Best Online Course Platform Affiliate Programs 2026
Online course platforms are a booming niche within education affiliate marketing. As more creators sell courses, demand for the platforms that host them has exploded: and the affiliate programs reflect that growth with 20–30% recurring commissions on substantial monthly fees.
Top Programs at a Glance
| Program | Commission | Cookie |
|---|---|---|
| Teachable | 30% recurring | 90 days |
| Thinkific | 30% recurring | 90 days |
| Kajabi | 30% recurring | 30 days |
| Podia | 30% recurring | 30 days |
| Udemy | 15% | 7 days |
| Pluralsight | 50% | 45 days |
Want ratings, EPC benchmarks, and payout-reliability data, and to compare any 4 programs side by side?
Compare with Pro →Two Types of Education Affiliate Programs
There are two distinct categories here:
- Course marketplaces: Udemy, Coursera, Skillshare. You promote the platform and earn when learners buy courses.
- Course hosting platforms: Teachable, Thinkific, Kajabi. You promote to course creators who pay monthly fees to host their content.
Course hosting platforms tend to pay better because creator subscription fees ($29–$400/month) are higher than individual course prices, and creator churn is lower.
Top Course Hosting Affiliate Programs
Teachable
Teachable is the most popular course hosting platform for beginner and mid-level creators. Their affiliate program pays 30% recurring commission on plans ranging from $39–$299/month.
- Commission: 30% recurring
- Cookie: 90 days
- Best for: Creator economy content, "how to sell online courses" guides, entrepreneur audiences
→ View Teachable affiliate program
Thinkific
Thinkific competes directly with Teachable and offers a free plan that makes conversion easier: users start free, then upgrade. Affiliate commissions are 20–30% recurring.
- Commission: 20–30% recurring
- Cookie: 90 days
- Best for: Creator-focused content, Teachable comparison posts, entrepreneur audiences
→ View Thinkific affiliate program
Kajabi
Kajabi is the all-in-one premium option: course hosting, email marketing, website, and community in one platform. Higher price point ($149–$399/month) means higher affiliate commissions, and creators who choose Kajabi tend to stay.
- Commission: 30% recurring for life
- Cookie: 30 days
- Best for: High-ticket creator content, online business audiences, premium education niches
→ View Kajabi affiliate program
Podia
Podia offers a clean, simple platform for courses, downloads, and memberships. Their affiliate program pays 30% recurring and they're known for responsive affiliate support.
- Commission: 30% recurring
- Cookie: 30 days
- Best for: Digital product creator content, simple course creation guides
→ View Podia affiliate program
Course Marketplace Affiliate Programs
Course marketplaces host content from thousands of instructors and pay commissions when learners buy individual courses. Lower commissions than hosting platforms, but high purchase volume and strong brand recognition make them easy to convert.
Udemy
Udemy is the world's largest online learning platform with 213,000+ courses across tech, business, design, and more. Their affiliate program pays 10–15% per sale. The catch: Udemy runs near-constant sales (courses dropping from $199 to $9.99), which drives high conversion but lowers average order value.
- Commission: 10–15% per sale
- Cookie: 7 days
- Best for: Broad content audiences, tech and business niches, high-volume traffic
→ View Udemy affiliate program
Pluralsight
Pluralsight focuses on tech skills: software development, IT, cybersecurity, and data. Affiliates earn 50% on individual plan sales, making it one of the highest-paying education programs by percentage. Strong B2B angle — developers and IT professionals have high purchase intent for skill development tools.
- Commission: 50% per sale
- Cookie: 30 days
- Best for: Tech audiences, developer content, IT and cybersecurity niches
→ View Pluralsight affiliate program
What to Look for
- Lifetime recurring vs. limited duration: Kajabi pays for life; Teachable's terms vary; read the fine print
- Plan pricing: higher-tier plans at the same commission % pay significantly more
- Free plans available: platforms with free entry points convert easier; users start free then upgrade
- Creator community size: larger communities mean more potential referrals from word-of-mouth
How to Promote
- "How to create an online course": massive search volume; naturally embeds platform recommendations
- Platform comparisons: "Teachable vs Thinkific vs Kajabi" is one of the most-searched comparisons in creator tools
- Niche course guides: "How to sell [niche] courses online" targets specific creator communities
- Income reports: "How I made $X selling online courses" with platform attribution converts extremely well
For the broader education landscape including learner-focused programs, see our best education affiliate programs guide. For the full recurring commission picture, see best recurring commission affiliate programs.