Introduction
The affiliate marketing industry saw a net increase in program availability during September 2026. According to Affilitizer Market Barometer data, the total number of active programs rose from 75,183 at the start of the month to 76,796 at period end. This represents a net growth of 1,613 programs, or a 2.1% increase across the 54 active networks tracked.
Top 10 Ranking
| Rank | Network | Programs (Month-End) | Change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AWIN | 21,336 | +52 | ▲ |
| 2 | impact.com | 10,897 | 0 | ▬ |
| 3 | Flexoffers | 8,490 | +1,243 | ▲ |
| 4 | dgmaxinteractive | 3,249 | +39 | ▲ |
| 5 | CJ | 2,834 | -30 | ▼ |
| 6 | Rakuten Linkshare | 2,814 | 0 | ▬ |
| 7 | Tradedoubler | 2,550 | +330 | ▲ |
| 8 | AdCombo | 2,423 | 0 | ▬ |
| 9 | Adtraction | 2,411 | +7 | ▲ |
| 10 | ADCELL | 2,381 | +1 | ▲ |
Growth Champions
Three networks accounted for the bulk of the month's expansion. Flexoffers led the market in absolute growth, adding 1,243 programs for a 17.2% increase. Tradedoubler followed with a significant gain of 330 programs, representing 14.9% growth. AWIN maintained its market-leading position with a modest addition of 52 programs (+0.2%).
Decline and Closures
Several networks experienced notable contractions in September 2026. The network inis saw its program count drop by 50.5%, falling from 99 to 49. Belboon recorded a decline of 63.8%, ending the month with 21 programs. Among the top-tier networks, CJ lost 30 programs (-1.0%) and Webgains decreased by 14 programs (-1.0%). Mobility Ads saw the largest percentage drop, losing 75% of its volume to end with 1 active program.
Market Concentration (HHI)
The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for the period ended at 1,214, down from 1,225 at the start of the month. This 11-point decrease indicates a slight reduction in market concentration. The market remains classified as moderately concentrated. The top five networks currently hold a 60.9% share of all tracked programs.
Network Segments
Market dynamics varied significantly by network size. The Large segment (≥1,000 programs) grew by 2.4%, totaling 70,723 programs. Medium networks (200–999) grew by 0.7%, while Small networks (50–199) saw a marginal increase of 0.5%. Conversely, the Micro segment (<50 programs) experienced a sharp decline of 19.6%, ending the month with only 291 total programs across 16 networks.
Stability Analysis
Volatility was highest among smaller and mid-sized players. inis recorded a volatility index of 34.2%, followed by dgmaxinteractive at 24.3%. Among stable providers, Rakuten Linkshare, ADCocktail, and Skynet (McAnism) all maintained a 0% volatility index, reporting no change in program counts throughout September 2026.
Regional Distribution
Based on network headquarters, North American networks saw the strongest regional growth at 15.9%, reaching 9,028 programs. The DACH region remains the largest by volume with 26,841 programs, despite a flat growth rate of 0.1%. The Nordics grew by 7.2%, while UK/IE based networks saw a slight contraction of 0.8%.
Market Summary
The affiliate market grew by 2.1% in September 2026, driven primarily by double-digit expansion at Flexoffers and Tradedoubler. While large networks consolidated their lead, the micro-network segment faced significant program losses, contributing to a slight overall decrease in market concentration.
This article was created with AI assistance and editorially reviewed.
