How to Use Shopify Affiliate Programs: Complete Step by Step Guide
By Braincuber Team
Published on April 8, 2026
Affiliate marketing is a mutually beneficial program for both affiliate and retail partner. For affiliates, it's an excellent source of additional revenue, especially if you're already content creators, influencers, or thought leaders in a given industry. For the retail partners, affiliate marketing drives high-converting, high-intent, niche traffic to their eCommerce site.
What You'll Learn:
- Shopify Affiliate Program commission rates and payment structure
- How to apply and become a Shopify affiliate
- Difference between Shopify Affiliate and Partner programs
- Top theme developer affiliate programs with commission rates
- Best Shopify app affiliate programs for recurring income
Understanding Shopify Affiliate Programs
Two types of talent can earn commissions through Shopify—affiliates and partners. While the Shopify Affiliate program is explicitly referred to as an "affiliate program," the Shopify Partner program has a similar incentives system to affiliate marketing.
| Feature | Shopify Affiliate Program | Shopify Partner Program |
|---|---|---|
| Commission Type | One-time commission for new sign-ups | Flat rate and/or recurring commission |
| User Actions | Shopify store plans, POS Pro plan | Development stores, Shopify Plus, Enterprise Commerce, POS Pro |
| Ideal For | Bloggers, influencers, content creators | Web developers, store managers, marketing consultants |
Shopify Affiliate Program Commission Structure
Shopify provides commissions for two types of user actions—Shopify store plan sign-ups and POS Pro plan sign-ups. A Shopify affiliate payout can be between $10 and $300 for each referral.
Shopify Store Plan Sign-Ups
Earn $100 for every eligible Shopify plan sign-up. Regional variations: $10 for Brazil, $25 for India/Latin America, $150 for Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Spain, UK, and US.
POS Pro Plan Sign-Ups
Earn $150 for each successful POS Pro plan referral. You must be the original affiliate who referred the merchant to their initial store plan to qualify.
Payment Timeline
It may take up to nearly five months for a successful referral to appear in your bank account due to trial periods and processing delays.
How to Become a Shopify Affiliate
Visit Shopify Affiliates Page
Go to shopify.com/affiliates and click Apply Now. If you already have an account, use the affiliate login.
Complete Application
Fill out personal information, business category, and marketing channels. Answer accurately to improve approval chances.
Access Impact Dashboard
After approval, access your Impact dashboard and click the link icon to generate your unique affiliate links.
Share Your Links
Place links in blog posts, Instagram bio, YouTube descriptions, and other marketing channels.
Top Theme Developer Affiliate Programs
Debutify
Earn 30% to 40% commission on sales. Payouts transferred through Impact. #1 Free Shopify Theme focused on conversion optimization.
ThemeForest
Get 30% commission on purchases from Envato Market. Over 1,100 Shopify templates ranging from $16-$89.
Template Monster
Earn 30% for first purchases and 10% for returning purchases. Templates average $75 ($55-$120 range).
Booster Theme
Get 20% to 30% commission. Advanced features with one-click updates that preserve merchant settings.
Best Shopify App Affiliate Programs
PageFly
Highest commission: 50% first month, 30% recurring from month 2. #1 page builder app with 4.9-star rating from 12K reviews.
Amplify (PickyStory)
Earn 15-25% commission on bundle deals and discounts app. Free platform access and one-on-one training included.
ReCharge
Get 10% revenue share for recurring billing app. 4.7-star rating with 2000+ reviews. Includes 1-on-1 training.
LimeSpot
Earn 10-20% commission on upsell/cross-sell app. 1100+ 5-star ratings. Free app policy may delay commission earnings.
• Printful: $25 for new subscriptions + 10% for 12 months on orders
• Printify: 5% of total sales from referrals
• Bold Commerce: 20% NET revenue on apps + 10% on subscriptions
• Loox: 20% commission for one year
• LeadDyno: 20% commission for one year
• VITALS: 10-25% lifetime commission
• Weglot: 20% commission per referral
• Spocket: 20-30% commission on subscriptions
• Referral Candy: $50 for every trial sign-up
• Sufio: 20% monthly recurring OR 200% of monthly fee (one-time)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Shopify pay affiliates?
Shopify pays $10-$300 per referral depending on the plan and region. Store plans pay $100 standard ($150 for US/UK/CA/AU etc), while POS Pro pays $150. Regional variations include $10 for Brazil and $25 for India/Latin America.
What's the difference between Shopify Affiliate and Partner programs?
Affiliates earn one-time commissions for referrals ($10-$300), while Partners earn recurring revenue (20% of subscription fees). Affiliates are ideal for influencers/content creators, Partners for developers/consultants.
How long does it take to receive affiliate commissions?
It takes up to 5 months due to trial periods and processing. Commissions are credited on the 21st day after merchant pays regular pricing, then processed to your bank on the 22nd.
Which Shopify app has the highest affiliate commission?
PageFly offers the highest commission: 50% for the first month and 30% recurring from month 2 onward. This makes it the most lucrative for long-term passive income.
Do I need a website to become a Shopify affiliate?
While not strictly required, having an active online presence (website, blog, social media following) significantly improves approval chances. Shopify wants affiliates with proven marketing channels.
Need Help with Shopify Affiliate Marketing?
Our experts can help you optimize your affiliate strategy and maximize your earnings through proven marketing techniques.