Recurring affiliate programs from the platforms creators use to sell courses: Systeme.io, Teachable, Kajabi and ClickFunnels, compared on rates, cookies and payouts.
Oct 23, 2026 · 6 min read
Course platforms are some of the most dependable recurring-commission offers in affiliate marketing, because the customer isn't a one-time buyer. It's a creator who runs their business on the software and pays every month for as long as it keeps working. Refer one of them and a recurring commission can keep landing long after the click.
This guide covers affiliate programs for the tools people use to sell courses: Teachable, Kajabi, Systeme.io and ClickFunnels. It's written for publishers whose audience is coaches, educators and creators building a knowledge business. If your readers are learners looking for courses to take, our education and online course affiliate programs guide is the better fit.
Why course-platform programs are different
Most affiliate offers pay once per sale. Course platforms are subscription software, so the commission usually follows the subscription. That changes the economics in three ways:
Earnings compound. Each new referral stacks on top of the ones still paying.
Retention matters as much as conversion. A referral who churns in month two is worth far less than one who stays for years, so sending the right creator to the right platform pays off.
Attribution windows decide who gets credit. Creators research for weeks before committing to the tool their business will depend on, so long cookies and lifetime attribution have real value.
Systeme.io is an all-in-one platform founded in 2018 that combines funnels, email marketing, online courses, membership sites and automation, with a popular free plan. Its program pays 60% lifetime recurring with permanent attribution rather than a fixed cookie, and the $30 minimum payout is easy to reach.
The free plan cuts both ways. It makes sign-ups easy, but you only earn when a referral upgrades. It suits audiences of early-stage creators who are cost-sensitive and want everything in one place.
Teachable: the course-first specialist
Teachable, launched in 2014 and based in New York, focuses on building and selling courses, coaching and digital downloads without code. Its partner program pays up to 30% recurring for as long as the referral stays on a paid plan, with a 90-day cookie, the longest fixed window on this list, and monthly PayPal payouts.
It's the cleanest recommendation for readers whose main product is a course and who don't want to learn funnel software to sell it.
Kajabi: premium all-in-one for established creators
Kajabi, founded in 2010 in Irvine, California, bundles courses, memberships, coaching, hosting, email and payments in one place. Its Partner Program is open to existing Kajabi customers, so it works best if you already run your own business on it. It pays a tiered 10–20% recurring commission plus a 100% first-month bounty on early referrals, tracked on a 30-day cookie.
Kajabi tends to fit creators who already have revenue and want to consolidate tools, which makes it a good match for an audience further along in their business.
ClickFunnels: for creators who sell through funnels
ClickFunnels, founded in 2014 by Russell Brunson and Todd Dickerson, is a sales-funnel and website builder used to create landing pages, checkout flows and membership sites. Its program pays 30% recurring, rising to 40% for qualifying affiliates, with a 45-day cookie and twice-monthly payouts through Tipalti once you clear $100.
It's the right pick when your audience sells courses through launches, webinars and upsell sequences rather than a simple course storefront.
How to choose the right program for your audience
Match the platform to where your reader is in their business, not to the headline rate:
01Just starting, budget-sensitive? Systeme.io's free plan and all-in-one setup remove friction.
02Course is the core product? Teachable keeps the focus on the course itself.
03Already earning, juggling too many tools? Kajabi's consolidation story lands with established creators.
04Selling through launches and funnels? ClickFunnels fits the marketing-heavy approach.
Promoting two or three of these isn't a conflict. A comparison that helps a reader pick the right tool earns trust, and trust is what keeps recurring referrals subscribed.
Content that converts for course-platform offers
Platform comparisons and "which should I use" guides for specific creator types, such as coaches, fitness instructors and language teachers.
Setup tutorials showing how to launch a first course on a given platform.
Migration guides for creators outgrowing a tool.
Behind-the-scenes posts on the stack you use to sell your own product, which is often the most persuasive format.
Common mistakes
Ranking by commission rate alone. A lower-rate referral who stays three years can out-earn a high-rate one who churns.
Sending learners to creator tools. Course buyers rarely need course software; keep the audience match tight.
Ignoring program eligibility. Kajabi's program requires you to be a customer first.
Forgetting free plans don't pay. Systeme.io commissions start when a referral upgrades.
Not tracking churn. Recurring income only compounds if referrals stay, so watch your active-referral count, not just new sign-ups.
Getting started
01Decide which creator segment your audience represents.
02Pick the one or two platforms that fit that segment best.
03Apply to each program and confirm current terms.
04Build one cornerstone comparison or tutorial for each platform.
05Add disclosures and deep links to the specific features you discuss.
06Review active referrals and churn monthly, and double down on the platform that keeps customers.
For more ways to structure recurring partner income, see our guide on how to use PartnerStack, which many SaaS programs run on.
Affground's verdict
Systeme.io has the most generous terms and the easiest entry point, Teachable is the clearest pick for course-first creators, Kajabi fits established businesses, and ClickFunnels wins for funnel-driven sellers. The best earnings come from matching each reader to the platform they'll stay on, because in recurring programs retention, not the first sale, decides what you take home.
Frequently asked questions
Which course platform affiliate program pays the most?
Systeme.io has the highest listed rate at 60% lifetime recurring with permanent attribution. ClickFunnels pays 30% recurring, rising to 40% for qualifying affiliates, and Teachable pays up to 30% recurring.
Are course platform affiliate commissions recurring?
Yes, all four programs here pay recurring commission for as long as the referred creator stays on a paid plan, which is why retention matters as much as the first sale.
Do I need to be a Kajabi customer to join its affiliate program?
Yes. Kajabi's Partner Program is open to existing Kajabi customers. It pays a tiered 10-20% recurring commission plus a 100% first-month bounty on early referrals.
How long is the Teachable affiliate cookie?
Teachable uses a 90-day cookie, the longest fixed window among the programs in this guide, and pays monthly via PayPal.
Do I earn from Systeme.io free plan sign-ups?
Commissions come from paid subscriptions, so you earn when a referral upgrades from the free plan to a paid one.
What is the difference between course platform and online course affiliate programs?
Course platform programs pay you for referring creators to the software they use to sell courses. Online course programs pay you for referring learners who buy courses to take.
Can I promote more than one course platform?
Yes. Comparing two or three platforms for a specific type of creator builds trust and helps each reader pick the tool they are most likely to stay on.
Oct 22, 2026 · 7 min read
How to Join PartnerStack and Promote SaaS Programs
How the PartnerStack marketplace works for partners: applying to programs, the monthly payout cycle, picking B2B SaaS offers that fit your audience, and the setup steps that avoid stuck commissions.
90-day cookie window captures slow, considered buyers
