"Recurring commission" sounds the same on every affiliate page, but it hides a big difference. Some programs pay you for as long as the customer stays subscribed. Others stop after 12 months, 24 months or even 3 months. On the same customer, that can mean a very different total payout.
This guide explains how commission duration works and lists SaaS affiliate programs that pay recurring commissions for life, based on the terms published on each program's page. Terms change, so always check the program's listing before you promote it.
Lifetime vs limited recurring commissions
Take a customer on a $40/month plan and a 30% commission, so $12 a month:
- Recurring for 3 months: at most $36.
- Recurring for 12 months: at most $144.
- Recurring for life: $12 every month the customer stays. If they stay two years, $288.
The longer customers stay, the more lifetime programs win. For sticky business tools such as email marketing, CRM or course platforms, customers often stay for years.
Limited programs are not bad. A 50% commission for 12 months can beat 20% for life if customers rarely stay longer than two years. The point is to compare the total, not the headline rate. The commission calculator does this for you, including cancellations.
SaaS affiliate programs that pay recurring for life
These programs state on their affiliate page that they pay for as long as the referred customer stays subscribed, or on every renewal:
Email marketing and sales
- MailerLite: 30% on every payment a referral makes.
- ClickFunnels: 30% monthly recurring on active referred accounts.
- Salesflare: 30% on lifetime subscription fees.
Courses and communities
- Thinkific: 30% lifetime recurring on paid plans, 90-day cookie.
- Circle: 30% recurring on standard plans while the customer stays subscribed.
- Mighty Networks: 30% recurring on referred hosts.
AI and content
- Taskade: 50% for life on each paying customer.
- Fliki: 30% lifetime recurring.
- Submagic: 30% lifetime recurring.
- Junia AI and Koala AI: 30% lifetime recurring.
SEO and websites
- Scalenut: 30% for as long as the customer stays subscribed.
- Ranktracker: up to 20% lifetime recurring on regular plans.
- SEO PowerSuite: 33% on every order, renewals included.
- Elegant Themes (Divi): 50% on new purchases and renewals.
Automation
- Pabbly: 30% recurring for as long as the customer stays active, with a 365-day cookie.
Strong programs with a limited duration
These pay recurring commissions for a fixed period. Several still pay very well:
- Framer: 50% for the first 12 months.
- HubSpot: 30% for up to one year, 180-day cookie.
- Teachable: 30% for a full year.
- Murf AI and LOVO AI: 20% for up to 24 months.
- HeyGen: 35% for the first 3 months.
How to spot the duration in the terms
Affiliate pages use different wording. Here is how to read it:
- "For life", "lifetime", "as long as the customer stays": lifetime recurring.
- "For the first 12 months", "for one year", "up to 24 months": limited recurring.
- "On renewals": usually lifetime, but check whether renewals stop after a period.
- "Up to $X per referral": a cap. The program stops paying once you reach it.
- "First payment" or "first purchase": one-time, even if the product is a subscription.
If the page is unclear, ask the affiliate manager before you build content around it. Our guide on checking whether an affiliate program actually pays lists the other terms worth reading.
Who should prioritize lifetime programs
Lifetime recurring programs reward content that keeps working: SEO articles, YouTube tutorials, newsletters and comparison pages. If you publish steadily, each month adds new customers on top of the ones still paying you. Our guide to building recurring affiliate income walks through that math.
If you rely on paid traffic or need cash quickly, a high one-time payout or a short, high-rate recurring program can make more sense. See recurring vs one-time commissions.
Find more recurring programs
AffiDex lists the commission structure of every program, so you can filter for recurring payouts in your niche. Browse all recurring affiliate programs, compare rates with the commission benchmark, or get a shortlist on Find your match.