Affiliate Marketing vs Digital Products: Which Side Hustle Pays More?

Let’s Set the Scene…

Okay, real talk—if you’ve ever typed “how to make money online” into Google (don’t lie, we’ve all done it 😅), you’ve probably run into two recurring themes: affiliate marketing and selling digital products.

They both sound pretty sexy, right? Work from anywhere, passive income, no boss breathing down your neck… but which one actually pays more? And more importantly, which one’s a better fit for you?

I’ve done both—made wins, made mistakes (ugh), and watched others do the same. So grab your coffee (or matcha if you’re fancy) and let’s break this down like we’re chatting over brunch 🍳.

What Is Affiliate Marketing (and Why It’s So Popular)?

Affiliate marketing is basically you getting paid to promote other people’s stuff. You don’t create the product. You just recommend it and if someone buys through your special link, you earn a commission. 💸

Sounds simple? Because it kind of is.

Here’s the basic setup:

• Join an affiliate program (Amazon, ClickBank, etc.)
• Share your link via blog, email, social, TikTok dance… whatever works.
• Someone clicks → buys → you get paid.

The Pros of Affiliate Marketing

• Zero product creation – You don’t need to spend months creating anything. Just promote.
• Low upfront cost – No inventory, no developers, no Canva headache designing an eBook cover.
• Passive income potential – Create content once, earn for months (if not years).
• Scalable AF – You can promote multiple products in multiple niches.

But Hold Up… the Cons

• Commission cuts – Some programs pay peanuts. Like, actual peanuts. 🥜
• Zero control – The product can change, get removed, or stop converting overnight.
• High competition – Everyone and their cousin is an “affiliate” now.
• Dependence on platforms – Amazon slashed commissions overnight in 2020. It hurt. A lot. 😬

Ever had traffic flowing to a blog post and then the affiliate product just… disappears? Yep, I’ve been there. #NotFun

So What About Digital Products?

Digital products are anything you create once and sell infinitely—eBooks, online courses, templates, printables, digital planners, audio packs, you name it.

You own the product, set the price, and keep most (if not all) of the profits. Sounds like a dream, right?

The Pros of Digital Products

• High profit margins – You make it once, sell it over and over. No printing, no shipping.
• Full control – You decide the price, branding, updates, everything.
• Strong brand building – Selling your own stuff = instant credibility.
• Automated delivery – Tools like Stan Store, Gumroad, or Shopify make fulfillment a breeze.

The Less-Than-Fun Parts

• You have to create the product – Duh. Not everyone wants to write a 60-page eBook.
• Customer service – Even digital buyers can be needy AF 😅
• Marketing is on you – There’s no “traffic faucet” unless you build one (email list, social media, ads).
• Refunds & tech issues – Someone’s always gonna say, “It didn’t download.” Sigh.

Let’s Talk Money: Which One Pays More?

Ah yes, the million-dollar question. Literally.

The truth? Both can pay you stupidly well—if you play your cards right.

But let’s break it down with real comparisons:

Feature	Affiliate Marketing	Digital Products
Profit per sale	Low to medium ($1–$100 typically)	High ($10–$500+ depending on pricing)
Upfront effort	Low (just promote)	High (create + market)
Long-term control	Low	High
Passive income potential	Medium	High
Customer ownership	None	100% yours
Tech setup required	Minimal	Moderate to high
Scaling opportunities	Medium	Sky-high (if your funnel slaps)

TL;DR?

If you want quick wins with little effort, affiliate marketing is your guy. If you want long-term control and bigger payouts, digital products are the way to go.

But IMO? The magic happens when you combine both. 😉

Real-Life Scenarios (So You Get the Vibe)

Affiliate Example: The Quick Win

You write a blog post on “Best Budget Laptops for Students.” You slap on affiliate links to Amazon or Best Buy. A student clicks, buys, and boom—you make $30 commission.

You didn’t create the laptop. You didn’t do customer support. Easy money, right?

But… what if next month the product is out of stock? Or Amazon drops commissions again? Then your $30 turns into a sad little $3. 🙁

Digital Product Example: The Long Game

You create a Notion template for content creators. You list it on Gumroad or Stan Store. You sell it for $17.

Let’s say 1,000 people buy it over the year. That’s $17,000 in revenue. And your only cost? Maybe your time and a Canva subscription.

Bonus? You now have 1,000 email addresses. 💥

Skills You’ll Need for Each

Let’s be honest—not all hustles are created equal in terms of skills.

For Affiliate Marketing:

• Content creation – Blog, YouTube, TikTok, etc.
• SEO – You want people to actually find your stuff.
• Link tracking – Use tools like Bitly or Pretty Links to track clicks.
• Copywriting – “Click here to buy” isn’t gonna cut it.

For Digital Products:

• Product development – Gotta make something valuable.
• Sales funnel setup – Think lead magnets, email sequences, upsells.
• Email marketing – Your list is your gold mine.
• Design tools – Canva, Notion, PDFs… oh my.

And here’s a secret: you can learn both. Start messy, improve as you go. Nobody launched their first digital product like a pro.

Feeling Torn? Ask Yourself These Questions

Here’s how I help people (and myself) decide:

• Do you love creating? Go digital products.
• Hate dealing with customers? Stick to affiliate marketing.
• Need cash fast? Affiliate might bring quicker returns.
• Want to build a brand? Digital products all the way.
• Love content creation? Either will work—pick your monetization.

Still stuck? Then do both. For real.

Example: Write a blog post with affiliate links, then offer a freebie that leads to a paid digital product. Boom—dual income streams. 🔥

Pro Tips for Winning at Either (or Both)

If You’re Going Affiliate:

• Pick a niche you actually care about. Promoting hair removal cream when you’re bald? Nah.
• Focus on high-paying programs. SaaS and course affiliates pay way better than Amazon.
• Always add value. Tutorials, comparisons, “how-to” content wins.
• Use SEO to your advantage. Evergreen content = money while you sleep.

If You’re Creating Digital Products:

• Validate before you build. Ask your audience if they’d buy it.
• Start small. Don’t try to launch a 50-video course from scratch.
• Automate delivery. Use tools like Stan Store, Gumroad, or ConvertKit Commerce.
• Collect emails. Your list will outlast any algorithm.

What About Combining Both?

This is my favorite part: hybrid hustling. Here’s how to do it like a boss:

1. Build an audience (blog, email, TikTok, whatever).
2. Create a lead magnet to collect emails.
3. Sell a mini digital product (like a $9 template).
4. Sprinkle affiliate links in your content and upsells.
5. Boom—two income streams from the same effort.

Seriously, why choose one when you can stack both?

Real Income Examples (Yes, Actual Numbers)

Let’s look at realistic, not-influencer-fantasy numbers.

Affiliate Side Hustler:

• Niche blog with 10k monthly visitors
• Promotes 3 affiliate products
• Average $2 EPC (earnings per click)

= $600–$1,000/month, fairly passive once content ranks.

Digital Product Creator:

• Sells a $27 eBook or template
• Gets 200 sales/month via Instagram or email list

= $5,400/month, minus fees. Not bad, huh?

Hybrid Hustler:

• Blog + email list
• $17 product + $50 affiliate commission combo
• Sells 100 digital products and gets 30 affiliate conversions/month

= ~$3,200/month, with compounding potential.

FYI: These aren’t pie-in-the-sky numbers. With consistency, they’re very doable.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

In Affiliate Marketing:

• Spamming links everywhere – Nobody likes a salesy Susan.
• Not disclosing – Always use “#ad” or a proper disclaimer.
• Chasing trends – Stick to evergreen topics.

In Digital Products:

• Overcomplicating it – Start with something simple and helpful.
• Ignoring feedback – Listen to your buyers. Improve.
• Trying to do everything solo – Use templates, outsource what you hate.

So… Affiliate Marketing vs Digital Products?

Drumroll please… 🥁

The answer is: it depends on your vibe.

• Want something quick, low-effort, and don’t mind riding someone else’s wave? Affiliate marketing.
• Want more control, bigger margins, and long-term brand growth? Digital products.

But the true winner? The person who combines both. Smart creators use affiliate links to earn while selling their own stuff to build real wealth.

Final Thoughts: Your Next Move?

Whether you go full digital creator mode or keep it chill with affiliate links, just start. Test. Learn. Tweak. Profit.

And remember: the internet pays people who publish. That’s it. Publish content, provide value, and get paid.

So… which one are you starting with? Let me know—I’ll bring the coffee ☕😉