Affiliate marketing lets small business owners generate new revenue streams by promoting products they trust.
The most successful affiliate marketers focus on a specific niche. Instead of trying to sell to everyone at once, they build a dedicated audience and create targeted content in that area.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to find the best affiliate marketing niches that fit your market and customer base. You’ll discover nine growing sectors and learn how to choose products that business owners in your network need and will invest in.
Affiliate marketing niche key takeaways
Choosing a high-quality niche starts with building business expertise and conducting market research.
The most successful SMB affiliates build a loyal audience by solving specific business problems.
Build authority through consistent, valuable content that serves your specific audience.
Pipedrive helps you manage your affiliate partnerships and content so you can focus on profitability. Try it free for 14 days.
What is affiliate marketing?
Affiliate marketing is a way to earn money by promoting another company’s products or services.
You receive a unique trackable link when you sign up for an affiliate program. If someone clicks your link and makes a purchase, the company pays you a commission.
Affiliate marketing means you can run a business without launching new products or managing inventory.
The core of this strategy is customer trust. To succeed, you must build a credible brand, and the most effective way to do this is by choosing a niche.
Here is how a niche-focused strategy compares to a general one:
General affiliate marketing | Niche-focused affiliate marketing |
Without a defined audience, it’s challenging to build trust and credibility | You target a specific group of people with shared interests and problems |
You face massive competition from established, broad-topic websites | Your content stands out easily, since niches have less competition |
You lack a clear focus, so your recommendations seem random | You build brand authority by becoming a go-to expert on one topic |
Your content lacks a clear direction | You can create highly relevant content that directly answers your audience’s questions |
Without targeted sales promotions, your conversion rates are low | Conversion rates are higher because your recommendations solve specific needs |
A focused approach allows you to connect with a specific audience instead of getting lost in the noise of general marketing.
9 profitable and growing affiliate marketing niches
Finding the right niche can be challenging, but new opportunities emerge yearly.
Here are nine trending niches to explore – use them as inspiration to find the ones that best fit your interests and expertise.
1. Software-as-a-service (SaaS) and artificial intelligence (AI)
The SaaS and AI sector pays you monthly commissions for every customer you refer to subscription services.
Quick facts:
Target audience – Small business owners, marketing managers, sales teams and entrepreneurs
Best marketing approach – Create problem-solving guides, step-by-step tutorials and real-world examples
Typical commissions – Around 20–50% recurring (monthly or first year only)
Fortune Business Insights valued the SaaS market at $266 billion in 2024 and predicts it’ll grow to $1,131 billion by 2032.
On the AI side, Grand View Research expects the artificial intelligence niche to surge from $279 billion in 2024 to $3,497 billion by 2033. That means there will be a constant flow of new products and customers looking for solutions.
Popular sub-niches include:
SaaS and AI sub-niches | Examples |
Pipedrive offers affiliates a 20% recurring commission for the first year of the subscription. If you make 2–5 monthly sales, the commission increases to 30%. | |
Jasper, an AI writing tool that helps you rank on search engines, provides a 25% commission on the subscription price. | |
Asana offers its affiliate partners a commission on a new customer’s first annual plan payment. | |
Email marketing and automation | Kit offers a 50% commission for 12 months, plus 10–20% recurring revenue beyond 12 months as you sell more. |
To succeed when selling software to businesses, show people how to use it. Create detailed walkthroughs that prove the tool saves time or makes money. Use real examples from actual companies.
For SMBs already using tools like a CRM, affiliate marketing creates an additional revenue stream with minimal overhead.
You’re likely already recommending solutions to peers in your network. Affiliate partnerships let you monetize that expertise while strengthening your reputation as a trusted industry resource.
When you demonstrate clear value, you’ll become the go-to source for B2B customers ready to buy.
Note: Interested in earning by promoting tools you trust? Apply to become a Pipedrive Affiliate and receive a generous recurring revenue share. Learn more here.
2. Personal finance and investing
Credit cards and budgeting apps pay some of the highest commission rates in affiliate marketing.
Quick facts:
Target audience – Young adults learning to budget, experienced investors and anyone seeking financial services
Best marketing approach – Use educational content, case studies and personal finance stories to build trust
Typical commissions – $100–250 per sign-up or approval
Finance is one of the most profitable affiliate marketing niches, particularly for business consultants and accountants who already advise SMBs on financial decisions.
You're likely already recommending banking solutions or financial tools – affiliate partnerships let you monetize that expertise while adding value to client relationships.
The fintech market keeps growing. Global Market Insights projects it will jump from $260 billion in 2023 to almost $1 trillion by 2032.
It’s an evergreen niche, with mobile banking and investing apps creating new opportunities yearly.
Popular finance niches include:
Personal finance sub-niches | Examples |
Investing and trading platforms | eToro offers several different affiliate programs based on your country, usually a flat fee of around $200 or a percentage of around 25% |
Credit cards | Credit card affiliate programs like American Express pay a flat fee of up to $200 for each approved application |
Budgeting apps | Rocket Money pays a small commission for each user who signs up for its premium subscription |
Cryptocurrency platforms | Coinbase gives a 50% commission on your referee’s trading fees for the first three months |
Building trust is everything here. Your content needs to be well-researched because people make decisions with money.
Share case studies or personal finance journeys that readers can relate to. Show them how you’ve used these tools or the results from people you’ve helped.
Always include disclaimers that you’re not a licensed financial advisor. Focus your affiliate marketing efforts on educational content rather than aggressive selling.
When you help people make informed decisions, the conversions will follow.
3. Health tech and digital wellness
The health tech and digital wellness niche continues growing as more people use technology to manage their well-being.
Quick facts:
Target audience – Fitness enthusiasts, people managing mental health and those with chronic conditions
Best marketing approach – Share personal experience, video diaries and long-term product tests
Typical commissions – Around $100 flat fee per subscription or percentage on device sales
According to Grand View Research, the global digital health market is expanding from $330 billion to $1.5 trillion by 2032.
The top affiliate marketing niches in health include:
Health tech sub-niches | Examples |
Fitness and nutrition apps | Noom, a weight loss app, offers a commission for each new user |
Home gym equipment | Bowflex provides a 3% order-based commission rate on purchases |
Supplements and vitamins | iHerb gives partners a 10% commission for the first three months, then 5% or more afterwards |
Hair care products | Function of Beauty pays a dynamic commission on custom product sales |
Authenticity matters more in this market than almost anywhere else. The most effective strategy is sharing your own journey with the affiliate products you promote.
Show the real results, whether that’s better sleep from a tracking ring or improved fitness.
Be transparent and clarify that you’re sharing your personal experience, not giving medical advice.
4. E-learning and online courses
Online education gives high commissions as people always look to upskill or learn something new.
Quick facts:
Target audience – College students, professionals upskilling, entrepreneurs and hobbyists
Best marketing approach – Course reviews from personal experience, outcome showcases and comparison guides
Typical commissions – Around 15–45% per course sale or 30% recurring for platforms
Global Market Insights expects the e-learning industry to rise to over $1 trillion by 2032.
Content creators and bloggers succeed here because educational content is one of the best ways to promote courses.
The e-learning landscape covers a wide range of sub-niches, like:
E-learning sub-niches | Examples |
Broad skill-based platforms | Coursera offers a commission of up to 45% on thousands of courses and specializations from top universities |
Creator-focused platforms | Teachable gives affiliates a recurring 30% commission by referring course creators to its platform |
Language learning apps | Babbel, a popular language-learning service, offers a commission for new subscriptions |
Business and marketing guides | Udemy gives affiliates a 10% commission rate on its courses |
To build credibility, actually take the courses you promote. Share your honest experience and results.
Create content that answers the questions people are asking. Is this course worth it? What will they be able to do afterwards?
When you show real outcomes, people will invest in the course.
5. Home office and productivity
Remote work has created massive demand for home office products, from ergonomic furniture to home office software.
Quick facts:
Target audience – Remote employees, freelancers, entrepreneurs and students
Best marketing approach – Desk tour videos, setup guides and long-term product reviews
Typical commissions – Around 5–50% depending on product type (physical vs software)
Small business owners are particularly well-positioned in this niche. You understand what remote teams need because you’ve solved these problems yourself.
Share how you’ve optimized your own workspace or equipped your team; those recommendations will convert fellow business owners who trust your experience.
This lucrative affiliate marketing niche lets you promote products at every price point. Fortune Business Insights shows the digital workplace market was worth $39.81 billion in 2023 and should reach $164.55 billion by 2032.
The home office sector includes a mix of physical products and digital tools:
Home office sub-niches | Examples |
Ergonomic furniture | FlexiSpot, a popular maker of standing desks, offers a 5–12% commission on sales |
Productivity tools | Notion offers partners a 50% commission per sign-up and 20% of the first year’s revenue |
Focus and deep work tools | With no minimum threshold, Bose offers up to 5% commission on its audio products |
Laptops and computers | Dell gives a 3% commission on business laptop and desktop computer sales |
Home office is a visual niche, so help people see what’s possible in your marketing. Build different workspace setups and show them off through desk tour videos and great photos.
Demonstrate how products work together to create a comfortable workspace.
Long-term reviews work exceptionally well because they build trust, which you can use to sell more expensive items, such as desks.
6. Sustainability
Eco-conscious consumers search for sustainable businesses in fashion, home goods, beauty and more.
Quick facts:
Target audience – Eco-conscious families, young professionals and ethical consumers
Best marketing approach – Share the “why” behind brands (their environmental impact, mission and ethical practices) to build a customer connection
Typical commissions – Around 5–15% on product sales, with low competition compared with larger niches
The Business Research Company projects that the ethical fashion market will grow from $8.77 billion in 2024 to over $12.95 billion by 2029.
It’s another evergreen niche that’s gaining momentum in influencer marketing.
Sustainability is especially popular among younger audiences on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. This niche also appeals to environmentally conscious businesses looking to partner with ethical brands.
As people consider the environment more, they seek trusted recommendations for sustainable products.
Here are some types of products you can market in this sector:
Sustainability sub-niches | Examples |
Sustainable fashion | Pact, a brand known for its organic cotton basics, offers affiliates a commission on sales through the ShareASale network |
Clean beauty and personal care | The Detox Market, a retailer for non-toxic beauty products, gives affiliates a custom commission on makeup and skincare |
Renewable energy tech | Goal Zero gives a dynamic 10% commission on all its products, with an average order value of over $600 |
Home decor | Etsy offers affiliate programs for sustainable items, usually around 4% commission |
Authenticity is everything for this market, as the audience is wary of “greenwashing”. You must build your content on a genuine passion for sustainability.
Go beyond simple reviews and tell the story behind the brands you promote: their mission, materials and ethical practices.
Your own commitment to sustainability is your brand. Be transparent about your journey and it’ll help you convert a mindful audience.
7. E-commerce tools
Online store owners need software to run their businesses and are willing to pay premium prices for tools that increase sales.
Quick facts:
Target audience – New entrepreneurs, small business owners, dropshippers and marketing agencies
Best marketing approach – Show real numbers and results and walk your audience through how the tools work in practice
Typical commissions – Around 20% recurring, or high fixed bounties ($50–500 per sale)
Grand View Research valued the global e-commerce market at $5.47 trillion in 2023 and projects it will expand to $17.77 trillion by 2030.
It’s one of the best niches for business owners building affiliate revenue.
This niche complements marketing and consulting business owners. If you’re already helping clients with their online presence, why not use affiliate partnerships with e-commerce platforms to add value while creating recurring income?
This way, you won’t just sell tools, you’ll become a strategic partner who guides businesses toward sustainable growth.
This sector provides a variety of solutions for online sellers:
E-commerce sub-niches | Examples |
E-commerce platforms and web hosting | Shopify offers a fixed bounty for each new merchant who signs up for a paid plan (up to $150 for a Point of Sale Pro referral) |
Marketing and sales automation | Omnisend provides a 20% recurring revenue share on the monthly payments of referred customers |
Dropshipping and sourcing tools | SaleHoo, a directory of wholesale suppliers, pays affiliates up to $500 a year for every sale (a 50% commission rate) |
LiveChat gives partners a commission rate up to 22%, with 24/7 live support |
When creating content, think like a business consultant. Your audience wants to know how a tool will boost sales or save time.
Create case studies showing real outcomes, like “how email automation reduced abandoned carts by 20%”.
When you prove ROI with numbers, store owners will trust your recommendations.
8. Meal kits and food subscriptions
Busy professionals and families need convenient meals and subscription services pay reliably for each new customer you refer.
Quick facts:
Target audience – Busy professionals, families and health-conscious eaters
Best marketing approach – Film unboxing-to-eating experiences, compare multiple services side-by-side and show prep time and portion sizes
Typical commissions – Somewhere between $10–$40 flat fee per new subscriber
Grand View Research predicts the meal kit market will grow from $20.54 billion in 2023 to $64.27 billion by 2030.
This industry serves a variety of dietary needs and culinary preferences:
Meal kit sub-niches | Examples |
Standard meal kits | HelloFresh gives a fixed commission (up to $20) on the first sale, with bonuses for top sellers |
Specialty and dietary kits | Green Chef has an affiliate program that pays $15 per new customer |
Pet food subscriptions | Farmer’s Dog, Ollie and other services for pet owners offer affiliate programs with commissions on new subscriptions |
First-hand reviews work best here because people want to see what they’re getting before they commit.
Video marketing content performs well, since customers need to see the food quality and portion sizes to feel confident about subscribing.
9. High-end hobby gear
Passionate hobbyists invest heavily in equipment. In this niche, even small commissions can mean substantial earnings.
Quick facts:
Target audience – Dedicated experts, enthusiasts and creative professionals
Best marketing approach – Test gear over weeks or months with data, compare competing products and explain the differences that justify pricing
Typical commissions – Around 2–12% on high-ticket items
The photography market is a prime example. Grand View Research projects it will grow from $7.16 billion in 2023 to $10.25 billion by 2030.
While the sales compensation might seem lower than other niches, 5% on a $2,000 camera lens still earns you $100 per sale.
This sector spans a wide range of passions and interests:
Hobby gear sub-niches | Examples |
Photography and videography | B&H Photo Video offers a 2% commission on its inventory |
Outdoor and adventure gear | Backcountry pays a 4–12% commission for premium climbing, skiing and camping equipment sales |
Smartphones and gadgets | Amazon Associates offers up to 12% for sales on qualifying purchases |
Gaming niche gear | Razer grants 3% commissions on video game equipment like mice, keyboards, headsets and streaming gear for gamers |
Serious buyers demand the best, so you must prove you’re an expert if you want them to listen to you.
This audience researches extensively before purchasing, which creates opportunities for detailed, helpful content.
To earn their trust, demonstrate actual expertise through hands-on testing. Create in-depth, long-term reviews and technical comparisons.
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How to choose a niche for affiliate marketing
Choosing the right niche is the most critical step in building a thriving affiliate business.
Here’s how to find a lucrative affiliate marketing niche that matches your interests and expertise:
Start with what you know and care about. List your passions, hobbies and professional skills. You’ll find it much easier to create content about topics you enjoy. Inbound marketing works better when you’re passionate about what you promote.
Find a customer base with real problems. A niche is a group of people with similar issues you can solve by recommending related products. For each of your ideas, define who would buy these products. What challenges do they face?
Check if you can make money. Once you have an audience and a problem in mind, ensure it’s profitable. Look for existing affiliate marketing programs to see what products and commissions are available.
Use keyword research to prove high demand. Use Google Trends and keyword tools to see how many people search for terms in your niche. High search volume for problem-focused keywords shows an audience seeking solutions.
Test before you fully commit. Create a few pieces of content and promote them to your target audience through social media or paid ads. The engagement and feedback you get will show if the niche has potential before you build your affiliate marketing business.
You gain a significant advantage when you can identify a specific audience that competitors overlook.
As your affiliate network grows, staying organized becomes critical. Pipedrive’s pipeline management features help you see which partnerships generate the most revenue.
You can create custom fields to track commission rates, payment terms and monthly earnings per program. This way, you quickly identify your most profitable affiliates and turn them into a predictable revenue stream for your business.
Pipedrive in action: NJ Media, a UK-based marketing agency, found tremendous success by focusing on a niche many businesses would overlook: digital marketing for undertakers.
When the pandemic forced NJ Media to find new customers, it specialized in this group. Pipedrive helped reduce the length of its newsales process by 75%, and NJ Media soon landed seven new high-value clients.
The lesson here is clear: a narrow focus leads to bigger results. Choosing a well-defined niche helps you become the go-to expert faster than trying to serve everyone.
Final thoughts
Choosing the right affiliate marketing niche helps you build trust and authority.
You don’t need to appeal to everyone. Solving a specific problem for a focused audience is the most direct way to earn a consistent income.
Organizing partnerships and managing your content pipeline is key to scaling your revenue as your affiliate business grows.
Pipedrive helps you track your most profitable affiliate relationships, manage your sales funnel and monitor your campaigns in one central hub. Start your 14-day free trial today.
