If you’re not already selling online courses and digital products, you’re missing out on the exponentially growing $390 billion e-learning industry. But, while selling your own courses is popular, you can also make a lot of money using the best e-learning affiliate programs that pay you to promote their courses.
Why promote online courses as an affiliate? Because 75% of students in the US and 90% of corporations worldwide use online courses for skill development.
So, no matter what niche you’re in, you can find and promote world-class online courses using any of the top e-learning affiliate programs (unless you have your own course on that topic).
In this article, I’ve handpicked the world’s best e-learning affiliate programs that will pay to promote high-quality courses to your audience.
Let’s get started.
How To Find The Best E-Learning Affiliate Programs
Before diving into the list of the best e-learning affiliate programs, I need you to understand how affiliate partnerships in this industry work.
The platforms I’m sharing have thousands of courses seen by millions of people every month. They pay you reasonable commission rates for driving sales to their courses.
But the real high-ticket affiliate offers in the e-learning industry are often built through networking and direct connections.
So, while these platforms provide an excellent starting point for promoting relevant courses to your audiences, focus on networking with influential course sellers and digital product creators in your niche to land high-commission partnerships that aren’t publicly advertised or mentioned on their sites.
To get the top product creators interested in making you an exclusive affiliate, you need to have a sizable email list relevant to their niche. This shows that you’re capable of driving sales and are a worthy partner.
The Top E-Learning Affiliate Programs For 2024
Let’s now explore some of the best e-learning affiliate programs that you can promote to educate your subscribers and followers. Most of the affiliate programs in this industry are related to digital marketing or technical coding skills.
However, I’ve also tried to diversify this list by adding affiliate programs from several unconventional niches.
Let’s discuss them individually.
1. Udemy
Target Niches: Tech, Marketing, Business, and many other categories
Customer Skill Level: Beginners looking to develop specific skills
Avg. Course Price: Under $50
Commission Rate: 10%
Cookie Duration: 7 days
With 200K+ courses and 741M+ course enrollments, Udemy is rightly called the Amazon of online courses. It contains beginner to intermediate-level courses on coding, marketing, design, business, project management, and numerous other topics, including creative skills such as music and photography.
Udemy’s course variety and affordable rates make it an ideal e-learning platform for affiliate marketers. No matter what niche you’re targeting, you can find relevant and high-quality courses to promote as an affiliate.
Udemy’s base commission rate is only 10%, but it regularly runs affiliate-exclusive promotions with additional commission offers and rewards you for any number of courses your referral purchases within the first seven days of clicking your affiliate link.
As an affiliate, you can get course specific, category specific, or site-wide affiliate links along with attractive banners and promotional material.
If you have a sizable email list and consistently drive sales, you can negotiate exclusive affiliate rates with Udemy.
Become a Udemy Affiliate Now >>>
2. DataCamp
Target Niches: Data Science
Customer Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
Min Subscription Price: $6.17/month billed annually
Commission Rate: Up to 20% on annual and up to 80% on monthly subscriptions
Cookie Duration: 30 days
DataCamp is among the most reliable platforms for learning Python, SQL, Business Intelligence, and related data science courses.
DataCamp offers different learning tracks in data science for beginners, intermediate, and advanced students. It’s already a popular platform among learners, so you won’t have to work too hard as an affiliate to sell its courses.
Its commission rates vary depending on the subscription and payment plans you sell. For example, the commission rate is higher for top-tier monthly subscriptions. However, you’ll make more by selling top-tier annual subscriptions even if the commission percentage is lower.
Become a DataCamp Affiliate Now >>>
3. Coursera
Target Niches: IT, Data Science, Math, Physics, Business, Personal Development, and several others
Customer skill level: All skill levels/students looking for degree programs, professional certification, and well-structured courses
Commission Rate: Up to 45%
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Coursera is among the top e-learning platforms for formal education and professional training. It has partnered with some of the world’s leading universities, including Stanford, MIT, Illinois, and organizations, such as Google and IBM, to offer world-class degree programs and certification courses.
It covers dozens of subjects and fields, including computer science, engineering, personal development, business administration, marketing, and other topics.
As an affiliate, you can make money promoting Coursera programs and courses in several ways. It offers more than 2,500 free courses, but students need to pay if they want a certificate as well. That’s where you make money.
Other than that, Coursera offers Business and Enterprise learning solutions used by thousands of customers worldwide.
So, if your audience is interested in formal online education programs, Coursera’s e-learning affiliate program is an excellent choice.
Become a Coursera Affiliate Now >>>
4. 360Training
Target Niches: Workforce training for diverse industries
Avg. Course Price: $80
Customer Skill Level: Beginners and mid-tier professionals
Commission Rate: 15%
Cookie Duration: 60 days
360Training is one of the world’s leading workforce training and professional certification companies. It offers online courses and training programs in diverse industries such as healthcare, insurance, real estate, food & beverage, environmental safety, and HR.
As an affiliate, you can promote different 360Training courses or categories to your audience and earn a commission for any courses they purchase using your affiliate link within 60 days.
So, if you’re in the B2B training space and have an engaged audience that trusts you, becoming a 360Training affiliate can open a new revenue channel for your business.
Become a 360Training Affiliate Now >>>
5. MasterClass
Target Niches: Multiple diverse niches
Customer Skill Level: All skill levels
Avg. Course Price: Subscription starting from $15/month billed annually
Commission Rate: 25%
Cookie Duration: 30 days
MasterClass is an innovative e-learning platform that offers courses by the world’s foremost experts and authorities in different subject categories.
For example, it has music courses by Adelle and Christina Aguilera, cooking courses by Gordon Ramsay, Entrepreneurship courses by Richard Branson, and tech courses by Neil deGrasse Tyson.
So, naturally, the perceived value of MasterClass programs is very high, and people interested in developing different technical and soft skills willingly invest in its courses.
MasterClass has an invite-only affiliate program, so you must first apply with your credentials to get inside. They only accept established bloggers and content creators with engaged email and social media audiences.
Become a MasterClass Affiliate Now >>>
6. Filmmakers Academy
Target Niches: Filmmaking, production, and cinematography
Customer Skill Level: Beginners and mid-level filmmakers
Avg. Course Price: Subscription starting from $37.5/month billed annually
Commission Rate: 15% on annual memberships
Cookie Duration: 30 days
As the name suggests, the Filmmakers Academy is an online learning platform for anyone looking to develop skills in film production, audio/video editing, cinematography, and the overall film production cycle.
It offers 40+ courses with 800+ learning hours covering everything from basic filmmaking to advanced production techniques.
Filmmakers Academy is a subscription-based program that pays affiliates for selling annual subscriptions only. But your affiliate cookie is valid for thirty days from the first time a referral clicks your link. Any courses they purchase during the cookie period are credited to your affiliate account.
Become a Filmmakers Academy Affiliate Now >>>
7. Codecademy
Target Niches: Computer Science, Machine Learning, Data Science
Customer Skill Level: All levels
Avg. Course Price: Multiple subscription plans starting from $13.99/month (billed annually)
Commission Rate: 10% on annual memberships
Cookie Duration: 14 days
Coding and programming are among the most in-demand skills worldwide. Codecademy has made world-class coding knowledge more accessible by creating beginner-friendly courses on the hottest coding languages.
It is among the world’s most reliable sources of coding courses and programs for students, professionals, and corporate teams. Plus, its global acceptance and demand mean converting your referrals into paying customers shouldn’t be hard.
This is why becoming a Codecademy affiliate can be a game changer for your business. It offers multiple subscription plans (billed annually) with different access levels to its course library.
As an affiliate, you earn a commission for any number of courses your referrals purchase by landing on the Coursera website using your link
Become a Codecademy Affiliate Now >>>
8. Smart Marketer
Target Niches: Digital Marketing and eCommerce
Customer skill level: Mid-tier marketers
Avg. Course Price: $1500-3000
Commission Rate: Up to 30%
Cookie Duration: 60 days
If you’re looking to promote reliable and result-oriented courses on digital marketing, social media advertising, eCommerce businesses, and various other online marketing models, Smart Marketer’s affiliate program is worth checking out.
Founded by Ezra Firestone, a multi-million-dollar eCommerce entrepreneur, and official Shopify trainer, Smart Marketer offers practical courses backed by years of testing and real-world experiments.
It offers high-ticket courses starting from $1000+ with up to 30% commissions and a 60-day cookie duration for affiliates. So, if your audience is serious about investing in digital skills, you can confidently promote Smart Marketer’s courses and earn healthy commissions on every sale.
Become a Smart Marketer Affiliate Now >>>
9. Amazing Selling Machine
Target Niches: Amazon FBA and dropshipping
Target Audience: Mid-tier Amazon marketers and store owners
Avg. Course Price: Starting from $900
Commission Rate: Up to 40%
Cookie Duration: 60 days
If you’re looking to promote world-class Amazon FBA, dropshipping, or product-hunting courses that help your audience achieve real-world results, Amazing.com is the platform to promote.
Amazing’s flagship course The Amazing Selling Machine, has over a hundred thousand students and thousands of success stories. It is the most comprehensive and high-value Amazon learning program online.
Along with ASM, Amazing.com offers several other courses on the various aspects of eCommerce businesses, such as product hunting, supplier relations, and supply chain management.
All these courses have high price tags starting from $1000 and going as far as $5000. With 40% commissions and a 60-day tracking cookie, Amazing.com’s affiliate program is a mouth-watering prospect for anyone with an engaged audience.
Become an Amazing Affiliate Now >>>
10. CreativeLive
Target Niches: Photography, Art, Music, and other creative niches
Target Audience: Beginner artists and content creators
Avg. Course Price: Annual subscription plans starting from $149
Commission Rate: 30%
Cookie Duration: 30 days
CreativeLive is a dedicated e-learning platform for creative professionals. It has over 2000 HD video courses on topics like photography, painting, music, personal development, and self-care.
As an affiliate, you can earn up to 30% commissions if your referrals purchase one of CreativeLive’s annual subscription plans or a stand-alone course.
Compared to general e-learning platforms like Udemy, CreativeLive’s instructors are professionals with years of experience in their fields.
So, you can confidently promote its courses to your audience, knowing they’ll get quality education.
Become a CreativeLive Affiliate Now >>>
11. Upskillist
Target Niches: Tech, Photography, Music, Health & Wellness, and various other niches
Customer Skill Level: Beginners
Avg. Course Price: Subscription plan starting from $120/year
Commission Rate: Up to $15 per sale
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Upskillist, previously known as Shaw Academy, hosts over 150 professional certification courses on subjects like coding, design, photography, music, and fitness.
It is designed for beginners and offers high-quality courses at affordable rates. Their pricing may be low as an affiliate. But lower prices mean higher conversions. So, promoting its courses is a good option if you’re looking for quick conversions.
Plus, Upskillist has a 30-day cookie time during which all courses your referral purchases are credited to your account. So, you can potentially earn a lot more from this platform.
Become a Upskillist Affiliate Now >>>
12. Content Marketing Institute
Target Niches: Content marketers
Customer Skill Level: Beginner to advanced levels
Avg. Course Price: $995
Commission Rate: Up to $100 per sale
Content Marketing Institute (CMI) is considered the most authentic source of content marketing education. It offers multiple e-learning programs and events, including Content Marketing University and Content Marketing World.
Their courses and programs are ideal for serious marketers looking to invest in upgrading their skills and expanding their network in the content marketing industry.
So, if your audience consists of professional marketers, promoting CMI’s affiliate program can be an excellent choice.
Become a CMI Affiliate Now >>>
13. Master Of Project Academy
Target Niches: Project Management
Customer Skill Level: Beginner to advanced levels
Avg. Course Price: Subscription plans starting from $87/month
Commission Rate: Up to 40%
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Project management is among the most in-demand professional skills in the world. Master Of Project Academy offers multiple project management courses and e-learning programs, including PMP and CAPM certification preparation and courses in Agile project management.
Its affiliate commission starts from 25% but goes up to 40% for affiliates that drive $5000+ in sales in a month. Considering that the average conversion rate for its affiliate is over 7%, you can expect to make a decent amount every month by referring qualified leads.
Another reason for promoting this program is that PMP and CAPM are expensive certifications, and anyone looking to prepare for them is ready to pay for a high-ticket course.
So, you don’t need to convince your audience about the value of this offer. Instead, you only need to show them that this academy is a reliable and credible education source.
Become a Master Of Project Academy Affiliate Now >>>
14. Pluralsight
Target Niches: IT, Data Science, Machine Learning
Customer Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
Avg. Course Price: Subscription plans start from $159/year
Commission Rate: 50% on monthly and 15% on annual subscriptions
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Pluralsight is a unique e-learning platform that offers thousands of courses on Python, web development, machine learning, cyber security, and other technical topics by seasoned professionals.
It’s a community of technical learners designed to encourage peer-based learning and impart practical skills to prepare students for real-life challenges.
Pluralsight’s affiliate program offers $5 for free trial sign-ups, 50% on monthly subscriptions, and 15% on annual plans. Pluralsight is a surprisingly affordable platform considering the high quality of its courses.
This is why you should enjoy promoting it to people looking to learn and improve their technical skills.
Become a Pluralsight Affiliate Now >>>
15. edX
Target Niches: Tech, Business, Medicine, and dozens of others.
Customer Skill Level: Beginners to Advanced
Avg. Course Price: From $50 to $300 per course. Subscription plans start from $349/year
Commission Rate: Up to 10% commissions
Cookie Duration: 60 days
edX is among the world’s leading online learning platforms for quality higher education, degree programs, and professional certifications. It has partnered with Harvard, MIT, Berkeley, and dozens of other top-tier educational institutes to offer world-class courses remotely.
Its most popular course categories are tech and business, but you can find courses in dozens of other categories, including health, fitness, music, economics, and psychology.
In short, irrespective of your niche, you can find quality courses on edX to recommend to your audience.
Become an edX Affiliate Now >>>
16. LinkedIn Learning
Target Niches: Product Management, Engineering, Data Science, Coding
Customer Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
Avg. Course Price: Subscription plans start from $27/month
Commission Rate: Up to 35% on individual course sales
Cookie Duration: 30 days
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional social network with millions of monthly active users. It acquired Lynda, a popular e-learning platform, a few years ago. Now, it offers Lynda courses + courses from new instructors on LinkedIn Learning.
Selling LinkedIn Learning courses is easier since most people know and trust LinkedIn. So, if your audience consists of people willing to learn technical IT skills, promoting LinkedIn Learning courses can be a profitable option.
Become a LinkedIn Learning Affiliate Now >>>
17. Moralis Academy
Target Niches: Blockchain
Target Audience: Beginners to Advanced
Avg. Course Price: Subscription plans start from $22/month billed annually
Commission Rate: 30%
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Moralis is among the most reliable sources for blockchain and cryptocurrency courses. It hosts hundreds of world-class video training programs, starting from the basics of blockchain technology to the very advanced levels.
Considering that cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and web3 are the fastest-growing trends in the world, promoting Moralis Academy as an affiliate can be one of your best decisions.
Become a Moralis Academy Affiliate Now >>>
18. Rocket Languages
Target Niches: Language learners
Customer Skill Level: Beginners to Advanced
Avg. Course Price: Starting from $149 per language
Commission Rate: Up to 70%
Cookie Duration: 30 days
More people are learning new languages than ever. You can take advantage of this trend by promoting Rocket Languages as an affiliate.
It’s a platform to help people learn 13+ languages from native speakers through online classes and assignments.
Become a Rocket Languages Affiliate Now >>>
19. Rosetta Stone
Target Niches: Education and languages
Customer Skill Level: Beginners to Advanced
Avg. Course Price: $11.99/month billed annually
Commission Rate: 7%
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Rosetta Stone is another leading language learning portal offering unique learning programs for 25 different languages. It relies on associating words with images and visuals to help learners quickly memorize words.
If you’re looking to promote an engaging language-learning program, Rosetta Stone is the best choice.
Become a Rosetta Stone Affiliate Now >>>
Ready To Promote The Best E-Learning Affiliate Programs?
As you’ve seen in this article, you can promote relevant and high-quality courses to your audience irrespective of your niche and make money from it. I shortlisted the top e-learning affiliate programs in this article, but there are many others like Skillshare and Udacity, that I couldn’t cover. So, if your audience trusts you, considers you an expert, and wants you to recommend the right programs to improve their skills, use the platforms I’ve mentioned in this article or run a quick Google Search for e-learning affiliate programs in your niche. You’ll be surprised by the number of platforms willing to pay you to promote their courses.
The Best E-Learning Affiliate Programs | Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I be an affiliate for multiple companies or products simultaneously?
Yes, it is possible to join multiple affiliate programs simultaneously. Be sure to read each affiliate agreement carefully so that you are aware of any restrictions.
Do I need a website or blog to be an affiliate?
Technically you don’t need a website to be an affiliate, many successful individuals simply promote services and products from their social media accounts. However, it is often easier to build a larger audience and connect with affiliate programs if you have a well-developed website.
When and how do I get paid for my e-learning affiliate sales?
Every affiliate program offers different payment schedules and options. Review this process with each program when you join.
What is the highest-paying e-learning affiliate program?
Amazing.com and Smart Marketer are among the highest-paying e-learning affiliate programs.
Which e-learning affiliate program is the best?
Coursera and edX are the highest-quality affiliate programs based on research performed by the Learning Revolution team.
Which e-learning affiliate program is best for beginners?
Udemy has the most beginner-friendly affiliate program in the e-learning industry.
See also:
Jeff Cobb, Founder of Learning Revolution
Jeff Cobb is an expert in online education and the business of adult lifelong learning. Over the past 20+ years he has built a thriving career based on that expertise – as an entrepreneur, a consultant, an author, and a speaker. Learning Revolution is a place where Jeff curates tips, insights, and resources to help you build a thriving expertise-based business. Learn more about Jeff Cobb here.
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