Thinkific is one of the most popular online course platforms in the market and if you are looking to promote its affiliate program to earn some money for yourself, it might be the right decision.
Whether you’re a blogger in the edtech space, a YouTuber making tutorials, or a digital marketing pro looking to add more passive income streams, this review breaks down everything you need to know about the Thinkific Affiliate Program in 2025, what it offers, how it compares to similar programs, and whether it is actually worth your time.
Brief Overview of the Thinkific Affiliate Program
The Thinkific Affiliate Program allows you to earn recurring commissions by referring creators and entrepreneurs to the Thinkific platform. When someone signs up through your unique affiliate link and becomes a paying customer, you earn money, simple as that.
But what makes Thinkific stand out is that it offers a recurring 30% commission for the lifetime of each referral. That means as long as your referred user stays on a paid plan, you keep getting paid every month. Passive income? Check.
Quick Overview of How It Works
- Commission: 30% recurring commission
- Cookie Duration: 90 days
- Payouts: Monthly, via PartnerStack
- Minimum Payout Threshold: $25
- Promo Materials: Banners, swipe copy, logos, and more
- Tracking: PartnerStack dashboard for performance and payments
Thinkific runs its affiliate program through PartnerStack, a popular platform that helps track affiliate clicks, referrals, and earnings. So even if you’re new to affiliate marketing, the interface is beginner-friendly.
What Makes the Thinkific Affiliate Program Attractive?
Here are the main reasons why many creators are promoting Thinkific in 2025:
Recurring Commissions
You’re not just getting paid once, you’re getting paid every month your referral stays subscribed. This adds up quickly, especially if you refer users to higher priced plans like Thinkific Start or Grow. One customer could earn you hundreds of dollars per year.
90-Day Cookie Window
Thinkific offers a generous 90-day cookie duration. That gives your audience more time to decide, and gives you more chances to earn commission even if they don’t sign up right away.
Strong Conversion Potential
Thinkific is a trusted name in the online course space. Its free trial, strong course-building features, and zero transaction fees make it easier to convince people to try it out. If you’re recommending something, it helps if the product sells itself.
Marketing Support
Once you join, you get access to Thinkific’s affiliate toolkit, which includes banners, email templates, sales copy, and even pre-written social media content. You won’t need to write everything from scratch, and you can stay on-brand easily.
Who Should Promote Thinkific?
Not every affiliate program fits every audience. But here’s who’s most likely to benefit from promoting Thinkific:
- Course creators and educators who blog or have an email list
- YouTubers reviewing online business tools
- Niche bloggers in digital education, self-improvement, or entrepreneurship
- Coaches and consultants who recommend platforms to clients
- Digital marketers who build passive income portfolios
If your audience includes people who teach online, sell digital products, or want to make money with their knowledge, Thinkific is a no-brainer.
Thinkific vs Other Affiliate Programs
So how does Thinkific’s affiliate program compare to competitors?
Thinkific is not the highest-paying, but its reliability, user-friendly features, and established brand mean higher conversion rates, which is what matters.
Pros and Cons of the Thinkific Affiliate Program
Pros
- Recurring 30% commissions: One referral can earn you long-term income
- 90-day cookie window: Gives people time to decide
- Free to join: No approval fees or hidden costs
- Reputable product: Easier to promote a brand people trust
- No cap on earnings: The more you refer, the more you make
- Optimized landing page for affiliates: Which results in higher conversions.
Cons
- Payout only via PartnerStack: Not everyone likes third-party platforms
- Beginners might start on the lower plans first which makes your commission lower
Realistic Earnings: How Much Can You Make?
Let’s do some quick math.
If you refer just 10 people to the Thinkific Start plan ($99/month):
- 30% of $99 = $29.70/month
- 10 referrals = $297/month
- That’s over $3,500/year for just 10 customers
And if some of those users upgrade to Thinkific Grow ($199/month), your earnings go up even more. Now imagine if you referred 20, 50, or even 100 customers.
This isn’t get-rich-quick money, but for creators who build evergreen content, the rewards can be quite good.
How to Get Started
Joining the Thinkific Affiliate Program is simple:
- Go to thinkific.com/affiliates
- Apply via PartnerStack
- Get approved and access your affiliate dashboard
- Start sharing your link through your blog, email list, or social media
Thinkific even runs occasional bonuses and affiliate contests to reward top performers.
Conclusion: Is the Thinkific Affiliate Program Worth Promoting in 2025?
Absolutely, if you have the right target audience for Thinkific’s products.
Thinkific has built a reputation as one of the best platforms for creating and selling online courses. It is beginner-friendly, offers strong customization, and appeals to creators across different industries. And with 30% recurring commissions, it gives affiliates real potential to build sustainable passive income.
If you’re in the online business or education space, Thinkific is a good program to add to your affiliate mix in 2025.
FAQs
Do I need to be a Thinkific user to join the affiliate program?
No, you don’t. But being familiar with the platform helps your promotions feel more authentic.
When do I get paid?
Thinkific pays out affiliates monthly through PartnerStack, once you’ve earned at least $25.
Can I promote Thinkific alongside other platforms?
Yes, you can, just make sure to disclose any affiliate relationships and provide honest comparisons.
Are there bonuses for top affiliates?
Yes. Thinkific occasionally runs promotions, leaderboards, and special contests to reward high-performing affiliates.
When do I get paid?
Thinkific generates affiliate commissions after a 30-day delay in order to reconcile payments. After the 30-day hold, payments are verified at the end of the month and paid out on the 13th of the month through either Paypal or Stripe depending on which one you choose.
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