If you’ve been looking for a beginner-friendly way to earn money online, affiliate marketing probably came up. One of the most recognized names with an affiliate program is the Walmart Affiliate Program.
In this blog, we’ll break down exactly how the Walmart Affiliate Program works, how much you can expect to earn, who it’s best for, and how it stacks up against Amazon’s affiliate program. If you’re thinking about monetizing your content or traffic in 2024, this review is worth your time.
What Is the Walmart Affiliate Program?
The Walmart affiliate program lets you earn a small commission every time someone clicks your affiliate link and makes a qualifying purchase on Walmart.com. You don’t need to store inventory, handle customer service, or ship products. Just refer traffic and get paid when they buy.
Walmart uses a third-party platform called Impact Radius to manage its affiliate program. That’s where you’ll track your performance, grab affiliate links, and manage payouts.
How to Join the Walmart Affiliate Program
Joining is free and relatively simple. You’ll apply through Impact by submitting basic info about your website, social media profiles, or YouTube channel. You’ll need to:
- Describe your audience
- Share your traffic sources
- Agree to Walmart’s terms
Approval usually takes 24–48 hours. Once approved, you’ll get access to affiliate links, banners, and tools to start promoting Walmart products.
What You Can Promote
Walmart has millions of products online, everything from electronics and home goods to groceries and fashion. That makes it ideal if your niche involves family, budgeting, home improvement, parenting, or lifestyle content.
However, it’s important to note:
- Not every product earns a commission
- Some categories are excluded
- The best commissions are in the 3% to 4% range for select categories
If you want to make the most of it, stick to items in higher-paying categories and avoid promoting low-margin products like groceries or electronics.
Commission Rates and Cookie Duration
Here’s where it gets real.
- Commission rate: Between 1% and 4%, depending on the category
- Cookie window: 3 days (you get credit if the user purchases within 72 hours of clicking your link)
That 3-day cookie window is longer than Amazon’s 24-hour cookie but still short compared to other networks. And with commission rates so low, volume becomes key.
How Much Can You Realistically Earn?
Let’s keep it honest. This is not a get-rich-quick program.
Because of the low commission rates, it’s unlikely you’ll earn big money unless you’re driving significant traffic. For example:
- A $100 item at a 3% commission earns you $3
- You’ll need hundreds of sales per month to earn anything substantial
Walmart pays out about 60 days after the end of the month your commissions were earned. The minimum payout is $50.
Pros of the Walmart Affiliate Program
- Trust factor: Everyone knows Walmart, so it converts well
- Huge product selection in major consumer categories
- Easy to get started with a short approval window
- 3-day cookie window is better than Amazon’s 24 hours
- Built-in tools like banners and product feeds are available
Cons of the Walmart Affiliate Program
- Low commissions in most categories
- 60-day payout delay is a long wait for your earnings
- Some product exclusions, especially in high-volume areas
- Limited tools compared to Amazon Associates
- High competition with other affiliates and Walmart’s own marketing
Walmart vs. Amazon Affiliate Program
Here’s a side-by-side breakdown:
Bottom line: Amazon offers more flexibility in some niches and may pay slightly better, but Walmart gives you longer attribution and fewer restrictions.
Who Is This Program Good For?
The Walmart affiliate program works best for creators who:
- Already get some traffic from YouTube, a blog, or an email list
- Produce content around Walmart-friendly topics like DIY, budget shopping, parenting, or family life
- Want to diversify income and add another stream, even if it’s a low-ticket one
This program is ideal if Walmart naturally fits into the content you’re already creating. If you’re starting from zero, it’s harder to gain traction here without a traffic strategy.
Final Thoughts: Is Walmart Affiliate Marketing Worth It?
The Walmart affiliate program won’t make you rich on its own. But it’s reliable, beginner-friendly, and can work well as a supplemental income stream if your content aligns with Walmart’s products.
If you’ve already talked about products that people can buy at Walmart, it makes sense to sign up. Use it as part of a broader affiliate marketing strategy, combine it with platforms like Amazon and Target, and test what performs best with your audience.
If you are ready to get started, apply through Impact.com and start building your first Walmart links today. You can create a list-style blog or video around “Best Buys at Walmart” and drop your affiliate links inside. Keep testing and scaling what works. Monetizing with affiliate links takes time, but once it clicks, it can become a consistent source of passive income.