Kit Affiliate Program Review: Full Guide to Commission Rates

Kit (formerly ConvertKit) has built something pretty special for creators who want to grow their email lists. But here’s what really caught my attention—their affiliate program pays 50% commissions for an entire year. That’s not a typo.

If you’re thinking about promoting Kit to your audience, this review covers everything you need to know. The good, the tricky parts, and whether it’s actually worth your time.

Kit Affiliate Program Commission Rates

Base Commission Structure

Let’s start with the number that probably brought you here: 50% commission for 12 full months. I’ve looked at a lot of affiliate programs, and this one stands out. Most email marketing tools offer maybe 30% for a few months, then drop you down to something like 10%.

Kit does things differently. When someone signs up through your link and pays $100 a month, you get $50. Every month. For a year.

The commission scales with whatever your referral pays. So if they upgrade to a $300 plan halfway through the year, your monthly cut jumps to $150. It’s that simple.

Recurring vs One-Time Payments

Here’s where it gets interesting. After that first year, Kit doesn’t just cut you loose. They have this tier system that kicks in:

• Bronze (10+ customers per year): 10% recurring commission
• Silver (50+ customers per year): 15% recurring commission
• Gold (100+ customers per year): 20% recurring commission

The catch? You need to maintain these numbers annually to keep earning. Miss your target one year, and you drop down a tier. It’s motivating, but also means you can’t just coast.

Bonus Payments & Incentives

The tier system is basically Kit’s way of rewarding their top performers. Hit Bronze and you’re earning recurring commissions for life—as long as your referrals stick around and you keep hitting those 10+ customer targets.

What I like about this setup is how it rewards consistency over quick wins. You’re not trying to game the system with a bunch of low-quality referrals. You want people who actually stick with Kit.

Realistic Earning Examples

Let’s say you refer 20 customers in your first year, each paying $1,200 annually. Your first-year earnings: $12,000 (20 × $600). Not bad for a side hustle.

Hit Silver status the next year with 50 customers total? You’re looking at $9,000 in recurring revenue (50 × $1,200 × 15%). That’s recurring income that keeps coming as long as your referrals stay happy.

The math gets pretty compelling at Gold level. 100 customers at $1,200 each means $60,000 in year-one commissions, then $24,000 recurring. Suddenly we’re talking real money.

*Based on customers paying $1,200 annually

How to Join the Kit Affiliate Program

Step 1: Visit the Affiliate Program Page

Head over to kit.com/affiliate and take a look around. The page does a good job explaining what you’re signing up for—no hidden gotchas or fine print surprises.

I’d recommend reading through everything before you apply. Not because it’s complicated, but because understanding the program helps you promote it better later.

Step 2: Complete the Application Form

Click “Apply to Join” and fill out the form. They want basic info about you and your platform—nothing too invasive. Your name, email, website, and a bit about your audience.

The key here is being honest about your audience and how Kit might fit. They’re looking for people who can genuinely recommend the tool, not just anyone with a website.

Step 3: Wait for Approval (Timeline)

Most applications get reviewed within 3-5 business days. Kit manually reviews each one, which is probably why their affiliate quality stays high.

If your platform makes sense for their audience (creators, entrepreneurs, small business owners), you’ll likely get approved. If not, they’ll let you know.

Step 4: Access Your Affiliate Dashboard

Once approved, you get access to PartnerStack—that’s the platform Kit uses to manage affiliates. Fair warning: it’s a separate login from your Kit account, so don’t lose those credentials.

Set up your payment info right away. Nothing worse than making your first sale and then scrambling to figure out how to get paid.

Step 5: Generate Your Affiliate Links

Your PartnerStack dashboard has everything you need: tracking links, banners, logos, even some pre-written copy. The links are what track your referrals, so don’t skip this step.

You can create different links for different campaigns, which is handy for tracking what actually works.

Step 6: Start Promoting and Earning

This is where the real work begins. Kit converts best when people understand why email marketing matters for their business. Generic “check out this tool” posts probably won’t cut it.

Think about specific problems Kit solves. Maybe it’s the creator who’s tired of their current email platform’s limitations. Or the small business owner who needs something more sophisticated than Mailchimp but less overwhelming than HubSpot.

Kit Affiliate Program Requirements

Website & Traffic Requirements

Here’s the good news: you don’t need to be a Kit customer to join their affiliate program. You also don’t need massive traffic numbers.

What they do want is an established platform where you can authentically recommend Kit. Could be a blog, YouTube channel, podcast, or even an active social media account with engaged followers.

The emphasis is on “engaged.” Better to have 1,000 people who actually read your stuff than 10,000 who scroll past.

Content Quality Standards

Kit looks for platforms that align with their audience—creators, entrepreneurs, marketers, small business owners. If you’re writing about email marketing, online business, or content creation, you’re probably in good shape.

They care more about relevance and quality than follower count. A thoughtful blog post about email marketing tools will probably get approved over a lifestyle Instagram account, even if the Instagram has more followers.

Geographic Restrictions

None. Kit’s affiliate program is global, and they can pay affiliates pretty much anywhere through PayPal, direct deposit, or Stripe.

This makes sense since Kit serves customers worldwide. Your audience in Australia or the UK is just as valuable as someone in the US.

Prohibited Promotional Methods

Here’s an important catch: paid advertising referrals don’t count toward your tier status. You can still earn commissions from PPC ads, but those customers won’t help you reach Bronze, Silver, or Gold levels.

Kit also has the usual rules about no spam, no deceptive advertising, and no misrepresenting their features or pricing. Pretty standard stuff.

Kit Affiliate Payment Terms

Payment Methods Available

PayPal works everywhere, which is probably your best bet if you’re outside the US. Domestic affiliates can also choose direct deposit or Stripe, depending on their location.

You’ll set this up in PartnerStack, not your main Kit account. Just remember to verify your payment method—nobody wants commission delays over a typo.

Payment Schedule & Timing

Kit pays monthly, but there’s a 30-day delay after the sale. So if someone signs up in January, you’ll see that commission in your March payment.

The delay protects against refunds and chargebacks. Makes sense from Kit’s perspective, and it’s pretty standard in the affiliate world.

Minimum Payout Threshold

Only $5 minimum through PartnerStack. That’s refreshingly low compared to other programs that make you wait until you hit $50 or $100.

If you have approved commissions, you get paid. Simple as that.

Cookie Duration & Commission Processing

Kit gives you 90 days of cookie tracking. That’s longer than most affiliate programs and reflects how people actually buy B2B software—lots of research, maybe a free trial, then a decision weeks later.

Someone can click your link in January and sign up in March, and you still get credit. That extended window probably increases your conversion rate significantly.

Kit Affiliate Resources & Support

Available Creative Assets

PartnerStack has banners, logos, and other graphics you can use. They’re well-designed and on-brand, which saves you time if you’re not a designer.

Kit also has something called the Affiliate Promotion Hub with ready-made content. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s helpful when you need to create something quickly.

Email Templates & Swipe Copy

There are pre-written emails and social media posts you can customize. I’d recommend using these as starting points rather than copying them verbatim—your audience probably prefers your voice over Kit’s marketing copy.

The templates do give you a sense of what messaging works, though. Worth studying even if you write your own content.

Support & Training Resources

Kit offers affiliate support, which is more than some programs provide. If you’re stuck on something technical or need clarification on program rules, they’re responsive.

They also have training materials about email marketing in general. Useful if you’re newer to the space and want to sound credible when recommending Kit.

Kit Affiliate Program Pros & Cons

Advantages of the Program

The 50% first-year commission rate is genuinely impressive. I can’t think of another email marketing tool that pays this much for this long.

The 90-day cookie window gives you a real advantage over competitors with shorter tracking periods. Plus, the global reach means you’re not limited to promoting to US audiences only.

I also appreciate that you don’t need to be a Kit customer to join. Some programs require you to use the product first, which can be a barrier.

Potential Drawbacks

The tier system for recurring commissions creates pressure to keep hitting targets. Miss your numbers one year and your recurring income drops. That might stress out some affiliates.

The paid advertising limitation is also worth considering. If you’re planning to scale with Facebook ads or Google Ads, those customers won’t help you reach higher tiers.

Who Should Join

Content creators, bloggers, and YouTubers with business-focused audiences are probably the best fit. If your people are interested in growing their businesses online, Kit makes sense.

Existing Kit users have a natural advantage since they can speak from experience. Authenticity matters more in B2B affiliate marketing than in consumer stuff.

Who Should Skip This Program

If your audience isn’t interested in email marketing or online business, Kit probably won’t convert well. Don’t try to force a mismatch just because the commissions look good.

Also, if you need immediate high-volume earnings without building relationships, there might be better programs out there with different payout structures.

Kit Affiliate Program FAQs