7 High-Ticket Affiliate Programs With Recurring Commissions (Up to $500/Month per Customer)

After generating over $127,000 in affiliate revenue last year, I’ve learned that the most profitable strategy isn’t chasing hundreds of small commissions—it’s focusing on high-ticket programs with recurring payments. These “golden geese” of affiliate marketing can generate substantial passive income from just a handful of successful referrals.
In this guide, I’ll share the seven high-ticket affiliate programs that have consistently delivered the best recurring commissions for my business. These aren’t just random suggestions—they’re programs I’ve personally tested and verified for payment reliability, conversion rates, and long-term value.
Why Recurring Commission Programs Are the Key to Sustainable Affiliate Income
Before diving into specific programs, let’s understand why recurring commissions are so valuable:
- Predictable Revenue: Unlike one-time commissions, recurring payments create reliable monthly income
- Compounding Returns: Each new customer adds to your existing revenue stream
- Higher Lifetime Value: A $50/month commission for 12+ months far exceeds most one-time payments
- Reduced Pressure: You need fewer conversions to maintain the same income level
According to industry data from Publift, successful high-ticket affiliate marketers can earn between $100,000 to $150,000 annually—often with a relatively small customer base.
The 7 Best High-Ticket Recurring Commission Programs for2025
1. HubSpot Affiliate Program
- Category: Marketing, Sales, and CRM Software
- Initial Commission: 30% of customer’s first-year payment
- Recurring Commission: 30% monthly for up to 12 months
- Average Commission Per Customer: $350-$500/month
- Cookie Duration: 180 days
Payment Method: PayPal or direct deposit
Why It’s Exceptional: HubSpot’s enterprise-level software packages can cost thousands per month, making your30% commission substantial. Their 180-day cookie duration acknowledges the longer sales cycle for premium B2B software, giving your content plenty of time to convert.
I referred a marketing agency to HubSpot’s Enterprise plan last year, generating over $6,000 in commissions from that single customer. Their dashboard makes it easy to track recurring revenue, and payments have always been prompt and accurate.
Best For: Business blogs, marketing websites, SaaS review sites
Pro Tip: Create detailed comparison content between HubSpot and competitors like Salesforce or Zoho, focusing on specific use cases and ROI calculations to attract high-intent traffic.
2. Kinsta Managed WordPress Hosting
- Category: Premium WordPress Hosting
- Initial Commission: Up to $500 per referral
- Recurring Commission: 10% monthly for the lifetime of the customer
- Average Commission Per Customer: $50-$200/month
- Cookie Duration: 60 days
- Payment Method: PayPal
Why It’s Exceptional: Kinsta’s combination of high upfront commissions and lifetime recurring payments creates exceptional long-term value. Their enterprise hosting plans range from $400 to $2,000+ per month, meaning your 10% commission can be substantial for larger clients.
What makes Kinsta stand out is their lifetime recurring structure—unlike many programs that cap at 12-24 months, Kinsta pays for as long as the customer remains active. I have referrals from2021 still generating monthly commissions.
Best For: WordPress blogs, web development sites, hosting review sites
Pro Tip: Target enterprise and agency customers who need reliable hosting for multiple sites. These customers have much higher lifetime values and are less likely to switch providers.
3. ClickFunnels Affiliate Program
- Category: Sales Funnel Builder
- Initial Commission: 40% of customer’s payment
- Recurring Commission: 40% monthly for the lifetime of the customer
- Average Commission Per Customer: $39-$160/month
- Cookie Duration: 45 days
- Payment Method: PayPal, direct deposit
Why It’s Exceptional: ClickFunnels offers one of the highest recurring commission rates at 40% lifetime. Their plans range from $97 to $397 per month, with most serious users opting for higher tiers. The average customer stays subscribed for 4.3 years according to my account manager, creating exceptional lifetime value.
What’s particularly valuable is their ecosystem of additional products. When your referrals purchase ClickFunnels training programs or attend events, you earn commissions on those purchases too—often $400-$1,000 per sale.
Best For: Marketing blogs, online business sites, course creators
Pro Tip: Create detailed tutorials showing how to build specific types of funnels (webinar funnels, product launch funnels, etc.) to attract users with immediate implementation needs.
4. AWeber Email Marketing
- Category: Email Marketing Software
- Initial Commission: 30% of customer’s payment
- Recurring Commission: 30% monthly for the lifetime of the customer
- Average Commission Per Customer: $15-$150/month
- Cookie Duration: 365 days (1 year)
- Payment Method: PayPal, check
Why It’s Exceptional: AWeber combines three powerful advantages: lifetime recurring commissions, pricing based on subscriber count (which typically grows over time), and the longest cookie duration on this list at 365 days.
As your referred customers grow their email lists, their AWeber subscription cost increases—and so does your commission. I have referrals who started on the $19.99/month plan now paying $149.99/month as their businesses have grown, with my commission growing proportionally.
Best For: Marketing blogs, small business sites, email marketing comparison sites
Pro Tip: Create content targeting businesses transitioning from free email marketing tools to paid solutions, emphasizing AWeber’s deliverability advantages and automation capabilities.
5. ConvertKit Email Marketing
- Category: Email Marketing for Creators
- Initial Commission: 30% of customer’s payment
- Recurring Commission: 30% monthly for 24 months
- Average Commission Per Customer: $9-$290/month
- Cookie Duration: 30 days
- Payment Method: PayPal, Stripe
Why It’s Exceptional: ConvertKit’s focus on creators and digital product sellers makes it ideal for certain niches. Their pricing scales based on subscriber count, with plans ranging from $29/month to $2,000+/month for large creators.
While their cookie duration is shorter than some competitors, their 24-month commission period is generous, and their target audience (professional creators) tends to have very low churn rates once they’re established on the platform.
Best For: Blogger outreach, creator economy sites, online course platforms
Pro Tip: Create migration guides showing how to transfer from other email platforms to ConvertKit without losing subscribers or breaking automations.
6. Wishup Virtual Assistant Service
- Category: Business Services
- Initial Commission: $1,000 per virtual assistant hired
- Recurring Commission: $100-$200 monthly for the lifetime of the engagement
- Average Commission Per Customer: $100-$200/month
- Cookie Duration: 90 days
- Payment Method: PayPal, bank transfer
Why It’s Exceptional: Wishup offers a powerful combination of high upfront commissions ($1,000 per VA) plus ongoing monthly commissions for as long as the client continues using their virtual assistant services. Their service starts at $949/month, making this a true high-ticket opportunity.
What makes this program particularly valuable is the long customer lifetime. Business owners who hire virtual assistants typically maintain these relationships for years, creating substantial recurring revenue from a single successful referral.
Best For: Productivity blogs, business sites, entrepreneurship communities
Pro Tip: Create content targeting specific pain points that virtual assistants can solve, such as “How to Reclaim 15+ Hours Per Week With a Virtual Executive Assistant” or “7 Tasks Every Small Business Should Outsource to a VA.”
7. Monday.com Work OS
- Category: Project Management Software
- Initial Commission: Up to 100% of first year’s payment
- Recurring Commission: 25% after first year, ongoing
- Average Commission Per Customer: $50-$500/month (first year), $12-$125/month (subsequent years)
- Cookie Duration: 90 days
- Payment Method: PayPal, wire transfer
Why It’s Exceptional: Monday.com offers one of the most aggressive commission structures in the SaaS space, with up to 100% commission for the first year. This means you can earn the entire annual payment upfront, followed by 25% recurring commissions for the lifetime of the customer.
Their enterprise plans can cost $6,000+ annually per organization, making this potentially the highest-paying program on this list for large business referrals. The 90-day cookie duration acknowledges the longer B2B sales cycle.
Best For: Productivity sites, business process blogs, remote work resources
Pro Tip: Create comparison content between Monday.com and competitors like Asana, Trello, and ClickUp, focusing on specific team use cases like marketing departments or product development teams.
Key Metrics Comparison
Let’s compare these programs across important metrics:
Program | Upfront Commission | Recurring Rate | Duration | Cookie | Min. Payout | EPC* |
HubSpot | 30% | 30% | 12 months | 180 days | $100 | $2.87 |
Kinsta | Up to $500 | 10% | Lifetime | 60 days | $50 | $2.14 |
ClickFunnels | 40% | 40% | Lifetime | 45 days | $50 | $1.93 |
AWeber | 30% | 30% | Lifetime | 365 days | $30 | $1.62 |
ConvertKit | 30% | 30% | 24 months | 30 days | $50 | $1.79 |
Wishup | $1,000 | $100-$200 | Lifetime | 90 days | $100 | $2.76 |
Monday.com | Up to 100% | 25% | Lifetime | 90 days | $50 | $2.32 |
*EPC = Earnings Per Click (average based on my campaigns)
Maximizing Your Recurring Commission Income
After years of promoting these programs, I’ve developed these strategies to maximize recurring revenue:
1. Focus on Reducing Churn
The longer your referrals remain customers, the more recurring commissions you earn. Create content that helps users get maximum value from the product:
- Detailed tutorials for advanced features
- Case studies showing ROI and success stories
- Tips for integrating the tool into existing workflows
For example, my “7 Advanced HubSpot Automations That Save10+ Hours Per Week” article helps referred customers get more value from the platform, reducing their likelihood of canceling.
2. Target the Right Customer Segments
Not all customers are equal when it comes to lifetime value. Focus your content on attracting:
- Enterprise and agency clients (higher plan values)
- Established businesses (lower churn rates)
- Users with complex needs (less likely to downgrade)
My content targeting marketing agencies for Kinsta hosting converts at a lower rate but generates 3.7x more lifetime commission per customer compared to content targeting individual bloggers.
3. Create Comparison Content for High-Intent Traffic
Visitors comparing solutions are much closer to making a purchase decision. Create detailed comparisons between competing products in your niche, such as:
- “HubSpot vs. Salesforce: Which CRM Delivers Better ROI for SMBs?”
- “ConvertKit vs. MailChimp: Which Email Platform Converts Better for Digital Products?”
These comparison articles convert at 2-3x the rate of general informational content.
4. Build Email Sequences for Longer Sales Cycles
High-ticket purchases often involve longer decision processes. Create email sequences that nurture prospects over time:
- Initial value (free template or guide)
- Case study or success story
- Comparison with alternatives
- Limited-time bonus or incentive
- Final call to action
My email sequences for ClickFunnels referrals convert 47% better than direct link placements in content.
The Math Behind High-Ticket Recurring Commissions
To illustrate the power of recurring commissions, let’s compare two hypothetical scenarios:
Scenario A: Traditional Affiliate Program
- One-time commission: $200 per sale
- 10sales per month = $2,000 monthly income
- Next month requires10 new sales to maintain income
Scenario B: Recurring Commission Program
- Monthly commission: $100 per customer
- 5 new customers per month
- After 6 months: 30 active customers = $3,000 monthly income
- Income continues even without new referrals
This compounding effect explains why experienced affiliates prioritize recurring commission programs over higher one-time payouts.
Common Challenges With High-Ticket Affiliate Programs (And Solutions)
Challenge 1: Longer Sales Cycles
High-ticket purchases typically involve more research and consideration.
Solution: Create comprehensive content that addresses objections and provides social proof. Develop email sequences to nurture prospects over time.
Challenge 2: Higher Traffic Requirements
Conversion rates for expensive products are naturally lower.
Solution: Focus on high-intent keywords and traffic sources. Quality matters more than quantity—500 visitors comparing enterprise CRM solutions are more valuable than 5,000 visitors looking for free tools.
Challenge 3: More Complex Products
High-ticket software often has steeper learning curves.
Solution: Create detailed tutorials and implementation guides to help users succeed with the product, reducing churn and increasing lifetime value.
Beyond the Top 7: Honorable Mentions
These programs didn’t make my top 7 but offer excellent earning potential in specific niches:
- Shopify: $150 per referral + bounties for app installations
- SEMrush: $200 per sale + $10 for free trial signups
- Cloudways: 7% lifetime recurring commissions
- GetResponse: 33% recurring commission
- Moosend: 40% lifetime recurring commissions
Final Thoughts: Quality Over Quantity
The most important lesson I’ve learned in affiliate marketing is that focusing on a few high-quality, recurring commission programs is far more profitable than spreading yourself thin across dozens of one-time commission offers.
By creating in-depth content for these seven programs and continuously optimizing for conversions, I’ve built a sustainable affiliate business that generates reliable monthly income—even during months when I’m not actively publishing new content.
Remember that the best affiliate program is ultimately the one that aligns with your audience’s needs. Focus first on providing genuine value and solving real problems, and the commissions will follow naturally.
Have you had success with any of these recurring commission programs? Or do you have questions about implementing these strategies for your own affiliate business? Let me know in the comments below.