Hostgator Affiliate Program: How It Works, Payment Details & More

The HostGator affiliate program allows website owners and bloggers to recommend others to sign up for any of HostGator’s wide selection of a la carte services.

Whether they need HostGator’s dedicated hosting services, VPS hosting, or shared hosting, affiliates can earn a commission for every sign-up that uses a unique affiliate link.

Are you interested in learning more about HostGator? Read on for an in-depth breakdown of the program and how you can get started.

Does HostGator Have an Affiliate Program?

Yes. The globally-known hosting provider, HostGator, has an affiliate program where bloggers, social media influencers, and Youtube reviewers can earn commissions when others subscribe to a monthly or yearly website hosting subscription.

What Is the HostGator Affiliate Program?

The HostGator affiliate program allows anyone with a website or social media account to use their internet presence to generate income by recommending HostGator to their viewers.

HostGator offers a variety of hosting services for affiliates to recommend so that when new sign-ups click an affiliate link, the member of the HostGator affiliate program will earn some money from the sale.

How Does the HostGator Affiliate Program Work?

An affiliate program, like the HostGator affiliate program, is a marketing strategy that companies use to increase the reach of their brand. Affiliate programs allow businesses to outsource part of their sales team to regular people with a big internet presence.

As part of a freelance sales team, affiliates get paid commissions for making sales.

Affiliates will post a link for followers to click, leading them to the HostGator sign-up page. Every affiliate has a unique link so HostGator can track who gets paid for each new sign-up. The more sign-ups you get, the more money you earn. As your audience grows, so do your profits.

Is the HostGator Affiliate Program Free?

Yes. It’s completely free to sign up for the HostGator affiliate program.

Affiliate programs are win-win situations for companies that want more exposure and marketing and affiliates that want to earn money from their blogs or social media platforms. The best affiliate programs never require affiliates to pay to join.

What Products Can You Promote for the HostGator Affiliate Program?

HostGator offers services to anyone that wants to start a website or currently has one. However, hosting services are only eligible for commissions for affiliate sales.

If your blog is dedicated to teaching others how to run their own sites, HostGator is a perfect affiliate program for you to get involved in.

Shared Hosting

Affiliates can encourage followers to sign up for HostGator’s shared hosting services. Shared servers store data for multiple people and are an affordable option for new bloggers or website creators.

HostGator has three subscription plans for shared hosting that will each earn affiliates a commission.

Virtual Private Servers (VPS)

Affiliate members can promote HostGator’s VPS hosting services. A VPS offers new sign-ups with dedicated server space on a hosted server for more customization and control of their website.

Dedicated Hosting

Dedicated hosting with HostGator offers the highest performance with 100% server control. Instead of sharing a server with hundreds to thousands of other users, dedicated hosting allows websites to have a private server just for them.

Affiliate members can earn commissions for the three subscription plans for HostGator’s dedicated hosting services.

Managed WordPress Hosting

HostGator has three managed WordPress hosting subscription plans that affiliate members can promote to their online followers and earn commissions from affiliate sales.

HostGator’s managed WordPress hosting makes it easy to transfer an existing WordPress site or create a new one from scratch.

Alongside advanced security features and a simplified control panel, new sign-ups get a free domain for a year.

Other Things You Can Promote With This Program

Hosting services are the only things affiliates can promote with the HostGator affiliate program. Alongside the hosting services listed above, affiliates can earn commissions from the following:

• Cloud hosting
• Linus shared hosting
• Windows shared hosting
• Open-source web hosting

While HostGator offers a menu of add-ons to their hosting services, unfortunately, add-ons are not eligible for affiliate commissions.

What Products Are Excluded From the HostGator Affiliate Program?

All products from HostGator are eligible for commissions from the affiliate program. However, there are some purchases that are ineligible for commissions, including but not limited to the following:

• Purchases from other HostGator affiliates.
• Purchases that are not tracked through the affiliate link.
• Purchases from customers who’ve transferred services from a HostGator partner or subsidiary.
• Purchases from sign-ups in violation of HostGator’s Terms of Service or other policies.
• Purchases by the same customer from multiple accounts or other fraudulent purchases.

View the full list of excluded purchases under Section 7 of the HostGator Affiliate Agreement.

How Much Do HostGator Affiliates Make?

HostGator offers impressive commission rates for affiliate sales, with unlimited potential for earnings. Affiliates can make a minimum of $65 per month and earn well over $3,000 if they encourage more sign-ups that month.

This program is ideal for those beginning as an affiliate because it has a high payout per sale, and the HostGator affiliate program has no commission caps, so members can earn as much as they want.  

The commission structure is on a sliding scale, allowing members of the HostGator affiliate program to earn higher payouts per sign-up if more people sign up with the affiliate link each month. Learn more about HostGator’s commission rates below.

HostGator Affiliate Program Commission Rates

HostGator offers commission rates that grow depending on the number of sign-ups the affiliate inspires each month. View the HostGator commission rates below.

• One to five sign-ups earn affiliates $65 each
• Six to ten sign-ups earn affiliates $75 each
• 11 to 20 sign-ups earn affiliates $100 each
• 21+ sign up earn affiliates $125 each

For example, if five people click an affiliate link and sign up with HostGator, the affiliate member will earn $325.

Meanwhile, if the next month, 25 people sign up through an affiliate link, the commission will rise to $3,215. With no caps on commission, the commission payouts with the HostGator affiliate program can rise even higher.

How Long Does the HostGator Cookie Last?

The HostGator cookie lasts 60 days with last-click attribution.

When a follower clicks on a HostGator affiliate link, even if they close the page and return within 60 days, the affiliate member will earn a commission.

However, if the viewer clicks on someone else’s HostGator affiliate link before the 60 days are up, the cookie duration starts over, and the other affiliate member will earn the commission.

How Do You Get Paid From HostGator?

There are two ways that a HostGator affiliate can get paid. The fastest method is via PayPal, which may take up to three business days to show up on the affiliate’s bank account.

Alternatively, a HostGator affiliate can request payment via check by mail. Remember, checks can take up to two weeks to arrive by USPS.

When Does HostGator Pay Affiliates?

HostGator affiliates must wait ~70 days for their first commission payout. Turnaround is typically two months plus ten days for each qualifying sale.

Two months and ten days is a longer-than-average wait period for commissions, especially for those first starting out.

However, once you continue to earn a commission, members of the HostGator affiliate program will get paid on the first week of every month. If you plan to grow your audience and are willing to wait for your initial paychecks, HostGator is worth it.

HostGator offers all new sign-ups a 30-day money-back guarantee, meaning commissions won’t get paid until this trial period is over and the new sign-up continues to use HostGator’s services.

What Marketing Materials and Promotional Tools Are Available?

HostGator provides members of their high-paying affiliate program with all the marketing materials and promotional tools needed to successfully display affiliate links.

Once an affiliate registers for the HostGator affiliate program, they’ll find banners, links, marketing materials, and promotional tools in the control panel of their HostGator affiliate account. With over 100 designs available to choose from, affiliates can select free HostGator marketing materials that match their website theme.

Affiliates can also use HostGator coupon codes to encourage more of their followers to click their links and sign up with HostGator’s top-rated hosting services.

Alternatively, HostGator allows an affiliate to create their own banner designs featuring their unique affiliate link.

Who Should Join the HostGator Affiliate Program?

HostGator is one of the most well-known and long-standing sellers of servers and hosting services for website owners to store their website content and publish their sites for the world to see.

HostGator is among the best niches for affiliate marketing that targets website owners who want to transfer their hosting services to a better provider and those starting their journey as a blogger or website owner.

Bloggers, YouTube reviewers, and HostGator users with a significant following are ideal candidates for the HostGator affiliate program.

Bloggers

Consider joining the HostGator affiliate program if you own a blog that gets a sizable amount of traffic. Whether you write about technology or starting your own blogging business, a blogger can create posts and include their HostGator affiliate link in their content.

Youtube Reviewers

If your YouTube channel gets viewers, consider signing up as a HostGator affiliate and reviewing their services on your channel. Include the affiliate link and HostGator coupon codes for viewers to click and subscribe.

HostGator Users

Some of the best HostGator advocates are those that use HostGator for their websites. Even if your website doesn’t include blog posts, HostGator users with a strong social media following can market their hosting services with affiliate posts.

Is the HostGator Affiliate Program Worth It?

Yes. The HostGator affiliate program is worth joining, especially for those new to affiliate programs, bloggers, and YouTube reviewers with a loyal following and satisfied HostGator users.

HostGator is an easy affiliate program to join with fast approval turnaround times. Though HostGator doesn’t specify exactly how many followers someone needs to join the affiliate program, eligibility requirements are low compared to other programs.

This affiliate program is great for beginners at affiliate marketing because members don’t get penalized if they have months with zero sign-ups, and they get a good payout of $65 for one sign-up per month.

With no commission caps and performance tiers with increased commission rates, affiliates have an unlimited potential for earnings with HostGator.

View some of the pros and cons of the HostGator affiliate program below.

Pros of the HostGator Affiliate Program

• High commission rates with increased rates for more sign-ups
• Exceptional customer service
• No commission caps
• Low payment threshold of $100
• Long cookie duration (60 days)

Cons of the HostGator Affiliate Program

• Two months + 10-day payout turnaround time
• Add-ons are not eligible for commission
• High competition for keywords
• No bonuses for premium subscriptions
• Affiliate links operate on a last-click basis

Conclusion: Is the HostGator Affiliate Program Worth It?

The HostGator affiliate program is worth joining if you want to earn income from your blog, social media account, or YouTube channel.

HostGator’s high commission rates make the ~70-day payout turnaround time worth waiting for. Though add-ons are not eligible for commission, HostGator’s hosting services are some of their top sellers.

Some affiliate programs offer commission rates as a percentage of the sales amount, meaning higher-priced items earn higher payouts. HostGator has a flat commission rate for all services, so affiliates can recommend premium and basic hosting services with the same income potential.

HostGator is one of the oldest and most well-known server and hosting providers in the industry, so keywords for marketing HostGator are challenging to compete with.

That said, HostGator has various helpful promotional tools and marketing materials to help affiliates improve their clickthrough rates.

Affiliate members are rewarded for their marketing efforts with higher commissions if they encourage more sign-ups each month. From $65 to $125 earned per sign-up, the HostGator affiliate program is worth it, even if you make only two affiliate sales.

How To Join the HostGator Affiliate Program

Anyone can join the HostGator affiliate program to earn extra income by recommending HostGators exceptional services to their engaged followers. While it’s easy to sign up as a HostGator affiliate, there are some things you must do to be eligible to join the program.

To join the HostGator affiliate program, ensure you meet the following criteria:

• You own a website domain and have a large following or highly engaged web traffic
• Your site follows the HostGator Terms and Service and Affiliate Agreement
• You’re willing to submit some personal documentation to verify your identity for tax purposes.

Learn more about how to become a HostGator affiliate below.

Requirements To Join the HostGator Affiliate Program

Before signing up for the HostGator affiliate program, it’s essential to understand the requirements for joining.

Affiliate disclosure is mandatory with HostGator, alongside compliance with global data protection laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR.)

HostGator reviews each affiliate application with discretion and can reject applications if they find your content doesn’t align with their policies or brand.

To better ensure you meet HostGator’s requirements for joining their affiliate program, read through the Terms of Service and HostGator Affiliate Agreement forms before signing up.

Remember, to withdraw your sales commissions, HostGator asks affiliates to provide the necessary tax documentation.

How To Apply [Step-by-Step Tutorial]

Apply to become a HostGator affiliate by following the steps below.  

• Step One: Visit the HostGator official website, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click Become an Affiliate.
• Step Two: Fill out the affiliate sign-up form by providing your name, email address, details about your website traffic or viewership, and which products you want to promote.
• Step Three: Create a HostGator affiliate landing page or campaign using HostGator links, banners, and promotional materials.
• Step Four: Submit your application and campaign to HostGator.
• Step Five: Wait approximately 48 hours for approval.
• Step Six: Get approved and use your unique link to earn commissions on affiliate sales.

How Long Does It Take To Get Approved for the HostGator Affiliate Program?

Applications for the HostGator affiliate program typically get approved within 48 hours of submission.

Remember, holidays and weekends may cause HostGator approval turnaround times to take longer.

Does HostGator Support the Affiliate Program?

The HostGator affiliate program has incredible customer service, with a direct email exclusively for affiliates. Email [email protected] with your support questions or inquiries about joining the affiliate program with HostGator.

If you prefer to speak with a friendly HostGator customer support representative, call their support line at (866) 964-2867.

How To Make Money With the HostGator Affiliate Program

Affiliates must inspire their followers to subscribe to one of HostGator’s hosting service plans to make money with the HostGator affiliate program. Check out some tips to maximize your earning potential as a HostGator affiliate.

Add Affiliate Links to Content Naturally

The best way to share affiliate links is to add them naturally to your content. Your viewers want to enjoy visiting your site and not get bombarded with ads. Adding links to content naturally is one way to include ads without affecting the user experience.

For example, suppose your blog typically offers tips for beginner bloggers. In that case, you could create content about how to start a blog and include a section about web hosting that includes a HostGator affiliate link.

Follow The Affiliate Agreement

Always review the HostGator Affiliate Agreement and the General Terms of Service before posting your link. Affiliates who fail to comply with HostGator’s requirements can lose their affiliate account and income.

Use Free Marketing Tools

HostGator offers hundreds of marketing tools and promotional materials like free banners and custom coupon codes for affiliates. Take advantage of these free marketing tools to entice viewers to click your affiliate links.

Follow the 80/20 Rule

Loyal followers return to blogs and social media pages because they love the content they find. However, if that content becomes too salesy, your viewership could drop off.

The 80/20 rule recommends posting ads, affiliate links, or calls to action 20% of the time and posting valuable and useful content 80% of the time.

Alternatives to the HostGator Affiliate Program

Get paid to recommend alternative options to the HostGator affiliate program. There are several other affiliate programs worth signing up for if you want to give readers options for other popular hosting services, like Bluehost, Wix, or Squarespace, and create various channels of passive income.

• Bluehost Affiliate Program: One of the best alternatives to the HostGator affiliate program is the Bluehost affiliate program. Bluehost is a highly-renowned website hosting service provider with a flat rate commission for all hosting subscriptions.
• Wix Affiliate Program: The Wix affiliate program is an alternative to HostGator that offers premium website hosting services. Wix offers a high average payout, but affiliates must meet a minimum monthly sales requirement, and commissions are only paid out for premium services.
• Squarespace Affiliate Program: Sign up for the Squarespace affiliate program and earn a commission on affiliate sales. Squarespace offers good commission rates for their popular web hosting services. While HostGator offers a better value to customers, some people prefer Squarespace’s features, making this a great alternative recommendation for a quality hosting provider. Remember, the Squarespace affiliate program has low acceptance rates compared to the HostGator affiliate program.  

Wrapping Up  

The HostGator affiliate program is an exceptional choice for bloggers and social media influencers to earn passive income from affiliate sales. Affiliates will earn a commission for recommending new sign-ups to use HostGator’s highly-rated services.

Now that you know everything about becoming a HostGator affiliate, sign up for the program and get started earning commissions from your honest recommendations.