Is Amazon affiliate marketing still worth trying in 2026?

[sarabrett]

I'm considering trying affiliate marketing, specifically Amazon Associates. I've seen a lot of YouTube videos lately claiming it's still worth getting into, but some make it sound like you have only about three months to prove yourself. That part has me a little confused.

For anyone who's actually tried Amazon affiliate marketing, is it still worth starting now? How realistic is it for a beginner to make money, and how long did it take before you saw meaningful results?

I'm not expecting income overnight, but I also don't want to spend months building something around a model that's no longer viable.

 

[ElAnosm]

I believe it could still work, but I wouldn't handle it by simply inserting Amazon links everywhere and hoping people would buy. The main point is traffic, if you've already got an audience via Google, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok, and so on, then Amazon can serve as a reasonable means of monetizing that traffic.

The commission rates can be quite low depending on the product category, so you need a good deal of buying-intent traffic for the figures to add up.

 

[gbraun]

The idea of the three months is most likely being misinterpreted. Amazon currently requires you to achieve 3 qualifying sales within the first 180 days after applying. This means it's not true that you have 3 months to succeed. You have 180 days to secure those initial qualifying sales, and personal orders are not included.

I would, in fact, be more worried about the niche you've chosen and where your traffic will come from.

 

[millerkaci]

One wouldn't begin an Amazon affiliate site in 2026 with the idea of "making money from Amazon."

My approach would be to create useful content that people actually search for, and one way of monetizing it would be through Amazon.

Moreover, since Amazon has altered its rules over time, it would be a good idea to review the current terms before basing the entire business on them. For instance, the current scheme provides a 24-hour referral window for qualifying purchases, and commission rates vary widely by category.