Home / Affiliate and reseller / ClickBank
How much does ClickBank really pay?
Signing up is free, and each product sets its own commission. Every payment costs you $5, and your first needs 5 sales from different customers.
ClickBank is a marketplace of products you can promote for a commission. The commission is set by each product, so the rules that apply to everyone are the fees and the conditions on your first payment. ClickBank says it has paid over $7.3 billion in commissions, which says nothing about what a new affiliate earns.
What do you need for ClickBank?
- A free accountSigning up costs nothing.
- 5 qualifying salesFrom unique customers, each over 14 days old, using more than one payment method.
- An audienceYou earn only when someone buys through your link.
What ClickBank really pays
| Item | Figure | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | Set by each product | ClickBank offers revenue share and CPA |
| Payment fee | $5 | Per payment, up from $2.50 on 24 October 2024 |
| Wire payment | $45 | Per wire, up from $35 |
| Reissued payment | $20 | Taken from the new payment |
| Dormant account | $1, $5, then $50 | Per pay period, after 90, 180 and 365 days of no earnings |
| Held back | A fraction | Released after 12 weeks, to cover refunds. The standard return allowance is 10% |
Our sum: on a $10 payment, the $5 fee is half your money, so a low threshold can cost you.
What it adds up to
| Commission paid out | After the $5 fee | Lost to the fee |
|---|---|---|
| A $10 payment | $5 | 50% |
| A $50 payment | $45 | 10% |
| A $100 payment | $95 | 5% |
| A $500 payment | $495 | 1% |
Each product sets its own commission. Our sums on ClickBank’s numbers above: an example, not a promise.
When does ClickBank pay you?
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Paid out at | $100 by default. ClickBank’s own pages differ on the lowest: $10 or $50 |
| First money | After 5 qualifying sales and your threshold |
What is the catch with ClickBank?
- ClickBank withholds your balance until you have met the Customer Distribution Requirement.
- ClickBank will not tell you when your account goes dormant.
- A dormant account is one with a balance and no earnings, so an old balance can shrink.
- ClickBank’s training page talks about your first $2,000: that is an advert, not a forecast.
How to start with ClickBank
- Read the Accounting PolicyIt holds the real rules.
- Set a sensible thresholdEach payment costs $5.
- Plan for the first 5 salesDifferent customers, and more than one payment method.
Read next
Way to earnVOLTIX referral program60% of the full price, every renewalTruth checkIs affiliate marketing a scam?Real, with trapsWay to earnDigistore2415–90% typical rangeWay to earnCPA marketingNet 15 at MaxBountyTopicMore in Affiliate and reseller
Sources
- ClickBank Accounting Policy, checked 5 Nov 2026
- ClickBank: what are ClickBank’s fees?, checked 5 Nov 2026
- ClickBank Account FAQ, checked 5 Nov 2026
- ClickBank: how your payment amount is determined, checked 5 Nov 2026
- ClickBank: if you don’t use your account for a long time, checked 5 Nov 2026
- ClickBank: affiliates, checked 5 Nov 2026