TLDR; In my experience, ClickBank is the better starting point for new affiliates. It has broader niches, simpler access, and suits content-driven promotion like blogs, reviews, email and videos. WarriorPlus works best if you want internet marketing tools, software and launch-style offers, but vendor approval, refunds and offer quality need closer scrutiny.
Start with one platform and one simple strategy. Choose offers carefully, build trust, track results, then scale.
If you’re starting out in affiliate marketing, choosing a marketplace can be tricky. Two of the most popular places to begin are ClickBank and WarriorPlus. Both let you promote digital products without creating your own, which is a big plus for beginners, and either one can work well as a side hustle depending on what you want to do.
That said, they’re pretty different.
I’ve found ClickBank broader and easier to get into. WarriorPlus is focused on internet marketing, make-money-online products, software launches and funnel-style offers, so it stays in a narrower lane. That difference matters. Pick the wrong platform and you can end up promoting offers that don’t fit your skills, your traffic source or the audience you want to build.
In this comparison I’ll look at the main differences from a beginner’s point of view: ease of use, product types, the approval process and offer quality. I’ll also look at how realistic each platform is if you’re starting with little money and not much experience. My view is that ClickBank is the easier place to start, and WarriorPlus can come later once you have some affiliate experience.
ClickBank vs WarriorPlus: the details
ClickBank
At a Glance
ClickBank launched in 1998 and I’ve used it from both sides: I’ve sold my own courses through it and promoted other people’s products as an affiliate. Setting up as a vendor was a simple process. As an affiliate you get a free account and access to a big marketplace across niches like health, wealth and spirituality, and I found it easy to pick a product and start promoting.
Commissions can be paid straight to your bank account. In the past ClickBank also sent cheques, though I’m not sure whether they still do.
Pros
- Free and easy to get started — no upfront cost for affiliates.
- Lots of products to choose from — covering many different niches.
- High commission rates — particularly compared with many physical-product affiliate programs.
- Some products offer recurring commissions — giving the potential for repeat earnings from one customer.
- ClickBank handles the technical side — payment processing, affiliate tracking and commission calculations are handled for you.
Cons
- First-payment requirements — you need at least 5 qualifying sales from different customers before receiving your first payment.
- Payment threshold — your balance must reach your chosen threshold before you’re paid.
- Inactive accounts can be closed — including after periods without sales or logins. Dormant accounts can also be charged fees, which can gradually eat into your balance if you stop earning for a prolonged period.
- Product quality varies — some products and sales pages are much better than others, so research an offer carefully before recommending it.
Who It’s For
ClickBank suits beginners who want room to try different niches and traffic methods, whether that’s blog content, email or YouTube reviews. If you’d rather not be tied to launch-style offers, it’s the easier place to start. Just remember the first-payment rule: expect to wait for your first five sales before you see any money.
Pricing: Free for affiliates
Website: https://www.clickbank.com/
WarriorPlus
At a Glance
WarriorPlus is a digital product marketplace known mainly for software, internet marketing tools, training and business-opportunity offers. It’s closely tied to product launches and funnel-based sales pages. Affiliates can join for free, browse the available offers, and then ask vendors for approval. Getting approved to promote a product can be a challenge at times.
I find that if I buy the product first and then ask for approval to promote it, I’m accepted. If you haven’t bought the product it’s still possible to be accepted, but it’s not so easy. Approval can depend on how you plan to promote the product, and having a blog or YouTube channel certainly helps. Vendors also like to see some track record of sales on WarriorPlus. ClickBank, on the other hand, doesn’t have this approval process for most of its products.
If your main goal is promoting software, make-money-online products, launch campaigns and similar offers, WarriorPlus can be a good fit, especially for reaching that specific audience.
Pros
- Lots of new products: New products are launched regularly, giving affiliates a steady stream of offers to promote.
- High commissions: Many products offer generous commission rates, particularly digital products, software and online marketing tools.
- Good for the online marketing niche: WarriorPlus is particularly strong for software, marketing tools, affiliate marketing and make-money-online products.
- Built-in tracking: You can easily track your clicks, sales and commissions from inside your account.
Cons
- Limited range of niches: WarriorPlus is heavily focused on online business and marketing, so there is much less choice if you want to promote products in areas such as health, hobbies or personal development.
- You may need approval: Vendors can choose whether to approve you as an affiliate. If you’re new and don’t have a sales history, getting approved for some products can be difficult.
- Product quality varies: There are some very good products on WarriorPlus, but quality can vary considerably. Check the product and sales page carefully before deciding whether you’d be happy to recommend it.
Who It’s For
WarriorPlus is best for affiliates who already know they want to promote software, marketing tools and make-money-online offers. It also lets you see useful information before you promote: you can look at the sales page, watch refund patterns and see how many sales a product has made. That can lead to better buying decisions for you as the affiliate.
Pricing: Free for affiliates
Website: https://warriorplus.com
ClickBank affiliate marketing vs WarriorPlus: which should you pick?
If the question is simply ClickBank vs WarriorPlus, here’s the short version.
Choose ClickBank if you want more niche options, easier entry and a beginner-friendly path into affiliate marketing. It works well for review-style content, email follow-up, blog posts and simple videos, which is why so many beginners start there. It’s easier to start but slower to get paid, because you need your first five qualifying sales before your first payment.
Choose WarriorPlus if your goal is already clear: promoting internet marketing products, software tools or launch-based campaigns. Commissions look good on paper, but check the offers carefully. Vendor approval is often part of the process, and buyer quality and refunds need watching because they can affect your results quickly. It’s less simple, and beginners tend to notice that early on.
For most brand-new affiliates, my advice is to start with ClickBank and bring WarriorPlus in later. On either platform, beginners usually struggle for the same reason: they pick weak offers or switch strategies too fast.
How to make your choice actually pay off
Choosing a platform is only the start. What makes the difference is pairing it with a simple plan.
With ClickBank, stay with one niche and a small group of products you’ve checked carefully. With WarriorPlus, focus on one type of buyer and learn how launch offers, bonuses, follow-up emails and timing work together. Either way, avoid random promotion. Build around trust, useful content and basic tracking so you can see what gets clicks and what actually turns into sales.
Most beginners focus on the platform and not enough on how they’ll get visitors. If that’s you, Affiliate Marketing Course vs Free YouTube can help you decide between structured learning and going it alone.
Further reading
If you’re still deciding between networks and direct programs, Affiliate Network vs Program: Key Differences explains the difference clearly, and Best Affiliate Programs for Beginners has ideas beyond these two platforms. You’ll find more guides on ClickBank, WarriorPlus and traffic on the Internet Startup Class blog.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ClickBank better than WarriorPlus for beginners?
For most beginners, yes. ClickBank has more niche variety and doesn’t usually require vendor approval. WarriorPlus can still work, particularly if you already want to promote internet marketing or software offers.
Can you make money with ClickBank affiliate marketing without paid ads?
Yes, but it takes time and consistency. Many affiliates start with content, email lists, simple review pages and social traffic before moving into paid ads.
Why do some WarriorPlus offers require approval?
Vendors want to protect their products from spam and misleading promotion, so many approve affiliates manually. In my experience, buying the product first helps, and so does having a blog or YouTube channel.
Are ClickBank and WarriorPlus free to join?
For affiliates, yes, both are free. The real investment is your time, your learning curve and sometimes the tools you use for email, landing pages or traffic. On ClickBank, remember you also need five qualifying sales before your first payment.
How long does it take to get results as a new affiliate?
It depends on your niche, traffic method, consistency and offer quality. Some people get early clicks but take longer to make regular sales. Plan to spend your first few weeks learning the platform, testing a small number of offers and building content you can improve over time.
Should I learn one platform first or join several at once?
I’d learn and stick to one platform first. It makes offer selection, tracking and audience fit much easier to understand without getting overwhelmed.