: Referral Marketing Apps

Referral marketing apps such as Referral SaaSquatch, ReferralCandy, and Ambassador offer referral programs that pay out cash or rewards for referrals or purchases. Referral marketing apps are a powerful tool for affiliate marketers to earn affiliate commissions.

These apps, such as ReferralCandy, SaaSquatch, and Ambassador, allow you to create referral programs that incentivize customers to refer new customers to the business you promote. This kind of referral marketing can be highly effective.

This is because it offers big affiliate commissions and extra rewards on purchases. We will briefly tell you about these referral marketing apps.

ReferralCandy

ReferralCandy is one of the most popular referral marketing apps that handle referral programs for eCommerce business owners. They also have an affiliate program that pays you a commission on recommending their platform to eCommerce merchants worldwide.

First, you have to sign up on ReferralCandy and make an account. Once you get approved, they provide you with a unique referral link that you can use on your website, Youtube, or social media to promote their services to eCommerce store owners.

When someone clicks on your link, starts the free trial, and completes the onboarding process with ReferralCandy, you earn $50. There is no limit on the number of merchants you can refer to, so you will receive $50 for every eCommerce online store registered via your referral link.

If you are an eCommerce expert, Youtuber, blogger, influencer, or expert in digital marketing, it will be best for you to join the affiliate program with ReferralCandy.

SaaSquatch

SaaSquatch is software to help tech businesses to build a referral program for their customers, whether they are on a mobile app or website. If you are a digital business owner, you can create a program that offers cash, free gift cards, discounts, or credits.

Moreover, with SaaSquatch, you can build welcome offers, special event programs, VIP programs, and much more. Plus, SaaSquatch also offers an advocate program for affiliate marketing in which you have to promote their platform and bring in new users.

Every new user receives a considerable amount of commissions and rewards. Moreover, you will receive the title of “Squatcher” when you become affiliated with them.

The first step is registering with the SaaSquatch affiliate program or becoming a customer. After a successful signup, you will get a shareable referral link from the SaaSquatch app or the advocate portal.

You can share this unique link with your partner, friends, or any business owner interested in using SaaSquatch services. If your friend signs up with SaaSqutch and completes a demo with their team, you both receive a $200 gift card.

The incredible offer is that you will receive a $1000 gift card if the new referral becomes a paying customer with SaaSquatch. Moreover, if you are a SaaSquatch customer and an advocate (SaaSquatch affiliate), you can upgrade your program completely free, which is worth around $6000.

So, this referral program has a lot of opportunities for you to earn a massive amount of income through affiliate marketing.

Ambassador

Ambassador is another fantastic platform that offers online business owners to develop referral, influencer, and partner marketing programs. B2C and B2B businesses can use Ambassador to build programs for their brand ambassadors to track and analyze their individual performances.

Also, you can signup for Ambassador’s refer-a-friend program to start promoting their platform, and for every referred member, you can receive a 20% affiliate commission. There is no limit to the number of referrals, so you can keep sharing your unique link through a website, social media, or a personal message.

You can level up your affiliate marketing game using the above-mentioned referral marketing apps. They are best for earning a considerable amount of income through affiliate commissions. So, don’t wait further and register with any of these programs to promote their services and earn good passive income.

Wrapping Up

Referral programs are an excellent way for individuals to earn money while generating new business leads and customers. But with so many referral program options out there, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one.

That’s why we’ve compiled a list of some of the best referral programs to make money. There’s something for everyone, from affiliate marketing to network marketing and even referral reward programs.

Referral marketing programs like Amazon Associate allow you to earn a commission on sales made via your unique affiliate link. This can be a great way to earn money while promoting products of your interest. And the best part is you do not have to leave your home’s comfort.

And let’s not forget about company referral reward programs in various industries, such as ride-sharing and travel. These programs typically offer cash or gift card bonuses for each referral and can be a great way to earn extra money without making a significant investment. It’s like getting paid to tell friends and family about a service or product you love.

Referral programs are a great way to earn money while helping businesses generate new leads and customers. By finding the right referral program and promoting it effectively, you can turn your passion into profit and make some extra cash in the process. So go forth and explore the world of referral programs. The earning potential is endless.