If you're starting affiliate marketing in 2026, you'll hear three names over and over: Digistore24, ClickBank, and ShareASale. All three are free to join. All three have thousands of products. But they're very different platforms for very different strategies.
This is the honest comparison — based on real experience, not affiliate marketing hype.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Digistore24 | ClickBank | ShareASale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Products | 8,500+ | 4,000+ | 16,500+ merchants |
| Product types | Digital (courses, software, supplements) | Digital (info products, supplements) | Physical + digital (all niches) |
| Avg commission | 30–70% | 50–75% | 5–30% |
| Cookie duration | 180 days | 60 days | 30–120 days (varies) |
| Payout speed | Up to 3x/week | Weekly (Net 7–14) | Monthly (Net 20) |
| Minimum payout | $0 (no minimum) | $10–$100 (varies) | $50 |
| Approval needed | None — instant | None — instant | Per-merchant approval |
| Best for | Beginners, high-ticket, EU market | Info products, health niche | Bloggers, physical products |
Digistore24 — Best Overall for Beginners
What It Is
Digistore24 is a German-based affiliate network that's grown to 8,500+ products. It's the dominant platform in Europe and growing fast in the US. Think of it as a more modern, better-paying ClickBank.
Why It Wins
- 180-day cookies. If someone clicks your link and buys six months later, you still get paid. No other major network comes close.
- No minimum payout. Earn $5? They'll send it. No waiting to hit $50 or $100.
- Up to 3 payouts per week. Most networks pay monthly. Digistore24 can pay you every few days.
- Instant approval. No application. No waiting. Sign up and start promoting in 5 minutes.
- Built-in funnels. Many products come with pre-built landing pages, email sequences, and upsell funnels.
Downsides
- Product quality varies — some offers are excellent, others are thin
- Interface is functional but not pretty
- Some top products are German-language only
- Fewer physical products than ShareASale
Best For
Beginners who want to start today. Affiliates promoting high-ticket digital products. Anyone who wants fast payouts and long cookies. The health, wealth, and self-help niches are particularly strong.
ClickBank — Best for High Commission Rates
What It Is
ClickBank is the original digital product marketplace, founded in 1998. It's known for info products with 75%+ commissions and a massive health/wellness category.
Why People Use It
- Highest commission rates. 50–75% is standard. A $47 eBook at 75% = $35.25 per sale.
- Gravity score. ClickBank's Gravity metric shows how many affiliates made a sale recently — the best signal for what's actually converting.
- Recurring billing products. Many offers have monthly subscriptions, so you earn recurring commissions.
- Huge health niche. Supplements, weight loss, and wellness products dominate ClickBank.
Downsides
- Reputation issues. ClickBank has a history of low-quality "make money online" products and exaggerated claims. You need to vet products carefully.
- 60-day cookies. Shorter than Digistore24's 180 days.
- Weekly payouts. Slower than Digistore24's 3x/week.
- Customer support is slow. Expect 2–3 day response times.
Best For
Experienced affiliates who know how to vet products. Health and wellness niches. Info product marketers who want the highest possible commission percentages.
ShareASale — Best for Physical Products & Bloggers
What It Is
ShareASale is a massive affiliate network with 16,500+ merchants across every niche imaginable. Unlike Digistore24 and ClickBank (which focus on digital products), ShareASale has tons of physical product brands — clothing, home goods, electronics, food, and more.
Why People Use It
- Massive variety. 16,500+ merchants. You can promote WP Engine ($200/sale), Reebok (sportswear), or a small Etsy-style shop.
- Reputable brands. Major companies use ShareASale, so you're not promoting sketchy supplements.
- Good for bloggers. If you run a niche blog (fashion, home decor, tech), ShareASale has relevant products.
- Reliable tracking. ShareASale's tracking is solid — fewer disputes than ClickBank.
Downsides
- Per-merchant approval. You have to apply to each brand individually. Some reject small affiliates.
- Lower commissions. Physical products pay 5–15% typically. A $50 shirt at 10% = $5.
- $50 minimum payout. You need to earn $50 before they'll pay you.
- Monthly payouts. Net-20 means you get paid around the 20th for the previous month's earnings.
- Short cookies. Many merchants use 30-day cookies. Some use 7-day.
Best For
Bloggers with established traffic. Niche sites reviewing physical products. Affiliates who want to promote reputable, name-brand products rather than digital courses.
Head-to-Head: Which One Should You Choose?
Start with Digistore24 if…
- You're a complete beginner
- You want to start TODAY (no approval process)
- You want the longest cookies (180 days)
- You want fast payouts (up to 3x/week)
- You're promoting digital products (courses, software, supplements)
Add ClickBank if…
- You're in the health/wellness niche
- You want the highest commission percentages (75%+)
- You've learned to vet products using Gravity scores
- You want recurring billing products
Add ShareASale if…
- You run a blog with consistent traffic
- You review physical products
- You want to promote major brands (Reebok, WP Engine, etc.)
- You're willing to apply to individual merchants
The Smart Strategy: Use All Three
You don't have to pick one. The best affiliates use multiple networks:
- Digistore24 for high-ticket digital products and fast cash flow
- ClickBank for high-commission health and info products
- ShareASale for physical product reviews and brand-name credibility
Start with Digistore24 (easiest). Add ClickBank once you understand Gravity scores. Add ShareASale once you have consistent traffic.
Start With Digistore24 — Free & Instant
No approval. No minimum payout. 180-day cookies. 8,500+ products.
Join Digistore24 Free →