ClickBank Vs ShareASale: Which Network Converts Better In 2025?

Are you trying to figure out which affiliate network will actually put more money in your pocket this year?

ClickBank Vs ShareASale: Which Network Converts Better In 2025?

You have two sturdy doors in front of you: ClickBank and ShareASale. Both lead to commissions, dashboards, and a mild obsession with refresh buttons. The better question isn’t “Which is bigger?” but “Which one converts better for your exact audience, content, and traffic?” In 2025, conversion is less about hype and more about fit, funnel, and tracking that survives a cookie’s midlife crisis.

Here’s the short version: if your traffic responds to emotional storytelling, direct response landing pages, and digital offers with quick gratification (ebooks, VSLs, supplements, software), you’ll usually see higher EPC on ClickBank. If your traffic is shopping-oriented, brand-focused, and comparison-happy (fashion, home, SaaS, tools), you’ll usually see steadier conversion and fewer refunds on ShareASale. But “usually” is doing a lot of heavy lifting there—your funnel, pre-sell, and compliance choices can swing results dramatically.

Let’s break it down so you can pick the network that actually converts better for you, not someone with a very different audience and an alarming love of protein powder.

What “Converts Better” Really Means In 2025

You and I both know “conversion rate” alone is a slippery fish. In 2025, you need a cluster of metrics to get the full picture. Think of this like judging a restaurant: it’s not just whether you got seated, it’s how fast your order arrived, whether the fries were hot, and if you regretted dessert.

• Conversion rate (CR): Percent of clicks that become sales.
• EPC (Earnings Per Click): Total commission ÷ clicks. The adult in the room.
• AOV (Average Order Value): The size of each cart; influences commission.
• Chargeback/refund rate: How much revenue boomerangs back to the customer.
• Cookie/attribution window: How long you can earn after the first click.
• Recurring commissions: Not glamorous, but they make your month feel steadier.
• Locking/hold periods: When commissions become payable and stop being reversible.

When you say “which network converts better,” you’re really asking “which network gives me higher refund-adjusted EPC, reliably, with payouts I can count on?” That’s the question we’ll answer.

At‑A‑Glance: ClickBank vs ShareASale

You don’t need thirty tabs open. This is the high-level snapshot.

Dimension	ClickBank	ShareASale
Best for	Direct response, digital info products, supplements, VSL funnels, quiz landers	E‑commerce brands, retail categories, SaaS, subscription boxes, long-tail merchants
Typical EPC (broad ranges, traffic-dependent)	$0.50–$3.50+; top offers can exceed $5 with tuned funnels	$0.20–$1.50; can exceed $2 with high-intent SEO/coupons
Refund/chargeback tendency	Higher on digital (often 5–20%); supplements vary	Lower for physical goods (often 2–8%); varies by merchant
Cookie/attribution	Often 60 days or vendor-defined; recurring credits on rebills (offer-dependent)	Merchant-defined (commonly 30 days); first-party tracking strong across many programs
Payout schedule	Weekly or biweekly available; low thresholds	Monthly payouts (e.g., around 20th) after locking; threshold around $50
Approval	Generally instant to promote; some vendors restrict traffic types	Two-step: network approval + merchant approvals
Offer control	Strong publisher-facing funnels, upsells, prebuilt angles	Professional brand creatives; coupon and content support
Risk	Higher compliance scrutiny on biz‑opp/health; volatility on trends	Lower compliance risk if you follow merchant rules; more competition in retail
Tools	HopLinks, vendor resources, recurring billing, marketplace metrics (e.g., Gravity)	Deep linking, product feeds, coupons/deals database, reporting by merchant
Who wins for “quick wins”	You with warm or high-urgency traffic	You with comparison content, SEO, and commerce intent

“Typical” is doing its best here. Your numbers will depend on traffic quality, presell depth, and whether you treat “compliance” as a suggestion or a survival plan.

Who Should Choose ClickBank In 2025 (And Why)

If your audience responds to stories, big promises (that you can substantiate), or the thrill of a “one weird method” pitch, ClickBank is your playground. You’ll find:

• Digital info products: courses, ebooks, membership sites.
• Supplements and health offers: diet, sleep, performance.
• Software and tools: often direct response-styled.
• Self-help, spirituality, money-making niches.

Why it converts: ClickBank merchants build funnels that do the heavy lifting—VSLs, upsells, order bumps, quizzes—crafted to turn curiosity into cart. If your content tees up the problem and your traffic is primed, EPCs can look very sunny, very fast.

Pros:

• High commissions (sometimes 50–75% on digital; recurring on subscriptions).
• Tested funnels with strong A/B infrastructure from vendors.
• Faster payouts and lower thresholds are common.
• Easy to start promoting without endless approvals.

Cons:

• Higher refund rates on certain verticals.
• Strict health claims scrutiny—compliance matters.
• Offer volatility; winners can fade as audiences tire.
• Some niches overrun by short-term arbitrage.

ClickBank Conversion Anatomy: From Scroll To Sale

ClickBank conversion tends to follow a direct response arc: a problem, a story, a mechanism, and a promise. If you’re using quizzes, pre-sells, or advertorials, you’re in your element. The better your pre-sell syncs with the vendor’s VSL, the higher the EPC.

What works especially well:

• Quiz-to-VSL: You prequalify desire and segment the angle with simple “Find your X” quizzes. Your users feel understood; the VSL feels inevitable.
• Contrarian mechanism intros: “You’ve been doing X wrong” leads to a new mechanism the product claims to unlock.
• Time-sensitive bundles or fast-action bonuses: Urgency, used responsibly, helps.
• Warm email sequences: Soft daily reminders for 3–5 days post-click. Let the vendor’s page sell; you nudge.

Traffic matches:

• Social and short-form video: “before/after” narratives (compliant).
• Search with problem-intent keywords: “how to fix,” “why can’t I…”
• Email lists segmented by pain point: open rates >25% can print EPC.

Geo considerations:

• Many top offers are US-first. International traffic can still work—just confirm payment processors and shipping coverage (for physical) and check vendor’s geo-specific landers.

ClickBank Payouts And Stability

You want predictable cash flow, not a financial adventure.

• Payout cadence: Weekly or biweekly options exist once your account meets criteria. Thresholds can be low (often as low as around $10), which helps if you’re testing.
• Recurring revenue: Software/memberships can pay recurring commissions, smoothing your month.
• Reversals: Expect more refunds in certain categories. Adjust EPC with a refund haircut. It’s more honest and less heartbreaking.

ClickBank Trends To Watch In 2025

• Privacy-first tracking: Expect more vendors supporting server-side events and first-party pixels. You should, too.
• UGC-to-VSL pipelines: TikTok/Reels creators pushing quizzes pre-sell into VSLs continue to work when compliant.
• Stricter ad policies: Health and biz‑opp language must be substantiated and conservative. Prepare compliant alternates.

Who Should Choose ShareASale In 2025 (And Why)

If your audience likes brands, carts, and shipping updates, ShareASale is your steady friend. You’ll find:

• DTC e‑commerce brands across fashion, home, outdoor, beauty.
• Software/SaaS and services with free trials and upgrades.
• Subscription boxes and giftable categories.
• A long tail of niche merchants you’ve probably never heard of and will grow to adore.

Why it converts: Users already shopping, comparing, or in “browse with intent” mode find it comfortable. Comparison tables, reviews, and buying guides sing here. Cookies won’t save you if the funnel is dull, but first-party tracking and honest brand credibility do a lot.

Pros:

• Lower refund/chargeback rates for physical goods.
• Vast merchant choice; you can assemble category clusters.
• Strong first-party tracking via the network’s infrastructure.
• Coupon data feeds and deep linking simplify content monetization.

Cons:

• Monthly payouts with locking windows—commissions feel delayed.
• Need merchant approvals; not everything is instant.
• Coupon/loyalty players can eat last-click credit if you’re not careful.
• EPC can be modest unless your content targets purchase intent.

ShareASale Conversion Anatomy: From Intent To Checkout

ShareASale shines with a “help me decide” funnel. You help users pick between Brand A and Brand B, then you calmly hand them a coupon and a hug.

What works especially well:

• Comparison guides and “best of” lists with concrete specs.
• Feature matrices and price breakdowns, ideally with updated promos.
• Buying triggers: shipping thresholds, seasonal discounts, gift guides.
• Email automations that round up deals and restocks.

Traffic matches:

• SEO with transactional intent: “best X for Y,” “X vs Y,” “X review,” “promo code.”
• Pinterest and visual discovery for fashion/home.
• Niche newsletters with curated picks.

Cookie dynamics:

• Merchant-defined windows. Many are 30 days; some shorter/longer.
• Last-click matters. You can lose to coupon extensions. Fight back with unique coupon codes issued to you, direct deep links, and price‑drop updates that reduce coupon hunting.

ShareASale Payouts And Stability

• Payout cadence: Monthly after a locking period. Simpler, slower, steadier.
• Threshold: Commonly around $50.
• Reversals: Lower than digital info products typically; still prepare for returns.
• LTV: Some merchants pay on initial sale only; a subset pays on upsells/renewals. Read terms.

ShareASale Trends To Watch In 2025

• First-party tracking maturity: Good news as third-party cookies fade.
• Influencer codes and hybrid deals: Many merchants give tracked codes or private bonuses that protect your last click.
• Merchant consolidation: Expect brands to prune programs; your best bet is to build deep relationships with a dozen winners rather than skimming a hundred.

Real-World EPC: What You Can Expect

No guarantees here—just reasonable ranges you can sanity-check against your results.

Vertical	ClickBank EPC (typical ranges)	ShareASale EPC (typical ranges)	Notes
Health supplements	$0.80–$4.00+ (varies by upsell stack)	$0.30–$1.20	ClickBank can soar with strong VSLs; refunds can bite—plan for 10–20% haircut.
Digital courses/info	$0.60–$3.50	$0.20–$0.80	ClickBank’s direct response DNA helps; ShareASale has fewer info offers.
SaaS/software	$0.40–$2.00 (recurring helps)	$0.50–$2.50 (trial-to-paid funnels)	ShareASale merchants may have polished onboarding; trial friction matters.
Fashion/beauty DTC	$0.20–$1.00	$0.40–$1.80	ShareASale generally better due to brand trust and coupons.
Home/outdoor	$0.25–$1.00	$0.50–$2.00	Higher AOV on ShareASale can lift commissions despite lower CR.
Finance/make‑money	$0.80–$4.00 (compliance sensitive)	$0.20–$1.20	ClickBank can win with strong pre‑sell; tread carefully with claims.

A note on refunds: If you see $2.50 EPC on a ClickBank course and a 15% refund rate, adjust that to roughly $2.14. The honest number is the one you can spend without flinching.

Compliance And Restrictions That Quietly Decide Your Results

You don’t have to love rules, but rules do love reversals.

• PPC restrictions: Both networks have merchants who prohibit brand bidding and certain keywords. Read the terms or prepare for an unpleasant email.
• Email marketing: Get permission, honor unsubscribe, no forbidden claims. ShareASale merchants often provide email copy; ClickBank vendors sometimes do, but you must still vet it.
• Health claims: Be conservative. If you wouldn’t say it to a regulator’s face while maintaining eye contact, reconsider.
• FTC disclosures: Always disclose affiliate relationships, plainly. Your readers prefer honesty to surprise.
• Coupon chrome extensions: They can snipe last click. Try to get unique codes tied to you, negotiate “no coupon sites” if possible, or build content that reduces coupon hunting.

A Simple Framework To Test Which Converts Better For You

Don’t guess. Test cleanly for two weeks and you’ll have your answer.

1. Pick two comparable offers, one per network

• Same niche and intent. For example, skincare serum on ShareASale vs a skincare digital regimen program on ClickBank.
• Similar price band if possible, or normalize by commission rate.

2. Create a consistent pre‑sell

• One comparison page, two call-to-action buttons—one to each offer.
• Rotate button positions daily or by session. Or run two near-identical pages and split traffic 50/50 with a link rotator.

3. Tag everything

• UTM_source, UTM_campaign, and subid parameters that the networks return in reports.
• If you run paid ads, mirror campaign structure on both.

4. Track three EPCs

• Raw EPC: gross commission ÷ clicks.
• Refund-adjusted EPC (RAEPC): (gross – refunds – chargebacks) ÷ clicks.
• Net EPC after fees: (net commissions actually paid) ÷ clicks.

5. Let results lock

• For ShareASale, wait through the locking window to see reversals.
• For ClickBank, wait through typical refund window for the niche (e.g., 30–60 days for digital).

6. Decide with math, not vibes

• Pick the higher RAEPC over a meaningful sample size (e.g., 500+ clicks per offer).
• If within 10%, prefer the network with faster payouts and lower volatility for your cash-flow needs.

Here’s the jargon translated into something you can use:

Metric	Formula	Why you care
EPC	Total commissions ÷ total clicks	Baseline health of an offer or program
RAEPC	(Commissions – refunds – chargebacks) ÷ clicks	What you actually keep
Conversion Rate (CR)	Sales ÷ clicks	Combine with AOV to predict EPC
AOV	Revenue ÷ orders	Higher AOV can offset lower CR
Effective Commission Rate	Commission ÷ merchant revenue	Shows how hard the program works for you

Scenarios: Your Situation And The Better Choice

Sometimes you just want the punchline for your particular life.

You are…	Your traffic looks like…	Likely winner	Why
A beginner with a small blog and social followers	Mixed intent, light email list	ClickBank	Easy to start promoting; funnels do more selling for you.
A content blogger with SEO rankings	Transactional keywords, comparison posts	ShareASale	Brand trust + coupons + product feeds = steady EPC.
A media buyer	Paid social/search, presells	ClickBank	Direct response funnels scale; just keep compliance tight.
An email marketer	Warm list segmented by pain points	ClickBank	Story arcs + follow-ups play nicely with VSLs.
A niche reviewer	Deep product tests and long-form reviews	ShareASale	Merchants reward depth; readers want objects, not promises.
A deals/coupon curator	Promo-first audience	ShareASale	Coupon strength and feed automation reduce friction.
A B2B/SaaS affiliate	Tutorials and product-led content	ShareASale (usually)	Trials and onboarding flows are polished; recurring possible.

These are starting points, not destiny. If you’re the rare blogger whose readers buy digital courses like cookies, don’t let a table stop you.

How To Increase Conversion On ClickBank

ClickBank rewards you for being persuasive and prepared. Think of it as theater: you set the stage, the vendor delivers the monologue, and you collect applause in the form of EPC.

• Use pre‑sell pages that mirror the offer’s angle

  • If the VSL hinges on a surprising mechanism, tease that mechanism in your pre‑sell without spoiling the pitch.
  • Keep your pre‑sell design simple; no competing CTAs.

• Try quiz funnels for segmentation

  • 5–7 questions to identify pain point and readiness.
  • Send segments to customized intros or tailored landers if the vendor provides them.

• Warm your list with a short sequence

  • Day 1: story and curiosity.
  • Day 2: social proof and objection handling.
  • Day 3: bonus or fast-action nudge.

• Track and prune

  • Cut placements that fall below your RAEPC threshold.
  • Double down on pages with strong time-on-page metrics.

• Go soft on claims, heavy on empathy

  • Overpromising today means refunds tomorrow.
  • Use vendor-provided compliant assets; when in doubt, under‑claim and over‑deliver.

• Negotiate

  • High performers often get private landers, higher commissions, or early access to creatives. Ask nicely with data.

How To Increase Conversion On ShareASale

ShareASale rewards you for being useful. Your job is to help readers choose, not to shout at them. Think “friend who actually measures the couch before ordering it.”

• Build comparison tables

  • Put the truth first: pros, cons, specs, prices.
  • Include clear CTAs and note shipping thresholds and return policies.

• Use deep links and updated promos

  • Link directly to the product variant, not just the homepage.
  • Keep promo codes fresh to stop last-click leakage to coupon extensions.

• Target transactional keywords

  • “Best X for Y,” “X vs Y,” “[Brand] review,” “[Brand] discount.”
  • Layer schema markup for reviews and FAQs.

• Automate product feeds

  • Use datafeeds to keep prices and availability current.
  • Out-of-stock links kill conversion faster than you think.

• Ask for program tweaks

  • If you’re sending volume, ask for extended cookie windows, exclusive codes, or content kits.
  • Many brands will do more for you than the public terms suggest.

• Mind seasonality

  • Q4 carries you if you plan gift guides early.
  • For certain categories, spring and back-to-school matter more.

Common Pitfalls That Flatten EPC

It’s not your imagination; some mistakes are repeat offenders.

On ClickBank:

• Over-aggressive claims leading to refunds and account headaches.
• No segmentation; one lander to rule them all.
• Ignoring mobile UX on pre‑sells; VSLs that load slowly on 4G.
• Chasing “Gravity” over fit with your audience. Cool metric, wrong audience equals sad EPC.

On ShareASale:

• Letting coupon extensions steal last click.
• Thin reviews with no photos or tests—readers can smell filler.
• Ignoring lock periods; spending money you haven’t actually earned yet.
• Linking only to homepages; friction kills carts.

2025 Outlook: What Could Change Your Answer

Your job is part marketer, part meteorologist. You’re watching gusts of privacy regulation and the occasional ad platform storm.

• Third‑party cookies fade; first‑party and server‑side matter

  • ShareASale’s first‑party footprint remains an advantage across many merchants.
  • On ClickBank, choose vendors with robust tracking and pixel options.

• UGC keeps moving product

  • Pair creator content with your pre‑sell. Let personality warm the lead; let you provide context; let the vendor close.

• AI content is everywhere

  • Your edge is authority and specificity. Original photos, test results, and clear opinions will beat generic paragraphs.

• Merchants consolidate partners

  • Expect more “quality over quantity.” Send clean traffic. Show your work. Relationships matter more than ever.

• Email is quiet but powerful

  • With social reach fluctuating, your list is the steady drumbeat. Keep it clean, segment deeply, and write like a human.

A Quick Decision Tree For You

Answer these out loud, like you’re talking to a very patient dog.

• Is your audience shopping for physical products right now?

  • Yes: Start with ShareASale.
  • No: Continue.

• Does your content lean on stories, mechanisms, and transformations?

  • Yes: Test ClickBank first.
  • No: Continue.

• Do you have SEO traffic on transactional queries?

  • Yes: ShareASale likely wins early.
  • No: Continue.

• Are you running paid social with pre‑sells?

  • Yes: ClickBank offers often convert faster.
  • No: Continue.

• Do you want recurring commissions from software or memberships?

  • Both networks have them. Test two programs and pick the higher RAEPC.

Your First Two-Week Plan

You won’t know until you try. Here’s a simple, low-drama experiment you can run.

• Week 1:

  • Choose two offers you can credibly recommend (one per network).
  • Build a comparison pre‑sell with two equal CTAs.
  • Set up tracking parameters and pixels.
  • Send 250–500 clicks to each, evenly.

• Week 2:

  • Measure EPC and RAEPC daily; record refunds separately.
  • Swap button order to prevent bias.
  • Tweak pre‑sell headlines once midweek; don’t overhaul everything.

• After:

  • Keep the winner on 70% of traffic, keep testing new challengers with the remaining 30%.
  • Ask the winner for better terms once you prove performance.

What About Mixed Portfolios?

You don’t have to be monogamous with networks. In fact, you probably shouldn’t.

• Blend ClickBank and ShareASale by intent:

  • Informational posts → pre‑sell ClickBank offers.
  • Transactional posts → link to ShareASale merchants.

• Use your newsletter to do both:

  • Feature a helpful gear pick (ShareASale) and a relevant training or course (ClickBank).

• Segment by reader behavior:

  • Readers who click brand reviews see more ShareASale links.
  • Readers who click story-led content see more ClickBank offers.

• Track cohort EPCs:

  • If certain cohorts lean hard in one direction, don’t force balance. Feed them what they want.

Negotiation Script You Can Steal

You don’t need Shakespeare. You need clarity and proof.

Subject: Performance and next steps on [Program Name]

Hi [Manager Name],

I’ve been promoting [Program] for [X days/weeks]. Here are the past [timeframe] numbers:

• Clicks: [N]
• Orders: [N]
• EPC (refund-adjusted): $[X]
• Top traffic sources/pages: [list]

I can scale this by [brief plan: more placements, dedicated newsletter, additional content]. Would you consider [ask: exclusive coupon, extended cookie, private landing page, commission bump] to support the push?

Happy to share more data. Thanks for considering.

Best, [Your Name] [Site/Channel] [Traffic stats/social proof]

Keep it human. You’re a partner, not a beggar.

FAQ You Secretly Want Answered

• Can you really start earning faster on ClickBank?

  • Often, yes. Funnels are built to convert cold-ish traffic. Just budget for refunds in your math.

• Is ShareASale better for long-term stability?

  • Usually. Monthly payouts and lower volatility help you plan. The trade-off is slower ramp-up.

• Are coupon sites the enemy?

  • Not if you plan around them. Unique codes and higher-intent content reduce leakage.

• Should you run both networks side by side?

  • If you have the bandwidth to track properly and keep compliance in order, yes.

• How long should you test before declaring a winner?

  • Two weeks minimum and at least 500 clicks per offer, then wait for the first reversal cycle if you can.

Final Verdict: Which Network Converts Better In 2025?

You weren’t looking for a philosophy lecture; you were looking for an answer. Here it is, with the caveat that your audience is not a lab rat, and neither are you.

• If your traffic tilts toward direct response, emotional transformation, and you can run a decent pre‑sell: ClickBank will usually give you higher EPC quickly, especially in digital info and supplement niches. Plan for refunds, keep claims conservative, and ride the winners while they’re hot.

• If your traffic wants products, comparisons, and brand legitimacy: ShareASale usually wins with steadier conversion, lower refunds, and long-term sanity. Build comparison content, keep promo codes fresh, and negotiate for exclusive terms as you scale.

• If you do both kinds of content (and many do): Split your funnel. Use ClickBank where readers want a solution story, and ShareASale where readers want a cart.

In 2025, “converts better” isn’t a trophy you award to a network. It’s a result you engineer by matching your traffic’s intent to the right kind of offer, respecting the rules, and measuring the money that actually lands in your account. Pick the path that pays you more after refunds, more months in a row. And if you still can’t decide, run the two-week test. Your EPC will tell you, and it rarely lies, even when everyone else does.