Education · 2026-06-08

Affiliate Networks Explained: Impact, CJ, ShareASale & More

What a network does

An affiliate network is a marketplace that connects publishers with thousands of merchant programs. It handles link tracking, reporting, and — crucially — consolidates your payments so you get one payout instead of chasing dozens of merchants.

The major players

Impact and PartnerStack dominate modern SaaS and B2B. CJ Affiliate and Rakuten are retail and finance powerhouses. ShareASale and Awin are strong across e-commerce, health and fashion. FlexOffers aggregates many smaller programs in one place.

Direct vs network programs

Some brands run their own in-house (direct) programs. These can offer higher rates and closer relationships, but you'll manage separate logins and payouts. Networks trade a little margin for convenience and reliability.

Find programs to put this into practice

Browse the directory and shortlist affiliate programs that match your niche.

Browse the Directory

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