13 Best Affiliate Marketing Website Examples

Affiliate marketing websites help promote other companies’ products or services. In return, they earn a small payment, usually a commission.
It may sound simple, but this type of marketing has grown into a huge industry. It’s now worth over $17 billion and may grow to $28.8 billion by 2027.

However, marketers must also be cautious about affiliate hijacking, a situation where a third party unfairly claims an affiliate link to redirect commissions. So, how can we get started and earn from it?
A good way to begin is by looking at successful affiliate websites. When we study what they do well, we can learn how to follow their steps and apply similar ideas to our own website.
Let’s take a look at some of the best ones.

What is Affiliate marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing strategy where individuals or businesses (affiliates) earn a commission for promoting products or services from other companies. The affiliate promotes these products using unique tracking links, and when a customer clicks on the link and makes a purchase or completes a specific action (like signing up for a service), the affiliate receives a commission for that referral.
Here’s how it works:
Affiliate Partner: The affiliate joins an affiliate program or network and receives a unique affiliate link or code to promote a product or service.

Promotion: The affiliate promotes the product or service on their website, blog, social media, or other online platforms, usually by using banners, links, or content like reviews or tutorials.

Customer Action: A customer clicks on the affiliate’s link and makes a purchase or takes an action that benefits the business (like signing up for a newsletter).

Commission: The affiliate earns a commission from the business or merchant for driving the sale or conversion.

What Is Affiliate Hijacking?

While affiliate marketing can be highly profitable, there are risks to be aware of, including affiliate hijacking. Affiliate hijacking occurs when someone other than the original affiliate marketer takes over a legitimate affiliate link or promotion to profit from it. This is often done by exploiting affiliate links in ways that bypass the original affiliate or by redirecting traffic to fraudulent offers.
This practice can hurt both affiliates and businesses. For affiliates, it reduces their potential earnings, as the hijacker may redirect sales or clicks that were originally intended for them. For businesses, it can lead to loss of trust and sales due to unauthorized promotions. Understanding affiliate hijacking is essential for anyone in the affiliate marketing world to ensure their commissions are protected and that they aren’t unknowingly directing traffic to unreliable sources.
Here are a few affiliate marketing websites:

1. Wirecutter:

Focus: Reviews for home items, gadgets, and tech
Monthly Visitors: Around 64,800
Top Affiliate Programs: Amazon, GoPro, Home Depot, Apple, Best Buy
Wirecutter is well-known for testing and reviewing products. It doesn’t stop at just reviews; it also shares tips on how to use these products in daily life.
This trusted advice helped the site grow fast. Between 2011 and 2016, it made $150 million before being bought by The New York Times.
How It Earns
Wirecutter uses what’s called “involved affiliate marketing.” This means they use the products themselves and share their real experience. Because of this, people trust their opinions.
They carefully test and choose only the best items to talk about. You won’t see random or low-quality reviews. Each one is clear, honest, and helpful.
This approach builds trust, and trust helps increase sales. That’s why Wirecutter is seen as one of the most successful affiliate websites out there.

2. PCPartPicker:

Focus: Computer parts for custom PCs
Monthly Visitors: Around 29 million
Top Affiliate Programs: Amazon, Newegg, SuperBiiz, Outlet PC
PCPartPicker helps people find the right parts to build a custom desktop. They share reviews and price comparisons. Whether it’s a CPU, cooler, or keyboard, they have it covered. They even provide guides to help beginners get started.
Their niche is very focused, and they are experts in it.
How It Earns
This website mixes advice, how-to examples, and smart tools to answer users’ questions. That’s what builds trust with its audience.
They don’t try to sell everything. They stick to their topic—custom PC parts—and serve that audience well. Because of that focus, they’ve become a trusted name in their field.
Their strategy has worked well. Today, the site is worth around $77 million.

3. This Is Why We’re Broke:

Niche: Funny and unique product
Monthly Visits: Around 5.86 million
Main Affiliate Programs: Amazon Affiliates, Etsy
This Is Why We’re Broke is a fun and different kind of website. It shares strange and creative products that make people laugh. The descriptions are funny, which makes it easy for people to share them on social media.
You can find all kinds of odd things here, like a book full of Godzilla facts, or even a face massager for cats.
How They Make Money
The website’s main goal is to get shared on social media. Many people who visit don’t plan to buy anything. They’re just there to see funny stuff. But because the products are so different, people often click on the links.
These clicks turn into money through affiliate links. Even though people don’t always buy the products, the site gets a lot of traffic and makes money from those clicks. It shows that having fun content can still be a smart way to earn through affiliate marketing.

4. Dog Food Advisor:

Niche: Dog food and nutrition
Monthly Visits: Around 1.25 million
Main Affiliate Program: Chewy
Dog Food Advisor is a trusted site for dog owners. It gives honest reviews about dog food and helps people choose what’s best for their pets. The reviews are well-researched and helpful.
Because of this, the website is seen as a reliable place to learn about dog food and dog health.
How They Make Money
The site does not use big ads or pushy product promotions. Instead, it places affiliate links quietly in sections like “Buying Tips” or “Exclusive Offers.”
This calm and honest approach builds trust with readers. It doesn’t feel spammy, and people are more likely to follow the links. That’s how the site earns through affiliate marketing while keeping its clean and simple look.

5. Skyscanner:

Niche: Travel (flights, hotels, car rentals)
Monthly Visits: Around 17.96 million
Main Affiliate Programs: British Airways, Ryanair, AdSense
Skyscanner is a popular website that helps people compare prices for flights, hotels, and car rentals. It uses a smart search tool that collects prices from many travel sites so users can find the best deals fast.
This tool saves time and makes it easy for people to plan their trips. Skyscanner also runs a helpful travel blog that connects with its main service.
How They Make Money
The travel blog brings in many visitors from Google. Each blog post is made to show up in search results and bring people to the website. Inside the posts, there are links to Skyscanner’s search tool for things like flights or hotels.
When someone books through those links, Skyscanner earns a fee. Their blog brings in extra traffic and helps them grow.
They also have their own affiliate program on websites like Commission Junction and Awin. You don’t need your own affiliate program to succeed, but this shows it’s possible to do both—promote others and run your own program at the same time.

6. Ruled.me:

Topic: Keto Diet
Monthly Visitors: Around 269,890
Top Affiliate Program: Amazon Associates
The keto diet has become very popular in recent years. It was first used as a treatment for epilepsy in the 1920s, but now many people follow it to lose weight and live healthier.
Ruled.me shares fun and easy keto recipes to make the diet more enjoyable. It also gives tips on diet and exercise to help people reach their health goals. One of the best features is a built-in calculator that helps users know how much protein and carbs they need. This makes meal planning easier and less confusing.
With clear advice and useful tools, Ruled.me has become a trusted website in the keto community.
How the Site Makes Money
Ruled.me adds affiliate links to many blog posts, especially in the “Recommended” section. These links take users to pages where they can buy cooking tools, supplements, and more, usually through Amazon.
They also offer a subscription called “The Keto Academy.” Subscribers get new recipes, success stories, and expert tips by email. This keeps users coming back, which means more chances they will click links and buy products.

7. Minimalist Baker:

Topic: Easy Recipes
Monthly Visitors: Around 10.07 million
Top Affiliate Program: Amazon Associates
Minimalist Baker helps people cook fast and simple meals. It’s great for busy people who want to eat well but don’t have a lot of time. Most recipes use fewer than 10 ingredients and take less than 30 minutes to make.
The site also has vegan and gluten-free options, making it helpful for many different diets.
How the Site Makes Money
Most recipes on Minimalist Baker include Amazon affiliate links for ingredients or cooking tools. Even though food items don’t pay high commissions, people buy them more often, which helps the site earn regularly.
The links are placed in a smart way. When someone reads a recipe, they can quickly buy the needed ingredients online instead of searching in stores. This saves time and fits well with the brand’s goal of keeping things simple.

8. SafeWise:

Topic: Home Safety
Monthly Visitors: Around 1.85 million
Top Affiliate Programs: Amazon Associates, OfferVault, CJ Affiliates
SafeWise helps people feel safer in their homes. It shares reviews, safety guides, and product comparisons so users can make better choices about home security. Each blog post includes a summary at the top, which saves time and helps readers find answers faster.
How the Site Makes Money
SafeWise adds affiliate links in its guides. When users click these links and buy safety products, the site earns a small commission from places like Amazon and CJ Affiliates.
Besides the blog, SafeWise also uses videos and social media (like TikTok and YouTube) to share helpful tips. These videos link back to the site, which brings in more visitors and more chances to earn.
With this wide reach, SafeWise is able to help more people stay safe while growing its income through affiliate sales.

9. HeadphonesAddict:

Niche: Headphones
Estimated monthly visits: 221,530
Main affiliate program: Amazon Associates
Since 2015, HeadphonesAddict has been a helpful place for anyone looking for the right headphones. The goal of the site is to make it easier for people to find headphones that fit their needs and budget.
To help with this, the site shares news, user guides, and honest reviews about different kinds of headphones. It talks about everything—from Google Pixel Buds Pro to headphones made for toddlers, making it a useful place for anyone interested in headphones.
How They Make Money
What makes HeadphonesAddict different from other sites is that it looks at problems that many others don’t. For example, it gives reviews for headphones that are best for sweaty workouts. By doing this, the site builds trust in its small but growing community.
Because of this trust, more people are likely to buy the products the site talks about. After someone finds a pair of headphones they like, they can just click on the Amazon link in the article. If they make a purchase, HeadphonesAddict gets a small commission for the sale.

10. RunnerClick:

Niche: Running gear
Estimated monthly visits: 64,100
Main affiliate program: Amazon Associates
RunnerClick is a great place for people who enjoy running. It shares tips, expert advice, and reviews about running shoes, supplements, and gear. Whether someone is just starting out or has been running for years, this site offers something for everyone.
What stands out about RunnerClick is the care taken in their research. Every product review is based on clear rules. For example, running shoes listed on the site are tested for support, comfort, and durability.
Even though the reviews go into detail, they are easy to read. At the top of each article, readers can find short summaries, which are great for those in a hurry. The website design is also clean and easy to use, so visitors can quickly find what they need.
How They Make Money
RunnerClick earns mainly through review articles. Each of the 950+ reviews has links that take readers to Amazon or other sites where they can buy the product.
The reviews build trust because they are honest and based on real research. This helps readers feel confident in the products they choose. By being open about how products are picked, the site becomes a trusted voice in its field.
Besides the reviews, RunnerClick also has a podcast called The Passionate Runner. This helps more people discover the site, which brings more traffic, more readers, and more chances to earn money from affiliate links.

11. Fatherly:

Niche: Parenting for modern fathers
Estimated monthly visits: 1.96 million
Main affiliate programs: Amazon Associates, Walmart, ZergNet, Best Buy
Fatherly offers advice, tips, and guides on being a dad today. The site covers many topics, including health, style, and entertainment, while also sharing product reviews and buying guides. These product-related pieces help the site promote affiliate links, but it also provides helpful information that isn’t always about selling products.
Before even reading an article, users can find a list of recommended products under “Fatherly Favorites” on the homepage. This makes it easier for visitors to find products they might need.
How They Make Money
Fatherly earns money by using affiliate links and advertising. Not every article has affiliate links, but the site uses a smart method called content funneling. This means that articles without affiliate links may link to others that do.
For example, an article about bodyweight exercises might not promote products directly, but it could link to a related article that does. By doing this, the site helps readers find more affiliate content, which can increase sales and commissions.

12. The Points Guy:

Niche: Travel and credit cards
Estimated monthly visits: 11.36 million
Main affiliate programs: Chase Bank, American Express, Citi
The Points Guy focuses on travel and finance, helping its readers travel smarter and more affordably. The site shares advice on flights, hotels, cruises, credit cards, and loyalty programs, giving readers useful tips to get the best deals.
It teaches people how to use rewards from credit cards and travel programs to travel for less or sometimes even for free.
How They Make Money
The Points Guy earns commissions when readers sign up for credit cards from partners like American Express, Citi, and Chase.
The site doesn’t just wait for visitors to find it naturally. It also uses social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok to boost traffic. The more people know about the site, the more likely they are to click on the affiliate links and make a purchase.

13. DatingAdvice.com:

Niche: Dating site reviews and dating advice
Estimated monthly visits: 733,440
Main affiliate programs: Zoosk, Match.com, OurTime.com, Harmony, BlackPeopleMeet.com
The rise of online dating has made this niche very profitable, with the market expected to reach $3.12 billion in 2024. DatingAdvice.com stands out by offering a clean, easy-to-use website design, which helps it build trust and popularity.
The site gives helpful advice from experts, reviews of dating sites, and guides that match users with the best dating platforms for their needs. These guides cover everything from dating sites for seniors to LGBTQ+ users.
How They Make Money
DatingAdvice.com earns money through affiliate links when readers sign up for one of the dating sites the site recommends.
The dating niche is full of flashy and unreliable sites, but DatingAdvice.com has earned trust by offering a simple design and useful advice. This has made the site a leader in its niche.

What Makes a Successful Affiliate Website?

From these examples, we can see that successful affiliate websites have four key points:
A great website design.
Valuable content focused on a specific audience.
A mix of organic and paid traffic.
Building trust with the audience to encourage purchases or sign-ups.