Affiliate Marketing on TikTok: How to Start Earning Without the Creator Fund

Not part of the Creator Fund? Can’t access TikTok Pulse? You’re not alone—and you’re definitely not stuck. In 2025, one of the most accessible ways to make money on TikTok is through affiliate marketing. It doesn’t require you to hit follower milestones, get accepted into exclusive programs, or wait 60 days for a payout. If you’ve got a niche, an audience (big or small), and a smartphone, you can start earning.

We’ve already compared the TikTok Creator Fund, Pulse, and Brand Deals—and affiliate marketing remains the most open and scalable option for most creators.

Let’s break down exactly how affiliate marketing works on TikTok, which programs pay the best, and how to do it without sounding like a walking ad.

1. What Is Affiliate Marketing (and How It Works on TikTok)

Affiliate marketing is when you promote a product or service using a custom link—and get paid when someone buys through that link. On TikTok, it fits in naturally with content like product reviews, how-tos, morning routines, or even funny skits.

Here’s how it works in practice:

• You sign up for an affiliate program (Amazon, ClickBank, etc.)

• You get a unique link for a product you want to promote

• You add that link to your bio (using tools like Beacons, Stan Store, or Linktree)

• When a follower clicks and buys? You earn a commission

Example: Let’s say you post a skincare routine and mention your favorite sunscreen. Drop an affiliate link to that product in your bio. If 20 people buy it? That’s 20 commissions—no Creator Fund needed.

Next, we’ll cover the best affiliate programs for TikTok creators right now.

2. Best Affiliate Programs for TikTok Creators

The affiliate game on TikTok is wide open—and it’s not just about Amazon anymore. Whether you’re into beauty, tech, lifestyle, or side hustle content, there’s a program that matches your niche and audience.

Here are some of the top affiliate platforms TikTok creators are using in 2025:

Amazon Associates

Still the easiest way to start. Amazon’s affiliate program lets you link to pretty much anything—from books and beauty products to kitchen gear and phone tripods. The commissions are low (usually 1–10%), but the trust factor is high and conversions are solid.

💡 Pro tip: Use it with tools like Beacons or Stan Store to keep your affiliate links mobile-friendly and clean.

ClickBank

Perfect for digital products—think eBooks, courses, or subscription-based tools. ClickBank offers high commission rates (up to 75% on some products) and a ton of niche options. Fitness, self-help, side hustles—you name it.

🔗 Want to go deeper into ClickBank? We break down top-performing offers in our TikTok Monetization Guide.

Impact

Impact partners with bigger brands (Adidas, Canva, Shopify, etc.) and gives you access to multiple offers through one dashboard. It’s ideal if you’re building a more professional content strategy or already working with brand collaborations.

💡 Many creators combine Impact + TikTok Pulse for max revenue (when eligible). But even if you’re not in Pulse, you can still apply to brands inside Impact and start monetizing.

ShareASale

A solid network that includes everything from fashion and beauty brands to online services and gadgets. If you’re promoting niche brands or want alternatives to Amazon, ShareASale is worth exploring.

Niche-Specific Affiliate Programs

If you're in a focused niche, go directly to the source. Many brands offer their own affiliate programs—especially in beauty, wellness, tech, and education.

Some examples:

• Fashion: SHEIN, Revolve, Lulus

• Fitness: MyProtein, Gymshark, iHerb

• Tech: Anker, Logitech, Skillshare

• Courses/Side Hustles: CodeMasters TikTok Monetization Guide

If you're still growing your base, being a micro-influencer can actually help with affiliate trust. This guide to becoming a micro-influencer breaks down how to build niche credibility.

3. How to Promote Without Being Spammy

Nobody wants to follow a walking billboard. And TikTok’s algorithm can actually penalize you for sounding too promotional. The secret? Make your content feel like a recommendation, not a pitch.

Here’s how smart creators are doing affiliate marketing without being annoying:

Use Storytelling, Not Sales Talk

Instead of “Buy this now,” try:“I’ve been using this ring light for all my TikToks—and it changed my setup.”Then follow it with a subtle call to action: “I linked it in my bio if anyone’s curious.”

People connect with stories, routines, and real-life use cases. Whether you’re promoting tech gear, beauty products, or a course, wrap it in a personal experience.

Adding subtle, custom emojis can make your CTAs more playful and less pushy. Not sure how to access them? Here’s how to use TikTok’s secret emojis to boost visual engagement.

Focus on Value-First Content

Your audience doesn’t care about what you’re selling—they care about what’s useful to them. Try these formats:

• “3 things I wish I knew before buying this...”

• “How I boosted my productivity using this app”

• “What I actually use from Amazon as a content creator”

Then plug your affiliate links at the end, naturally.

🔗 Example: This approach is exactly what we cover in our TikTok Monetization Guide—with real templates you can copy and adapt.

Review + CTA Format

TikTok’s short-form content works well with a quick review format:

1. Hook: “This $19 find changed how I film.”

2. Show: A clip of the product in use.

3. Call to action: “Link’s in my Beacons—totally worth it.”

If you’re reviewing digital products like courses, you can even show behind-the-scenes clips or talk through what you learned.

And don’t forget: internal linking helps too. For example, if you’re new to monetizing in general, read How to Make Money on TikTok Without the Creator Fund for more context.

4. Earnings Potential: What Can You Really Make?

Let’s be honest—affiliate marketing on TikTok isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. But it is a real revenue stream, and many creators are quietly stacking $100 to $1,000/month just from links in their bio.

Here’s what impacts your earnings:

Commission Type: CPM vs % Cut

Unlike the Creator Fund (which pays based on views), affiliate income depends on purchases. Some programs pay per action (CPA), others offer a percentage of each sale.

• Amazon: 1–10% per sale

• ClickBank: Up to 75% on digital products

• High-ticket: Some platforms pay $50+ per sale

If you're promoting a $10 lip balm, your cut might be 50 cents. But promote a $200 course? That could be $40–$80 per conversion.

Scale with Evergreen Content

TikToks have a short life cycle—unless your content hits evergreen status. A simple “Top 5 gadgets I use daily” video can keep getting views for weeks if it ranks on search or trends.

Timing matters too—especially when you're testing affiliate posts. This guide breaks down the best times to post on TikTok for maximum reach in 2025.

Realistic Monthly Numbers

Here’s what creators usually earn when starting out:

• Small creators (under 10K followers): $50–$300/month

• Mid-tier creators (10K–100K): $300–$1,000/month

• Top affiliates: $2,000+/month from stacking programs

And this is before layering in things like digital product sales or brand sponsorships.

If you’re already creating consistently, affiliate marketing just adds a monetization layer to what you’re already doing.

5. TikTok Affiliate Tools You Should Be Using

The right tools can double your affiliate earnings—without adding more content to your plate. Here’s what serious TikTok creators use behind the scenes to stay organized, track performance, and boost conversions.

All-in-One Bio Link Tools

You’re only allowed one link in your TikTok bio, so it needs to do more than just list products.

Look for a tool that:

• Lets you customize the look to match your brand

• Supports tracking clicks per button or product

• Loads quickly on mobile

• Integrates affiliate tags automatically

Beacons and Stan Store are popular because they do all of the above. Stan Store, in particular, is designed for creators selling or promoting digital products—great if you plan to expand beyond affiliate links later.

Link Tracking That Actually Helps

You need to know which video drove a sale, when it happened, and how many people clicked but didn’t convert. To do that, use:

• UTM parameters to differentiate traffic per video

• Bitly or Rebrandly for clean, trackable short links

• Google Analytics to monitor behavior on your landing page

If you’re not tracking this, you’re guessing—and that’s where most creators leave money on the table.

Mobile-First Landing Pages

Affiliate links should never go directly to cluttered product pages. If you're serious, build or use a landing page that:

• Highlights just one or two products

• Uses clear headlines and one call to action

• Loads fast and keeps scrolling minimal

• Avoids unnecessary distractions

Think of it as your conversion zone. Even a simple page with a headline, short description, and button to the affiliate link will outperform a raw product URL.

Save and Repurpose Your Best TikToks

Some of your best-performing videos can be reused or edited into new content. That’s especially useful when creating affiliate-focused content series.

If you need to download your own videos (without watermarks) or reuse clips in new posts, check out this list of the Top 5 TikTok Video Downloaders that make saving and editing content effortless.

Bonus Tip: Automate Follow-Ups

If you’re collecting emails through your bio or lead magnet, connect it to an email automation tool like MailerLite or ConvertKit. A short 3–email sequence that mentions your affiliate product again (with added value or use tips) can bump conversions by 20–30 percent.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a brand deal, a viral video, or access to TikTok’s Creator Fund to start earning. Affiliate marketing is one of the most accessible income streams on the platform right now—especially in 2025, where creators are getting smarter about monetizing their content.

Start simple. Pick one product you genuinely use. Build a video around it. Drop the link. Track what happens. Then do it again.

Once you’ve got a system, scale it. Whether it’s through higher-ticket items, better content formats, or smarter landing pages, the path to your first $500 or $1,000/month is clearer than ever.

And the best part? You’re in control—not the algorithm.

FAQ

1. Do you need a business account on TikTok to do affiliate marketing?

No, a business account isn’t required, but it has its perks—like unlocking the link-in-bio feature early. Many affiliate creators start with a personal or creator account to access trending sounds, then switch once they have momentum.

The trade-off? Business accounts can’t use copyrighted music. So if your content heavily relies on sound trends, stick with a creator account and focus on building to 1,000 followers to unlock your bio link.

If you’re still growing, focus on increasing your engagement and visibility first. Posting at the right times makes a difference—see this breakdown of the best time to post on TikTok to boost reach while you build toward 1,000 followers.

2. Can I earn affiliate commissions without making “product videos”?

Yes. You don’t need to do traditional product reviews to earn with affiliate links. Many successful creators weave affiliate promotions into lifestyle content, tutorials, routines, or educational clips.

Here are a few creative formats that work:

• A “day in the life” that casually features a product

• Tutorial or how-to videos where a product is used naturally

• Before-and-after content, especially for fitness, skincare, or tech setups

• Storytime videos with a relevant product shown in the background

What matters most is trust. If your audience believes you're genuinely using and recommending something useful, they'll click.

3. Do affiliate links get suppressed by TikTok’s algorithm?

TikTok’s algorithm doesn’t suppress your content simply because you’re using affiliate links—but it does favor content that keeps users engaged.

The problem happens when:

• Your video is clearly just a sales pitch

• Viewers swipe away quickly (low watch time)

• Comments or reports flag your content as spammy

To avoid this, keep your content focused on storytelling or value, and keep the link placement subtle. Most creators only mention the link once, at the end, after delivering value.

Also, never paste affiliate links directly into captions or comments. Always route traffic through your bio link.

4. Is it better to promote physical or digital products as a TikTok affiliate?

It depends on your audience and niche, but digital products often have higher commissions and fewer fulfillment issues.

Physical products (like beauty, gadgets, kitchen tools) are great for visual content and impulse buys—but usually offer lower commissions (2–10%).

Digital products (like courses, apps, templates, subscriptions) often:

• Pay 30–75% per sale

• Are instant to access

• Work well for creators in personal development, education, finance, or side hustle niches

In general, creators who master promoting digital products with value-driven content tend to scale faster than those relying on physical goods alone.

5. What’s the biggest mistake new TikTok affiliates make?

The biggest mistake is treating affiliate marketing like a quick cash grab instead of building trust and a system.

Common pitfalls:

• Promoting too many random products at once

• Switching niches frequently (confuses the audience)

• Linking to low-quality or unrelated products

• Not tracking performance, so they don’t know what’s working

Affiliate marketing works best when you treat your TikTok like a long-term content channel. Build an audience that trusts your voice, then recommend products that solve real problems for them.

The goal is not one viral commission—it’s creating repeatable content that earns passively every month.