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How this calculator works
Monthly affiliate income is derived by first calculating the number of affiliate link clicks from your visitors using the click-through rate, then estimating the number of sales from those clicks using the conversion rate. Gross commission is computed by multiplying the number of sales by the average commission per sale. Recurring affiliate commissions are added separately to account for SaaS and membership programs that pay ongoing monthly commissions on top of the initial sale. The total monthly affiliate revenue is the sum of one-time commissions and recurring commission income.
Useful scenarios
- A blogger evaluating whether Amazon Associates commissions justify dedicating more content to product reviews.
- A SaaS affiliate calculating income from $99/month referrals with 20% recurring commission.
- A YouTuber estimating affiliate link earnings from their video description clicks.
FAQ
What is a good affiliate conversion rate?
Average affiliate conversion rates (clicks to sale) range from 0.5%–2.5% depending on audience warmth, product type, and placement. Warm email lists often convert higher (2%–5%), while cold blog traffic tends to be lower (0.3%–1%).
What CTR should I expect for affiliate links?
Click-through rates vary by placement. In-content links average 3%–7%, sidebar banners average 0.5%–1%, and email promotion links can reach 10%–20% with good copy.
How do recurring affiliate commissions work?
Some affiliate programs (SaaS, memberships) pay a percentage of the subscription fee every month the customer stays active, not just the first purchase. This creates growing passive income over time, but commissions stop when the customer cancels.