ClickBank Review: 10-year Affiliate Expert Opinion (2023)
Interested in joining the ClickBank affiliate program, but not sure whether it is legit, safe, or worth it? In this article, I'll be sharing my personal experience and providing my expert opinion by reviewing this affiliate program. I will also share info on how to sign up, list of best-selling Clickbank Marketplace products, commission rates, and more.
What is ClickBank and how does it work?
According to Wikipedia: "ClickBank is a global e-commerce platform and affiliate marketplace, founded in 1998. The company has more than six million clients worldwide which secured it in becoming the 87th largest Internet retailer in North America."
In my experience, Clickbank is a large affiliate network with thousands of products that specializes mostly in "internet marketing"-related products such as self help, e-business, online courses, health and fitness, and home and garden.
Clickbank claims to have over 4,000 quality products in their marketplace, listed by thousands of sellers.
Is ClickBank legit and safe?
According to their website, Clickbank has paid out over $5.8 billion in affiliate commissions to date, and claim to have "never missed a payment to anyone".
In my opinion, Clickbank is 100% legit and safe and these claims prove it. Also, it is free to join with no fees so there is little risk anyways.
I believe any negative stigma towards Clickbank is most likely due to some of the products being offered on the network being perceived by some as "low-quality". Unlike larger, more well-established affiliate networks like ShareASale which works with household brands like Reebok, you will be hard-pressed to recognize most of Clickbank's merchants.
ClickBank Marketplace: Best-Selling Product List
You can view the "Best Selling ClickBank Products of All Time" from the Marketplace on their official website.
Here are the Top 10 Best-Selling ClickBank Marketplace products:
Out of this list, I only recognize Organifi, but as you can see there seems to be a heavy emphasis on health and fitness related products and supplements.
Can you really make money with ClickBank?
Yes, ClickBank claims to have paid out over $5.8 billion in commissions to date, so clearly it seems possible to make money with ClickBank. In order to do so, first you must apply and get approved into the affiliate network. Once you are approved, you can get your affiliate links by choosing from thousands of products on the marketplace. After you promote your products and generate qualified sales, you can get paid depending on that product's commission rates set by the seller.
How much commission rates does ClickBank pay you?
It depends on the product and how much the seller has designated. Also, whether the commission is CPL (cost per lead) or CPA (cost per action). "Cost per lead" typically means you get paid for an email or phone signup. "Cost per action" typically is for verified purchases or sales, but it can also just be a free trial signup or inquiry. You can read more about ClickBank's commission structure here.
Is ClickBank worth it?
The potential cons of ClickBank are that it is very competitive and many of their products can be perceived as "low quality". In order to succeed on ClickBank, you will need to be an experienced affiliate with enough skills to properly promote your chosen products effectively. The high ticket affiliate products typically also have the highest amount of competition, so complete newbies and beginners may want to start elsewhere.
That said, I think it is still worth it to join as it is free to sign up, so this poses very little risk or downside.
One way that I have been able to successfully compete my way to over $1 million in affiliate commissions is by focusing on building real topical authority with niche authority websites. By building these brands over time, I'm able to establish authority and trust in certain niches, which further boosts my SEO over competitors. The #1 mistake most beginners make is not building any credible authority over time, and taking the easy route of just spamming affiliate links without a clear strategy.
If you need help creating a professional affiliate website quickly, check out my affiliate marketing for beginners guide.
My personal experience with ClickBank affiliate marketing
I've been doing affiliate marketing for close to 10 years now, having reviewed dozens of affiliate programs. ClickBank is one of the most famous affiliate networks that you have probably seen or heard about by now on YouTube, forums, and blogs.
I would say that ClickBank is rather infamous within the affiliate marketing industry and community, because it has a bit of a divided opinion due to the products offered on the network.
Just look at this article for example, answering questions like "is it legit?" or "is it safe?"
Overall, I'd say ClickBank is legit, but a large number of products being offered on the network seem a bit shady due to a lot of "internet marketing" info products.
Regardless, ClickBank claims to have paid out billions in commissions so people are making money on there.
Best Alternatives to ClickBank affiliate marketing
Having reviewed dozens of affiliate programs and networks, here are my best recommendations for alternatives and similar to ClickBank affiliates: