Affiliate marketing has become one of the most powerful ways to earn money online—especially for Africans seeking digital income streams. However, in countries like Zambia, a major barrier to success lies in the limitations of certain international payment processors, most notably PayPal. Despite being one of the most widely accepted payment gateways globally, PayPal's services in Zambia are highly restricted, making it difficult for marketers to receive their earnings seamlessly.
The PayPal Problem in Zambia
In Zambia, users can create PayPal accounts and make payments, but receiving funds is not officially supported. This limitation makes it nearly impossible for affiliate marketers to earn from programs that only pay through PayPal. To get around this, some users try to open PayPal accounts using foreign credentials, a strategy that is risky, unsustainable, and potentially against PayPal’s terms of service.
Therefore, the most viable and legal solution for Zambian (and most African) affiliates is to choose programs that support Payoneer or direct bank transfers. These options are safe, legal, and effective for receiving affiliate commissions in USD or other major currencies, which can be later converted locally.
Why Payoneer and Bank Transfer?
Payoneer is a globally trusted payment solution that provides users with a virtual U.S. bank account, a prepaid Mastercard, and the ability to receive payments from affiliate platforms, freelance websites, and marketplaces. It’s accepted by most reputable affiliate networks.
On the other hand, bank transfer is the simplest and often fastest way to get funds into your local account, provided the affiliate program supports international payouts. Below, we explore five top-tier affiliate programs that work perfectly with Payoneer or bank transfers, giving African marketers a level playing field.
1. ShareASale – Trusted and Versatile
Website: Join ShareASale
Payout Method: Payoneer, Bank Transfer
Commission Range: 5% – 50%
Payout Frequency: Monthly (minimum $50)
ShareASale is one of the oldest and most reliable affiliate networks in the world. It supports thousands of merchants across different niches, including fashion, finance, digital products, home décor, and technology.
Affiliate marketers in Zambia can receive payments via Payoneer or direct bank deposits through their partnership with Tipalti, a global payment processing platform. Once your commissions reach $50, payments are automatically scheduled.
To get started:
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Sign up at ShareASale
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Link your Payoneer account during payment setup.
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Apply to relevant merchants.
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Promote affiliate links on blogs, social media, or email lists.
2. Impact – Global Brands, Transparent Tracking
Website: Join Impact
Payout Method: Payoneer, Bank Transfer
Commission Range: Varies by partner (5%–30% typical)
Payout Frequency: 1st and 15th of each month
Impact.com is a leading platform offering access to global brands like Canva, Adidas, Airbnb, and Lenovo. They provide clean dashboards, advanced tracking, and reliable support—making it a favorite among advanced affiliate marketers.
What’s great for Zambians is that Impact pays via Payoneer and direct bank transfer, with no PayPal requirement at all.
How to join:
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Complete your tax and payment info (Payoneer preferred).
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Search for brand programs and apply.
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Get links and start promoting through your blog or YouTube.
3. PartnerStack – SaaS-Focused and Lucrative
Website: Join PartnerStack
Payout Method: Payoneer, Bank Transfer
Commission Range: 10% – 30% recurring
Payout Frequency: Monthly
PartnerStack specializes in software-as-a-service (SaaS) affiliate programs, perfect for promoting tools such as email marketing platforms, CRM tools, and business software. They work with companies like Monday.com, FreshBooks, and Unbounce.
One of the best aspects of PartnerStack is its reliable payouts to Payoneer or local banks, which makes it highly accessible to African affiliates.
Steps to start:
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Register on PartnerStack
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Search for SaaS products aligned with your niche
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Apply and get your links
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Promote via content marketing or ads
4. Payoneer Affiliate Program – Earn from Referrals
Website: Join Payoneer Affiliate Program
Payout Method: Direct to Payoneer
Commission: $25 per qualified referral
Payout Frequency: Monthly
This is a must-have program for any African affiliate promoting digital business models. By encouraging other freelancers, bloggers, and marketers to join Payoneer, you can earn $25 for each verified sign-up who receives at least $1,000 into their account.
Because Payoneer pays directly to your account, there’s no need to worry about other channels.
Here’s how to get started:
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Open a Payoneer account if you don’t have one: Sign Up Here
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Join their affiliate program: Affiliate Page
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Get your unique referral link and promote it to your network
Ideas for promoting this:
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YouTube tutorials on Payoneer registration
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Blog posts comparing Payoneer vs PayPal
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Social media posts on digital payments for freelancers
5. CJ Affiliate (formerly Commission Junction)
Website: Join CJ
Payout Method: Payoneer, Bank Transfer
Commission Range: Varies (4%–20% common)
Payout Frequency: Monthly (minimum $50)
CJ Affiliate is a massive network similar to ShareASale, hosting global advertisers like Grammarly, Samsung, and GoDaddy. They have recently improved their global payout capabilities, making them compatible with both Payoneer and bank transfers.
If you run a niche blog or comparison website, CJ can be a great partner.
Steps to sign up:
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Go to CJ Affiliate
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Complete your profile and payment info (Payoneer preferred)
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Search advertisers and apply
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Create content that educates and converts
Bonus: Affiliate Link Promotion Tips
Once you're approved by any of these platforms, your success depends on how well you promote your affiliate links. Consider the following intelligent strategies:
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Blog Posts: Write tutorials, comparisons, and reviews using affiliate links.
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Email Marketing: Build a list and offer exclusive tools or guides.
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YouTube: Create how-to videos or software walkthroughs.
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Facebook Groups: Engage your community and share helpful resources.
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WhatsApp Broadcast Lists: Send curated offers to interested users.
Final Thoughts
Affiliate marketing in Africa, and especially in Zambia, doesn’t need to be held back by PayPal limitations. By focusing on affiliate programs that support Payoneer or direct bank transfers, you can safely and legally receive your commissions without jumping through risky hoops.
The programs discussed above—ShareASale, Impact, PartnerStack, CJ Affiliate, and Payoneer—are not only accessible to Zambian marketers but also offer high-earning potential across different niches.
If you haven’t already, take your first step today by creating your Payoneer account and signing up for these affiliate networks. Smart money online is not just a dream—it’s one signup away.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this article may be affiliate links, meaning I earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase or sign up using my link. This helps support the Smart Money Online blog.
💳 Prefer PayPal payouts? Then check out these:
• Find more trusted networks in The Best Affiliate Networks to Join in 2025
• Learn how affiliate systems work in How Affiliate Programs Work – Earning Explained