April 8, 2024
Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy something through the links on this page (at no extra cost).
Mailchimp launched in 2001 as an email marketing service and has become an all-in-one digital platform. It offers email marketing, landing pages, opt-in forms, social posting, file hosting, and ad capabilities. Furthermore, it provides transactional email services through Mandrill for sending data-driven, e-commerce, and personalized messages.
By all accounts, Mailchimp is a successful SaaS company. It has millions of active customers and generates millions in sales. Much of its growth has come from its freemium model, which enables users to access basic features for free. For example, users can send up to 10,000 monthly.
For all that Mailchimp is, it has a spotty record regarding how it handles business relationships and current events. In the Mailchimp-Shopify spat, Mailchimp removed its app from Shopify’s marketplace. They said, “We made this decision because Shopify released updated terms that would negatively impact our business and put our users at risk.” However, Mailchimp was like many companies that partnered with Shopify. If Shopify’s partners were at risk, others alongside Mailchimp would have bailed, which didn’t happen.
Mailchimp’s increasing foray into e-commerce was likely the catalyst for terminating its Shopify app. Shopify’s perspective was much different. It stated, “Over the past 18 months, Shopify has had growing concerns about Mailchimp’s app because of the poor merchant experience and their refusal to respect our Partner Program Agreement. Our terms require app partners to share all important data back to the merchant using Shopify’s API to help them run their businesses.”
Mailchimp is a follower, not a leader. How can you predict Mailchimp’s next controversial misstep? Watch what the big players do. For example, after Facebook, Google, and Twitter banned cryptocurrency-related ads, Mailchimp followed. Mailchimp banned Alex Jones only after Apple, Spotify, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and LinkedIn did. In its latest move, the Chimps have jumped on the misinformation bandwagon to ban anti-vaccination info. Once again, it followed Facebook and Amazon. Mailchimp’s reactionary behavior puts it in a negative light and demonstrates a lack of leadership. It also creates worry for its users.
Mailchimp Affiliate Program
Mailchimp’s email marketing policies concerning affiliate marketing are one of the strictest. Therefore, it’s not uncommon to read threads about Mailchimp users getting banned for adding affiliate links to their emails. Secondly, while many ESPs embrace affiliate programs, Mailchimp has shunned the idea since its inception. However, that changed because Mailchimp launched an affiliate program on CJ Affiliate in 2022. That is likely the result of being acquired by Intuit and instructed to create a program.
Mailchimp pays a 30% commission rate per sale and provides a 30-day cookie. While 30% qualifies as a high-paying affiliate program, it pales in comparison to other email providers that pay recurring commissions for active customers.
Mailchimp also has referral and partner programs. Its referral program, MonkeyRewards, earns you $30 in credits for each paying customer referral. MonkeyRewards have no cash value and can’t be redeemed or refunded as cash. Rewards can only be applied toward Mailchimp purchases. Its partner program collaborates with talented agencies, freelancers, designers, and other marketing pros to help them grow. Partners receive exclusive benefits and insights.
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Best Email Marketing Affiliate Programs
Let’s review the best Mailchimp affiliate program alternatives. Many email marketing merchants have lucrative recurring affiliate programs. A company might not mention an affiliate program on its website but may have one. Merchants typically link to their affiliate programs in their website menus and footers; some offer programs on multiple networks.
GetResponse
GetResponse is an all-in-one digital marketing platform offering email marketing, landing pages, websites, conversion funnels, webinar hosting, opt-in forms, web push notifications, and other marketing automation tools. Learn more and join the GetResponse affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 33%/$100
- Cookie duration: 120 days
- Affiliate software/network: In-house and CJ Affiliate
Systeme.io
Systeme is a complete marketing platform that allows you to launch your online business. It offers various tools, such as sales funnels, email marketing, website building, affiliate management, online courses, and marketing automation. Learn more and join the Systeme affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 50%
- Cookie duration: Lifetime
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
AWeber
AWeber’s email marketing services are used by small businesses, bloggers, and entrepreneurs. It offers email marketing, landing page, and e-commerce tools to grow your business. Learn about the AWeber affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 30%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: In-house and CJ Affiliate
Benchmark
Benchmark offers powerful and simple email marketing software. Learn about the Benchmark affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 25%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
Constant Contact
Constant Contact enables individuals and business owners to create and share professional-looking emails in minutes. Learn about the Constant Contact affiliate program.
- Commission rate: $105
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: Impact and CJ Affiliate
EmailOctopus
EmailOctopus provides email marketing that’s simple, intuitive, and affordable to help grow your audience. It gives you everything you need to build a list, create impactful campaigns, and get results. Learn more and join the EmailOctopus affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 30%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
EngageBay
EngageBay is a simple, affordable, all-in-one marketing automation platform built for small businesses and startups. Learn about the EngageBay affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 30%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
HubSpot
HubSpot offers marketing, sales, customer service, and CRM software for small to medium-sized businesses. Also, it offers free business and marketing tools, training, and courses. Learn about the HubSpot affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 15% – 100%
- Cookie duration: 90 days
- Affiliate software/network: Impact
Start Your Online Business with Systeme
Moonmail
Create, design, and analyze your email marketing campaigns in minutes with Moonmail. Learn about the Moonmail affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 25%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
Moosend
Moosend is an email marketing and automation tool that helps brands create and nurture client relationships. Learn about the Moosend affiliate program.
- Commission rate: Up to 40%
- Cookie duration: 90 days
- Affiliate software/network: PartnerStack
Omnisend
Omnisend is an all-in-one, multi-channel marketing automation platform for sales-driven e-commerce marketers who want to scale their activities. Learn about the Omnisend affiliate program.
- Commission rate: 20%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: Clearbit
Sendlane
Sendlane is an email marketing service built from the ground up by digital marketers for digital marketers. Learn about the Sendlane affiliate program.
- Commission rate: Up to 20%
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign gives you email marketing, automation, and CRM tools to create incredible customer experiences. Learn more and join the ActiveCampaign affiliate program.
- Commission rate: Up to 30%
- Cookie duration: 90 days
- Affiliate software/network: In-house
Shopify
Shopify provides everything you need to sell online, on social media, and in person. You can create a store, manage products, accept payments, ship, and integrate with other apps to provide a robust customer experience. Learn more and join the Shopify affiliate program.
- Commission rate: Up to $150
- Cookie duration: 30 days
- Affiliate software/network: Impact
