What is the average commission rate for online courses that pay affiliates?

1. General Range: 20% to 50%

Many online course creators and platforms offer commissions in this range. For example, if a course is priced at $200, an affiliate could earn between $40 and $100 per sale.

Higher commissions (30%-50%) are more common for digital products like online courses, as there are no physical product costs, and creators are incentivized to reward affiliates generously for driving traffic and sales.

2. Premium Platforms and Individual Course Creators: 40% to 50%

Many individual course creators or premium course platforms, such as those teaching high-ticket skills (coding, design, business strategies), offer 40%-50% to attract affiliates.

Some instructors on popular platforms like Teachable or Kajabi set their rates independently, often in the higher range to stay competitive.

3. Lower Commission Platforms: 10% to 30%

Larger platforms with well-established brands, like Coursera or Udacity, tend to offer lower commissions (often between 10% and 20%).

This lower rate is typical for bigger brands where courses are priced higher, and affiliate programs are less central to their marketing strategy.

4. High-Ticket Courses and Masterclasses: Up to 50% or More

Some high-ticket courses or specialized masterclasses offer commissions exceeding 50%, especially when courses are priced in the range of $1,000 or more.

Certain specialized programs, such as those in finance, real estate, or other lucrative niches, can reach even higher commission percentages or offer performance-based incentives for affiliates.

5. Subscription-Based Learning Platforms: Recurring Commissions

Platforms like Skillshare and LinkedIn Learning often pay a flat rate per sign-up or a recurring commission for the life of a subscription. These rates are usually lower per user but can add up over time with multiple subscriptions.