Affiliate marketing is full of ways to make money online, but CPA affiliate programs continue to dominate the scene in 2025. Why? Because they’re clear, fast, and performance-based. You don’t need to wait for someone to buy something — you earn when a specific action happens. It’s a win-win for both affiliates and brands.
Whether you’re into SaaS, e-commerce, finance, or even gaming, CPA affiliate marketing gives you the flexibility to choose offers that match your traffic — and your style. But with so many programs out there, where do you even start?
We’ve got you covered. In this guide, you’ll learn what CPA actually means, what types of offers exist, and — most importantly — the best CPA affiliate marketing programs worth promoting in 2025.
What is CPA (Cost Per Action) in Affiliate Marketing?
Let’s keep it simple: CPA (Cost Per Action) means you get paid when someone you refer does something specific. That “something” could be:
- • Filling out a form
- • Signing up for a trial
- • Installing an app
- • Booking a call
- • Making a deposit
Unlike traditional sales-based affiliate models, where you wait for a full purchase, CPA offers reward actions — making them faster to convert and often easier to scale.
That’s why so many marketers prefer CPA affiliate marketing programs. They remove the guesswork and let you focus on generating quality leads.
Types of CPA Offers
Not all CPA offers are created equal — and that’s exactly what makes them so flexible. Depending on your traffic, your content, and how fast you want to earn, there are different types of CPA deals out there. And choosing the right one can really make or break your results.
Let’s say you’ve got a blog about tools for freelancers, or maybe a YouTube channel where you test different online platforms. In that case, you’ll probably run into CPL offers — that’s “Cost Per Lead”. Basically, you get paid when someone signs up for something. It could be a free trial, a newsletter, or just filling out a form. The beauty of CPL is that there’s no purchase required, so the barrier for your audience is super low — and that usually means higher conversion rates.
Then there’s CPS, or “Cost Per Sale”. This one’s more like traditional affiliate marketing — you earn when someone actually buys something. The payouts are usually higher than CPL, but you’ll need to work a bit harder to convince people to take out their wallets. Still, if you’re promoting high-ticket items or trusted services (think Shopify or NordVPN), it can be totally worth it.
Now, if your content leans more toward mobile apps or games, you’ll probably deal with CPI offers — yep, “Cost Per Install”. You refer someone to download an app, they install it, and boom — you get paid. These are super popular in the mobile space and work well with younger, on-the-go audiences who don’t mind trying new apps.
Another one you might bump into is CPC, or “Cost Per Click”. It’s pretty self-explanatory: someone clicks your link, you earn a small fee. It doesn’t matter if they sign up or buy anything. Sounds easy, right? It is — but it also requires a lot of traffic to add up to something meaningful.
And then there are the more flexible setups — the hybrids. These combine elements of different models. Maybe you get a small payout for a signup (CPL), and a bonus if that person ends up making a purchase later (CPS). This kind of deal gives you a little immediate income while still leaving room for long-term earning.
The key takeaway? There’s no one-size-fits-all. Some offers are low-effort, low-payout. Others take more work but can seriously pay off. The smartest affiliates test different types, track what works best for their audience, and adapt. Because in the world of CPA affiliate marketing, agility = income.
Top CPA Affiliate Programs to Promote in 2025
Let’s get to the good stuff. Below are some of the best CPA affiliate programs to check out this year — pulled from trusted sources and updated for what’s working right now.
1. BizBet – Casino Affiliate Program
Type: CPL / CPA Hybrid
For those in the iGaming space, BizBet is one of the best CPA casino affiliate programs to promote. You get paid for qualified leads, and they offer a flexible hybrid model — CPL for verified signups, and rev share or CPA bonuses for active users.
Why it works:
- • Great targeting tools
- • Multiple GEOs supported
- • Strong performance in mobile traffic (especially in Tier 2–3 regions)
CPA affiliate marketing is only getting bigger in 2025 — and now is the time to jump in. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to diversify your current campaigns, there are CPA affiliate programs for every niche and strategy.
From SaaS to casino offers, from CPL to CPS, the options are wide open. Focus on offers that match your audience, test different flows, and track your performance. And don’t be afraid to mix models — sometimes the best results come from hybrid setups.
One thing’s for sure: when you find the right CPA affiliate program, it’s not just performance-based — it’s profit-based.
Shopify doesn’t need a big intro. If your content touches on entrepreneurship, e-commerce, dropshipping, or even “how to make money online” — this is a no-brainer. You refer someone, they sign up for a paid plan, you get paid. Done.
It runs on a CPS model (Cost Per Sale), but the cool thing is that conversions are solid. People clicking on Shopify links are usually already motivated. They just need a final push — and that’s where your content comes in.
2. Shopify
Shopify doesn’t need a big intro. If your content touches on entrepreneurship, e-commerce, dropshipping, or even “how to make money online” — this is a no-brainer. You refer someone, they sign up for a paid plan, you get paid. Done.
It runs on a CPS model (Cost Per Sale), but the cool thing is that conversions are solid. People clicking on Shopify links are usually already motivated. They just need a final push — and that’s where your content comes in.
3. ConvertKit
If your audience includes creators — bloggers, podcasters, newsletter geeks — ConvertKit is an easy sell. It’s email marketing made simple, and their affiliate program pays recurring commissions (which is basically the holy grail of CPA-style income).
Sure, this technically falls under CPS, but because it’s subscription-based, you keep getting paid every month your referral sticks around. One signup today could mean income for the next 6–12 months. Pretty sweet deal.
4. Fiverr
You probably already know Fiverr — but did you know their affiliate program is actually flexible as hell? Depending on what service your referral buys, you get a different payout. That’s because it’s a hybrid CPA model: part CPL, part CPS.
It’s great if you run content around freelancing, digital tools, or tutorials like “how to get a logo on a budget.” Fiverr has global appeal and doesn’t require hard selling. People already use it — you’re just guiding them in the right direction (and getting paid for it).
5. NordVPN
People care about privacy now more than ever, and NordVPN is riding that wave. If you have an audience in tech, crypto, gaming, or even travel — this is a perfect fit. You earn a CPA payout per sale, and they offer bonus incentives for high-performers.
Their brand is strong, the landing pages are optimized, and they often run big promotions (which helps with conversions). You don’t need to be an expert in cybersecurity — just show people how easy it is to stay protected online.
6. Bluehost
This one’s a classic. If you’ve ever read a “how to start a blog” article, chances are you’ve seen Bluehost mentioned. And for good reason — their affiliate program is super beginner-friendly.
You get a flat CPA commission (usually $65–$100) for each person who signs up for hosting. It’s perfect for content creators in blogging, SEO, and digital marketing. The brand is well-known, the funnel is clean, and the setup process is easy for users. You don’t need to overthink this one.
7. Teachable
If your audience is full of coaches, course creators, or anyone who has ever said “I should make a course on this,” then Teachable is gold. It’s a user-friendly platform that lets people build and sell online courses without needing to code or overthink.
The affiliate program works on a CPS model, and while the upfront commissions aren’t massive, the platform converts well — especially if your content already speaks to educators or creators. Plus, you’re promoting something that helps people grow their own business, which always feels good.
8. Surfshark
Another strong player in the VPN niche, Surfshark has quietly become a favorite among affiliates for one big reason: it converts like crazy. Their prices are low, the product is solid, and the design is clean — making it super easy to promote even if you’re not in the cybersecurity space.
The CPA deal here is straightforward — you get a fixed payout per paid signup (CPS), and there are often seasonal bumps or bonuses. It’s a great alternative to NordVPN if you’re looking to diversify or want to test which one performs better with your audience.
9. Skillshare
People are always looking to learn something new — especially when it comes in bite-sized, bingeable video form. That’s where Skillshare shines. You can promote it to creatives, marketers, freelancers, or just curious people looking to level up.
Their CPA affiliate model pays you for every person who signs up for a free trial — so it’s technically CPL, not CPS, which makes it great for top-of-funnel content like blog posts or YouTube videos. No one needs to buy anything right away, which helps with conversion rates. And if that user stays? That’s on Skillshare — you already got paid.