TL;DR:
- ShareASale = affiliate network with 5,000+ merchants. Strong in fashion, home, tools, SaaS.
- Owned by Awin (since 2017). Free to join.
- Realistic: $100-$5K/month year 1. Top affiliates: $20K-$200K+/month.
What Is ShareASale?
- Founded 2000.
- Affiliate network — connects affiliates to merchants.
- 5,000+ merchant programs.
- Acquired by Awin 2017.
- Free to join.
- Strong in: fashion, home, tools, SaaS.
How ShareASale Works
- Affiliate signs up.
- Apply to merchant programs.
- Get approved → get unique affiliate links.
- Promote products via blog / social / email.
- Customer buys → ShareASale tracks → commission paid.
Step 1 — Sign Up
- Go to shareasale.com.
- Click "Sign Up" → Affiliates.
- Fill application:
- Website / blog URL.
- Traffic source.
- Audience description.
- Experience level.
- Verify website (DNS or HTML method).
- Wait approval (1-3 days).
Approval Tips
- Active website with regular content.
- Privacy policy + disclosure.
- Niche aligned with affiliates' products.
- Avoid: low-quality / bare site, controversial niches.
Step 2 — Find Merchants
Browse Programs
- Search by keyword, category, EPC.
- Filter: commission rate, cookie length, network.
Key Metrics
- EPC (Earnings Per Click) — average earnings per 100 clicks.
- Cookie length — 30-90 days typical.
- Commission rate — 5-50% typical.
- Reversal rate — % of sales reversed.
Top ShareASale Merchants
- WP Engine — 10-15% commission, premium hosting.
- NordVPN — 40-100% first sale.
- Grammarly — affiliate program.
- Constant Contact — email marketing.
- Reebok / Wayfair / Sun Basket — consumer brands.
- FreshBooks — small biz accounting.
- Etsy — alternative to direct.
Step 3 — Apply to Programs
- Click "Join Program" on each.
- Some auto-approve, others require manual review.
- Approval: 1-7 days.
- Apply to 10-30 relevant programs to start.
Step 4 — Get Affiliate Links
Create Link Tools
- Custom Link Builder.
- Banner library.
- Product feed access.
- Browser extension.
Step 5 — Promote
Best Methods
- SEO blog content — review-style articles.
- Email marketing.
- YouTube reviews.
- Pinterest for product-heavy niches.
- Resource pages on your blog.
Disclosure
- FTC requires affiliate disclosure.
- Place near links.
- Sample: "This post contains affiliate links."
Top Niches for ShareASale
Web Tools / SaaS
- WP Engine, Constant Contact, FreshBooks.
- 20-50% commissions.
- $50-$300 per sale.
Home + Garden
- Wayfair, Sun Basket.
- 3-10% commissions.
Fashion + Apparel
- Reebok, NastyGal.
- 5-15% commissions.
VPN + Privacy
- NordVPN, ExpressVPN partnerships.
- 40-100% first sale commission.
Education
- Skillshare, MasterClass.
- $5-$30 per signup.
Payment Terms
- $50 minimum payout.
- Net 20 (paid 20th of month for prior month).
- Methods: ACH, PayPal, check, wire.
- 30-day reversal window (refunds).
ShareASale vs Other Networks
| Network | Best for | Commission range |
|---|---|---|
| ShareASale | Mid-market brands | 5-50% |
| CJ Affiliate | Premium brands | 10-50% |
| Impact | SaaS + premium | 10-50% |
| Amazon Associates | Physical products | 1-10% |
| ClickBank | Digital products | 30-75% |
| PartnerStack | SaaS recurring | 20-50% |
| Awin (parent) | Same merchants as ShareASale | 5-50% |
Realistic Earnings
| Stage | Monthly |
|---|---|
| Months 0-3 | $0-$300 |
| 3-6 months | $300-$2K |
| 6-12 months | $1K-$8K |
| 1-2 years (active) | $5K-$30K |
| Top affiliates | $30K-$200K+/month |
Tools
- ShareASale browser extension — quick links.
- Link Localizer — geo-redirect.
- Product feeds for content sites.
- Lasso (WP plugin) — pretty product cards.
Common Mistakes
- Apply to everything — focus on niche.
- Ignoring EPC — low EPC = wasted promotion.
- Spammy tactics — banned.
- No disclosure.
- Skipping email list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ShareASale legit?
Yes — established 2000, owned by Awin. Paid affiliates billions over decades.
Best ShareASale niche?
SaaS / web tools (high commission), VPNs (high commission), fashion (broad).
ShareASale vs Amazon Associates?
ShareASale: higher commissions (5-50%), niche brands. Amazon: easier + trusted but lower (1-10%).
Minimum payout?
$50. Pay monthly via ACH, PayPal, check, or wire.
Need a website?
Strongly recommended for approval. Some merchants accept social-only affiliates with strong audience.
Key Takeaways
- ShareASale = 5,000+ merchant affiliate network.
- 5-50% commissions; $50-$300 per sale common.
- Top niches: SaaS, VPN, fashion, home.
- Apply to 10-30 niche-aligned programs.
- Use EPC + cookie length to filter.
One link for affiliate content + brand
Add a UniLink URL to your bio — features your blog, products, social. Free.