Affiliate marketing continues to be a powerful income stream for tech bloggers, YouTubers, developers, and influencers. In 2025, the best-paying affiliate programs are focused on web hosting, software, SaaS tools, online education, and digital products — all with generous commissions and recurring payouts. If you’re in the tech niche and want to monetize your audience, this guide highlights the top-performing affiliate programs you should consider this year.
Affiliate Programs That Pay Well
1. Cloudways
Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform popular with developers, agencies, and SaaS startups. Their affiliate program offers flexible commission models including one-time payouts and lifetime recurring commissions.
Why it pays well:
- Commission up to $125 per sale
- Hybrid option: $30 per sale + 7% recurring for life
- High-converting product for developers and businesses
Best for: Web developers, SaaS bloggers, WordPress experts
2. Elementor
Elementor is one of the leading website builders for WordPress. Their affiliate program is simple and effective, especially for bloggers and YouTubers promoting WordPress tools.
Why it pays well:
- 50% commission on each sale
- Large audience of WordPress users
- Monthly payouts with low minimum
Best for: Tech bloggers, designers, WordPress educators
3. Hostinger
Hostinger is an affordable web hosting provider with global reach. It offers one of the highest payouts in the hosting niche, even for beginner affiliates.
Why it pays well:
- Up to $150 per qualified sale
- Easy product to promote due to low prices
- Dedicated affiliate support team
Best for: Bloggers, review sites, and tutorial creators targeting beginners
4. Coursera Affiliate Program
Coursera partners with universities and tech companies to offer professional certificates and degree programs. As an affiliate, you can earn commissions on course enrollments in data science, AI, cloud computing, and more.
Why it pays well:
- 10–45% commission on paid courses
- High ticket items like Google and IBM certificates
- Educational traffic converts well
Best for: Content creators focused on tech careers, coding, and certifications
5. Envato Market (ThemeForest & CodeCanyon)
Envato offers digital assets like themes, plugins, code scripts, and design elements. It’s a favorite among developers and freelancers who need ready-made tools.
Why it pays well:
- 30% commission per new user’s first purchase
- Huge product catalog to promote
- Easy to link from blog tutorials or YouTube demos
Best for: Developers, UI/UX bloggers, and YouTubers
6. NordVPN
VPNs are high-converting products for tech-savvy audiences. NordVPN has one of the most generous affiliate structures in the security and privacy niche.
Why it pays well:
- Up to 40% recurring commission
- High lifetime value (long subscriptions)
- Trusted brand with wide market reach
Best for: Cybersecurity bloggers, YouTube reviewers, tech influencers
7. HubSpot Affiliate Program
HubSpot offers a full CRM and marketing software suite. It has a generous affiliate structure, especially for bloggers or consultants targeting business and startup audiences.
Why it pays well:
- $250 to $1,000+ per qualified signup
- Recurring potential from enterprise leads
- Long cookie window (90 days)
Best for: SaaS bloggers, B2B marketers, and tech consultants
8. Notion Affiliate Program
Notion has exploded in popularity with startups, developers, and remote workers. Their affiliate program is relatively new but offers good commissions for promoting a well-loved product.
Why it pays well:
- 50% commission on first-year revenue
- Popular among tech-savvy users
- Supports multiple use cases (docs, wikis, PM)
Best for: Productivity bloggers, dev teams, YouTubers
9. Teachable
Teachable allows creators to sell online courses. If you target tech educators, course creators, or freelancers, it’s a great fit.
Why it pays well:
- 30% recurring commission
- High average revenue per customer
- Trusted brand in the e-learning space
Best for: Bloggers who write about coding, teaching, or creator economy tools
10. GitHub Sponsors or Buy Me a Coffee
While not traditional affiliate programs, platforms like GitHub Sponsors and Buy Me a Coffee allow developers to earn support from fans, open-source contributors, and readers.
Why it pays well:
- 100% of supporter funds go to creators (depending on platform)
- Works great for newsletter writers and open-source devs
- Build passive income from community support
Best for: Indie developers, open-source maintainers, dev bloggers
Final Thoughts
The best affiliate programs in 2025 combine high payout potential with strong product-market fit. Focus on promoting tools you actually use and trust. Authentic recommendations backed by quality content always convert better and build long-term trust with your audience.
