Awin, which fully absorbed ShareASale in 2025, is the easiest major network to start with low approval friction and a wide merchant mix. Impact has the lowest payout minimum at $10 and hosts premium SaaS and DTC brands. CJ Affiliate suits established sites chasing big-name retailers. ClickBank remains the top pick for digital products with commissions up to 75%. Details below.
CPS, cost per sale, is the model most people actually picture when they hear “affiliate marketing.” You recommend a product, someone buys it through your link, and you get a cut, usually anywhere from 3% to 50% depending on the merchant and category. The catch with CPS compared to CPL or CPA is simple: you need an actual purchase, not just a signup or a form fill, so conversion rates run lower even when the payout per action is higher.
Here’s what’s actually worth joining in 2026, now that the landscape has shifted quite a bit from a year or two ago.
A Quick But Important Update:
If you’ve read an older article recommending ShareASale as a standalone network, that’s now out of date. Awin acquired ShareASale back in 2017 and finished migrating the platform fully in 2025, meaning ShareASale no longer operates separately. If you’re looking for it today, you’re actually looking for Awin, which now carries both merchant catalogs under one roof.
The Networks Actually Worth Your Time:
1. Awin:
Awin, which now includes what used to be ShareASale, is genuinely one of the easier major networks to get into. It accepts applicants with just a website or even a social media handle and charges a small $5 refundable deposit, mainly to filter out bots, which gets returned once you hit your first $20 in commissions. With over 30,000 brands spanning fashion, travel, finance, and telecom, it’s hard to not find something relevant to your niche.
Good stuff: low approval friction, typically just a few days, a massive and genuinely diverse merchant catalog, a low $20 minimum payout, and a twice-monthly payment schedule.
Not so good: commission rates vary a lot by individual merchant rather than being set network-wide, so earnings potential really depends on which brands you end up promoting.
2. Impact:
Impact has built a reputation as the go-to network for premium SaaS and direct-to-consumer brands specifically, hosting programs for names like Adidas, Uber, Shopify, and Canva. It’s also the network most people point to for the lowest payout threshold among the majors, just $10.
Good stuff: lowest minimum payout among major networks, strong roster of premium SaaS and tech brands with commissions that can run $100 to $1,000 plus per sale, and generally fast same-day approval at the network level.
Not so good: approval at the individual merchant level can be stricter than the network itself, and some of the more premium programs favor established sites with proven traffic.
3. Affiliate CJ
AffiliateCJ, still widely known simply as CJ, remains one of the biggest names in the industry, connecting affiliates with over 20,000 merchants, including recognizable brands like Barnes & Noble and NordVPN. It’s a solid fit once your site has some history behind it.
Good stuff: access to major, well-known retail and travel brands, software commissions through certain merchants running 40 to 85% per sale, a notably long cookie window of up to 120 days with some programs.
Not so good: approval tends to be more moderate in difficulty than Awin’s, and the $50 minimum payout sits higher than Impact’s.
4. ClickBank:
ClickBank plays in a different space entirely, focused heavily on digital products, courses, software, and info products rather than physical retail. If your content leans toward digital goods, this remains the network with the highest commission percentages on this list, up to 75% on many products.
Good stuff: extremely high commission percentages compared to physical product networks, huge catalog specifically of digital products and courses, and a straightforward approval process.
Not so good: product quality varies significantly since the catalog includes a wide range of independent creators, so vetting what you promote matters more here than on more curated networks.
5. Rakuten Advertising:
Rakuten Advertising rounds out the major players, known particularly for strong relationships with recognizable consumer brands and a polished platform experience, though it tends to have a steeper approval process than Awin or Impact.
Good stuff: strong brand portfolio with household names, generally reliable tracking and reporting.
Not so good: approval can be slower and more selective than the more beginner-friendly options on this list.
Which Network Actually Fits Your Site:
If you’re just starting and want the path of least resistance, Awin is the sensible first stop. Low approval friction, a huge and varied merchant list, and a low payout threshold mean you can actually start earning without months of waiting around.
If your content leans toward software, tech, or direct-to-consumer brands specifically, Impact is worth the extra effort at the merchant approval level, since that’s where the genuinely high-paying programs tend to live.
Once your site has some real history and traffic behind it, CJ Affiliate opens up access to bigger, more recognizable retail names that can lend some credibility to your content alongside the commission itself.
And if you’re working in the digital product or course space rather than physical retail, ClickBank is really the standout choice given how much higher its commission percentages run compared to the others.
Read More: https://compareshub.com/networks/adwork-media/
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ShareASale still a separate network I can join?
No, not anymore. Awin acquired ShareASale in 2017 and completed a full platform migration in 2025, combining both into a single network. If an article tells you to sign up for ShareASale specifically, that information is outdated; you’ll actually be signing up through Awin now.
What’s a realistic commission rate to expect with CPS?
It varies enormously by merchant and category. Physical retail commissions commonly run 3% to 20%, while software and digital products can run anywhere from 30% to 85% depending on the specific program. Always check the individual merchant’s terms rather than assuming a network-wide rate.
Which CPS network has the lowest payout threshold?
Impact currently has the lowest minimum among the major networks at $10, making it easier to see your first payment than CJ Affiliate’s $50 or Awin’s $20 plus a refundable deposit.
Do I need existing traffic before applying to these networks?
It depends on the network and even the individual merchant. Awin and Impact tend to be relatively accessible even for newer sites, though specific merchant programs within either network may have their own stricter requirements. CJ Affiliate and Rakuten generally favor more established sites with a proven track record.
Can I join multiple CPS networks at the same time?
Yes, and most successful affiliates do exactly that, typically running two to four networks depending on their niche. Different networks host different merchants, so joining several widens your options rather than locking you into one catalog.
Conclusion
CPS remains the backbone of most affiliate income once a site has real traffic, since the payouts per sale generally beat CPL or CPA networks on a per-action basis, even if conversion takes more work. Awin is the easiest entry point right now, especially since it’s absorbed ShareASale entirely. Impact makes sense if your niche touches SaaS or DTC brands specifically. CJ Affiliate rewards sites with some established history. And ClickBank remains the clear choice if digital products are more your lane than physical retail. Most publishers end up running a mix rather than picking just one, so there’s little downside to applying to two or three once your site is ready.
