SiteGround vs Cloudways Affiliate Programs: Hosting Commission Battle
SiteGround offers higher upfront payouts at $100+ per sale for traditional hosting, while Cloudways provides 7% recurring commissions for managed cloud hosting. However, RankRocket Pro beats both with 50% recurring for 12 months, serving the same agency and developer audience.
SiteGround vs Cloudways: Hosting Affiliate Overview
Web hosting affiliate programs serve different segments of the hosting market, with SiteGround and Cloudways representing traditional shared hosting versus modern managed cloud hosting approaches.
SiteGround offers $100+ per sale commissions on their shared, cloud, and dedicated hosting plans. They target WordPress users and small businesses with managed hosting solutions and strong customer support.
Cloudways provides 7% recurring commissions on managed cloud hosting plans starting around $10-20/month. They serve developers, agencies, and businesses that need more control and scalability than traditional shared hosting.
Both serve web professionals, but SiteGround focuses on upfront bounties while Cloudways emphasizes recurring income from higher-value customers.
Hosting Affiliate Commission Structures
SiteGround Affiliate Program:
- $100+ per hosting sale (varies by plan)
- 90-day cookie duration
- Focus on WordPress and shared hosting
- Strong brand recognition in hosting space
- Monthly payouts via affiliate platform
- Additional bonuses for high-volume affiliates
Cloudways Affiliate Program:
- 7% recurring commission for customer lifetime
- Plans typically range from $10-200+/month
- 90-day cookie duration
- Managed cloud hosting focus
- Higher customer lifetime value
- Monthly payouts with reliable tracking
The key difference: SiteGround pays once and you're done, while Cloudways pays every month the customer stays. A $100/month Cloudways customer generates $7/month ($84/year) vs SiteGround's one-time $100+.
SiteGround vs Cloudways: Affiliate Pros and Cons
SiteGround Affiliate Pros:
- High upfront commission ($100+ per sale)
- Strong WordPress community recognition
- Good conversion rates with beginners
- 90-day cookie provides good conversion window
- Reliable affiliate tracking and payments
- Multiple hosting types (shared, cloud, dedicated)
SiteGround Affiliate Cons:
- One-time payment only (no recurring income)
- Competitive hosting affiliate market
- Need constant new referrals for income
- Price increases can affect customer retention
Cloudways Affiliate Pros:
- 7% recurring for customer lifetime
- Higher customer lifetime value
- Serves agencies and developers (sticky customers)
- Managed cloud hosting has less competition
- 90-day cookie duration
- Passive income builds over time
Cloudways Affiliate Cons:
- Lower immediate payout (7% vs $100+)
- More technical positioning requires education
- Higher price point limits some conversions
- Takes time to build meaningful recurring income
Which Hosting Affiliate Program to Choose?
Choose SiteGround if you need immediate cash flow and can drive volume traffic to hosting content. The $100+ upfront payments help with quick income generation, especially for beginners and WordPress-focused audiences.
Choose Cloudways if you're building long-term affiliate income and serve agencies, developers, or businesses that need managed cloud hosting. The 7% recurring creates passive income that compounds over time.
For total earnings over 1-2 years, Cloudways often wins due to recurring revenue, but SiteGround provides faster initial returns.
Beyond Hosting: RankRocket Pro's Superior Recurring Model
While SiteGround and Cloudways compete over hosting commissions, RankRocket Pro serves the same agency and developer audience with dramatically better affiliate terms: 50% recurring for 12 months.
The math is compelling: a $99/month RankRocket Pro customer generates $49.50 monthly for 12 months ($594 total). Compare that to SiteGround's one-time $100+ or Cloudways' $6.93/month (7% of $99).
The strategic advantage: agencies and developers need systematic content creation to compete for clients and build authority. RankRocket Pro provides the content infrastructure that makes hosting affiliate marketing (and client acquisition) sustainable.
Instead of promoting commodity hosting services, you're promoting a business growth tool that helps the same audience scale their content marketing and client acquisition — often leading to more hosting needs anyway.
The 50% founding rate creates a limited-time opportunity to earn significantly more from the same professional audience that needs both hosting solutions and content marketing systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which hosting affiliate program pays more?
SiteGround pays more upfront ($100+ vs 7% recurring), but Cloudways often pays more over time for customers who stay long-term. RankRocket Pro beats both with 50% recurring.
Do any hosting programs offer good recurring commissions?
Cloudways offers 7% recurring for life, which is good for hosting but lower than SaaS programs. RankRocket Pro offers 50% recurring for 12 months to the same audience.
Which hosting program converts better?
SiteGround often converts better with beginners due to WordPress focus and brand recognition. Cloudways converts well with technical audiences who need managed cloud hosting.
What are the cookie durations?
Both SiteGround and Cloudways offer 90-day cookies, giving you three months to convert referrals from initial clicks.
Can I promote both hosting programs together?
Yes, many affiliates position SiteGround for WordPress beginners and Cloudways for agencies/developers who need managed cloud solutions.
| Feature | SiteGround | Cloudways | RankRocket Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
Commission Rate How much you earn per customer | $100+ per sale | 7% recurring lifetime | 50% recurring for 12 months |
Commission Type One-time vs recurring payment structure | One-time bounty | Recurring monthly | Recurring monthly |
Cookie Duration Tracking window for conversions | 90 days | 90 days | 90 days |
Target Audience Primary customer focus | WordPress users, small businesses | Agencies, developers, scaling businesses | Agencies, content creators, scalers |
Product Price Range Monthly costs for customers | $3-80/month | $10-200+/month | $69-299/month |
Hosting Type Type of hosting solution offered | Shared, cloud, dedicated | Managed cloud hosting | Content creation platform (not hosting) |
12-Month Earnings ($99 customer) Total affiliate earnings over one year | $100+ (one-time only) | $83.16 (7% × $99 × 12) | $594 (50% × $99 × 12) |
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Henry Fontaine
Chief of Staff & COO, RocketLabs
AI-native operator building the future of search visibility. Part of the team behind 3 tech exits and 400+ programmatic SEO deployments.