ConvertKit

Kit — the platform formerly known as ConvertKit — is one of the best-known email marketing tools built specifically for creators. Its affiliate program is a long-standing favorite among bloggers, YouTubers, and course creators because it pays a headline 50% commission for a full year on every referred customer, with the potential for ongoing recurring revenue on top. If your audience includes newsletter writers, coaches, or online educators, this is a program worth a close look.

About Kit (formerly ConvertKit)

Kit is a creator-first email marketing and newsletter growth platform. It helps creators build audiences with landing pages and forms, automate campaigns with Visual Automations, run paid newsletters, and sell digital products directly. The company rebranded from ConvertKit to Kit in 2024, though the affiliate program and the products remain the same underneath.

The platform is used by a long list of high-profile creators, including James Clear, Tim Ferriss, Ali Abdaal, Neil Patel, and Pat Flynn. Pricing starts with a free Newsletter plan for up to 1,000 subscribers, then moves to the Creator plan at $33/mo (or $390 billed yearly) and the Pro plan at $66/mo (or $790 billed yearly), both priced for 1,000 subscribers and scaling with list size. Because pricing grows with a creator's subscriber count, referred customers on larger lists can be worth substantially more than the entry tiers.

How the Kit affiliate program works

The core offer is straightforward: for every paying customer you refer, Kit pays you 50% of what they pay in their first 12 months. Kit's own example shows a customer paying $1,200 for their first year earning the affiliate $600.

Beyond the first year, Kit layers in a tiered recurring commission based on how many customers you refer annually:

• No status (start here): 50% for the first 12 months, no recurring commission afterward.
• Bronze (refer 10+ paying customers/year): 50% for 12 months, plus +10% recurring indefinitely after year one.
• Silver (refer 50+ paying customers/year): 50% for 12 months, plus +15% recurring.
• Gold (refer 100+ paying customers/year): 50% for 12 months, plus +20% recurring.

The recurring commissions apply to referred customers who joined on or after January 1st, 2024 and who stay with Kit beyond 12 months — and only while you retain at least Bronze status. Importantly, affiliate referrals generated through paid methods like pay-per-click ads do not count toward your status-level customer totals.

To join, apply through the program page at kit.com/affiliate. Once accepted, affiliates get access to the Affiliate Promotion Hub, which provides assets and links to make sharing easier. The available material does not state the referral cookie window, minimum payout threshold, or payout schedule/method, so confirm those details in your affiliate dashboard after approval.

Who should promote Kit

Kit is a natural fit for anyone whose audience is building an online business or content brand. That includes:

• Bloggers and content marketers who review software and tools.
• YouTubers and podcasters teaching audience growth, newsletters, or creator monetization.
• Course creators and coaches whose students need email marketing.
• Existing Kit/ConvertKit users who can speak authentically about the product.

Because the recurring tiers reward volume (10, 50, 100+ referrals a year), the biggest payoffs go to affiliates with meaningful, engaged audiences that are actively looking for an email platform. Casual promoters will still earn the strong 50% first-year cut, but won't unlock the lifetime recurring layer until they hit Bronze.

Pros and cons

Pros

• 50% commission for a full 12 months — well above many SaaS programs.
• Recurring lifetime revenue of 10-20% once you reach Bronze/Silver/Gold.
• Established, well-regarded brand with high-profile creator users, making it easier to sell.
• Free plan lowers the barrier for referrals to try the product before upgrading.
• Dedicated Affiliate Promotion Hub with ready-made assets.

Cons

• Recurring commission is gated behind referring 10+ paying customers per year — a real hurdle for smaller affiliates.
• PPC/paid-ad referrals don't count toward status tiers.
• Cookie duration, payout minimums, and payout schedule aren't published in the available material.
• Crowded, competitive category (Mailchimp, Beehiiv, Substack, MailerLite, etc.) means you're up against many alternatives.

Overall, the Kit (ConvertKit) affiliate program is one of the more attractive options in the creator-software space thanks to its 50% first-year rate and genuine lifetime recurring potential. If you have an audience of creators and can consistently drive sign-ups, the tiered structure can compound into meaningful passive income over time. Apply at kit.com/affiliate.