# Affiliate commission rates: 2026 benchmarks by industry and how to set yours > Commonly reported commission ranges by category, the models to choose from, and a margin-first method to set a rate you can actually afford. Includes iOS app subscription rates most guides omit. Published: 2026-07-14 · Last reviewed: 2026-07-24 ## Typical commission rates by industry Commission rates commonly run from about 5% to 30%, and higher for high-margin digital goods. The ranges below are the ones most widely reported across the industry. Treat them as a starting reference, not a rule. The rate you can sustain comes from your own margins, which the framework further down shows how to calculate. ## Commission models compared Pick the structure that fits your economics, then set the number. ## A margin-first way to set your rate Start with revenue you actually retain. Subtract product or service delivery, payment costs, expected refunds, support, taxes you bear, and the profit you need to keep. The remainder is the maximum combined acquisition budget, and the affiliate rate is a slice of that, not all of it. A common guardrail is to target a lifetime-value to acquisition-cost ratio of at least 3 to 1, and to keep a healthy net margin after fees. Worked example: a SaaS plan at $99 per month with a 30% recurring rate pays the affiliate about $29.70 every month the customer stays, so recurring rates compound into real cost over a subscription's life. Model that before you commit to recurring. - Define the commissionable revenue base (net, excluding tax, shipping, discounts, refunds). - Reserve non-affiliate acquisition and operating costs. - Choose percent, flat bounty, recurring share, or a capped hybrid. - Apply a validation hold that matches your reversal risk. - Model low, expected, and high order values with your own inputs. ## Rates by surface: ecommerce, SaaS, and iOS apps The surface changes both the rate and how you attribute it. - Shopify and ecommerce: a practical starting point is 10% to 15% of the sale, or a flat $10 to $15 on new-customer orders, attributed from Shopify order and checkout webhooks. - Web and SaaS: 20% to 30% recurring is common; decide whether to time-box the recurring commission so long-term cost stays modeled. - iOS apps: pay 15% to 30% recurring on the subscription or in-app purchase, or a one-time bounty on the first paid period. Attribute it with StoreKit 2 and App Store Server Notifications rather than a cookie. Under Apple guideline 3.2.2, the reward must attach to a post-install action such as subscribing, never the install itself. ## Tiered structures and incentives Tiers reward volume and retain your best affiliates. Two common shapes: - Marginal tiers: 10% under $100 in monthly sales, 12% from $100 to $500, 15% above $500. - Retained lifetime tiers: 10% up to $5,000 lifetime, 15% to $10,000, 20% beyond, with the affiliate keeping the tier once reached. - A 2% to 5% bump for top creators who hit a revenue target, plus seasonal or launch incentives. ## Common mistakes The recurring failures are avoidable. - Copying a benchmark your margin cannot afford. - Ignoring refunds and chargebacks, with no reversal hold. - Committing to lifetime recurring commission you cannot forecast. - Setting a rate before you know customer lifetime value. - Defining commission on gross, so tax and shipping inflate payouts. ## Disclosure and platform rules Whatever the rate, the promotion has to be compliant. Affiliates must disclose the paid relationship under FTC rules, and AI or synthetic endorsers must disclose that too. For apps, Apple guideline 3.2.2 means a redeemer reward attaches to a post-install action, not the install. See the FTC disclosure guide for exact wording. ## Frequently asked ### What is a typical affiliate commission rate? Commonly 5% to 30%, often around 20% to 30% for SaaS and digital products and 5% to 15% for physical ecommerce. Your own margin decides what is sustainable. ### What is a good commission rate for a Shopify or ecommerce store? A common 2026 starting point is 10% to 15% of the sale, or a flat $10 to $15 on new-customer orders, with a small bump for top performers. ### How much should I pay affiliates for an iOS app? Commonly 15% to 30% recurring on the subscription or in-app purchase, or a bounty on the first paid period, attributed with StoreKit 2 and App Store Server Notifications and compliant with Apple guideline 3.2.2. ### Flat fee, percentage, or recurring: which should I use? Percentage suits most ecommerce, flat CPA suits lead-gen and finance, and recurring suits subscriptions because it aligns affiliates to retention. Many SaaS programs use a hybrid. ### How do I calculate the maximum commission I can afford? Take your contribution margin per order, subtract non-affiliate acquisition cost, a refund reserve, service cost, and target profit. The remainder is your maximum combined acquisition budget, and the affiliate rate is a slice of it. ### Should the rate include tax and shipping? Use the revenue base your agreement defines and your economics support. Attribloom's Shopify connector excludes tax and shipping. ### Should I pay commission on renewals? For subscriptions, recurring commission rewards affiliates for customers who stay, but the long-term cost compounds, so model it and consider time-boxing the recurring period. ## Primary sources - [FTC: Endorsement Guides Q&A](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/ftcs-endorsement-guides-what-people-are-asking) · checked 2026-07-24 ## Next steps - [Commission-only pricing](/pricing) - [Holds and clawbacks](/learn/how-commission-holds-and-clawbacks-protect-a-program) - [FTC affiliate disclosure guide](/learn/ftc-affiliate-disclosure-guide) - [Compare platform pricing models](/compare) - [Commission calculator](/tools/commission-calculator)