Earnest vs The Motley Fool Affiliate Program
Earnest pays a higher commission at $200 per sale vs The Motley Fool's $175 per sale. The Motley Fool has the longer cookie at 45 days compared to Earnest's 30 days. Community affiliates rate Earnest 4.0/5 from 2 reviews and The Motley Fool 5.0/5 from 2 reviews.
Verdict
The Motley Fool wins on longer cookie (45 days), better community rating (5.0/5). If your audience is a strong fit, it's the better program to apply for first. That said, both programs are worth testing: promote whichever you can write about authentically.
Earnest 4.0 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Finance | Finance |
| Network | cj | impact |
| Commission Type | CPA (per sale) | CPA (per sale) |
| Commission Rate | $200 per saleBetter | $175 per sale |
| Cookie Duration | 30 days | 45 daysBetter |
| Community Rating | 4.0 / 5 (2 reviews) | 5.0 / 5 (2 reviews)Better |
| Tags | student-loansrefinancinghigh-ticketeducation-finance | investingstock-pickshigh-ticketeducation-finance |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which pays more: Earnest or The Motley Fool affiliate program?
Earnest pays a higher commission at $200 per sale compared to The Motley Fool at $175 per sale.
What is the cookie duration for Earnest vs The Motley Fool?
Earnest offers a 30 days cookie window, while The Motley Fool offers 45 days.
Which is better for affiliates: Earnest or The Motley Fool?
Based on community reviews, The Motley Fool is rated higher at 5.0/5 vs Earnest at 4.0.
Does cookie duration matter when choosing between Earnest and The Motley Fool?
Cookie duration matters a lot for content that drives research-phase traffic. The Motley Fool's 45 days cookie gives more time to capture readers who browse before buying, while Earnest's 30 days window suits higher-intent traffic that converts faster. If your content attracts readers early in the decision process, the longer cookie has a meaningful advantage.
Can you promote both Earnest and The Motley Fool at the same time?
Yes — most affiliate programs allow you to promote competing programs simultaneously, unless their terms explicitly prohibit it. Promoting both lets you test which converts better for your specific audience. A common approach is to feature the higher-commission program as your primary recommendation and include the alternative for readers with different needs.
Earnest: Best for
- High-intent audiences in finance, investing, or B2B where single conversions pay well
- Evergreen content with a 30-day attribution window
- Personal finance blogs, investing education, and money management content
The Motley Fool: Best for
- High-intent audiences in finance, investing, or B2B where single conversions pay well
- Evergreen content with a 45-day attribution window
- Personal finance blogs, investing education, and money management content
Earnest Affiliate Program
Earnest is a fintech lender specializing in student loan refinancing and private student loans. Affiliates earn $200 per funded refinance referral — one of the highest CPAs in the student loan space. Converts exceptionally well with graduate and professional school audiences.
Read full details →The Motley Fool Affiliate Program
The Motley Fool is a financial media company offering stock picks, investment advice, and financial education products. Affiliates earn $100–$300+ per subscription sale via ShareASale. High-value newsletter products and strong brand recognition in personal finance drive exceptional EPC.
Read full details →More comparisons
Compare any programs side by side
This page compares Earnest and The Motley Fool. With Affiliate Pro you can compare any combination of up to 4 programs — commissions, cookie windows, ratings, and more — using the full interactive compare tool.