Most affiliate programs pay you once. The customer signs up, you get your commission, and that’s it. Recurring commission programs work differently. You earn every time the customer renews their subscription – month after month, sometimes for years.
The math is straightforward. Refer 50 customers to a SaaS tool that pays 30% recurring on a $50/month plan, and you’re looking at $750/month in passive income. Those same 50 referrals on a one-time program might net you $2,500 total. One model builds an asset. The other is a paycheck.
We reviewed over 100 affiliate programs across nine niches to find the ones that actually pay recurring commissions, have decent cookie windows, and come from products people stick with. Here are the best options for 2026.
Top 3 recurring commission programs
- ConvertKit – 30% lifetime recurring on all plans. Join ConvertKit
- SamCart – 40% lifetime recurring with low churn. Join SamCart
- Kajabi – 30% lifetime recurring on high-ticket plans ($150+/month). Join Kajabi
What counts as a recurring commission program
Not every program that mentions “recurring” actually delivers meaningful passive income. We filtered for these criteria:
- True recurring payments – commission paid on every renewal, not just the first 3-6 months
- Lifetime or long-duration tracking – programs that pay for at least 12 months, with preference for lifetime (as long as the customer stays subscribed)
- Product stickiness – tools with low churn rates, because a recurring commission on a product people cancel after two months is worthless
- Reasonable cookie windows – at least 30 days, though many on this list offer 60-120 days
Email marketing and automation
Email platforms are the best category for recurring affiliate income. Customers rarely switch once they’ve built an email list on a platform, and plans scale with subscriber count – meaning your commission grows as their business grows.
1. ConvertKit – 30% recurring
ConvertKit (recently rebranded to Kit) pays 30% recurring for the first 24 months of each referred customer’s subscription. Their creator-focused platform has strong retention because migrating an email list is painful. The 30-day cookie is shorter than some competitors, but their brand recognition among creators makes conversions relatively easy. Commission scales automatically as customers upgrade to higher plans or grow their subscriber list.
2. AWeber – 30% recurring
AWeber‘s affiliate program stands out for one reason: the 365-day cookie. That’s a full year for someone to click your link and eventually sign up. They pay 30% recurring on every payment for as long as the customer stays. The platform has been around since 1998, which means an established user base and low churn. Top affiliates can qualify for increased rates up to 50%.
3. GetResponse – 33% recurring
GetResponse gives you a choice: take a flat $100 bounty per sale, or opt for 33% recurring commissions for life. For anyone focused on building long-term income, the recurring option wins by a wide margin. Their platform has expanded beyond email into landing pages, webinars, and marketing automation, which increases average plan value. The 120-day cookie gives you a solid conversion window.
4. ActiveCampaign – 20-30% recurring
ActiveCampaign uses a tiered recurring model. You start at 20% and work your way up to 30% based on the number of active referred accounts. The platform combines email marketing, CRM, and automation in one tool, which makes it sticky. Their 90-day cookie and lifetime recurring make this one of the more reliable programs in the email space. Higher-tier plans (Plus, Professional) can run $50-150/month per customer.
Other email marketing programs worth noting
- Moosend – 30% recurring on all plans, including upgrades and add-ons.
- MailerLite – 30% recurring. Popular with small businesses and bloggers for its clean interface.
- Drip – 30% recurring. Built for e-commerce email marketing with deep Shopify integrations.
Website builders and sales funnels
Funnel builders and checkout platforms tend to charge $97-297/month. That makes even a 25% recurring commission worth $24-74/month per referral.
5. SamCart – 40% recurring
SamCart pays one of the highest recurring rates in affiliate marketing: 40% for the lifetime of the customer. Their checkout and shopping cart platform is used by course creators, coaches, and digital product sellers. Plans start at $79/month, so a single referral on the top-tier plan generates meaningful monthly income. The 90-day cookie and high retention rate work in your favor here.
6. ClickFunnels – up to 40% recurring
ClickFunnels runs a tiered affiliate program. New affiliates start at 30% recurring, and hitting certain sales milestones unlocks the 40% tier. Plans start at $147/month (or $127/month billed annually), so a small portfolio of referred accounts can add up quickly. The 45-day cookie is standard, and their community of internet marketers creates a natural referral pipeline. One caveat: the higher tier requires consistent monthly sales to maintain.
7. Kartra – 40% recurring
Kartra pays 40% recurring for the lifetime of each referred customer. The platform bundles funnels, email marketing, membership sites, and checkout into one tool. Plans run $119-549/month, so even mid-tier referrals generate meaningful commissions. Their all-in-one approach creates high switching costs – once a business builds its entire marketing stack on Kartra, leaving is expensive. The 30-day cookie is standard for this space.
8. Leadpages – up to 50% recurring
Leadpages has one of the most aggressive tiered structures in affiliate marketing. You start at 10% recurring, but the rate climbs as your referral volume increases – reaching 50% for top performers. The program runs through Impact, and commissions are paid for as long as the customer remains subscribed. Plans run $37-99/month. The path to 50% requires real volume, but even the entry rate of 10% builds over time.
Other website builder programs worth noting
- Sellfy – 25% recurring. E-commerce platform for creators selling digital and physical products.
- Payhip – 50% recurring. Checkout platform for digital downloads and memberships.
- Thrive Themes – 35% per sale (one-time, not recurring). Worth mentioning for its high payout on WordPress suite sales.
SaaS and business tools
Business software has some of the best retention in SaaS. Once a team adopts a CRM or project management tool, migrating away costs time and money. That makes these programs reliable sources of recurring income.
9. Pipedrive – 20% recurring
Pipedrive pays 20% recurring through PartnerStack for the first 12 months of each referred customer. Their CRM is built for sales teams, and plans range from $14-99 per user per month. The per-user pricing is key here: a 10-person sales team on the Professional plan generates a significantly larger commission than a single user. The 90-day cookie is generous for B2B software.
10. LiveChat – 20% recurring
LiveChat offers 20% recurring commissions with a 120-day cookie – one of the longest in the SaaS space. The product is a customer support chat widget used by over 37,000 businesses. Since it integrates deeply into company workflows and customer service processes, users tend to stay for years. The program runs through PartnerStack and pays on every renewal for the lifetime of the account.
11. SocialPilot – 20% recurring
SocialPilot pays 20% recurring on all plans through PartnerStack. It’s a social media scheduling and management tool that competes with Hootsuite and Buffer at a lower price point. Plans run $25-170/month, and the commission applies to renewals and plan upgrades. The 90-day cookie and broad appeal to agencies and social media managers make it a solid pick for content in the social media marketing space.
Other SaaS programs worth noting
- Jasper AI – 30% recurring for the first 12 months. AI writing tool with high user retention and plans from $39/month.
- ClickUp – 20% recurring for the first 12 months. Project management platform competing with Monday.com and Asana.
- Tidio – 20% recurring. Live chat and chatbot platform with growing adoption among e-commerce stores.
Web hosting
Most hosting affiliate programs pay large one-time bounties ($50-200 per sale). The few that offer recurring commissions are worth prioritizing if you’re building long-term income.
12. Kinsta – 5-10% recurring
Kinsta pays 5-10% monthly recurring commissions for life on their managed WordPress hosting plans. Plans start at $35/month and go up to $1,650/month for enterprise accounts. The recurring component adds up fast on high-tier accounts. Kinsta’s churn rate is notably low because their platform delivers measurable performance improvements that customers don’t want to lose.
13. Cloudways – 7% recurring + bounty
Cloudways offers a hybrid model that’s unique in hosting. You earn a one-time bounty per signup plus 7% recurring on every monthly payment. The recurring percentage is lower than SaaS tools, but hosting bills can run hundreds per month for agencies managing multiple sites. Their platform manages cloud servers on DigitalOcean, AWS, and Google Cloud, giving it broad appeal across technical skill levels.
Other hosting programs worth noting
- RoseHosting – 10% recurring (increases to 15% after 30 referrals). Managed VPS hosting with lifetime commissions.
- Nestify – Recurring commissions on managed hosting plans. Focus on speed and high-performance WordPress sites.
VPN and cybersecurity
VPN programs pay well on initial sales, but the recurring component is where the real value lives. Customers who subscribe to a VPN typically keep it running for years.
14. NordVPN – 30% recurring on renewals
NordVPN pays 40% on the initial sale and 30% on all subsequent renewals. The program runs through multiple networks including Impact and Awin. NordVPN is the most recognized consumer VPN brand, which makes conversion straightforward if your audience cares about privacy or streaming. The 30-day cookie is standard for the VPN space. Renewals happen annually for most subscribers, giving you a reliable annual payout per referral.
15. Surfshark – 40% recurring on renewals
Surfshark offers one of the highest recurring rates in the VPN niche at 40% on renewals, with 40% on the initial sale as well. They’ve grown rapidly by offering unlimited simultaneous connections (most VPNs limit to 5-10 devices). The program is available through Impact. Their aggressive pricing and feature set make them one of the easier VPNs to promote, especially to budget-conscious audiences.
16. PureVPN – 35% recurring
PureVPN pays 35% recurring on all plan renewals through their in-house affiliate program. They have a 90-day cookie, which is triple the industry standard. The platform has been around since 2007, giving it a track record of reliability. While it lacks the brand power of NordVPN, the higher recurring rate and longer cookie can make it more profitable per referral for affiliates with consistent traffic.
Other VPN programs worth noting
- IPVanish – 35% recurring through CJ Affiliate. Strong in the US market with apps for Firestick and streaming devices.
- Private Internet Access (PIA) – Recurring commissions on renewals. Owned by the same parent company as CyberGhost, with a loyal privacy-focused user base.
SEO and marketing tools
SEO tools are subscription businesses by nature. Marketers need ongoing access to rank tracking, keyword data, and backlink analysis. The programs below pay recurring commissions and serve audiences that rarely cancel.
17. SpyFu – 40% recurring
SpyFu pays 40% recurring with a 365-day cookie. Those numbers are hard to beat anywhere in affiliate marketing, let alone the SEO niche. The platform provides competitor keyword research, PPC analysis, and backlink data. Plans range from $16-299/month. While SpyFu doesn’t have the brand recognition of Ahrefs or Semrush, the affiliate terms are dramatically better for recurring income.
18. Mangools – 30% recurring
Mangools runs a suite of SEO tools anchored by KWFinder, their keyword research tool. They pay 30% lifetime recurring through their in-house affiliate program. The 30-day cookie is standard, but their lower price point ($29-79/month) means easier conversions than premium tools. They’re popular with bloggers and small website owners who don’t need enterprise-grade SEO platforms.
19. SE Ranking – 30% recurring
SE Ranking pays 30% lifetime recurring with a 120-day cookie. Their all-in-one SEO platform covers rank tracking, site audits, keyword research, and competitor analysis. Plans start at $44/month and scale based on features and tracked keywords. The 120-day cookie gives you a long window to convert visitors who are comparing SEO tools before committing.
20. Serpstat – up to 30% recurring
Serpstat uses a tiered recurring model where your commission rate increases with the number of active referrals. The platform covers keyword research, rank tracking, site audit, and backlink analysis at competitive prices. Their 30-day cookie is adequate, and the lifetime recurring structure means each new referral permanently increases your monthly income.
Other SEO tool programs worth noting
- Surfer SEO – 25% recurring. Content optimization tool that’s become essential for SEO-focused content teams.
- Nightwatch – 20% recurring. Specialized rank tracking tool with detailed SERP analysis.
Online course platforms
Course platforms charge creators monthly fees to host and sell their courses. Once a creator builds their course catalog on a platform, they almost never migrate. That stickiness translates directly to reliable recurring commissions.
21. Kajabi – 30% recurring
Kajabi is the highest-value recurring program in the education niche. Plans run $149-399/month, and the 30% lifetime recurring commission means a single referral on the Growth plan ($199/month) earns you about $60/month – every month. The platform combines course hosting, email marketing, community, and payment processing, which makes it extremely sticky. The 30-day cookie is the main drawback.
22. Teachable – 30% recurring
Teachable pays 30% recurring for the first 12 months of each referred customer’s subscription. Plans range from $39-665/month, which gives a broad commission range depending on which plan your referrals choose. The program runs through PartnerStack with a 90-day cookie. Teachable hosts over 100,000 course creators, making it one of the most recognized names in the space – good for conversion rates.
23. Thinkific – 30% recurring
Thinkific offers 30% recurring for the first 12 months through PartnerStack with a 90-day cookie. Their platform focuses on course creation and student experience, with plans from $36-149/month. Top-tier referrals (Pro plan at $149/month) earn about $45/month in recurring commissions. The platform serves a broad range of creators – from individual educators to corporate training departments.
24. Podia – 30% recurring
Podia pays 30% lifetime recurring through their affiliate program. The platform bundles course hosting, digital downloads, webinars, and community features into plans starting at $33/month. Their all-in-one approach means creators who adopt Podia rarely need to use additional tools, which reduces churn. The 30-day cookie is in line with other platforms in this category.
Other course platform programs worth noting
- Mighty Networks – 20% recurring. Community-powered courses and membership sites.
- LearnWorlds – 20% recurring. Course platform with built-in ecommerce and white-label options.
Design and creative tools
Design tools may charge less per month than SaaS platforms, but their retention rates are high. Creators build workflows around specific tools and rarely switch.
25. Creatopy – up to 30% recurring
Creatopy (formerly Bannersnack) pays up to 30% recurring through FirstPromoter. It’s an ad design automation platform used by marketing teams and agencies. The 90-day cookie is generous, and enterprise plans with higher monthly fees increase the per-referral value. The tiered commission structure rewards affiliates who bring in more accounts.
26. Pixpa – 25% recurring
Pixpa is a portfolio website builder for photographers, artists, and creators. They pay a share of the first year’s revenue for each referral. Plans range from $8-25/month, so individual commissions are modest – but the niche audience (photographers specifically) makes content targeting precise. Once a photographer builds their portfolio on Pixpa, they tend to stay for years.
Other creative tool programs worth noting
- Snappa – 40% recurring via FirstPromoter. Quick graphic design tool with high user retention.
- Stencil – 30% recurring. Social media graphic design tool with lifetime commissions.
Quick-reference comparison table
Here’s every featured program side by side, sorted by recurring commission rate.
| Program | Category | Commission | Cookie | Recurring type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SpyFu | SEO tools | 40% | 365 days | Lifetime |
| SamCart | Sales funnels | 40% | 90 days | Lifetime |
| Surfshark | VPN | 40% | 30 days | Lifetime |
| ClickFunnels | Sales funnels | 30-40% | 45 days | Lifetime |
| Kartra | Sales funnels | 40% | 30 days | Lifetime |
| PureVPN | VPN | 35% | 90 days | Lifetime |
| GetResponse | Email marketing | 33% | 120 days | Lifetime |
| ConvertKit | Email marketing | 30% | 30 days | 24 months |
| AWeber | Email marketing | 30% | 365 days | Lifetime |
| Kajabi | Course platform | 30% | 30 days | Lifetime |
| Teachable | Course platform | 30% | 90 days | 12 months |
| Thinkific | Course platform | 30% | 90 days | 12 months |
| Mangools | SEO tools | 30% | 30 days | Lifetime |
| SE Ranking | SEO tools | 30% | 120 days | Lifetime |
| NordVPN | VPN | 30% | 30 days | Lifetime |
| Podia | Course platform | 30% | 30 days | Lifetime |
| ActiveCampaign | Email marketing | 20-30% | 90 days | Lifetime |
| SocialPilot | SaaS tools | 20% | 90 days | Lifetime |
| Pipedrive | SaaS tools | 20% | 90 days | 12 months |
| LiveChat | SaaS tools | 20% | 120 days | Lifetime |
| Kinsta | Web hosting | 5-10% | 60 days | Lifetime |
| Cloudways | Web hosting | 7% + bounty | 90 days | Lifetime |
How to pick the right recurring programs
A high commission rate means nothing if the product has terrible retention. Here’s how to evaluate recurring programs before committing your content efforts.
Look at churn, not commission rates
A 40% recurring rate on a product people cancel after 2 months is worth less than 20% on a product they keep for 3 years. Research the platform’s reputation, read reviews, and check how long existing customers tend to stay. Business tools, CRMs, and hosting tend to have low churn. Consumer apps and trendy tools churn faster.
Calculate annual value, not monthly
When comparing programs, multiply the monthly commission by 12 (or by the average customer lifetime if you can estimate it). A 30% commission on a $50/month tool equals $180/year per referral. Ten referrals reach $1,800/year. Fifty gets you to $9,000. The compounding effect is what makes recurring programs powerful.
Match programs to your audience
The best program on paper is useless if your audience doesn’t need it. A blog about freelancing converts well for FreshBooks and ConvertKit. A site about SEO converts for Mangools and SE Ranking. Pick 3-5 programs that directly overlap with what your readers already search for.
Stack complementary tools
Promote tools that your audience uses together. A course creator might need Kajabi (course hosting), ConvertKit (email), and SamCart (checkout). Write content that naturally introduces multiple tools, and you can earn recurring commissions from the same reader across three different products.
Bottom line
Recurring commission programs are the closest thing to passive income in affiliate marketing. But “passive” is relative – you still need to create content, drive traffic, and choose products people actually use long-term. The programs listed here all offer genuine recurring payments and come from products with established user bases.
If you’re starting out, focus on one niche where you can build authority. Email marketing and course platforms are strong starting points because the commission rates are high, the products are sticky, and there’s plenty of search demand for comparison and review content. From there, expand into adjacent niches as your traffic grows.
Browse our full affiliate program directory for detailed reviews of individual programs, including sign-up links, commission breakdowns, and pros and cons.
