BigCommerce closed its affiliate program on May 17, 2025, and says it has no plans for a replacement. If you’re still linking to BigCommerce with an affiliate link, those links stopped tracking that day. Below, you’ll find what the program used to pay, what to do with your old links, and which e-commerce affiliate programs you can join now.
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What Happened to the BigCommerce Affiliate Program?
BigCommerce ended the program on May 17, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. US Central Time. The company said the decision came from a shift in business strategy, aimed at a better return on investment and more disciplined marketing programs. All affiliate tracking links stopped working that same day.
Referrals made before the closure still earned commissions. BigCommerce paid them through August 16, 2025, once the 90-day cookie window closed, and kept affiliates’ Impact dashboards open until the end of September 2025. BigCommerce has no plans for a replacement program.
What to Do If You Still Have BigCommerce Affiliate Links
Old affiliate links no longer earn you anything, but they still send readers to BigCommerce. A quick cleanup keeps your content accurate:
- Swap each affiliate link for a plain link to bigcommerce.com. BigCommerce asks former affiliates to point old links to its home page so they redirect correctly.
- Remove affiliate disclosures from posts that no longer earn a commission.
- Take down old BigCommerce banners, or replace them with a program you can still earn from.
What Is an Affiliate Program?
Companies offer affiliate programs so you can promote their products in exchange for a commission. Every program works differently, and some pay far better than others. For bloggers, affiliate programs are a common way to earn money from content.
Affiliate Marketing and Blogging
Once upon a time, bloggers made money from ads within their website, but on-site advertising is a relatively less profitable option these days and far from the only avenue.
Affiliate marketing has gained in popularity, but to make it work, you’ll first need a quality blog on your website. Consider DropInBlog as an example of an effective blogging platform for e-commerce. It gives you the ability to fine-tune SEO and manage all your blog posts easily, which means you’ll have the best chance of reaching your desired audience. It integrates with a wide range of website builders and e-commerce platforms, and it’s super easy to use.
How the BigCommerce Affiliate Program Worked
Before it closed, the program paid 200% of a referred customer’s first monthly payment, or a flat $1,500 for each Enterprise referral. BigCommerce set no commission caps or minimum commitments, and commission tiers went up as you drove more referrals.
A 90-day cookie gave each referral three months to convert. Affiliates got a dashboard that tracked clicks, trials, sales, and commissions, along with monthly payouts, a dedicated account manager, and premade banners and emails. Joining was free, which makes these terms a useful benchmark for the programs that are still open.
BigCommerce Affiliate Program Alternatives
If you want to earn commissions by recommending e-commerce and website platforms, these programs are still open. Rates change, so check each program’s page before you apply.
| Program | Commission | How it pays | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Up to $150 (varies by location) | Per qualified referral | Content about starting an online store |
| Sellfy | 25%–40% | Recurring, for the life of the account | Creators selling digital products |
| Squarespace | Not public (shared after you apply) | Per conversion | Website and portfolio audiences |
| Wix | Not public | Recurring, per Premium upgrade | Small business website audiences |
Shopify tracks referrals for 30 days from the click. If your referral starts a free trial, Shopify keeps tracking that store for up to 400 days. It pays by direct deposit or PayPal once you reach a $10 balance.
Sellfy starts every affiliate at 25% and raises the rate to 30%, 35%, or 40% in months when you bring in more paid signups. Both Squarespace and Wix run their programs through Impact.
If You Build Stores for BigCommerce Merchants
BigCommerce still runs Agency and Tech partner programs for agencies and developers who build stores, apps, and integrations. Its partner page lists a 20% commission among the partner benefits, but it doesn’t say what that commission is paid on, so confirm the terms with BigCommerce before you count on it. These programs are built for service businesses rather than bloggers looking for a referral link.
FAQs
Does BigCommerce still have an affiliate program?
No. BigCommerce closed its affiliate program on May 17, 2025, and says it has no plans for a replacement.
What happened to BigCommerce affiliate commissions after the closure?
Referrals made before May 17, 2025, still qualified. BigCommerce paid those commissions through August 16, 2025, after the 90-day cookie window closed.
How much did the BigCommerce affiliate program pay?
Affiliates earned 200% of a referred customer’s first monthly payment, or a flat $1,500 for each Enterprise referral, with no commission caps.
What should I do with my old BigCommerce affiliate links?
Replace them with plain links to bigcommerce.com, as BigCommerce recommends, and remove any affiliate disclosures that no longer apply.
What is a good alternative to the BigCommerce affiliate program?
Shopify pays up to $150 per qualified referral, and Sellfy pays a recurring 25–40% commission. Squarespace and Wix also run open affiliate programs.
Final Thoughts
The BigCommerce affiliate program is gone, and BigCommerce has no plans to replace it. If your site still has BigCommerce affiliate links, point them to bigcommerce.com and remove the old disclosures.
If you want to keep earning from e-commerce content, Shopify and Sellfy both run open programs with published rates. Whichever program you choose, your commissions depend on traffic, and a well-optimized blog is what brings that traffic in.
