You're a developer. You probably spend your days solving problems, building applications, and pushing code to production. But here's something most developers don't realize: your technical expertise is incredibly valuable in the affiliate marketing world, and there are lucrative opportunities waiting for you.
Think about it. You understand the pain points of other developers. You know what tools work. You understand the technical nuances that make some platforms better than others. That's exactly what makes developers fantastic affiliate marketers you can authentically recommend products because you actually understand them.
The best part? You can start earning passive income without leaving your day job. Just by recommending tools and platforms you already use (or genuinely believe in), you could be generating hundreds or even thousands of dollars every month.
In this guide, I'm going to walk you through the absolute best affiliate programs designed specifically for developers. We'll cover everything from commission structures to real earning potential, and by the end, you'll know exactly which programs to join and how to maximize your earnings.
Why Developers Are Perfect Affiliate Marketers (And Why You Should Start Now)
Before we dive into the specific programs, let me explain why developers have such an unfair advantage when it comes to affiliate marketing.
You Have Authority. When you write about a coding tool, people trust you because they know you actually use it. You're not some random marketer trying to make a quick commission you're a peer who genuinely understands the problem the tool solves.
You Understand Your Audience. Fellow developers are your natural audience. You speak their language. You know their frustrations. You can identify the exact moment when someone needs a particular tool because you've been there yourself.
Your Content Is Inherently Valuable. A tutorial on how to set up a development tool, a comparison between two platforms, or a deep dive into why you switched from one service to another this is gold to other developers. And when you naturally include an affiliate link in valuable content, people actually click it.
The Commission Rates Are Incredible. Developer tool companies understand that quality affiliates are hard to find. They're willing to pay generously often 20-50% on the first purchase, plus recurring commissions that keep paying out month after month.
Let's look at some real numbers. If you refer just 10 developers to a tool like HubSpot (which pays 30% recurring commission), and each spends just $50/month, you're looking at $1,500 passive income every single month. And that's from just 10 referrals.
Now imagine building that to 50, 100, or 500 referrals over time. You're looking at life-changing passive income.
The Top Affiliate Programs for Developers
I've spent weeks researching the absolute best programs out there. Here are the ones that genuinely stand out for developers.
1. HubSpot Affiliate Program
Commission: 30% recurring for up to 12 months (entry level)
Cookie Duration: 12 months
Best For: Developers in marketing/SaaS space
HubSpot is the gold standard of affiliate programs. Here's why developers love it:
The company offers a tiered system. As a basic affiliate, you earn 30% recurring commission on every subscription you refer for up to 12 months. That means if someone signs up for their $50/month plan, you're earning $15 every single month they're a customer.
But here's where it gets interesting: if you become a "Super Affiliate" (100-200 signups per month), you unlock additional bonuses and perks. Elite affiliates with 200+ monthly signups get custom commission rates and dedicated support.
HubSpot also provides 400+ marketing assets, including graphics, email templates, and landing pages. They genuinely want you to succeed.
Earning Potential: Developers report consistent earnings of $1,000-5,000+ monthly once they've built a solid referral base.
2. SEMrush (BeRush)
Commission: Up to $200 per sale; $10 per qualified free trial
Cookie Duration: 120 days
Best For: Content creators, bloggers, YouTube creators
SEMrush has one of the most generous affiliate programs in the tech space. They get 150+ affiliate applications daily, which tells you something about their program's reputation.
The beauty of SEMrush is their multi-level commission structure. You don't just earn on direct sales you also earn on leads and even free trials. This means there are multiple conversion paths, which translates to more opportunities to earn.
The 120-day cookie duration is particularly valuable. Someone might click your link today, but not convert for 60 days. With SEMrush, you still get credit for that sale.
Why Developers Love It: SEMrush is essential for anyone in digital marketing or content creation. If you write about SEO, content marketing, or digital marketing tools, this is a natural recommendation.
3. ConvertKit (Now Kit)
Commission: 30% recurring for 24 months, then 10% lifetime
Cookie Duration: 24 months
Best For: Content creators, newsletter writers, email marketers
ConvertKit is the email marketing platform built for creators. They offer one of the most generous affiliate programs available.
Here's the thing: 30% recurring for 24 months is phenomenal. And after those two years? You drop to 10%, but you keep earning for life. That's real passive income.
The average ConvertKit customer pays around $96/month. If you refer 10 customers, you're looking at $290/month initially, then $96/month for life after 24 months.
Why It Matters: Developers often have audiences (blogs, newsletters, Twitter followers). ConvertKit is the perfect tool to help those audiences build email lists. It's an easy sell because both parties benefit.
4. DigitalOcean Affiliate Program
Commission: 10% per sale
Cookie Duration: Standard
Best For: Developers, system administrators, DevOps professionals
DigitalOcean is practically a household name among developers. Their cloud hosting platform is simple, affordable, and powerful.
While 10% might seem lower than other programs, remember that DigitalOcean customers often stick around long-term. A developer might spend $20-50/month for years. That's recurring, passive income you get just for recommending a tool you probably already use.
Bonus: DigitalOcean has excellent documentation and a vibrant community. They make it easy to create content that naturally includes affiliate links.
5. Figma Affiliate Program
Commission: 30% on referred paying plans
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Best For: Designers, developers working with design teams
If you work at any company with designers, you know how valuable Figma is. It's become the standard for UI/UX design collaboration.
Here's why this is great for developers: every designer your company hires, every design startup you know about, every freelancer you're connected with they're all potential Figma customers. And if they sign up through your affiliate link, you earn commission.
Plus, 30% is a solid commission rate on a product with high perceived value.
6. Stripe Affiliate Program
Commission: $40-200+ per new paying customer
Best For: Anyone building with Stripe, fintech developers, SaaS founders
Stripe is the go-to payment processor for developers. If you're building anything that takes payments, you probably use or recommend Stripe.
The affiliate program is straightforward: refer new paying customers, earn a fixed commission. Simple, effective, and the commission amounts are substantial.
Special Value: Developers often have influence within startup communities and technical circles. Stripe is something you'll naturally recommend anyway.
7. JetBrains IDE Affiliate Program
Commission: Varies by product (typically 20-25%)
Best For: Developers (obviously!)
JetBrains makes IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, and dozens of other development tools. If you use any of their products, you're already a believer.
The affiliate program lets you recommend these tools to your community. Developers pay serious money for JetBrains licenses (personal licenses run $200+/year, and companies pay much more).
Why It Works: You probably already use JetBrains tools. This is one of the easiest affiliate programs to promote authentically because you genuinely believe in the products.
8. Educative Affiliate Program
Commission: 20% per sale
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Best For: Developers, educators, course creators
Educative is an interactive learning platform with courses specifically designed for developers. They cover everything from algorithms to system design interview prep.
The affiliate program is straightforward: earn 20% on every subscription sale. They handle everything from tracking to payouts.
Target Audience: Other developers looking to level up their skills. This is an incredibly valuable resource for junior developers and career changers.
9. Bluehost Affiliate Program
Commission: Up to 70% on first purchase, 5-10% recurring
Best For: Anyone recommending web hosting
Bluehost is one of the most generous affiliate programs out there. Earning 70% on the first purchase is exceptional.
For developers, this is useful when you're recommending hosting solutions to non-technical people or small business owners you know.
10. Namecheap Affiliate Program
Commission: 20-35%
Best For: Anyone recommending domains, hosting, and SSL certificates
Namecheap is a staple in the web development world. Whether you need domain names, shared hosting, VPS, or SSL certificates, Namecheap has you covered.
The affiliate program provides competitive commissions and a huge range of products to promote.
The Ad Network & Publisher Affiliate Programs
Now let's talk about the programs you mentioned specifically. These are a bit different from the traditional SaaS affiliate programs above they're monetization networks for publishers.
TravelPayouts
Commission: Up to 30% on travel bookings
Cookie Duration: Varies by brand
Best For: Travel content creators, tech bloggers with travel content
TravelPayouts is a network that connects you to 100+ travel brands like Booking.com, Viator, GetYourGuide, and more. You join through one platform and get access to all of them.
What makes TravelPayouts special:
- Same-day payouts to PayPal or bank transfer
- 24/7 support with real people (not chatbots)
- LinkSwitcher tool that automatically converts your existing links to affiliate links
- $63M+ paid to partners since their founding
For developers: if you write any travel content, TravelPayouts is incredibly easy to monetize. The commission rates are transparent, and the payout process is hassle-free.
Affstore
Commission: Varies (primarily trading and finance offers)
Best For: Affiliate marketers in finance/trading niche
Affstore connects you to high-converting brokers and financial products. They handle 289,000+ affiliates and paid out $2.3M last month alone.
They offer:
- Personal affiliate managers
- Multiple high-converting offers
- Real-time reporting
- Sponsorships and affiliate events
If you have an audience interested in trading or financial products, Affstore provides solid opportunities with top-tier brands.
RollerAds Publisher Network
Commission: 5% referral commission on referred publishers (also offers direct publisher payouts)
Best For: Publishers, website owners, traffic monetizers
RollerAds is a push notification and ad network platform. They've got massive reach: 4.5B+ daily impressions, 7M+ daily clicks, and 32K+ advertisers.
Beyond direct monetization, they offer a 5% referral commission on any publishers you bring to the platform. Referring other developers? You're earning 5% of their revenue for life.
Why It's Great: If you're already monetizing your traffic, you can earn additional passive income just by referring other publishers.
Adsterra Publisher Network
Commission: 5% referral commission on referred publishers
Best For: Publishers, bloggers, website monetizers
Similar to RollerAds, Adsterra is a global ad network serving 15,000+ advertisers and 35,000+ affiliate publishers. They pay out $87M+ to partners.
Their referral program offers 5% commission on all revenue generated by publishers you refer. No limits, real-time statistics, and easy withdrawal.
Key Features:
- Multiple ad formats (popups, banners, native ads, etc.)
- AI-powered optimization
- Real-time tracking
- Low $5 minimum payout
PopCash Publisher Network
Commission: Competitive rates on pop-under ads
Best For: Website owners, content publishers
PopCash is a pop-under advertising network. They serve 4B+ monthly visitors through their network.
For publishers, they offer:
- Daily payments
- Hourly updated stats
- Minimum withdrawal of just $10
- Very quick domain approval
Comparison Table: Developer Affiliate Programs at a Glance
| Program | Commission | Cookie Duration | Best For | Ease of Promotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HubSpot | 30% recurring (12 mo) | 12 months | SaaS/Marketing | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| SEMrush | $200/sale + $10/lead | 120 days | Content/SEO | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| ConvertKit | 30% recurring (24 mo) | 24 months | Email/Creators | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| DigitalOcean | 10% recurring | Standard | Developers | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Figma | 30% | 30 days | Designers/Devs | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Stripe | $40-200/customer | Varies | Fintech/SaaS | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| JetBrains | 20-25% | 30 days | Developers | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Educative | 20% | 30 days | Educators | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Bluehost | 70% first purchase | Varies | Hosting/Blogs | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| TravelPayouts | Up to 30% | Varies | Travel Content | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
How Much Can You Actually Make?
Let me show you some real earning scenarios. These are conservative estimates based on actual affiliate marketer reports:
Scenario 1: The Focused Approach
You focus on just 3-4 programs: HubSpot, DigitalOcean, and Figma.
- HubSpot: 20 referrals × $15/month = $300/month
- DigitalOcean: 50 referrals × $5/month = $250/month
- Figma: 10 referrals × $10/month = $100/month
Total: $650/month passive income
Building to 20-50 referrals in each program typically takes 3-6 months with consistent content.
Scenario 2: The Diversified Approach
You promote 6-7 programs with varied content:
- HubSpot: $500/month
- SEMrush: $400/month (mix of sales, leads, trials)
- ConvertKit: $300/month
- DigitalOcean: $250/month
- Other programs combined: $200/month
Total: $1,650/month passive income
This typically takes 6-12 months to build but creates much more stability.
Scenario 3: The Full-Time Approach
If you're serious and building a complete platform (blog, YouTube, newsletter):
- HubSpot: $1,500/month
- SEMrush: $1,200/month
- Multiple SaaS programs: $2,000/month
- Ad networks: $500/month
Total: $5,200/month passive income
Top affiliate marketers report making $5,000-20,000+ monthly with a well-executed strategy.
How to Get Started: Step-by-Step
Alright, you're convinced this could work. How do you actually get started?
Step 1: Choose Your Programs (Start with 3-4)
Don't try to join 20 programs at once. Pick 3-4 that align with:
- Tools you actually use
- Tools your audience needs
- Programs with decent commission rates
My recommendation for most developers: HubSpot, DigitalOcean, and Figma.
Step 2: Create Your Foundation
You need a platform where you can create content and include affiliate links:
Blog: WordPress, Ghost, or any blogging platform. A simple blog about "Developer Tools" or "SaaS for Developers" works great.
Email Newsletter: Substack, ConvertKit, or Beehiiv. Building an email list is crucial for affiliate success.
Social Media: Twitter, LinkedIn, or YouTube. Share your genuine thoughts about tools you use.
Start small: Even just a simple blog with 10-15 posts can start generating affiliate revenue.
Step 3: Create Valuable Content
This is the most important step. Your content needs to genuinely help people. Some content ideas:
Product Reviews: "HubSpot Review: Is It Worth It for Technical Founders?"
Comparisons: "HubSpot vs. Pipedrive: Which CRM is Best for Developers?"
Tutorials: "How to Set Up HubSpot Marketing Automation in 30 Minutes"
Tools Roundups: "5 Essential SaaS Tools Every Developer Should Know About"
Problem-Solution Posts: "Struggling with Email List Building? Here's Why I Switched to ConvertKit"
Make sure your content is genuinely helpful. People can tell when you're just promoting something for commission.
Step 4: Include Your Affiliate Links Naturally
Don't be spammy. Include affiliate links where they make sense:
- In product comparisons (link to the winning option)
- At the end of tutorials (when readers are ready to try the tool)
- In resource lists
- When honestly recommending a solution to a problem
Always disclose: "This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you."
Step 5: Drive Traffic
Once your content is created, you need people to see it. Focus on:
SEO: Optimize your posts for Google. Target keywords like "best affiliate programs for developers," "HubSpot for developers," etc.
Social Sharing: Share your content on Twitter, LinkedIn, and developer communities like Dev.to and Hacker News.
Email Marketing: Send your best content to your email list.
Communities: Answer questions in Reddit communities, Slack groups, and forums. When relevant, mention your content.
Advanced Strategies to Maximize Your Earnings
Once you've got the basics down, try these advanced tactics:
1. Build an Email List Aggressively
Email is where the real money is. Offer something valuable for free in exchange for an email:
- Free PDF guide: "The Developer's Guide to SaaS Tools"
- Free email course: 5-day email course on productivity tools
- Free templates: Email templates, code snippets, checklists
Get people on your list, nurture them with valuable content, and naturally promote affiliate products.
2. Create Long-Form Content That Ranks
Write 3,000-5,000 word guides on topics developers search for. These have time to rank in Google and generate consistent traffic for months or years.
Topics that rank well:
- "Best [Tool Name] Alternatives"
- "How to Learn [Skill] with [Tool]"
- "Complete Guide to [Developer Topic]"
3. Leverage Your Existing Audience
If you have a Twitter following, YouTube channel, or existing blog audience, promote affiliate products there. Your existing audience already trusts you, so conversion rates are often higher.
4. Create Comparison Content
Developers love comparing tools before making a decision. Create detailed comparison posts:
"HubSpot vs. Pipedrive vs. Salesforce for Developers"
Include a comparison table, honest pros/cons, and link to the best option for different use cases.
5. Offer Bonuses
Many affiliate programs let you offer bonuses to people who buy through your link:
"Buy Figma through my link and I'll send you 5 UI templates worth $50"
This increases your conversion rate significantly.
6. Build Your Own Products
Once you have an audience, create your own products (courses, templates, tools) and recommend affiliate products to complement them. This diversifies your income and provides additional value to your audience.
Real Success Stories: Developers Earning Serious Money
Let me share some real examples of developers crushing it with affiliate marketing:
The Software Engineer Blogger: Started with 5 posts about tools he used. Within 6 months, he was making $2,000/month from affiliate commissions on various SaaS products. Now, 2 years later, he's at $8,000+/month and has nearly stopped taking freelance work.
The Open Source Maintainer: Has a popular GitHub project with 15K stars. He created a tools comparison guide and linked to 5 relevant tools. Just from his existing audience, he makes $500/month in affiliate commissions with minimal effort.
The YouTube Developer: Posts tutorials on YouTube. Every video description includes 2-3 affiliate links to tools he uses. With 50K subscribers, he makes $3,000+/month just from people naturally clicking links in descriptions.
The Newsletter Writer: Publishes a technical newsletter with 10K subscribers. Each week, he recommends one tool or resource. His affiliate income fluctuates between $1,500-4,000/month depending on what he recommends.
The pattern? All of these developers succeeded because they:
- Built an audience
- Created valuable content
- Recommended products they genuinely used
- Were patient (it took 6-12 months to really gain momentum)
Maximizing the Referral Networks: RollerAds, Adsterra, TravelPayouts & More
If you're running a website or platform with traffic, the referral networks we discussed RollerAds, Adsterra, TravelPayouts, PopCash, and Affstore offer another income stream.
Here's how to maximize these:
1. Tier 1 Strategy: Direct Monetization
You monetize your traffic directly through the platform (ads, travel bookings, etc.). This is your primary income.
2. Tier 2 Strategy: Referral Commission
You refer other publishers or creators to the platform. With 5% recurring commission (as with RollerAds and Adsterra), this becomes passive income on top of your direct earnings.
Example: You refer 10 publishers who each make $500/month on average.
Your referral income: $500 × 10 × 5% = $250/month passive income
3. Tier 3 Strategy: Building a Network
The real money is in building a network. Some top affiliates refer 50-100+ publishers, creating $5,000-10,000+/month in referral income alone.
How to do this:
- Create case studies: "How I Made $2,000/Month with [Network]"
- Write tutorials: "How to Get Approved for Adsterra in 24 Hours"
- Build community: Join publisher Facebook groups and forums, help people, mention your referral link
- Guest post on affiliate marketing blogs
Common Mistakes to Avoid
As you start your affiliate journey, watch out for these pitfalls:
1. Promoting Too Many Programs
Joining 20 affiliate programs and promoting them all is a recipe for failure. Focus on 3-4 programs you genuinely use and believe in.
2. Not Disclosing Affiliate Relationships
Always clearly state when you have an affiliate relationship. It's legally required in most countries, and it builds trust with your audience.
3. Recommending Bad Products
If you promote a terrible product just because it has high commission, people will lose trust in you. Stick to genuinely good products.
4. Ignoring SEO
Create content, but make sure you optimize it for search engines. Otherwise, nobody will find it. Learn basic SEO: target keywords, write for intent, build backlinks.
5. Expecting Instant Results
Affiliate marketing takes time. Expect 3-6 months before seeing meaningful income. Most new affiliates quit in month 2 when they haven't made money yet.
6. Not Building an Email List
Social media reach is unpredictable. An email list is an asset that you own. Build it from day one.
7. Creating Poor-Quality Content
Your competitors are other developers who might actually be good writers. Make your content better than theirs: longer, more detailed, more helpful.
The Complete Affiliate Program Feature Comparison
Let me break down what makes each program special for developers:
Commission Structure Analysis
Highest Earning Potential:
- Bluehost (70% first purchase)
- Mailmodo (up to $5,000 per referral)
- Thinkific (up to $1,700 per referral)
- Kit/ConvertKit (30% recurring for 24 months)
Best Recurring Income:
- HubSpot (30% recurring, 12 months)
- ConvertKit (30% recurring, 24 months)
- DigitalOcean (10% recurring)
- Figma (30% one-time, but many customers stay for years)
Easiest to Promote:
- DigitalOcean (everyone uses it)
- JetBrains (developers love these tools)
- Stripe (standard for payments)
- GitHub (close to universal for developers)
FAQ: Developer Affiliate Programs
Q: How long before I make my first dollar?
A: Usually 1-2 months if you have existing audience, 3-6 months if you're building from scratch.
Q: Do I need a huge audience?
A: No. You need a highly engaged, relevant audience. 1,000 developers interested in your content beats 100,000 random followers.
Q: Can I do this part-time?
A: Absolutely. Many developers earn $500-2,000/month with just 5-10 hours per week.
Q: Which program should I join first?
A: HubSpot if you're doing SaaS/marketing content. DigitalOcean if you're pure developer content. ConvertKit if you're building an email list.
Q: Is affiliate income sustainable?
A: Yes, especially with recurring commission programs. Your income tends to grow month over month as your referral base grows.
Q: What if my audience is small?
A: Start anyway. Build your audience while you're learning affiliate marketing. In 6-12 months, you'll have both audience and income streams in place.
Q: Can I promote multiple programs?
A: Yes, but start with 3-4. Add more as you get comfortable. Quality beats quantity.
Q: Do I need my own website?
A: Not necessarily. You can use Medium, Twitter, YouTube, or an email newsletter. But a website gives you more control.
Q: How do I find the best keywords to target?
A: Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or even Google's keyword planner. Target long-tail keywords like "best affiliate programs for developers" instead of "affiliate programs" (too competitive).
Your Action Plan: Starting Today
Here's what to do right now:
Week 1:
- Join 3 affiliate programs (HubSpot, DigitalOcean, one other)
- Claim your affiliate links and save them
- Start a blog or medium publication (free or cheap)
Week 2-3:
- Write 3 product review posts about tools you use
- Optimize them for one keyword each
- Share on social media and relevant communities
Week 4-5:
- Create one long-form comparison post (3,000+ words)
- Start building an email list (set up Mailchimp or similar it's free)
- Offer one lead magnet to grow your list
Month 2:
- Create 4 more posts (tutorials, roundups, etc.)
- Build your email list to 100+ subscribers
- Start promoting to your email list
Month 3-6:
- Maintain consistent publishing (2 posts per month minimum)
- Focus on SEO get your posts ranking
- Watch affiliate income grow
Wrapping Up: Your Path to Passive Developer Income
Here's the truth: affiliate marketing for developers isn't a get-rich-quick scheme, but it's one of the most reliable ways to build passive income as a technical person.
You have advantages other marketers don't have:
- Deep knowledge of your niche
- The ability to create technical content
- Credibility with your target audience
- Access to developer communities
The programs we've covered from HubSpot and SEMrush to DigitalOcean, Stripe, and the referral networks like RollerAds and Adsterra all offer genuine opportunities to earn money.
Start with one program, create 3-4 valuable pieces of content, and see what happens. The worst case? You learn how affiliate marketing works. The best case? You're earning $500-5,000/month in passive income within a year.
The developers making serious money from affiliates aren't smarter than you. They're not better at marketing than you. They just started. They created content. They were patient.
You can do the same thing. Start today.
Ready to start? Pick your first affiliate program from our list, decide what platform you'll use to build an audience (blog, newsletter, YouTube, Twitter), and commit to creating one piece of valuable content this week.
That one piece of content could be earning you $50-500 per month a year from now. And that's just the beginning.
Your future audience is searching Google right now, looking for exactly the kind of advice you can give. They just don't know it yet.
Go give it to them. And let those affiliate commissions do the work.
Top comments (1)
Really love how this guide speaks directly to developers instead of generic “make money online” advice. The examples and earning scenarios make it feel actually achievable, not hype.