9 Best Affiliate Platforms To Sell Products In Canada
The power of affiliate marketing in driving sales is not hidden from brands anymore. For example, around 16% of online orders in North America are made through affiliate marketing. As a Canadian business owner or affiliate, knowing the best affiliate platforms for selling products in Canada is essential to improving your strategy.
These platforms connect merchants with a network of Canadian influencers and publishers to promote their products. In this article, we will introduce you to some of the trusted platforms for product sellers.
We’ll look at each platform’s key features and pricing structures to help you make an informed decision.
Best Affiliate Platforms For Selling Products In Canada
Are you trying to tap into established networks of Canadian content creators, bloggers, and comparison sites? Here are some of the best affiliate platforms to check out.
1. Amazon Associates
Undoubtedly, the most known and largest affiliate platform in Canada and globally is the Amazon Associate program. It allows affiliates to promote any product that is sold on Amazon and earn a commission for every purchase through their links.
For new affiliates who are searching for affiliate platforms to sell products in Canada, Amazon can be a great start. Approval in this platform is easy, and anyone with at least one social channel can apply for it.
Pricing and Commission
Joining the Amazon Associate program is free for both sellers and affiliates. Commission rates are category-based, ranging roughly from 1% up to 10% on Amazon.ca.
Overall Look
- On this platform, commissions are set and can not be changed.
- Sellers do not have any direct communications with their affiliates. So, they have no control over which affiliates promote their Amazon listings or how they do so.
- Another issue with this platform is the very short 24-hour cookie window, meaning affiliates only get credit for purchases made within a day of the click.
Overall, this program is ideal for Canadian content creators who are just starting with affiliate marketing due to the easy setup and huge product catalog.
2. ShareASale
ShareASale, now part of the Awin group, is a well-established affiliate network with over 1 million affiliates and more than 30,000 merchants. In this extensive marketplace, affiliates can search for programs by category and access real-time reporting and tracking tools. Additionally, merchants have the option to create in-house affiliate storefronts.
Pricing and Commission
Joining ShareASale as an affiliate is free, allowing you to get started with just a blog or even a social media account.
However, merchants must pay an upfront fee to join. The basic plan is priced at $59 per month, and for higher-tier plans, you will need to contact their team. The network also takes a 3.5% override on the commissions you set.
Overall Look
- On ShareASale, you can find a wide variety of products ranging from fashion and home goods to software.
- The user interface is designed to be friendly, making it accessible even for beginners.
- However, it’s worth noting that some merchant programs may have low commissions or offer low-priced products.
- Additionally, the combination of an upfront fee and platform commissions can make it an expensive tool.
3. CJ Affiliate
One of the oldest affiliate platforms for selling products in Canada is CJ Affiliate. It has over 167,000 publishers and brands. The platform provides powerful tracking and analytics, an open developer API for building custom solutions, and a range of link and banner tools.
Pricing and Commission
It’s free for affiliates to sign up and use CJ, and they can withdraw their income when they reach $100 in their account.
For brands, the setup fees can be significant (often $3,000+), which covers access to the network and basic account management. Additionally, CJ usually takes a commission override (~30%) on top of what you pay affiliates.
Overall look
- Large affiliate pool.
- presence of big-name programs such as Apple and Home Depot Canada, this platform is one of the trustable affiliate platforms to sell products in Canada.
- Getting approved by certain CJ advertisers is tough.
- Support can be slow.
4. Rakuten Advertising
Formerly known as LinkShare, Rakuten Advertising is one of the known affiliate platforms to sell products in Canada. This platform is the only network with a dedicated local Canadian team for support. It connects over 150,000 active publishers with thousands of advertisers.
Pricing
Affiliates can join Rakuten for free; the sign-up process can take a little longer since they review all applications manually.
For sellers, costs include a setup fee (which can range widely, possibly $5000 and up for big programs) and a commission override similar to other networks (around 20% of commissions).
Rakuten is especially good for brands in verticals like retail, finance, and travel (which are the best affiliate niches in Canada). They can benefit from Rakuten’s mix of content publishers and loyalty/cashback sites.
Overall Look
- Affiliates can create affiliate links to any product page on an advertiser’s site with one click.
- Account approval can be strict.
- Rakuten’s network in Canada, while solid, is smaller than CJ’s.
5. Impact
As a partnership automation platform, Impact is also one of the top affiliate platforms to sell products in Canada. Unlike a traditional “network,” Impact provides a software platform where brands can build their own affiliate/partner program and also access the Impact Marketplace of affiliates.
Some of its main features include a modern dashboard with customizable tracking, dynamic payouts, coupon code tracking, and even fraud detection tools.
Pricing
For affiliates, joining Impact is free. However, Impact’s model often requires affiliates to be approved by each brand.
For businesses, Impact usually charges a subscription fee plus a volume-based commission fee. This makes it more predictable for high-volume programs but can be expensive for smaller ones. Plans might start around $500-$1500 per month + a small percentage of commission payouts.
Overall Look
- On this platform, you can negotiate custom deals with top affiliates.
- The platform automates a lot of the tracking and payout work.
- Each program’s requirements vary, and some programs are invite-only – it’s not as simple as browsing a big marketplace and applying freely to all.
6. ClickBank
Specializing in digital products, ClickBank is one of the known marketplaces and affiliate platforms to sell products in Canada. It has a massive catalog of offers that affiliates can promote, many of which are info-products created by entrepreneurs and small companies.
Pricing
It’s free for affiliates to join ClickBank and start promoting offers. Affiliates earn a percentage of each sale (set by the vendor), and ClickBank adds a small fee that the vendor pays per sale.
For vendors (product sellers), ClickBank charges a one-time activation fee of $49.95 USD to list a product and then deducts $1 + 7.5% per sale as their cut.
Overall Look
- Instant affiliate sign-up (affiliates can grab links for most products without needing approval)
- Very high commission rates (often 50% or more of the product price
- Many ClickBank products can be hit-or-miss in quality
For digital product sellers and affiliate marketers in niches like e-learning, fitness, and entrepreneurship, this platform can be a great choice.
7. PartnerStack
Now, it’s time for a Canadian-based affiliate and partner management platform that provides lots of cool features for brands and affiliates. PartnerStack is mainly designed for B2B software (SaaS) and tech companies and allows them to run their own referral, reseller, or affiliate programs.
It connects them to a network of potential partners and also provides a marketplace where affiliates/partners can discover programs.
Pricing
PartnerStack’s pricing for vendors isn’t publicly listed (it’s typically quote-based). Expect an annual subscription fee, they may also take a small percentage of deals closed through the platform.
For partners/affiliates, joining is free.
Overall Look
PartnerStack is not aimed at traditional bloggers or mass-volume affiliate marketers.
For B2B companies and SaaS startups, it can be one of the top affiliate platforms to sell products in Canada.
8. eBay Partner Network
We are all familiar with eBay as one of the world’s largest online marketplaces. But did you know it also provides one of the top affiliate platforms to sell products in Canada? This platform lets affiliates earn commission by driving buyers to eBay’s listings on ebay.ca.
Pricing
For affiliates, it’s free to join this platform, and after approval, affiliates can start promoting eBay listings. The commission structure is a bit complex: generally, affiliates earn 1% to 4% of the item’s sale price for most categories.
For sellers and merchants, there’s no direct cost here. This program is run by eBay itself to encourage traffic; sellers indirectly pay via their normal eBay selling fees, which fund the affiliate payouts.
Overall Look
- The trust factor is moderate: people know eBay, but they also know it’s a marketplace of many sellers.
- Short 24-hour cookie duration
- For content creators and niche websites focusing on products commonly sold on eBay, it can be one of the best affiliate platforms to sell products in Canada.
9. AvantLink Canada
Let’s finish the list with a trusted platform known for having high-quality merchants and affiliates. AvantLink Canada is one of the best affiliate platforms to sell products in Canada, especially in outdoor gear, fitness, and specialty retail niches.
Affiliates typically must have established websites with solid content to get approved, and using the referral interface, they will be matched with top brands in their niche.
Pricing
Joining AvantLink is free for both affiliates and merchants, but merchants undergo a vetting process and need to meet certain criteria.
AvantLink’s business model is that they charge merchants an override on commissions, around 15-20%.
Overall Look
- Many of the programs are with reputable brands.
- It’s hard to get accepted on the platform as an affiliate, especially for beginners.
- Support for merchants is reportedly very hands-on and responsive.
- For niche and mid-sized Canadian brands, especially in retail categories like outdoor gear, sports, fashion, and hobbyist products, it can be a great tool.
Algorift: Best Affiliate Platform for Selling Products in Canada
While the platforms above each have their strengths, Algorift directly addresses many of the drawbacks businesses face with traditional networks. Algorift is a relatively new platform built to connect Canadian businesses with affiliates in a more transparent and efficient way.
Unlike conventional networks where communication can be limited, Algorift allows businesses and affiliates to communicate terms directly on the platform. It enables far higher commission rates, ranging from 10% up to 40%. The cookie window is expanded to 30 days, making it one of the best affiliate platforms to sell products in Canada.
With a built-in affiliate marketplace, sellers can easily discover top affiliates in their niche. It also offers real-time tracking and AI-driven analytics for campaign performance. So what are you waiting for? Join Algorift for free now and grow your sales.
Conclusion
We’ve looked at 9 of the best affiliate platforms for selling products in Canada, each with its unique advantages. There’s no one-size-fits-all – the ideal choice depends on your business model, target audience, and growth stage.
However, among these options, Algorift stands out as the best affiliate platform in Canada for businesses aiming to supercharge their product sales.
FAQs
1. How Do I Choose The Best Affiliate Platform In Canada for My Business?
Choosing the right affiliate platform comes down to a few key considerations:
- Your Industry & Product Type
- Budget and Pricing Structure
- Affiliate Pool & Reach
- Tools and Features
- Scalability
2. Are Affiliate Platforms in Canada Suitable for Beginners?
affiliate platforms in Canada that are suitable for beginners. Many of these platforms are designed with user-friendly interfaces and provide resources to help new users understand how affiliate marketing works. Platforms like Algorift, for instance, offer built-in marketplaces that make it easy for beginners to connect with affiliates.
3. How Do Commissions And Payments Work on Affiliate Platforms?
When you join an affiliate program, you’ll find that commissions can vary based on the platform and the specific products you promote. Common structures include a percentage of sales (ranging from 5% to 50% or more) or a fixed amount per sale or lead generated.
