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Affiliate Marketing · head to head

Amazon Associates vs ClickBank

Amazon Associates logo

Amazon Associates

Affiliate Marketing

The world's largest affiliate marketing program

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ClickBank logo

ClickBank

Affiliate Marketing

Digital product affiliate marketplace

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Amazon Associates commission rates are among the lowest in affiliate marketing at 4-20% by category; ClickBank a one time activation fee of $49.95 is charged when a seller's first product is approved
  • They diverge on capability: Amazon Associates covers Product linking tools, ClickBank covers Digital product marketplace.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Amazon Associates and ClickBank actually diverge.

Attributes where Amazon Associates and ClickBank differ
AttributeAmazon AssociatesClickBank
Pricing modelUnknowntransaction
PlatformsWeb, Browser plugin, Mobile browserWeb
Founded19961998

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Affiliate Marketing).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Amazon Associates

  • Product linking tools
  • Native shopping ads
  • SiteStripe toolbar
  • Commission tracking
  • Real-time reporting
  • Blogger
  • YouTube
  • Mobile support

Only in ClickBank

  • Digital product marketplace
  • High commission rates
  • Recurring billing
  • Refund management
  • Affiliate tools
  • ClickFunnels
  • Teachable
  • Kajabi

Both cover

  • WordPress
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Amazon Associates

  • affiliate marketing managementnot ClickBank
  • Workflow automationnot ClickBank
  • Reportingnot ClickBank

ClickBank

  • Selling digital products through an affiliate marketplacenot Amazon Associates
  • Recruiting affiliates to promote an info product or supplementnot Amazon Associates
  • Earning commission as an affiliate on third party digital productsnot Amazon Associates

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Amazon Associates

  • Commission rates are among the lowest in affiliate marketing at 4-20% by category
  • Requires $100 minimum earnings threshold before payment is issued
  • Cookie duration limited to 24 hours for click tracking, compared to 60-90 days at competitors

ClickBank

  • A one time activation fee of $49.95 is charged when a seller's first product is approved
  • ClickBank retains 7.5% plus $1 on each sale
  • A $5.00 pay period processing fee is charged on every payment issued
  • Refunds cost the seller $0.50 or $1 depending on product price and return date
  • Dormant accounts are charged $1 per pay period after 90 days without earnings, $5 after 180 days and $50 after 365 days
  • Payment is withheld until the account reaches the payment threshold, which defaults to $100

Pricing, plan by plan

Amazon Associates

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Amazon Associates review.

ClickBank

Free
  • AffiliateFree
    • Free to join
    • Up to 75% commissions
    • Weekly payouts

Which should you pick?

Choose Amazon Associates if

  • You need product linking tools.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Browser plugin, Mobile browser.
  • You also want native shopping ads.
Amazon Associates review

Choose ClickBank if

  • You need digital product marketplace.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want high commission rates.
ClickBank review

Questions people ask

Is Amazon Associates or ClickBank better?
Neither clearly leads. Amazon Associates starts at Free and ClickBank at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Amazon Associates or ClickBank?
Amazon Associates starts at Free and ClickBank at Free.
Does Amazon Associates or ClickBank run on more platforms?
Amazon Associates runs on Web, Browser plugin, Mobile browser. ClickBank runs on Web.
Can I use Amazon Associates for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Amazon Associates best used for?
Amazon Associates is most often used for affiliate marketing management, workflow automation, reporting. Of those, affiliate marketing management and workflow automation are not what ClickBank is typically brought in for.
What can Amazon Associates do that ClickBank cannot?
Amazon Associates covers Product linking tools, Native shopping ads, SiteStripe toolbar, Commission tracking. ClickBank covers Digital product marketplace, High commission rates, Recurring billing, Refund management. Both handle WordPress, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Amazon Associates: Is it free to join Amazon Associates?

Yes. There are no signup fees, monthly costs, or commissions paid to Amazon. Joining and participation are completely free.

Source
ClickBank: Is there a cost to sign up for ClickBank?

No. ClickBank account creation is free for both affiliates and sellers. There is no upfront fee to access the marketplace.

Source
Amazon Associates: How long does a click cookie last?

Amazon gives you 24 hours to earn a commission once a visitor clicks an affiliate link. You also earn a commission if a person adds a product to their cart within 24 hours and purchases it within 90 days.

Source
ClickBank: How does ClickBank pay affiliates and sellers?

ClickBank uses two commission models: RevShare (revenue sharing) and CPA (cost-per-action). Payments are made twice weekly to your account.

Source
Amazon Associates: What are the commission rates?

Commission rates vary by product category. Amazon Games earns 20%, Luxury Beauty at 10%, Kitchen at 4.5%, and All Other Categories at 4%. Commission rates change frequently.

Source
ClickBank: What commission percentages does ClickBank charge?

The homepage does not specify exact commission percentages. You would need to contact ClickBank or review their Help Center to find detailed commission tier information.

Source
Amazon Associates: How often does Amazon pay affiliates?

Amazon Associates provides reports updated hourly for most orders. Earnings can be tracked in real-time through the Associates Central dashboard. Payments are issued monthly if earnings exceed $100.

Source
Amazon Associates: Can I earn commissions internationally?

Yes. Amazon Associates operates in multiple countries. OneLink allows US Associates to earn commissions internationally by automatically directing customers to their local Amazon store.

Source
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