Amazon Associates — affiliate network: rating and member reviews

Amazon Associates is the affiliate program of Amazon.com, launched in July 1996 and still the largest single retail program: Influencer Marketing Hub put its share of the affiliate network market at 21.65% in 2023. Publishers link to any product on Amazon and earn a percentage of qualifying purchases, plus fixed bounties for sign-ups such as Prime ($12), Audible ($20) and Amazon Business ($15). Each Amazon marketplace runs its own program; the terms below are for amazon.com.

The published rate table runs from 10% (Luxury Beauty, Amazon Explore) through 4.5% (books, kitchen, automotive), 4% (Amazon devices, apparel, jewelry and all other categories) and 3% (toys, furniture, home, pets, beauty, sports) down to 1% (grocery, health and personal care, video games) and 0% for gift cards and alcohol. The cookie lasts 24 hours from the click, and items added to the cart in that window count if bought within 90 days. New accounts must make 3 qualifying sales within 180 days, or the application is closed. Payouts arrive about 60 days after the end of the month, from $10 by direct deposit or gift card and $100 by cheque.

In 2026 the published table stopped telling the whole story. Adweek reported that Amazon cut commissions by up to 50% for some publishers, starting in Asia-Pacific in late 2025 and reaching the US around March 9, 2026, without a public announcement, and removed milestone bonuses and parts of reporting. The Operating Agreement updated on April 14, 2026 also limits onsite commissions to purchases of the same product variant. Paid search on Amazon trademarks and redirecting links are prohibited.