10 Best Pay Per Click Affiliate Programs to Earn Passive Income in 2025

Looking for an easy way to make money online without worrying about conversions or selling products? The top pay per click affiliate programs let you earn a commission every time someone clicks on an ad; no purchase needed!

But with so many options, how do you pick the right one? In this guide, we’ll explore the highest paying pay per click affiliate programs, how much you can earn, and tips to maximize your profits.

What is Pay Per Click in Digital Marketing?

Pay per click in Digital Marketing is a simple way for businesses to get traffic through paid ads. Every time someone clicks on an ad, the advertiser pays a small fee that’s what is cost per click all about!

Website owners (publishers) make money by showing PPC ads on their sites, while advertisers use PPC to bring in potential customers. This model is popular on search engines (Google Ads), social media (Facebook, Twitter), and display networks. It’s also used in affiliate marketing, where affiliates earn based on clicks instead of direct sales.

How Does Pay Per Click Work?

1. Advertiser Creates an Ad Campaign: The advertiser picks keywords, audience, budget, and ad format (Google Ads, Facebook Ads, etc.).

2. Ad is Shown to Users: The ad appears on search engines, websites, or social media based on the selected targeting.

3. User Clicks the Ad: When someone clicks, they are taken to the advertiser’s website or landing page.

4. Advertiser Pays for the Click: The cost per click campaign decides how much the advertiser pays based on competition and keyword value.

5. Publisher Earns from Clicks: Website owners using Google AdSense, Media.net, and other networks make money with pay per click whenever a valid click happens.

Benefits of Pay Per Click

1. Instant Traffic: Unlike SEO, which takes time, PPC ads bring visitors immediately.

2. Highly Targeted Ads: Show ads to the right audience based on keywords, location, device, and interests.

3. Cost Control: Set a daily budget and maximum bid to manage spending in the cost per click model.

4. Only Pay for Clicks: Unlike display ads, you pay only when someone clicks, so no money is wasted.

5. Measurable & Trackable: Use Google Ads, Facebook Ads Manager to track clicks, conversions, and ROI.

6. Flexible & Scalable: Increase ad spend when a campaign works well or reduce it when needed.

7. Boosts Brand Visibility: Even if users don’t click, PPC ads keep your brand on top of search results.

8. Works Well With SEO: PPC fills the gap while you wait for SEO rankings to improve.

9. Great for Affiliates & Bloggers: PPC affiliate marketing helps bloggers and affiliate marketers earn with Google AdSense, Media.net, and other networks.

10. Retargeting for Higher Conversions: Show ads to visitors who left your site using tools like Facebook Pixel & Google Retargeting.

List of 10 Best Pay Per Click Affiliate Programs in India

1. Adsense

Google AdSense used to be the easiest way to make money from website visitors, but getting approved has become tougher. Because of this, many people are looking for alternatives.

However, when it comes to monetizing YouTube content, AdSense is still the best option. It has a huge network of advertisers, an easy-to-use platform, and powerful analytics to help publishers track their earnings.

That said, AdSense has strict rules, and breaking them can get you banned quickly. Plus, it doesn’t offer much flexibility for customizing ads.

AdSense works on a pay-per-click campaign model, meaning advertisers bid for ad space, and website owners or creators earn money when someone clicks on the ad. Google takes a small cut, and the rest goes to the publisher.

While it may not be the best choice for every website, it’s still the top pick for making money from YouTube videos.

2. Media.net

Media.net is one of the best alternatives to Google AdSense, as it pulls ads from the Yahoo Bing Network. It works alongside Google ads, so you can increase your earnings without choosing one over the other.

As the second-largest contextual ad network, it supports over 500,000 websites and offers automated ad optimization with multiple ad formats.

Unlike Google AdSense, Media.net doesn’t openly share its commission rates. However, publishers can join managed advertising programs or the Media.net Marketplace to connect with high-value advertisers.

The network works on a pay per click model, meaning you earn money whenever someone clicks on an ad. With an average RPM of around $10, Media.net is a great choice for affiliate marketers, especially in high-paying niches like credit cards and personal finance.

3. Ezoic

Ezoic is a smart ad optimization platform that helps website owners earn more from ads using machine learning. Unlike AdSense, it has a lower payout threshold of just $20 and accepts sites with less than 10,000 pageviews (though 500–1,000 visits/month are recommended).

As a Google Certified Publishing Partner, Ezoic works alongside AdSense, giving access to Google Ad Exchange for higher-paying ads. Instead of traditional cost per click marketing, it uses EPMV (Earnings Per Thousand Visitors), meaning you earn based on visitor behavior rather than just ad clicks.

With potential earnings of up to $15 per 1,000 visitors and a 3% lifetime referral commission, Ezoic is a great way to maximize ad revenue.

4. PropellerAds

PropellerAds is a flexible ad network that offers different ad formats, including popunders, and works alongside Google AdSense to help publishers maximize earnings. It has automated ad optimization, a simple ad creator, and smart tools like AI-powered bidding and a traffic estimator.

One of its biggest advantages is its Anti-Adblock software, which helps bypass ad blockers and can increase revenue by up to 50%.

Some ad formats may feel a bit aggressive, but PropellerAds carefully moderates ads to prevent malware. However, since it does serve adult content, publishers should check if it fits their audience.

With RPMs reaching up to $7, quick payouts every Thursday (for earnings above $5), and a 5% lifetime referral commission, it’s a solid choice for affiliate marketers looking to boost earnings through cost per click affiliate programs.

5. Raptive (Formerly AdThrive)

AdThrive, now called Raptive, is a premium ad network for high-quality publishers. To join, your website must have at least 100,000 monthly pageviews, mainly from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, and unique, engaging content. Even after approval, sites are carefully reviewed to match advertiser needs.

As a Premier Google Certified Publishing Partner, Raptive gives access to Google AdX and pays much more than AdSense. It claims to boost RPM by 75% and guarantees a 20% increase in two weeks for those switching.

With RPMs between $12 and $30 per 1,000 visitors, it’s one of the best cost per click sites. Plus, it offers SEO support, traffic growth help, and an affiliate platform, making it perfect for serious publishers.

6. Outbrain

Outbrain is a top native ad network that offers a smooth and professional alternative to PPC programs like Google AdSense. Unlike regular ad networks, Outbrain lets publishers sell ad space directly to advertisers or use its Smartlogic ad server for better ad placements. It also supports multiple languages, including English, French, German, and Spanish, making it a great option for global publishers.

There’s no minimum traffic requirement, but Outbrain has strict content quality rules, making approval a bit tricky. Commission rates depend on the website and aren’t publicly shared, but most publishers earn between $5 and $10 per 1,000 visitors.

The only downside is that payments can take up to three months, which might be slow for some. Still, with big brand partnerships like Disney, Panasonic, and Lego, Outbrain is one of the best CPC advertising networks for both advertisers and affiliate publishers.

7. Mediavine

Mediavine is a premium CPM ad network that pays for every ad view, making it a great option for high-traffic websites. To qualify, you need 50,000+ monthly sessions, long-form original content, and a good Google Analytics record.

It works with Google AdSense and offers RPMs up to $30, meaning a site with 50,000 visitors could earn around $1,500/month. However, Mediavine requires full exclusivity, so you can’t use other ad networks.

With transparent payouts, a net 65 payment schedule, and strong advertiser relationships, it’s a top choice for bloggers looking to scale earnings alongside cost per click affiliate programs.

8. Skimlinks

Skimlinks is a smart monetization platform that automatically turns product links into affiliate links, making it easy for bloggers and SEO marketers to earn. Just install a script or WordPress plugin, and you’re set, no manual tracking needed.

Unlike affiliate programs that pay per click, Skimlinks works with affiliate networks to boost earnings. It offers a 75/25 revenue split, with publishers keeping 75%. There’s also a 35% referral commission for the first year.

However, there is no Amazon support and a Net 90 payout cycle, so payments take up to three months. Still, with automated tracking and high commission rates, it’s a great hands-free way to earn from content.

9. Infolinks

Infolinks is a global ad platform that helps websites earn through contextual ads. It works on over 350,000 websites, showing 1.5 billion ads per month. Unlike many pay per click platforms, Infolinks has no minimum traffic requirement, so any publisher can join.

Just add the Infolinks script, and ads will automatically appear in your content, working alongside Google AdSense for extra income. It uses real-time traffic analysis to show the right ads to the right visitors, helping you earn more.

With RPMs up to $5, it can sometimes outperform AdSense. Plus, its referral program pays 10% of a referral’s earnings for 12 months. With top brands like Nike and Netflix, Infolinks is a great way to boost ad revenue.

10. Adsterra

Adsterra is a user-friendly ad network that helps bloggers and affiliates earn with easy approval and no strict traffic rules. Unlike many pay per click affiliate marketing programs, it even lets you monetize social media traffic with its Smart Direct Link. Approval takes just 10 minutes, so you can start earning fast.

It offers multiple ad formats, a 100% fill rate, and works alongside Google AdSense. Plus, with a 5% referral bonus and over $87 million paid out yearly, Adsterra is a great choice for anyone looking to maximize their ad revenue effortlessly.

Cost Per Click Vs Cost Per Impression

Criteria	Cost Per Click (CPC)	Cost Per Impression (CPM)
Definition	Advertisers pay for each click on their ad	Advertisers pay per 1,000 views of their ad
Payment Model	Pay only when someone clicks	Pay for ad views, even if no one clicks
Best For	Driving traffic, lead generation, conversions	Brand awareness, visibility, exposure
Pricing	Bids on keywords (Google Ads, Bing Ads)	Bids based on ad views (CPM rates)
Cost Control	Better control, set a CPC bid	Less control, cost depends on views
Effectiveness	Great for performance-based campaigns	Better for brand building
Common Platforms	Google Ads (Search), Facebook Ads (Click-based)	Google Display, Facebook, YouTube ads
ROI Potential	Higher for conversions & sales	Good for long-term branding
Best Use Cases	CPC affiliate marketing, e-commerce, PPC monetization	Banner ads, brand promotion, awareness campaigns

If you’re into CPC affiliate programs or PPC affiliate programs, then CPC is the way to go since you only pay for actual clicks. But if you want brand awareness, CPM is a better option.

How to Maximize Your Income with Pay Per Click Affiliate Programs?

1. Pick High-Paying PPC Networks: Not all pay per click affiliate networks pay the same. Some have higher CPC (Cost-Per-Click) rates, meaning more earnings per click.

Top networks to join:

• Google AdSense – Best for blogs & websites
• Media.net – Great for US/UK traffic
• Ezoic & AdThrive – Higher RPMs for niche blogs
• PropellerAds & PopAds – Best for pop-under & push ads
• Taboola & Outbrain – Ideal for native advertising

2. Focus on High CPC Niches: Some topics pay way more per click than others like

• Finance & Investing ($5 – $50 per click)
• Legal Services ($10 – $100 per click)
• Insurance ($5 – $70 per click)
• Health & Wellness ($3 – $20 per click)
• Technology & SaaS ($2 – $15 per click)

3. Get More Organic Traffic: More visitors = More clicks = More money!

Ways to drive traffic:

• SEO Optimization – Rank higher on Google
• Content Marketing – Create valuable, engaging content
• Keyword Research – Target high-traffic & low-competition keywords

4. Increase Click-Through Rate (CTR): A higher CTR means more clicks and more revenue.

How to boost CTR:

• Place ads smartly – Above the fold, in content, sidebar
• Use engaging headlines & images to attract clicks
• Test different ad formats – Display, native, push ads

5. Use Multiple PPC Networks: Why limit yourself to just one? Mix different PPC networks to boost earnings, like

• Google AdSense + Media.net – For better ad fill rates
• Taboola or Outbrain – For native ads on blogs
• PropellerAds or PopAds – For mobile & push ads

6. Optimize for Mobile Users: Over 60% of web traffic comes from mobile devices. Use mobile-friendly ad formats (native ads, push ads) and choose PPC networks optimized for mobile. Make sure your site is fast & responsive.

7. Track & Improve Your Performance: To make the most money from affiliate marketing cost per click, you need to track & tweak your strategy. Use Google Analytics & PPC dashboards. A/B test ad placements, formats, and networks and optimize low-performing pages with better content and ads.

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Conclusion

Pay per click affiliate programs are a simple way to earn money from your website or blog without selling anything. You get paid for clicks, so all you need to do is drive traffic and encourage engagement.

Success comes from consistent effort, growing your audience, and optimizing your ads. The more visitors and clicks you get, the higher your earnings.

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