Best Email Marketing Tools for Affiliate Marketers (2026)

Picking the wrong email tool can cost an affiliate marketer their whole list. Several popular platforms ban affiliate marketing in their terms, and they can suspend your account without much warning.

This guide shows which email marketing tools for affiliate marketers actually allow affiliate links. We read each platform’s own policy pages, so you know the real rules before you build.

Disclosure: SoftwareStackPro may earn a commission if you sign up through some links on this page. It never changes our verdicts.

Quick answer

Fully allowed: GetResponse and AWeber.
Allowed with rules: Kit, ActiveCampaign and Brevo.
Not allowed: Mailchimp and MailerLite.

Why Email Matters So Much for Affiliate Marketers

Search traffic is great, but you do not own it. One Google update can cut your clicks overnight, while an email list stays yours.

That last number is the risk. Most affiliates lean on one traffic source, and email is the safety net that protects your income.

Want more numbers? Our email marketing benchmarks for 2026 cover open rates, click rates and more.

Affiliate Link Policies at a Glance

Here is the short version of each platform’s rules. Read the tool sections below for the fine print.

Tools That Fully Allow Affiliate Marketing

1. GetResponse: Best for Serious Affiliate Funnels

Allowed

GetResponse is the most openly affiliate-friendly tool on this list. It even runs a dedicated affiliate marketing page that talks about using affiliate links and promo codes in automations.

You get landing pages, webinars and a visual automation builder in one place. That makes it easy to run a full funnel from opt-in to promotion.

Verdict: The safest pick if affiliate income is your main business.Visit GetResponse

2. AWeber: Best for Simple, Reliable Autoresponders

Allowed

AWeber has served small businesses since 1998 and has long been a home for affiliate marketers. Its terms focus on banning spam and bought lists, not affiliate links sent to a real opt-in list.

It also connects well with affiliate tracking tools. Expect double opt-in by default on new accounts, which keeps your list clean.

Verdict: A steady, beginner-friendly choice for affiliate newsletters.Visit AWeber

Tools That Allow Affiliate Links With Rules

3. Kit (formerly ConvertKit): Best for Bloggers Who Mix Content and Links

Allowed with rules

Kit allows affiliate links when they sit inside your own content. Its help article on affiliate marketing says roughly 70 to 80% of your emails should be about your own work, with affiliate content making up the rest.

Some topics are off limits whatever your business. Kit bans affiliate links for education offers, loans, online pharmacies and get-rich-quick software.

Verdict: Great for content sites like ours. Not for pure affiliate blasts.

Read our full Kit review for features and pricing.

4. ActiveCampaign: Best for Advanced Automation

Allowed with rules

ActiveCampaign allows affiliate links in marketing emails, with limits. Its affiliate marketing policy says links should not be the main focus of an email.

It also bans using the platform only to push affiliate offers. You also cannot send messages about affiliate marketing itself, such as “earn money as an affiliate” pitches.

Verdict: Powerful, but only if your emails lead with real value.

See how it performs in our ActiveCampaign review.

5. Brevo: Best Budget Option (Confirm First)

Check with support

We did not find a clear affiliate marketing ban in Brevo’s public policies. However, its acceptable use policy is strict on consent and bans scraped or bought lists.

Because the rules are less spelled out, ask Brevo support before you build an affiliate-heavy list. Get the answer in writing.

Verdict: Good value, but confirm your use case first.

Our Brevo review covers its free plan and send limits.

Tools That Do Not Allow Affiliate Marketing

Warning: Both tools below can suspend accounts that break these rules. Do not build an affiliate list on them.

6. Mailchimp

Not allowed

Mailchimp lists affiliate marketing as prohibited content in its acceptable use policy. It also says it uses automated and human reviews to catch violations.

If you already run an affiliate list there, plan a move now. Our Mailchimp alternatives guide can help you choose.

For a full breakdown of the tool itself, see our Mailchimp review.

7. MailerLite

Not allowed

MailerLite names affiliate marketing and MLM in its list of content it does not allow. That rule covers affiliate promotions sent through your newsletters.

MailerLite is still a great tool for bloggers who sell their own products. Read our MailerLite review to see if it fits that use.

How to Choose the Right Tool

Start with how much of your income comes from affiliate links. That one answer narrows the list fast.

Mostly affiliate income? Pick GetResponse or AWeber.
A blog or brand with some affiliate links? Kit or ActiveCampaign will work.
Tiny budget? Try Brevo, but confirm your use case with support first.
Selling your own products only? MailerLite and Mailchimp are fine.

Still comparing features? Our best email marketing software guide and free plan comparison go deeper.

5 Rules to Keep Your Affiliate Emails Safe

Even affiliate-friendly tools will close accounts that spam. Follow these rules on any platform.

Only email people who opted in. Never buy or scrape lists.
Lead with value. Teach first, then recommend.
Disclose your links. The FTC endorsement guides require clear disclosure.
Avoid risky niches. Loans, pharmacies and get-rich-quick offers get flagged fast.
Re-read the policy yearly. Terms change, and old rules may not apply.

New to list building? Start with our guide on how to build an email list. Then set up the email automation workflows that turn subscribers into buyers.

Final Verdict

GetResponse is our top pick for full-time affiliate marketers. AWeber is the simpler, budget-friendly runner-up.

If you run a content site with some affiliate links, Kit is a strong fit. Just keep your own content front and center.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use affiliate links in Mailchimp?

Mailchimp lists affiliate marketing as prohibited content in its acceptable use policy. Building an affiliate business on Mailchimp puts your account at risk.

Does Kit allow affiliate links?

Yes, with conditions. Most of your email content must be about your own business, and some niches like loans and online pharmacies are banned.

What is the best free email tool for affiliate marketers?

Kit and AWeber both offer free plans and allow affiliate links under their rules. Check current limits on each site, since free plans change often.

Do I need to disclose affiliate links in emails?

Yes. In the US, the FTC expects a clear disclosure whenever you earn money from a recommendation.

Can MailerLite be used for affiliate marketing?

No. MailerLite lists affiliate marketing as content it does not allow in newsletters.

Policies checked October 2026. Platforms update their terms, so always confirm on the official policy page before you build your list.

About Vincencia Anyango

IT graduate and freelance web specialist who has built WordPress sites and run email campaigns for clients since 2020. Every review on SoftwareStackPro is based on hands on testing. More about how I review →

Best Email Marketing Tools for Affiliate Marketers (Who Allows What)