The strongest VPN and security affiliate programs in 2026 are Proton (30 to 40% on most new subscriptions, 100% on one-month Proton VPN plans, plus 30% on renewals), Surfshark (40% revenue share on new sales, 30-day cookie) and Bitdefender (20% on new consumer customers and 50% on business products). Password managers mostly work the other way: 1Password, Bitwarden and Keeper focus on resellers and MSPs rather than paying content affiliates a published rate.
Security is one of the best-paying affiliate categories there is, and also one of the most crowded. The rates are high because the products are cheap to deliver and customers stay for years. That's also why every tech blog on earth already has a "best VPN" page. You can still win here. You just need to pick the right program for the audience you actually have.
Live table: VPN, antivirus and privacy programs
These rows come from the PartnersWatch software directory. Rates are what each brand states on its own partner page. Confirm on the program page before you build a page around a number.
| Program | Partner types | Terms | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proton | Affiliate, Reseller, Distributor | 30-40% on most new subscriptions (100% on 1-month Proton VPN), plus 30% on renewals | Recurring |
| Surfshark | Affiliate | 40% revenue share on new sales; custom/CPA deals by volume | Revenue share |
| ExpressVPN | Affiliate | On request | — |
| Bitdefender | Affiliate | 20% revenue share on new customers; 50% on business products; custom deals up to 100%+ | Revenue share |
| EasyDMARC | Affiliate, Referral partner | 15% revenue share for 12 months | Revenue share |
| Concord Privacy | Affiliate, Referral partner | Recurring commission (rate not published) | Recurring |
Live table: password managers and business security
| Program | Partner types | Terms | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Password | Reseller, Integrator / MSP, Affiliate | On request | — |
| Bitwarden | Reseller, Integrator / MSP, Agency | On request | — |
| Keeper Security | Reseller, Agent / broker, Integrator / MSP | On request | — |
| Passpack | Affiliate, Reseller, Referral partner | On request | — |
| Tenable | Reseller, Distributor, Agent / broker | On request | — |
| Cloudflare | Reseller, Distributor, Integrator / MSP | On request | — |
| Auth0 | Reseller, Integrator / MSP, Agency | On request | — |
Why security pays so well
Three reasons, and they explain which programs to choose.
First, margins. A VPN subscription costs the provider very little to serve. Paying an affiliate 40% of the first sale, or even 100% of a first month, still makes sense when the customer renews for years.
Second, retention. People don't switch VPNs or password managers casually. Once someone has their passwords stored somewhere, moving them is a chore. That stickiness is why recurring commission on renewals is worth so much more here than in categories where customers churn after a month.
Third, intent. Someone searching "best VPN for streaming" or "password manager for families" is ready to buy. They've already decided they need the thing.
The catch is competition. Big review sites have spent years and serious budgets on "best VPN" rankings. A new site won't beat them on the head term. You beat them on specific angles: a VPN for a particular country, device, use case or profession.
Proton
The Proton partners program is the one I'd look at first, especially if your audience cares about privacy rather than just streaming.
The terms: 30 to 40% on most new subscriptions, 100% on one-month Proton VPN sign-ups, and 30% on renewals. Renewals are the key part. Most VPN affiliate programs pay once, on the first sale. Proton keeps paying when customers renew, which turns a good month into a growing base.
Proton covers more than VPN. Affiliates earn on Proton Mail, Drive, Pass and Lumo as well. That matters because a privacy-minded reader who buys Proton VPN is a natural fit for Proton Mail or Pass later. There's a $100 minimum before bank-transfer payout.
For channel partners, the same program offers resale pricing to MSPs, MSSPs, VARs and distributors. It also has special incentives for mission-aligned nonprofits. If you're searching "proton partner" because you run an IT business rather than a blog, that's the track you want.
Surfshark
The Surfshark affiliate program pays a 40% revenue share on new sales with a 30-day cookie. High-volume partners can negotiate custom payouts or CPA deals. The minimum payout is $100.
Surfshark is also available through Impact, CJ, Awin and other networks. That's handy if you already have an account on one of them; you can add Surfshark without a new signup and get paid alongside your other programs.
The difference from Proton: Surfshark's published rate is on new sales. If your content brings in lots of first-time buyers, that's fine. If you want income that builds over time from renewals, Proton's structure suits you better.
ExpressVPN
The ExpressVPN affiliate program uses a sliding structure: the more sales you drive, the more you earn. It doesn't publish specific rates on the page. Affiliates get dedicated account managers and reporting tools and apply through Impact.
"Rates on request" isn't a red flag at this level. It usually means the program negotiates with bigger partners. If you're starting out, apply anyway and see the terms. Just don't build your page around a number you read on a forum.
Bitdefender
The Bitdefender affiliate program pays a 20% revenue share on new consumer customers and 50% on business products. Custom deals can reach or exceed 100% revenue share. It runs on impact.com and accepts international traffic, with localized promotions.
That business rate is the interesting number. If your audience includes small business owners, freelancers or IT people, steering them toward business security products earns more than twice the consumer rate. A "security for small business" page can out-earn a "best antivirus" page with a fraction of the traffic.
Password managers: mostly a channel game
Here's where people searching "password manager affiliate program" get surprised. The big business password managers mostly run partner programs for resellers and managed service providers, not for bloggers.
- 1Password partners with resellers, channel firms, MSPs and technology alliances. Partners get training, resources and ongoing support, and MSPs get a 14-day free trial.
- Bitwarden works with MSPs who manage client organizations from a dedicated portal, resellers who sell Bitwarden on to other organizations, and technology partners building on its open-source code. Partner margins are mentioned but not published.
- Keeper has VAR, MSP, technology and affiliate tracks, with training and 24/7 technical support. It's one of the few that explicitly includes affiliates.
- Passpack offers channel, affiliate and referral programs and is free to enroll.
If you're a content affiliate, Keeper and Passpack are the ones with affiliate tracks. Proton Pass is covered under Proton's affiliate program above. If you're an MSP or IT consultant, 1Password and Bitwarden are built for you, and the economics are reseller margins on seats rather than one-off commissions.
Business security and infrastructure
Further up the stack, programs are about reselling and services, not links.
Tenable's Assure program rewards resellers, distributors and MSSPs selling exposure management, and it promises partners won't compete with Tenable's own sales team. Cloudflare's PowerUP program offers four routes: resell, manage, distribute or consult. Auth0 runs a community for consultants, integrators and resellers on its identity platform.
Two smaller ones worth knowing for content creators: EasyDMARC pays a 15% revenue share for 12 months (up to $2,000 per customer) and is open to anyone with an online presence, though email security knowledge helps. Concord, a privacy and compliance platform, pays recurring commission with application-based approval; the rate isn't on its page.
If you run an IT services business, the SaaS reseller programs guide goes deeper into how margin-based deals compare with commission.
How to pick
- Privacy-focused audience (journalists, activists, people who read about surveillance): Proton. The values match, and renewals keep paying.
- Streaming, travel or general consumer tech: Surfshark or ExpressVPN, ideally through a network you already use.
- Small business or IT audience: Bitdefender's business products at 50%, EasyDMARC for email security.
- You're an MSP or IT consultant: 1Password, Bitwarden, Keeper or Proton's channel pricing. Think margins on seats.
- You want both: Keeper and Proton have affiliate and channel routes in the same program.
Where newer sites can actually rank
Forget "best VPN". Try these instead:
- Specific use cases: VPN for a particular streaming service, gaming, torrenting rules in a specific country, remote workers.
- Specific audiences: password managers for families, for small law firms, for nonprofits.
- Comparisons: Proton vs Surfshark for privacy, Bitwarden vs 1Password for teams.
- Setup guides: how to set up a VPN on a specific router or TV. Tutorials rank more easily than reviews and convert well.
Whatever you write, test the products yourself. Security readers are sharp and spot a page written from press releases. A screenshot of your actual speed test beats a paragraph of adjectives.
For more on recurring deals across software, see best SaaS affiliate programs and recurring commission affiliate programs.
How we built this list
PartnersWatch lists open partner programs from each brand's own public partner page, with the date we last checked it. We're not affiliated with these brands, and any brand can claim, correct or remove its listing. Terms change without notice, so confirm the current rate on the program page before you rely on it. See how the directory works.
FAQ
What is the best VPN affiliate program?
It depends on your audience. Proton pays 30 to 40% on most new subscriptions, 100% on one-month Proton VPN plans and 30% on renewals, which suits privacy audiences. Surfshark pays a 40% revenue share on new sales with a 30-day cookie and is available on Impact, CJ and Awin.
How much does the Proton VPN affiliate program pay?
Proton pays 30 to 40% on most new subscriptions, 100% on one-month Proton VPN sign-ups, and 30% on renewals. It covers Proton Mail, VPN, Drive, Pass and Lumo, with a $100 minimum before bank-transfer payout.
Does Proton have a partner program for resellers?
Yes. Proton's partners program offers resale pricing to MSPs, MSSPs, VARs and distributors, alongside its affiliate track for publishers and influencers.
What is Surfshark's affiliate commission?
Surfshark pays a 40% revenue share on new sales, with custom payouts or CPA deals for high-volume partners. The cookie lasts 30 days and the minimum payout is $100.
Does Bitwarden have an affiliate program?
Bitwarden's partner program focuses on MSPs, resellers and technology partners rather than content affiliates. MSPs manage client organizations from a dedicated portal and resellers earn partner margins.
Which password managers have affiliate programs?
Keeper and Passpack both list affiliate tracks alongside their channel programs, and Proton Pass is covered by Proton's affiliate program. 1Password and Bitwarden focus on resellers and MSPs.
Do antivirus affiliate programs pay well?
Bitdefender pays a 20% revenue share on new consumer customers and 50% on business products, with custom deals that can reach or exceed 100%. Business products pay much more than consumer ones.