There are a lot of networks that you can use to make money online, two of them are Shareasale and Clickbank, in this blog I write a lot about Clickbank, and today I am going to compare it to another famous affiliate network Shareasale.
In this Shareasale Vs Clickbank comparison, I am going to explain the history of each network, the unique features of each network, the similarities, and my opinion on which one you can pick.
What is Shareasale?
Shareasale is an affiliate marketing network that connects merchants with affiliates to promote their products and services.
The platform was founded in 2000 and has since grown to become one of the largest affiliate networks in the world, with over 4,500 merchants and over 1 million affiliates.
As an affiliate, you can sign up to Shareasale to find products to promote and earn commissions on sales generated through your unique affiliate links.
On this platform you can find a lot of products to promote, most of them being physical products, you can search for products to promote, generate affiliate links, and track your earnings and performance.
What do you get from Shareasale?
Shareasale is a popular affiliate marketing network that has been around for over 20 years.
It provides a wide range of features to help affiliate marketers and merchants connect and grow their businesses. Here are some of the key features of Shareasale:
Large Network
Shareasale has over 4,500 merchants and over 1 million affiliates, making it one of the largest affiliate networks in the world.
This gives affiliates a wide range of products and services to promote, and merchants access to a large pool of potential affiliates.
Easy to Use
Shareasale has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for affiliates and merchants to navigate and use.
It also provides a range of tools and resources to help them optimize their campaigns and track their performance.
Flexible Commission Structures
Shareasale allows merchants to set up a variety of commission structures, including pay-per-sale, pay-per-lead, and pay-per-click.
This gives you as an affiliate the flexibility to choose the best commission structure depending on your business model.
Real-Time Tracking
Shareasale provides real-time tracking of clicks, sales, and commissions, giving affiliates and merchants instant access to their performance data.
This allows you to optimize your campaigns and make data-driven decisions.
Pros and Cons of Shareasale
Shareasale is a popular affiliate marketing network that has been around since 2000.
It offers a wide range of programs and features that make it a great choice for both merchants and affiliates.
However, like any platform, it has its strengths and weaknesses. Here are some of the pros and cons of Shareasale:
Pros:
- Large network: Shareasale has over 4,500 merchants and 1 million affiliates, making it one of the largest affiliate networks in the world. This means that you have a lot of options when it comes to finding programs to promote or products to sell.
- Easy to use: Shareasale’s user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate. The platform is designed to be user-friendly, making it easy for merchants and affiliates to find what they need.
- Flexible commission structures: Shareasale allows merchants to set their own commission rates, which gives them more control over their affiliate program. Affiliates can also negotiate their commission rates with merchants, which can lead to higher payouts.
- Reliable payments: Shareasale pays affiliates on time and has a good reputation for being reliable when it comes to payments.
- Excellent support: Shareasale has a dedicated support team that is available to help merchants and affiliates with any questions or issues they may have.
Cons:
- High fees: Shareasale charges merchants a $550 setup fee, which can be expensive for smaller businesses. The platform also charges a transaction fee for each sale made through the network.
- Limited reporting: Shareasale’s reporting capabilities are somewhat limited compared to other affiliate networks. Merchants and affiliates may find it difficult to get the data they need to optimize their campaigns.
- Strict approval process: Shareasale has a strict approval process for new affiliates, which can make it difficult for some people to join the network.
- Less international: Shareasale has a smaller international presence compared to other affiliate networks, which can limit the number of programs and products available for affiliates to promote.
How much money you can make on a Shareasale as an affiliate?
There is no way to estimate the amount of money you can make, it depends on a lot of factors, your knowledge, your audience, the values you provide to other people, and so on.Â
For me the lowest I have made per month, this year was $50.01 in January, even without promoting actively products from this platform.
What is Clickbank?
Clickbank is an online marketplace that connects digital product creators with affiliate marketers.
It was founded in 1998 and has since become one of the largest affiliate networks on the internet.
Clickbank’s main focus is on digital products such as e-books, software, and online courses.
What do you get from Clickbank?
Clickbank is a popular affiliate marketing platform that has been around since 1998.
It offers a variety of features that make it a great choice for both vendors and affiliates. Here are some of the key features of Clickbank:
Large Marketplace
Clickbank has a huge marketplace with thousands of products in a wide range of niches.
This makes it easy for affiliates to find products to promote that are relevant to their audience.
High Commission Rates
Clickbank offers some of the highest commission rates in the industry, with some products offering commissions as high as 75%.
This can be very attractive to affiliates who are looking to earn a significant income from their promotions.
Easy to Use
Clickbank is very user-friendly, with a simple interface that makes it easy to find products, generate affiliate links, and track your earnings.
Flexible Payment Options
Clickbank offers a variety of payment options for both vendors and affiliates, including direct deposit, wire transfer, and check. This makes it easy to receive payments no matter where you are located.
Advanced Tracking
Clickbank offers advanced tracking features that allow affiliates to track their clicks, conversions, and earnings in real time.
This can be very helpful for optimizing your campaigns and maximizing your earnings.
Pros and Cons of Clickbank
Clickbank is a popular affiliate marketing platform that has been around for over two decades.
It has a large network of affiliates and vendors, and it offers a wide range of products in various niches. However, like any other platform, Clickbank has its pros and cons.
Pros:
- Large network of affiliates and vendors: Clickbank has over 100,000 affiliates and vendors, which means there are plenty of products to promote and plenty of affiliates to help you promote your products.
- Easy to use: Clickbank’s platform is user-friendly and easy to navigate, making it easy for both affiliates and vendors to use.
- High commission rates: Clickbank offers some of the highest commission rates in the industry, with some products offering commissions as high as 75%.
- Wide range of products: Clickbank offers a wide range of products in various niches, including health and fitness, self-help, and digital products.
- Reliable payments: Clickbank pays its affiliates and vendors on time and offers multiple payment options.
Cons:
- Low-quality products: Clickbank has a reputation for having low-quality products, which can make it difficult for affiliates to promote and earn commissions.
- High refund rates: Clickbank’s refund rates are higher than average, which can result in lost commissions for affiliates.
- Limited customer support: Clickbank’s customer support is limited, which can make it difficult for affiliates and vendors to get help when they need it.
- Strict policies: Clickbank has strict policies and guidelines that affiliates and vendors must follow, which can be frustrating for some users.
- Competitive market: Clickbank is a competitive market, with many affiliates and vendors promoting similar products, making it difficult to stand out and make sales.
5 Best Places to Promote Clickbank Products
Shareasale vs Clickbank-Comparison for affiliates
So now we have seen what each network is about, let us compare the two in two key metrics, Customer Distribution Requirement, minimum commissions, and how it is easier to use.
Customer Distribution Requirement
On Clickbank you will not get paid after you make your sale, you have to meet what they call customer distribution requirements, basically, you will have to make 5 sales from 5 different geographical locations using at least two different payment methods.
ClickBank will withhold payment of any balance until an account shows a minimum of 5 sales using at least two of the following payment methods:
- American Express
- Carte Bleue
- Diners Club
- Discover
- Maestro
- MasterCard
- PayPal
- Visa
Shareasale does not have a customer distribution requirement, as long as you meet the minimum requirement, that you can set, you will get paid.
Minimum commission to get paidÂ
In Clickbank, the minimum commission that you can request is $10, and remember that they will charge you $2 every time they pay you a commission.
Shareaslae the minimum commission you can request is $50 and they do not charge you anything for commission processing.
Product approval for affiliates
Most of the products in Clickbank do not require approval from the vendors, this is very important, especially for new affiliates.
On other hand, in Shareasale, before promoting a new product, you will need to get approved by a vendor, and most vendors will want you to demonstrate that you have some experience, you will need to show them your blogs, website or anything to prove that you know what you are doing.
Ease of Use
When it comes to choosing between Shareasale and Clickbank, ease of use is an essential factor to consider. Both platforms have their strengths and weaknesses in terms of user-friendliness.
Shareasale has a straightforward and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to navigate and find what they need.
The dashboard is well-organized, and the process of setting up an account and getting started is relatively simple.
The platform also provides a range of tools and resources to help users optimize their campaigns and track their performance.
On the other hand, Clickbank has a more complex interface that can be overwhelming for new users. The platform requires users to go through a rigorous approval process, which can be time-consuming and frustrating.
However, once users get past the initial hurdles, they can access a range of features and tools to help them succeed.
In terms of payment processing, both platforms offer easy and secure payment options for affiliates and vendors.
Shareasale has a minimum payout threshold of $50, while Clickbank has a minimum payout threshold of $10.
Both platforms offer multiple payment options, including direct deposit, check, and wire transfer.
Overall, while both Shareasale and Clickbank have their strengths and weaknesses in terms of ease of use, Shareasale may be the better option for beginners or those who value a more straightforward and intuitive interface.
Which one is better for you?
Now it is time for a million dollars question, which of the two affiliate networks is better for you? here is my opinion about the two.
Choosing between Shareasale and Clickbank can be a tough decision. Both platforms have their own unique features and benefits that cater to different types of businesses and affiliates.
Ultimately, the choice between the two comes down to what you are looking for in an affiliate network.
Shareasale is a more traditional affiliate network that offers a wide range of products and services to promote.
It has a user-friendly interface and provides affiliates with a lot of tools and resources to help them succeed. Shareasale also has a reputation for being a reliable and trustworthy platform.
On the other hand, Clickbank is more focused on digital products such as ebooks, courses, and software.
It has a large selection of high-quality products in various niches, and affiliates can earn high commissions on each sale.
Clickbank also has a robust reporting system that allows affiliates to track their sales and earnings in real time.
If you are looking to promote physical products, Shareasale might be the better option for you.
However, if you are interested in promoting digital products, Clickbank is the clear winner. It all comes down to your niche and the type of products you want to promote.
Ultimately, both platforms have their own strengths and weaknesses, and the choice between the two depends on your individual needs and preferences.
Take the time to research both platforms and choose the one that best suits your business goals and objectives.
