Affiliate Commission Calculator
Calculate your affiliate marketing commissions. Whether you promote digital products, physical goods, or SaaS subscriptions, understand exactly what you'll earn from referrals and conversions.
Example Calculations
| Scenario | Sale | Rate | Commission | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Course | ₹5,000 | 50% | ₹2,500 | ₹2,500 |
| SaaS Referral | ₹999/mo | 30% recurring | ₹300/mo | ₹300/mo |
| E-commerce Product | ₹3,000 | 8% | ₹240 | ₹240 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do affiliate commissions work?
You promote a product/service with a unique link. When someone buys through your link, you earn a commission—typically a percentage of the sale. Rates vary from 1% (Amazon) to 75% (digital products).
What's a good affiliate commission rate?
Physical products: 1-15% (Amazon 1-10%, niche sites more). Digital products: 30-75%. SaaS: 20-40% recurring. Higher rates often mean higher prices or lower conversion.
Recurring vs one-time commissions?
One-time pays once per sale. Recurring pays as long as the customer stays (monthly SaaS). Recurring builds passive income but initial payout is lower. Both have place in your strategy.
Affiliate Commission Mastery
Types of Affiliate Commission Models
**Pay Per Sale (PPS):**
Most common. Earn when referral makes purchase.
Rates: 1% to 75% depending on product type
**Pay Per Lead (PPL):**
Earn when referral signs up, fills form, or takes action.
Typical: ₹50-5,000 per qualified lead
**Pay Per Click (PPC):**
Rare for affiliates. Earn per click regardless of sale.
Usually low: ₹0.10-5 per click
**Recurring Commissions:**
Earn ongoing % as long as customer pays.
Common in SaaS: 20-40% monthly
**Two-Tier/MLM:**
Earn from your referrals' sales too.
Secondary tier typically 5-10%
**Performance Bonuses:**
Extra payouts for hitting volume thresholds.
Example: Base 30%, bonus 10% after 50 sales
Affiliate Commission by Niche
**Digital Products/Courses:**
- Commission: 30-75%
- Cookie duration: 30-90 days
- Examples: Udemy (15%), Teachable creators (50%+)
**SaaS & Software:**
- Commission: 20-40% recurring
- Cookie duration: 30-90 days
- Examples: ConvertKit (30%), Shopify (20%)
**E-commerce/Retail:**
- Commission: 1-15%
- Cookie duration: 24 hrs - 30 days
- Examples: Amazon (1-10%), individual stores (5-15%)
**Financial Products:**
- Commission: ₹500-50,000 per application
- Cookie duration: 30-90 days
- Examples: Credit cards, brokerages, insurance
**Web Hosting:**
- Commission: ₹2,000-10,000 per signup
- Cookie duration: 30-90 days
- Examples: Bluehost, Hostinger
**Travel:**
- Commission: 3-10% or flat per booking
- Cookie duration: 7-30 days
- Examples: Booking.com, Expedia
Maximizing Affiliate Earnings
**Choose Programs Wisely:**
- Higher commission isn't always better
- Consider: conversion rate, EPC, cookie duration
- Test multiple programs in same niche
**Content Strategy:**
- Reviews and comparisons convert best
- "Best X for Y" keywords are golden
- Include real experiences and proof
**Traffic Quality > Quantity:**
- Targeted traffic converts higher
- Email lists outperform social traffic
- Intent-based search traffic is premium
**Build Trust First:**
- Only promote products you'd use
- Disclose affiliate relationships
- Provide genuine value, not just promotion
**Optimize Conversion:**
- Strategic link placement
- Clear call-to-actions
- Use bonuses to incentivize buying through you
**Diversify:**
- Don't rely on one program
- Amazon can (and does) cut rates
- Build direct relationships with brands
Tracking Affiliate Commissions
**Essential Metrics:**
- Clicks: Traffic to affiliate links
- Conversions: Completed sales/actions
- Conversion Rate: Conversions / Clicks
- EPC: Earnings Per Click
- Average Order Value: Total revenue / Orders
- Commission Rate: Your % or flat fee
**Tracking Tools:**
- Pretty Links or ThirstyAffiliates (WordPress)
- Voluum or ClickMagick (advanced)
- Google Analytics for traffic sources
- Spreadsheet for multi-program tracking
**Common Issues:**
- Lost cookies (user clears browser)
- Cross-device attribution problems
- Commission theft (link replacement)
- Delayed reporting (up to 60 days)
**Best Practices:**
- Log all clicks and conversions
- Compare to network reports
- Dispute discrepancies promptly
- Backup with screenshots