Ahrefs Affiliate Program

Ahrefs Affiliate Program Shut Down: What You Need To Know

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The Ahrefs affiliate program is closed, but top SEO tool affiliates still earn big. Here are the best alternatives paying high commissions right now.

The Ahrefs Affiliate Program Is Gone. Here Are Your Best Options Now.

Roughly 80% of affiliate marketers never earn more than $20,000 a year. One big reason? They waste time promoting tools that no longer pay out.

If you searched for the Ahrefs affiliate program, you hit a wall. Ahrefs shut it down in 2019. It is gone and it is not coming back.

That stings, especially if you run a blog or a small business site and you were counting on a reliable SEO tool affiliate program to bring in steady income.

Here is what this post covers. You will learn exactly what the old Ahrefs program offered, why it mattered, and which high-paying SEO affiliate programs you should promote right now instead.

What the Ahrefs Affiliate Program Actually Paid

Before Ahrefs pulled the plug, this was one of the best high paying SEO affiliates in the space. The numbers were real and the commissions were serious.

Here is how the payout structure worked:

  • Starter tier (0-10 referrals): 75% CPA on the first monthly payment, or 15% on an annual plan
  • Silver tier (11-50 referrals): 100% CPA on the first monthly payment, or 20% on an annual plan

Think about that for a second. Ahrefs plans start at $99 per month. At the Silver tier, one referral on a monthly plan paid you $99 upfront. Ten referrals in a month meant nearly $1,000 from a single tool.

The program also offered recurring monthly commissions on subscriptions. That meant passive income as long as your referral kept paying. For bloggers and content creators, this was a powerful setup.

That kind of structure is exactly what makes high ticket SEO affiliate programs so attractive. But since Ahrefs closed its doors to affiliates, you need to know where to look next.

Why This Matters for Your Income Right Now

Picture this. You spent three months writing detailed SEO software reviews. You built up traffic. You added affiliate links throughout your content. Then you find out the program you based your strategy on no longer exists.

That is not a hypothetical. That is what happened to hundreds of bloggers and content marketers when Ahrefs ended its affiliate program.

The lesson here is simple. Before you build content around any affiliate program for SEO software, you need to verify it is still active. You also need to check these things:

  • Is the commission structure clearly spelled out?
  • Does it offer recurring commissions or just a one-time payout?
  • Is the product priced high enough to make your effort worthwhile?
  • Does the company have a track record of paying affiliates on time?
  • Is there a real support team behind the affiliate program?

Recurring commission affiliate programs in the SEO space are especially valuable. One referred customer can pay you for months or even years. That is the kind of income that compounds over time without requiring you to constantly find new referrals.

The Best Alternatives to Promote SEO Tools for Income

You do not have to stop earning just because Ahrefs closed its program. Several strong SEO tool affiliate programs are open right now and paying well.

Here is how to find the right ones and sign up:

  1. Search for the tool name plus “affiliate program” to find the official sign-up page
  2. Read the commission terms before you apply, not after
  3. Check if they offer recurring commissions or a flat CPA
  4. Look at the tool’s pricing, higher price means higher potential payout
  5. Apply directly through the tool’s website to avoid third-party delays

Some of the most respected names in SEO tools offer active programs. SEMrush, also known as Semrush, runs the Semrush Berush program with recurring commissions. Mangools offers 30% recurring commissions. SE Ranking and Serpstat also have open affiliate programs with solid payouts.

These are real options for anyone who wants to earn commissions promoting SEO tools without waiting for Ahrefs to reverse course. Signing up for an SEO affiliate program through the official site usually takes less than 10 minutes.

How to Build Content That Actually Converts

Getting accepted into an affiliate program is step one. Getting people to click your links and buy is where most bloggers fall short.

The best-performing content in this space is honest. Readers searching for an affiliate marketing SEO software review want real information. They want to know the pros, the cons, and whether the tool is worth the price.

Here is what converts best for SEO tool affiliate content:

  • Head-to-head comparisons between two or more tools
  • “Best for” breakdowns that match tools to specific user types
  • Honest reviews that include what the tool does not do well
  • Tutorial posts that show the tool solving a real problem
  • Income reports that show actual results from using the tool

You do not need thousands of visitors to earn well. A focused post targeting buyers who are close to making a decision can convert at 3% to 5%. On a $100 tool with a 30% recurring commission, even 10 sales a month adds up to $300 in monthly recurring income.

That grows. Every month you keep those customers, you keep earning.

What You Should Do Next

The Ahrefs affiliate program is not coming back. Waiting around for it wastes your time and your traffic.

Here is what you now know. The old program paid serious commissions, which tells you what to look for in a replacement. You want recurring payouts, high-ticket pricing, and a stable company behind the product.

The best affiliate programs for bloggers in the SEO space are open right now. SEMrush, Mangools, and SE Ranking are solid starting points. Build honest, specific content around tools you have actually used, and you will earn commissions promoting SEO tools for a long time.

Pick one SEO tool affiliate program today, sign up, and publish your first piece of content this week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any high ticket SEO affiliate programs still open after Ahrefs shut down its program?

Yes, several high-paying SEO tool affiliate programs are still active. SEMrush, Mangools, and SE Ranking all offer open programs with recurring commissions and competitive payouts. Because SEO tools are priced at a premium, even a small number of referrals can generate meaningful monthly income.

What should I look for when comparing recurring commission affiliate programs in the SEO space?

Focus on three things: the commission rate, whether it recurs monthly or pays once, and the tool’s average subscription price. A program offering 30% recurring on a $99 per month tool will outperform a 50% one-time payout on a $29 tool over the long run. Always read the full terms before you build content around any program.