AWeber Review: How to Make Money as an Affiliate
Disclosure: some links in this post are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
What Is AWeber?
AWeber is email marketing software for small businesses. You build a list, send newsletters, and set up automations that follow up with subscribers for you.
It's been around since the late 1990s. That's a long time in software. It calls itself "powerfully-simple," and that's a fair description.
It won't win any awards for being cutting edge. It's built to be easy. For a lot of people, that's exactly the point.
Here's what you get:
- Email campaigns and newsletters
- Email automations
- Landing pages and signup forms, with AI builders for both
- An AI writing assistant and newsletter assistant
- Ecommerce and sales tracking tools
- Web push notifications
- A link in bio page
- 24/7 support on paid plans
How Does AWeber Work?
For Users
- Sign up for free or start a 14-day trial of a paid plan.
- Create a signup form or landing page to collect subscribers.
- Write your first email, with or without the AI assistant.
- Set up a welcome automation so new subscribers hear from you right away.
- Check your reports and keep sending.
For Affiliates
- Create an AWeber Advocate account through the affiliate page on AWeber's site. It's free.
- Get your unique referral link.
- Create content that helps people pick an email tool.
- Send readers to AWeber with your link.
- Earn a recurring share of every paid account you refer.
AWeber Pricing
AWeber has a free option, two main paid plans, and a done-for-you setup service. Paid plans are priced by how many subscribers you have.
| Plan | Starting Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Get started for free. Limits aren't spelled out on the pricing page, so check their site. |
| Lite | From $12.49/month (billed annually) | 1 list, 3 landing pages, 3 automations, 3 users, 1% sales fee |
| Plus | From $19.99/month (billed annually) | Unlimited lists, landing pages, automations, and users, priority support, 0.6% sales fee |
| Done For You | $20/month plus a setup fee | Everything in Plus, plus expert setup of your template, pages, form, and welcome series |
Prices rise with your list. For example, at 1,000 subscribers the pricing page shows $25 a month for Lite and $45 a month for Plus on monthly billing. Paying annually costs less.
Lite and Plus come with a 14-day trial.
Always check AWeber's pricing page for current numbers. Plans change.
Who Should Use AWeber?
AWeber is a good fit for people who want email to just work.
- Bloggers and YouTubers starting their first list
- Coaches who send a weekly newsletter
- Etsy shops and small online stores
- Beginners who don't want to learn a complex tool
Who should look elsewhere? Someone who needs a built-in sales CRM or very advanced, branching automations. AWeber can do automations. It just isn't built around them.
Pros and Cons of AWeber
Pros
- Easy to learn, even for total beginners
- Free way to get started
- 24/7 support on paid plans
- Plus includes unlimited lists, automations, and landing pages
- Long track record in email marketing
Cons
- Automations are simpler than tools like ActiveCampaign
- Lite is tightly limited, with 1 list and 3 automations
- Sales tracking carries a transaction fee on paid plans
- Costs grow quickly as your list grows
- No built-in sales CRM
AWeber vs Alternatives
| Tool | Best For | Strength | Trade-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWeber | Beginners and small businesses | Simple, with 24/7 support | Lighter automations |
| ActiveCampaign | Automation-heavy businesses | Deep automations plus CRM | Steeper learning curve |
| Mailchimp | Small lists and general use | Familiar brand, easy start | Can get pricey as you grow |
| Kit (ConvertKit) | Creators and newsletters | Creator-focused tools | Fewer small-business extras |
An email tool is one piece of the puzzle. For the rest of your setup, see my Heyflow review for lead capture forms, my ThriveCart review for selling products, and my Opensend review for turning anonymous visitors into subscribers.
How to Make Money with AWeber as an Affiliate
This is where AWeber stands out. Its Advocate program pays a recurring commission for the lifetime of the paid accounts you refer.
Not 12 months. Lifetime.
The rate is tiered by how many new paid accounts you refer in a trailing 12-month period:
- 30% for 0 to 99 accounts
- 40% for 100 to 499 accounts
- 50% for 500 or more accounts
Most beginners will sit at 30% for a while. That's fine. A lifetime 30% on a monthly subscription keeps paying as long as the customer stays.
Cookie length, payout minimums, and payment schedule aren't listed on the affiliate page. Check their site or ask AWeber after you sign up.
Angle 1: Beginner Guides
AWeber's main selling point is simplicity. So write for beginners. "How to start an email list" is a search people make every day. Walk them through it, using AWeber as the example.
Angle 2: Comparison Posts
Comparison and "best of" posts tend to convert well, because the reader is already deciding. "AWeber vs Mailchimp" and "AWeber vs ActiveCampaign" are natural fits.
Angle 3: List-Building Content
Every new list owner asks the same question. Where do subscribers come from? Answer that, then recommend AWeber to hold the list. My Udimi review covers one way to send traffic to a fresh signup page. And if you sell your own products too, my PayKickstart review covers checkout and affiliate management.
Content Ideas That Rank
- AWeber review
- AWeber vs Mailchimp
- AWeber vs ActiveCampaign
- AWeber free plan explained
- Best email marketing for beginners
- Best email marketing for bloggers
- How to start an email list
Common Questions About AWeber
Is AWeber free?
AWeber lets you get started for free. Paid plans like Lite and Plus also come with a 14-day trial. Check their site for the free plan's current limits.
How much does the AWeber affiliate program pay?
30% to 50% recurring, for the lifetime of paid accounts, based on how many paid accounts you refer in a trailing 12 months.
Where do I sign up as an affiliate?
Through the affiliate page on AWeber's site, where you create a free Advocate account.
Is AWeber good for beginners?
Yes. Ease of use is its main strength, and paid plans include 24/7 support.
Does AWeber charge transaction fees?
Only on its sales tracking feature. The pricing page lists 1% on Lite and 0.6% on Plus.
Final Thoughts
AWeber is simple. That's not a weakness. For a beginner, simple is often what gets the first email sent.
For affiliates, the lifetime recurring commission is the real draw. Help people start their list, be honest about the limits, and let the recurring income build over time.
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