Program Details
| Commission | 30% recurring (first 12 months) (Recurring) |
| Cookie Duration | 30 days |
| Network | PartnerStack |
| Payment Methods | PayPal |
| Min. Payout | Not publicly disclosed |
| Payment Frequency | Monthly |
| Category | Online Course Platform / E-Learning Software |
| Countries | Worldwide (no explicit geographic restrictions; PayPal required for payouts) |
| Website | teachable.com |
Teachable is a no-code platform that lets creators, educators, and entrepreneurs build and sell online courses, memberships, coaching programs, and digital downloads. Founded in 2013, it has powered over 100,000 course creators and processed more than $1 billion in student payments. The platform handles everything from checkout and payments to student dashboards, analytics, and built-in marketing tools.
The Teachable affiliate program pays a 30% recurring commission for the first year on every sale you refer. It runs through PartnerStack and is a solid option for anyone publishing content about online business, creator tools, or e-learning software. The program is open to applications, with a 2-3 business day review turnaround.
Teachable Affiliate Program Commission Structure
Teachable pays 30% recurring commission on every referred sale, and that commission continues for the full first year of the customer’s subscription. If someone you refer stays on a paid Teachable plan for 12 months, you earn 30% of each monthly (or annual) payment they make during that period.
After the first year, commissions stop on that customer. This is different from programs like Thinkific, which offer lifetime recurring commissions. That said, 30% for a full year is still a meaningful payout – Teachable’s paid plans range from $39/month (Basic) up to $299/month (Pro+), so a single high-plan referral can generate $140+ in commissions over 12 months.
| Plan Referred | Monthly Price | Your Monthly Commission (30%) | Max 12-Month Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $39/mo | ~$11.70 | ~$140 |
| Pro | $119/mo | ~$35.70 | ~$428 |
| Pro+ | $299/mo | ~$89.70 | ~$1,076 |
Cookie Duration and Tracking
Teachable uses a 30-day cookie window. If someone clicks your affiliate link and signs up for any paid Teachable plan within 30 days, you receive credit for the referral. The 30-day window is standard for SaaS affiliate programs but falls short of competitors like Thinkific (90 days) and LearnDash (60 days).
Tracking and reporting runs through PartnerStack. Once approved, you get access to a dashboard that shows clicks, conversions, and commission history. PartnerStack is a well-established partner management platform used by many SaaS companies, so reporting is generally reliable.
Attribution is last-click. If a user clicks multiple affiliate links before converting, the last affiliate link clicked before signup gets credit. There are no published cart-add or session-extension rules specific to the Teachable program.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- 30% recurring commission for a full 12 months per referral – above average for the e-learning niche
- Runs on PartnerStack with a clean dashboard, real-time reporting, and reliable tracking
- Applications reviewed within 2-3 business days – no long waiting periods
- Monthly PayPal payouts – straightforward and widely accessible
- Strong brand recognition among online course creators, which helps with conversion
- Teachable’s free plan means your referral can start without a credit card, lowering the barrier for trial signups
Cons:
- Commissions only last for the first year – Thinkific pays lifetime recurring on the same 30% rate
- Payout threshold is not publicly disclosed, which makes it hard to plan cash flow for newer affiliates
- Strict promotion rules: no paid traffic, no cookie stuffing, no redirects, no domain forwarding
- Program recently migrated from Impact to PartnerStack – some older affiliate resources may point to a paused signup page
- Approval is discretionary; Teachable can terminate affiliates without specific cause under their terms
How to Join the Teachable Affiliate Program
Teachable’s affiliate program is managed through PartnerStack. The signup process is straightforward and applications are typically reviewed within 2-3 business days.
- Visit the Teachable partners page and click “Apply now” to be directed to the PartnerStack application form.
- Create a PartnerStack account (or log in if you already have one) and fill out the affiliate application. You’ll need to provide your website URL, promotion methods, and audience details.
- Wait for approval – Teachable reviews applications within 2-3 business days. You’ll receive a PartnerStack email notification when approved or declined.
- Once approved, access your affiliate dashboard on PartnerStack to grab your tracking links, banners, and promotional materials.
- Enable PayPal payouts in your PartnerStack account (Teachable uses BackOffice for payments). Without this step, commissions will accrue but cannot be paid out.
There are no explicitly stated traffic minimums for approval, but Teachable does review your content and promotional methods. Sites with an established audience in online business, creator economy, or e-learning tend to get approved without issues. Affiliates using paid traffic, email blasts without a physical address, or “coupon” sites without prior approval face a higher risk of rejection.
Who Should Promote Teachable?
Best fits: Bloggers and YouTubers covering online course creation, passive income, or online business are the natural audience for Teachable. Anyone who writes about “how to create an online course” or “best course platforms” is well positioned – these searchers are actively evaluating tools and have high purchase intent. Review-format content and comparison articles (“Teachable vs Thinkific”, “best online course platforms”) tend to convert well.
Email newsletter operators with an audience of aspiring creators or coaches are also a strong fit. The free Teachable plan removes friction – you can send people to try the platform with no credit card required, then earn commission when they upgrade. Podcast hosts or course instructors themselves who recommend tools to their audience can also see solid results, since they carry personal credibility.
Weaker fits: General deal or coupon sites won’t perform well here – Teachable is a considered purchase, not an impulse buy. Affiliates who rely on paid search or paid social traffic should note that the program terms prohibit purchased traffic to affiliate links, which rules out most PPC strategies. Sites outside the creator economy or online business niche will struggle to generate relevant traffic for Teachable content.
How Teachable Compares to Alternatives
| Program | Commission | Cookie | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teachable | 30% recurring, 12 months | 30 days | PartnerStack |
| Thinkific | 30% lifetime recurring | 90 days | PartnerStack |
| Kajabi | 30% lifetime (legacy); tiered for new partners post-Apr 2025 | Not disclosed | Direct |
| Podia | 20% recurring, up to 12 months | 31 days | Direct |
| LearnDash | 25% per sale, up to $199 | 60 days | Impact |
Thinkific is the main competitor worth comparing directly. Both pay 30% and run on PartnerStack, but Thinkific offers lifetime recurring commissions and a 90-day cookie versus Teachable’s 12-month cap and 30-day cookie. For long-term commission value, Thinkific has the edge. Kajabi’s legacy 30% lifetime deal was historically strong, but new partners after April 2025 move to a tiered structure, making it less attractive than it used to be.
Teachable still makes sense if your audience is specifically evaluating Teachable – brand fit matters more than raw commission math when it comes to conversion rates. Promoting a platform your audience doesn’t recognize or trust will underperform even a “worse” program that your audience already knows.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply to the Teachable affiliate program?
Go to teachable.com/partners and click “Apply now” to reach the PartnerStack application form. You’ll need to describe your website and how you plan to promote Teachable. Applications are typically reviewed within 2-3 business days.
What commission rate does Teachable pay affiliates?
Teachable pays 30% recurring commission on every referred sale for the first 12 months of the customer’s subscription. This applies to all paid plans – Basic ($39/mo), Pro ($119/mo), and Pro+ ($299/mo). After 12 months, commissions on that customer stop.
How long is the Teachable affiliate cookie?
The Teachable affiliate cookie lasts 30 days. If someone clicks your link and signs up for a paid plan within that window, you earn the commission. This is a standard SaaS cookie duration, though competitors like Thinkific offer a longer 90-day window.
How and when does Teachable pay affiliates?
Teachable affiliates are paid monthly via PayPal through PartnerStack’s BackOffice payment system. Payments go out on the first business day of the month following a 30-day hold period. You must connect PayPal in your PartnerStack account before payouts can be processed – commissions accrue but won’t be paid until BackOffice is set up.
Does Teachable pay commission on recurring subscription payments?
Yes. As long as your referred customer stays on a paid Teachable plan, you earn 30% of each payment they make for up to 12 months. On a monthly plan that means up to 12 commission payments; on an annual plan, you earn commission on the annual renewal if it falls within your 12-month window.
What promotion methods are not allowed in the Teachable affiliate program?
Teachable prohibits paid traffic to affiliate links, cookie stuffing, spam, bot traffic, redirected or domain-forwarded links, and offline marketing without written consent. Email promotions must include a physical mailing address and unsubscribe option. Only coupon codes provided through the program may be used – creating your own is a violation.
Which types of creators use Teachable?
Teachable serves a broad range of knowledge creators: online course instructors, coaches, fitness trainers, musicians, language teachers, and professional educators. It’s particularly popular with solopreneurs and small creator businesses who want a hosted solution without the complexity of self-hosted WordPress plugins like LearnDash. This wide creator base means your referrals don’t need to fit a single niche for the platform to be relevant.
Can I promote Teachable if I’m outside the US?
Teachable’s affiliate program does not publish explicit geographic restrictions – affiliates must be at least 18 years old and comply with the program terms, but there’s no country exclusion list in the public terms. However, payouts are made via PayPal, so you’ll need a PayPal account that can receive funds in your country.
Final Verdict
Teachable’s affiliate program is a solid choice for content creators in the online business and e-learning space. The 30% recurring commission for 12 months is competitive, and Teachable’s brand recognition gives you a real conversion advantage over promoting lesser-known platforms.
The main drawback is the 12-month commission cap. Thinkific offers the same 30% rate with lifetime recurring, which is a better long-term deal for affiliates building a passive income stream. If you’re focused purely on commission economics, Thinkific edges it out.
That said, if your audience is already familiar with Teachable – or if you’re creating content that targets Teachable by name – the program is worth joining. Apply at teachable.com/partners and expect a decision within a few business days.
