Affiliate marketing is a great way to make money online. But how does one start affiliate marketing, and what are the best affiliate programs in South Africa?

While online marketers have plenty to choose from, not all affiliate programs (or affiliate networks) are created equal.

But don’t worry about that. This blog contains the seven best affiliate programs in South Africa. No matter the niche, these programs cater to diverse website owners and content creators, so they can find the right fit for their audience.

From travel insurance in the travel niche to clothing in the fashion industry, keep reading for the best affiliate programs in SA.

The Best South African Affiliate Programs

Without further ado, here are the best affiliate marketing programs South Africa offers.

1. Affiliate.co.za

Affiliate.co.za is one of Africa’s leading affiliate networks. Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, the company helps brands reach more consumers through its network of online publishers. These publishers include website owners, bloggers, and social media content creators.

• Eligibility criteria: Unlisted.
• Commission rates and structure: Unlisted.
• Best suited for: Affiliate marketers specialising in financial products.
• Cookie duration: Unlisted.

Pros

• Easy sign-up process.
• Includes recognisable brands (e.g., Cotton On, etc.).
• Real-time reports.

Cons

• Offers change and updating of your links and site is often needed.
• Hard to keep track of income and cancelled offers.
• Communication about offers is not very consistent.

2. Mr Price

Mr Price, also known as MRP, is one of South Africa’s most popular fashion retailers. The fashion brand generated revenue close to R34 billion in 2022 and has a total of 1 254 stores across the country.

• Eligibility criteria: Publishers (i.e., content creators and website owners) will need to sign up with AdMarula.
• Commission rates and structure: Determined by CJ Affiliate’s structure.
• Best suited for: Publishers focused on fashion and lifestyle content to a degree.
• Cookie duration: 14 days.

Pros

• Recognisable clothing retailer with a huge following.
• Sells a wide range of clothing, footwear, accessories, and homeware.

Cons

• No direct sign-ups possibly mean making less affiliate commission, as the affiliate network also takes a cut.

3. AdMarula

Founded in 2011, AdMarula is a specialist performing marketing network that connects advertisers with publishers.

• Eligibility criteria: Publishers (i.e. content creators and website owners) will need to sign up with AdMarula.
• Commission rates and structure: Has CPA and CPL, hybrid, and revenue share as its different models.
• Best suited for: Online businesses and publishers.
• Cookie duration: 24 hours.

Pros

• Easy sign-up process.
• Real-time reports.
• Allows for publishers with a variety of traffic sources.

Cons

• Receive payment for performance only.
• Takes 30% commission on top of what is paid to the advertiser.

4. Amazon Associates South Africa

Online retail giant, Amazon, is a well-respected brand. The multinational company sells a variety of products online and made over R2 trillion in revenue in the first quarter of 2024.

• Eligibility criteria: Publishers (i.e. content creators and website owners) will need to sign up with AdMarula.
• Commission rates and structure: Up to 10% commission.
• Best suited for: Bloggers, social media content creators, and publishers.
• Cookie duration: 24 hours.

Pros

• Easy sign-up.
• Well-established in affiliate marketing.
• Allows for publishers with a variety of traffic sources.

Cons

• Receive payment for 60 days after the end of the month commission income was earned.
• Short cookie duration of 24 hours.

5. SafariNow

SafariNow is an online travel agency that’s been in the industry for over two decades. The site allows customers to book various types of accommodation, including guesthouses and vacation rentals.

• Eligibility criteria: None.
• Commission rates and structure: Up to 15% affiliate commission.
• Best suited for: Travel bloggers.
• Cookie duration: 1 hour.

Pros

• Easy-to-use dashboard.
• Real-time reports.
• Accepts blog owners and social media content creators as publishers.

Cons

• Can’t use plugins or link shorteners for SafariNow affiliate links.
• Short cookie duration.

6. OfferForge

OfferForge is an affiliate network connecting publishers with advertisers looking to promote their products. Founded in 2005, the performance-based marketing company calls itself Africa’s top affiliate network. It allows publishers with blogs, mailing lists, and social media profiles to make an affiliate income.

• Eligibility criteria: Unlisted.
• Commission rates and structure: Pay-per-click, display, and lead or acquisition-based.
• Best suited for: First-timers and those seeking affiliate training.
• Cookie duration: Unlisted.

Pros

• Free to join.
• Real-time reports.
• Allows for publishers with a variety of traffic sources.

Cons

• Can’t sign up if the website has placeholder text.
• Need a website with a high-level domain to join.

7. CJ Affiliate

The affiliate marketing technology company, CJ.com, is an industry leader in the affiliate marketing space. With over two decades of experience and a global foothold, the company reportedly pays out over R32 billion in publisher commissions annually.

• Eligibility criteria: Unlisted.
• Commission rates and structure: Unlisted.
• Best suited for: Publishers seeking to connect with some of the world’s most recognisable brands.
• Cookie duration: None.

Pros

• World-class brands.
• Includes cookie-less tracking.
• Great analytics and reporting.

Cons

• Cookie-less tracking technology may be difficult to understand.

How To Start Affiliate Marketing In South Africa

As straightforward as affiliate marketing sounds, it requires a lot of traffic from an audience to generate a significant amount of revenue for a person.

To start affiliate marketing as a South African, one will have to follow the below steps:

• Select a niche: A publisher’s area of focus. For example, a fashion affiliate marketer in the Zando affiliate program will probably share affiliate links to shoes and clothing.
• Research the affiliate marketing programs in South Africa: Explore the affiliate marketing companies in your niche.
• Set up a website or a social media account: These are ideal platforms for affiliate marketers to share their links.
• Create and share content: Create social and web content around your niche.
• Grow traffic: Make use of SEO best practices to grow traffic to your website.
• Share referral links: Include affiliate links in your social media posts and web content to entice followers to click and buy.

Final Thoughts On the Best Affiliate Programs South Africa Has to Offer

Making money online today has never been easier, especially with the abundance of information available. And with many South African affiliate marketing programs out there, anyone looking to earn extra income online can.

That said, it’s important for those embarking on the journey of owning affiliate marketing websites to equip themselves with digital marketing skills to reach more potential buyers online.

Learning digital marketing isn’t difficult. But it requires effort and dedication, which can lead to profitable results — especially in affiliate marketing. Look out for the best digital marketing courses to gain valuable skills for the ever-evolving digital era.