AliExpress affiliate programme: how to join, how much it pays and what to expect

track.lt editorial team · 2026-10-11 · 5 min read

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How the programme works
Who can join
Directly or through an affiliate network
Do the maths before you start
What works and what does not
What you must tell the buyer
Frequently asked questions
Sources

The AliExpress affiliate programme is tempting in its simplicity: millions of products, plenty of buyers, and Lithuanians have been shopping in this store for a long time. Yet this is exactly where it is easiest to overestimate earnings: the goods are cheap, the commission is calculated on small amounts, and a click is valid only briefly.

This article covers how to join the programme, what AliExpress itself publishes about commissions, how taking part directly differs from taking part through an affiliate network, and how to work out before you start whether it is worth it.

In short

AliExpress advertises a base commission of up to 9 %; the exact rate depends on the product category.
You can join directly through AliExpress Portals or through an affiliate network that offers the programme for your country.
The cookie duration depends on where you take part; the AliExpress programme terms published by the affiliate network Awin state 3 days.
When the average purchase costs a few euros, one sale brings in cents – you need a great many clicks.

How the programme works

The scheme is the same as elsewhere: you choose a product, generate a tracking link and share it. When a buyer orders through it and the order is completed, a commission is credited to you. On the official programme page AliExpress states:

the base commission is up to 9 %;
for individual promotional products (“Hot Products”) the commission can be considerably higher;
on reaching the targets of incentive programmes you can get up to 4 % additional commission;
as you grow as an affiliate – a rate up to 1.5 % higher;
the programme operates in more than 200 countries and regions.

The words “up to” matter here. The published upper limit does not mean you will get that much for every product: the rate differs by category, and not all products take part in the programme at all. Whether a particular product is an affiliate product can be checked with the programme's link checker tool.

Who can join

According to AliExpress, anyone who has an audience online – not necessarily on social networks – and a certain flow of visitors can join. The programme page lists the suitable channels:

Channel	How it is used
Social media accounts	Product reviews and finds
Chat groups	Sharing offers in groups
Blogs and content websites	Articles with product links
Coupon and deals websites	Discount codes and store coupons
Price comparison websites	Price comparison with other stores
Cashback websites	Part of the commission is returned to the buyer

Directly or through an affiliate network

There are two routes, and the terms depend on which you choose.

Directly – AliExpress Portals

You log in with your AliExpress account or create a new one.
On the programme page you submit an application and describe your channels.
Once approved, you choose products and generate tracking links.
You see orders, commissions and payout terms in the account reports.

The advantage is direct access to promotions, exclusive codes and the programming interface. The drawback is that the whole interface and support are in English, and you see the payout terms only after logging in.

Through an affiliate network

Affiliate networks are intermediaries through which you can take part in many sellers' programmes from one account. Several international networks offer the AliExpress programme. The terms there are set separately for each country: for example, the description of the United Kingdom programme published by Awin states a cookie duration of 3 days.

The advantage is one payout for all programmes and one set of statistics. The drawback is that the network has its own minimum payout amount and its own rules, and whether the programme is available to affiliates from Lithuania has to be checked before signing up.

Check before signing up

for how many days a click is valid in the particular programme you will take part in;
what the minimum payout amount is and by which methods payment is made;
how long it takes for an order to be confirmed – delivery from China takes weeks, and the commission is confirmed only once the order is completed;
whether the advertising you plan is allowed: coupon sites, paid search ads, use of the brand name.

We deliberately do not give these figures here: they differ between networks and countries, and AliExpress does not publish them. The only real ones are those you see in your own account.

Do the maths before you start

Below are calculation examples. This is arithmetic with assumptions, not data on real affiliate earnings.

Assumption	Cheap goods	More expensive goods
Average purchase	8 €	60 €
Commission	7 %	3 %
Earnings per sale	0.56 €	1.80 €
Sales needed to make 100 €	about 180	about 56
Clicks, if 2 in 100 buy	about 9 000	about 2 800

The conclusion is simple: AliExpress affiliate marketing is a volume game. It works for those who have large and recurring traffic: groups for product finds, deals channels, price comparison websites. A one-off post with three links will not bring in tangible money.

What works and what does not

Works better	Works worse
Themed collections of finds: “10 things for your bike”	Random links with no explanation
Products you ordered and photographed yourself	A copy of the seller's photos and description
Posts before the big sales	Posts about products whose delivery time makes them no longer relevant
An honest description of the drawbacks	Promises about quality that you have not checked yourself

What you must tell the buyer

When recommending goods from China, you answer in your own name. Three things it is honest to say:

It is an affiliate link. The post must be labelled as advertising.
Delivery takes time. The time depends on the seller and the shipping method – do not promise dates.
Additional charges are possible. Import VAT applies to parcels from non-EU countries, and from July 2026 customs duty applies to low-value parcels as well. The buyer must see the final price before paying.

If your audience buys in Lithuania, compare with local programmes: a commission on a larger basket and a longer cookie often yield more than hundreds of small orders.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the AliExpress affiliate programme pay?

AliExpress advertises a base commission of up to 9 %. The exact rate depends on the product category, and some products do not take part in the programme.

Can you take part from Lithuania?

AliExpress states that the programme operates in more than 200 countries and regions. If you take part through an affiliate network, you need to check whether the programme is open to affiliates from Lithuania.

How long is an AliExpress affiliate link valid?

It depends on where you take part. The programme terms published by Awin state 3 days; you will see the period for your own programme in your account.

When is the commission credited?

When the buyer's order is completed. Since parcels travel for a long time, several weeks or more can pass from the click to a confirmed commission.

Is it worth starting with AliExpress?

It is, if you have large and constant traffic – a group for product finds or a deals channel. For a small audience, earnings from cheap goods will be symbolic.