How many times have you thought of having a passive income? Probably, every month when your monthly salary gets exhausted. If so, you surely have googled a lot on how to earn passive income. Fortunately, there are many ways you can earn money online; the best and the most reliable one remains to join the affiliate program. And what if it’s from the world’s largest e-commerce platform – Shopify? Yes, you heard it right! Shopify affiliate program offers lucrative commissions and a lot more benefits to people who want to earn something extra every month. 

We, too, heard a lot about the Shopify affiliate program and were curious about how it works, does it really pay? If yes, then how much does it pay to affiliates? We know these questions are obvious whenever you decide to try something new. So, to have a fact-check on whether the Shopify Affiliate Program is a scam or not? We quickly enrolled in the Shopify Affiliate Program, and after using it for over 10 months, we have shared all our experience in this detailed Shopify Affiliate Program review. 

In this review, we will try to answer every question a potential Shopify affiliate might have in their mind based on our experience of using this platform. So, without wasting much time, let’s get started!

What Is the Shopify Affiliate Program?

The Shopify Affiliate Program is a marketing strategy for business owners, educators, influencers, and content creators (often known as affiliates) to collaborate with Shopify and generate income by referring customers to Shopify. By joining this program, you join a supportive community that values and rewards those who introduce their followers to Shopify. 

As a Shopify affiliate, you can turn your audience into a source of income and receive substantial commissions for each new Shopify merchant you refer. Using a distinct affiliate tracking link, you’ll earn commissions from Shopify for every user who signs up for a paid Shopify plan. It’s a fantastic way to monetize your influence while helping others succeed in their entrepreneurial journey.

How Does the Shopify Affiliate Program Work?

The Shopify Affiliate program starts with affiliates sharing their unique referral link in their network. They are rewarded when a new user signs up for a paid Shopify plan or when an existing user upgrades their plan.

The process is simple: Affiliates share their unique link on their website, blog, or social media platforms. The affiliate earns a commission when someone clicks on this link and signs up for a Shopify plan. The commission structure is based on the plan chosen by the referred user.

This program benefits both Shopify, which gains new customers, and the affiliates, who earn passive income. It’s a win-win situation that encourages growth and collaboration. 

Who Is the Shopify Affiliate Program for?

The Shopify Affiliate Program is designed for a diverse group of individuals and businesses. It’s ideal for content creators, influencers, educators, and industry leaders who have an audience looking for ecommerce solutions. 

Bloggers and YouTubers focusing on entrepreneurship or online commerce can share Shopify’s platform with their followers. Web developers and agencies can refer their clients to Shopify to build their online stores. Even existing Shopify merchants can join the program to earn by recommending Shopify to their network. 

The program offers a lucrative opportunity to earn a commission for each user who signs up for a paid Shopify plan using the affiliate’s unique referral link. Affiliates are rewarded every time they bring new users to Shopify, and their referrals get a robust platform to kickstart their e-commerce business.

Is Becoming a Shopify Affiliate Free?

Yes, joining the Shopify Affiliate program is free, which means you don’t have to spend even a single penny to enroll. When you join the Shopify Affiliate Program, you’ll gain free access to a range of benefits. This includes promotional materials, tracking tools, and a dedicated support team. 

You can earn commissions as an affiliate by referring new merchants to Shopify. You’ll receive a commission for each user who signs up for a paid Shopify plan using your unique referral link. 

This can be lucrative if you have a strong online presence or network that could benefit from Shopify’s services. While joining is free, success requires effort and strategic promotion of your affiliate link. 

How Much Does Shopify Affiliate Pay?

The Shopify Affiliate commission rates are quite higher than its competitors. The platform pays 100% commission for the first two months but nothing after that. This means that promoting higher-priced Shopify plans can increase your earnings.

For instance, you refer someone to subscribe to the Shopify Basic plan, which is priced at $29 per month. If they pay for one month, your earnings will be $29. If they continue their subscription for a second month or more, your total earnings from that referral will be capped at $58, regardless of whether they continue to pay for the third and fourth months.

If the individual opts for the Shopify plan, earnings could be $79 or $158, depending on whether they pay for one or two months. 

If they choose Shopify Advanced, your potential earnings could be $299 or $598. These figures are applicable only if the subscriber is paying on a monthly basis, not annually.

Several factors will influence your earnings:

• The number of paid referrals you secure
• The plans they choose
• Whether they maintain their subscription for at least two months

If most of your referrals cancel after the first month, your earnings will decrease. It’s also important to note that you won’t earn anything from trial members, so the conversion rate of your referrals from trial to paid subscription is crucial.

Here are the Shopify affiliate commissions for some popular countries:

How Does Shopify Pay Affiliates?

The Shopify affiliate program offers payouts twice a month through PayPal. If you’re constantly referring people to Shopify, you can expect a payment roughly every two weeks. 

However, when you’re just starting out, it might take a few months before you see your first payment. Shopify operates on a twice-a-month payment schedule.

Your balance needs to be at least $25 to qualify for a payout. If it is below this threshold, Shopify will carry your payment forward to the next pay period. This process will continue until it reaches the $25 mark.

It’s important to note that there could be a delay of up to two months from when a referral makes a payment to when Shopify pays you. As a result, you might have to wait through several pay periods while the referral is being processed.

What Are the Eligibility Criteria for Joining the Shopify Affiliate Program?

To be eligible for the Shopify Affiliate Program, here are the requirements:

• Must have a live website
• Cater to an existing audience base
• Generate unique content, which could include online courses, webinars, blog articles, or video content.
• Possess familiarity with Shopify or similar e-commerce platforms
• Have thoroughly read and accepted the terms of the Shopify Partner Program Agreement

These prerequisites ensure you have a platform to promote Shopify, an audience to engage with, and a clear understanding of the platform and its agreement terms. This way, you can effectively contribute to the Shopify community.

How to Join the Shopify Affiliate Program?

Joining the Shopify Affiliate Program isn’t rocket science but a simple process that can open up new avenues for earning passive income. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to join the Shopify affiliate program:

Step 1. Visit the Shopify Affiliate Program Page

Start by visiting the official Shopify website. Navigate to the bottom of the page and click on the ‘Affiliate Program’ link under the ‘Partners’ section.

Step 2. Sign Up for the Program

You’ll be redirected to the affiliate program page. Click on ‘Apply Now’ to start your application. You’ll need to provide some basic information about yourself and your promotional methods.

Step 3. Wait for Approval

After submitting your application, Shopify will review it. This process can take a few days. You’ll receive an email once your application is approved.

Step 4. Start Referring

Once approved, you’ll get access to your affiliate dashboard. Here, you can find your unique referral link and promotional banners and track your progress.

Is the Shopify Affiliate Program Worth It?

Before you decide to join the Shopify affiliate program, it’s crucial to consider its advantages and disadvantages. Remember, there are other e-commerce solutions and website creation tools that also offer affiliate programs with even better commissions. 

Advantages of the Shopify Affiliate Program

• For the first two months, the commission rate is 100%
• There’s potential to earn more with premium plans, such as Shopify Advanced
• Additional earning opportunities exist, like the Commerce Coach program
• Affiliates won’t require much effort in referring Shopify due to its strong reputation and plenty of positive feedback online

Disadvantages of the Shopify Affiliate Program

• After the first two months, there will be no commission on particular referral, making it harder to generate a steady income.
• Not everyone gets approved to join as an affiliate by Shopify
• Payments can only be received through PayPal
• A significant number of users may not transition from trial members to paying members, resulting in no earnings from them.
• The 30-day cookie duration, compared to a 60 or 90-day period, might result in missed referral opportunities.

Conclusion

As a member of the Shopify Affiliate program, you might not have to work hard to refer people to this platform. That’s probably because the platform already is well-established and trusted with a strong online presence. Its high-quality services and user-friendly interface make it an easy recommendation for potential users. 

At the same time, the Shopify affiliate program’s 100% commission rate for the initial two months enables you to earn money rapidly, unlike other programs that provide a smaller commission for a longer period. We believe the Shopify Affiliate program is a viable option, especially if you have a specialized audience who values your recommendations.