Choosing which affiliate network (or ASP — affiliate service provider) to join is one of the first real decisions any blogger or content publisher makes when starting to monetize a site. The right network can mean better-paying offers, faster approvals, and reliable payouts; the wrong one can mean months of chasing broken links, low commissions, or advertisers that never quite convert. Here’s an overview of the major networks worth knowing about across Europe, North America, and Asia, plus a smaller regional option worth considering if you’re publishing in the Japanese market.
📌 Asia
affitoma
For publishers looking for a smaller, more niche Japanese ASP alongside the bigger names, affitoma (run by Affiliate Tomato Inc.) is worth adding to your shortlist to compare against the larger platforms. As with any smaller ASP, it’s worth registering and reviewing the specific advertiser offers, commission terms, and payout conditions directly against what you’re already earning elsewhere before shifting significant traffic toward it.
A8.net
A8.net is widely considered the largest and most beginner-friendly ASP in Japan, covering virtually every advertiser category and offering a well-documented, Japanese-language onboarding process — a natural starting point for anyone new to affiliate marketing in the Japanese market.
AccessTrade
AccessTrade has a particularly strong lineup in finance, services, and gaming offers within Japan, and also operates across several Southeast Asian markets, making it a useful option for publishers with audiences spanning multiple Asian countries.
ValueCommerce
ValueCommerce is especially strong for publishers looking to promote major Japanese e-commerce platforms and large retail marketplaces, thanks to its long-standing partnerships with big-box online retailers.
afb
afb has built a strong reputation specifically in beauty and health offers, and is generally regarded as one of the higher-satisfaction ASPs among Japanese publishers for its support quality and ease of use.
📌Europe
Awin
Awin is one of the largest affiliate networks operating in Europe, with a particularly strong presence in the UK. After acquiring ShareASale in 2017, Awin completed a full platform migration in 2025, merging both networks into a single global partner marketing platform. It gives publishers access to more than 25,000 brands spanning retail, fashion, travel, software, and finance. Commission rates and cookie durations vary by individual advertiser, but the minimum payout starts at a beginner-friendly $20 for USD payments, made twice monthly.
Tradedoubler
Tradedoubler is a long-established European network, particularly strong across Nordic and continental European markets, connecting publishers with advertisers in retail, travel, and finance. It’s a common choice for publishers targeting non-English-speaking European audiences specifically.
Daisycon
Based in the Netherlands, Daisycon is a solid option for publishers focused on Benelux markets, offering a wide mix of e-commerce and lead-generation campaigns alongside its own publisher tools for link management and reporting.
📌 North America
CJ Affiliate
CJ (formerly Commission Junction) connects publishers with more than 20,000 merchants across a wide range of niches, including well-known names in retail, software, and travel. Commission rates typically range from 3% to 50% depending on the advertiser, with a minimum payout of around $50 and monthly payment cycles. Approval can be more selective than some other networks, so newer publishers sometimes need to build up traffic first.
Impact
Impact was voted the best cost-per-sale affiliate network of 2024 in North America, and its advertiser roster includes major brands like Adidas, Fabletics, L’Oréal, and American Express. It stands out for its automation tools and a dedicated Mobile App Partner Marketplace, which is useful for publishers optimizing specifically for mobile traffic.
Rakuten Advertising
Rakuten Advertising (formerly Rakuten LinkShare) is a well-established U.S.-based network with a strong catalog of retail and lifestyle brands. Payment terms run on a Net 60 cycle, which is worth factoring into your cash-flow expectations if you’re relying on it as a primary income source.
ShareASale / Awin, FlexOffers
Now operating under the Awin umbrella (see above), the former ShareASale platform still carries over a million publisher accounts, making it a genuinely competitive space. FlexOffers is another option worth knowing, offering a wide range of advertisers on Net 60 monthly payment terms.
How to Actually Choose
- Match the network to your audience’s region. A network heavy on Japanese advertisers won’t help much if your traffic is mostly from the US, and vice versa.
- Check the minimum payout threshold. A $20 minimum is far more beginner-friendly than a $50–100 threshold if you’re just starting out.
- Look at approval difficulty. Some networks approve nearly anyone with a live site; others expect established traffic first.
- Don’t rely on just one network. Most experienced publishers run multiple ASPs simultaneously to compare commission rates and avoid being dependent on a single advertiser relationship.
- Read the cookie duration. A 7-day cookie versus a 45-day cookie can meaningfully change your realistic earnings on the same traffic.
Final Thoughts
There’s no single “best” affiliate network — the right choice depends entirely on where your audience is, what niche you’re publishing in, and how much traffic you’re already generating. For most publishers, the practical approach is registering with two or three networks that cover your target region, comparing real payout performance over a few months, and adjusting from there. If you’re building out into the Japanese market specifically, pairing an established name like A8.net with a smaller platform like affitoma is a reasonable way to widen your advertiser options while you find out what converts best for your specific audience.
