AliExpress Affiliate Program: How to Join and Earn
Published 4 min read
The AliExpress affiliate program is called AliExpress Portals. You sign up at portals.aliexpress.com with an AliExpress account, tell AliExpress where you'll promote, and after approval you create tracked links to any product. When someone buys through your link, you earn a commission that depends on the product and category, with higher rates on products AliExpress marks as Hot Products.
Joining is open to social media publishers, not only websites. Getting paid takes patience: many orders ship internationally, and commission is confirmed only after the order completes. Here's how it works, what it pays and where it fits next to other programs. AliExpress's portal is a logged-in app and doesn't publish full terms on public pages, so we point to the dashboard where a number can change.
How does the AliExpress affiliate program work?
| Step | What happens | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Sign up | Create a Portals account with your AliExpress login | portals.aliexpress.com |
| Add channels | List your site or social profiles | Portals account settings |
| Pick products | Search products and see each one's commission | Portals product search |
| Create links | Generate a tracked link or use the browser tools | Link generator |
| Get paid | Commission is confirmed after the order completes | Portals earnings page |
AliExpress Portals says anyone with an online presence and some traffic can apply, social media included. The rate is set per product. AliExpress shows a base commission and promotes Hot Products with higher rates, and some categories pay less or nothing. Third-party reviews quote different numbers, so trust the commission shown next to the product in your dashboard.
Source: AliExpress Affiliate Portals, checked October 2026.
How do you join AliExpress Portals, step by step?
- Sign in at portals.aliexpress.com with your AliExpress account, or create one.
- Fill in your publisher profile: name, payment details and the channels where you'll share links (a website, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, a Telegram channel).
- Wait for approval. Use real channels with recent posts, since AliExpress asks about your traffic.
- Generate your first link. Paste a product URL into the link generator, or search inside Portals and copy the link it gives you.
- Test it. Open the link in a private window and check that it lands on the product page you expect.
What sells well as an AliExpress affiliate?
AliExpress works best where people already accept a longer delivery time for a lower price:
- Gadgets and accessories: phone cases, chargers, cables, desk gadgets.
- Hobby supplies: crafts, fishing, 3D printing parts, car accessories.
- Home organization: storage, lighting, small decor.
- "Dupes" and finds that you show next to a pricier version.
It works less well for urgent buys, gifts with a deadline and products where a local warranty matters. Be honest about delivery times in your posts. A follower who knows the wait up front is less likely to cancel, and a cancelled order pays no commission.
How does AliExpress compare with Amazon and Temu for affiliates?
Each one rewards a different kind of audience.
| Program | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| AliExpress Portals | Hobby and gadget audiences, international followers | Slow delivery and slower confirmed commission |
| Amazon Associates | Fast delivery, trusted catalog, US audiences | 3 sales in 180 days to keep the account |
| Temu affiliate | Audiences new to Temu, impulse finds | Earnings lean on new-user rules and time windows |
If your followers are in many countries, AliExpress has an edge: one link works for buyers in most of them. If they're in one country with fast local delivery, a local program will often convert better. Our overview of the best affiliate programs for creators compares Amazon, Mercado Livre, Shopee and AliExpress in more detail.
Where should you share AliExpress affiliate links?
- Product videos that show the item in use, with the link in your bio and the product name in the caption.
- Niche groups on Telegram or WhatsApp, where a daily "find of the day" works. Keep it to a few products, as our WhatsApp affiliate links guide explains.
- YouTube descriptions for reviews and setup videos. See how to promote affiliate links on YouTube.
- A storefront that keeps every find in one place, organized by category.
Always label affiliate links. Many countries require it, and it keeps your followers' trust.
Where does Zelect fit with AliExpress links?
Zelect is our product, so read this section knowing that. It isn't an affiliate network: it doesn't give you AliExpress links, set your rate or take a cut. You join AliExpress Portals yourself and paste your own links.
AliExpress is one of the stores Zelect's auto-import is built for. Paste a product link and Zelect fills in the photo, title and price for you to check, and if a page hides that data you type it in. One product card can hold several buy links, so you can list the AliExpress version next to the Amazon one with labels like "Faster delivery" and "Lower price." Each category gets its own link, so a video about desk gadgets can point straight to that category.
The Free plan gives you 1 storefront with 25 products and 3 categories, with no time limit. Pro costs $4.90 a month for 2 storefronts and 100 products each. Ultra costs $5.90 a month for unlimited products, click analytics and a custom domain. The Zelect pricing page lists every limit.
The limit: Zelect shows which products get clicked (on Ultra), but only AliExpress Portals shows orders and commission.
How do you start this week?
- Apply at AliExpress Portals with the channels you actually post on.
- Choose ten products from one niche and check each one's commission in the dashboard.
- Post the three you'd buy yourself, with honest delivery times.
- Put all ten behind one link, sorted the way your followers shop. Our guide to organizing affiliate links into a storefront shows a simple structure.
Start a free Zelect storefront for step 4 and paste your AliExpress links. No card is needed.
Frequently asked questions
How do I become an AliExpress affiliate?
Go to AliExpress Portals (portals.aliexpress.com), sign up with an AliExpress account, add the website or social channels where you will promote, and wait for the account to be approved. Once you're in, you create tracked links to products from the portal or its browser tools.
How much does the AliExpress affiliate program pay?
It's a commission on sales from your links, and the rate depends on the product and its category. AliExpress Portals presents a base rate with higher rates on selected Hot Products. Check the rate shown for each product in the portal before you promote it, since rates change with campaigns.
Do I need a website to join AliExpress Portals?
No. AliExpress Portals accepts publishers who promote on social media as well as websites, and it asks you to list where your traffic comes from. A profile with real posts helps more than a blank page.
Why don't my AliExpress clicks turn into commission?
The usual causes are buyers who don't finish checkout in the tracking window, cancelled or refunded orders, and products with low or no commission. Long delivery times also mean commissions are confirmed later than on local stores, so earnings show up slowly at the start.
Can I mix AliExpress links with other stores?
Yes. Your AliExpress affiliate link is a normal product URL, so it can sit next to Amazon, Shopee or Temu links in a storefront or a post. Many creators post the same product with two buy links and let followers choose the price and delivery time.
