Affiliate Commission Calculator
Project affiliate income from your traffic. Defaults reflect a $200-per-sale software program like Semrush.
The affiliate income formula
Affiliate income = visitors × click-through rate × conversion rate × commission. Small changes in any one of these move the result a lot. Doubling click-through from 2% to 4%, for example, doubles your income without a single extra visitor.
Typical benchmarks
| Metric | Typical range | How to improve it |
|---|---|---|
| Click-through to offer | 1–8% | Comparison tables, honest reviews, clear buttons |
| Conversion after click | 0.5–5% | Send warm readers to free trials or deals |
| Commission per sale | $5–$450 | Promote software and recurring programs |
High-ticket software programs pay the most per sale. Semrush pays a flat commission per subscription and Thinkific pays recurring commissions, which is why they are popular with bloggers and YouTubers.
Frequently asked questions
How much traffic do I need to make money with affiliate marketing?
With a $200 commission, 4% click-through and 2% conversion, about 1,250 visitors a month earns roughly one sale ($200). Lower-commission programs need far more traffic.
What is a good affiliate conversion rate?
1–3% of clicks converting is common. Free-trial offers and warm, review-style content convert higher.
Which affiliate programs pay the most?
Software and SaaS programs usually pay the most per sale, often $50–$450 or recurring percentages, compared with 1–10% on most physical products.