Software · head to head
CJ Affiliate vs ClickBank

CJ Affiliate
Software
Global affiliate marketing platform by Publicis
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only ClickBank has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: CJ Affiliate complex pricing tiers without transparent public pricing; ClickBank a one time activation fee of $49.95 is charged when a seller's first product is approved
- They diverge on capability: CJ Affiliate covers Cross-device tracking, ClickBank covers Digital product marketplace.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CJ Affiliate and ClickBank actually diverge.
| Attribute | CJ Affiliate | ClickBank |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
Identical on both: pricing model (transaction), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (1998).
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 CJ Affiliate
- Cross-device tracking
- Real-time analytics
- Publisher recruitment
- Commission automation
- Fraud protection
- Salesforce
- Adobe Analytics
- Google Analytics
Only in ClickBank
- Digital product marketplace
- High commission rates
- Recurring billing
- Refund management
- Affiliate tools
- ClickFunnels
- WordPress
- Teachable
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
CJ Affiliate
- affiliate marketing managementnot ClickBank
- Workflow automationnot ClickBank
- Reportingnot ClickBank
ClickBank
- Selling digital products through an affiliate marketplacenot CJ Affiliate
- Recruiting affiliates to promote an info product or supplementnot CJ Affiliate
- Earning commission as an affiliate on third party digital productsnot CJ Affiliate
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
CJ Affiliate
- Complex pricing tiers without transparent public pricing
- Limited integration capabilities with leading third-party HR point solutions compared to some 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
CJ Affiliate
On request- EnterpriseFree
- Custom pricing
- Dedicated support
- Advanced analytics
ClickBank
Free- AffiliateFree
- Free to join
- Up to 75% commissions
- Weekly payouts
Which should you pick?
Choose CJ Affiliate if
- You need cross-device tracking.
- You also want real-time analytics.
Choose ClickBank if
- You need digital product marketplace.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want high commission rates.
Questions people ask
- Is CJ Affiliate or ClickBank better?
- Neither clearly leads. CJ Affiliate starts at On request and ClickBank at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CJ Affiliate or ClickBank?
- ClickBank has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for CJ Affiliate and Free for ClickBank.
- Does CJ Affiliate or ClickBank run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use ClickBank for free?
- Yes. ClickBank has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CJ Affiliate starts at On request.
- What is CJ Affiliate best used for?
- CJ Affiliate 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 CJ Affiliate do that ClickBank cannot?
- CJ Affiliate covers Cross-device tracking, Real-time analytics, Publisher recruitment, Commission automation. ClickBank covers Digital product marketplace, High commission rates, Recurring billing, Refund management. Both handle Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
CJ Affiliate: How much does CJ Affiliate cost?
CJ Affiliate requires custom pricing based on business needs. Contact their sales team for a customized quote; pricing tiers vary by affiliate network size and commission models used.
SourceCJ Affiliate: How many publishers and brands are on CJ Affiliate?
CJ is the platform of choice for over 3,800 global brands with over 167K publishers and brands engaging billions of consumers worldwide across all verticals.
SourceCJ Affiliate: What integrations does CJ Affiliate support?
CJ Affiliate provides a comprehensive API supporting integrations with marketing automation platforms, analytics tools, and tracking systems through RESTful endpoints with OAuth 2.0 authentication.
Source
