Best Buy Affiliate Program 2026: Commission Rates, Requirements And How To Join
Lily Roberts
Senior Marketing Strategist
10.25.2026
The Best Buy affiliate program runs on Impact with low category rates, often 0.5% to 1%, and a 1-day cookie. See 2026 terms, Best Buy Creator and how to join.
Quick answer: Yes, Best Buy has an affiliate program, run on impact.com, with a separate Best Buy Creator track for social creators. Rates are set by product category and are low: commonly reported at 0.5% to 1%, with some categories such as computers and Apple products reported at 0%. The cookie is commonly reported as just 1 day. Joining is free through Best Buy’s affiliate page.
Best Buy is the biggest consumer electronics specialty retailer in the US, and its name carries real weight with shoppers comparing TVs, laptops and appliances. That trust is the main reason publishers still link to it, because the commission rates are among the lowest of any major retailer.
This guide sets out how the Best Buy affiliate program works in 2026, what it actually pays, how the Creator program differs, and when Amazon or another retailer is the better choice. For more programs by category, see our affiliate programs hub.
What Is The Best Buy Affiliate Program?
The Best Buy affiliate program pays you a commission when people you refer buy eligible products on BestBuy.com. Best Buy’s official affiliate page now offers two tracks:
Best Buy Publisher: the classic affiliate program for websites, apps and other publishers. You sign up through impact.com and get links, product feeds and monthly payments.
Best Buy Creator: launched in April 2025 for influencers. Creators build curated storefronts of tech products and earn commission on sales from them. It is also powered by Impact, and Best Buy says creators of all sizes can apply.
Best Buy moved its program from Rakuten to Impact in 2019. You may also see Best Buy offered through sub-networks such as FlexOffers, which take a share of the commission. Best Buy Canada runs its own, separate program on bestbuy.ca.
Best Buy Affiliate Program At A Glance
Term
Details
Network
impact.com (Publisher and Creator tracks)
Commission rate
Set by product category in your Impact dashboard; commonly reported as 0.5% to 1%, with some categories at 0%
Cookie duration
Set in your dashboard; commonly reported as 1 day
Requirements
Approval at Best Buy’s discretion; creators must be 18 or older
Approval
Manual review
Payout timing
About 60 days after the end of each calendar month
Payout threshold
No minimum stated by Best Buy
Payout methods
Paid through Impact
Countries
Orders must ship to and bill to a US address
Cost to join
Free
How Best Buy Commissions Work
Best Buy’s publisher and creator terms do not list percentages. Instead, each product category has its own rate in the Impact dashboard, and Best Buy can change those rates at any time. The referral window, which Best Buy calls “Return Days”, is also set in the dashboard.
Third-party reviews give a consistent picture of what those settings look like in practice:
Most categories are commonly reported at 0.5% to 1%.
Laptops, tablets, desktops, video game hardware, computer components and Apple-branded products have been reported at 0%.
The cookie is commonly reported as 1 day, so the shopper usually has to buy within 24 hours of your click.
Rates have also been unstable. In April 2025, Best Buy told partners it was moving to a temporary 0% baseline across categories into early May, citing broader economic factors, after a one-time delay to March 2025 payments. Best Buy’s terms allow rate changes at any time, so check your dashboard regularly.
Other rules from Best Buy’s official terms worth knowing:
Canceled, returned and refunded orders are deducted, along with fraud and bad debt.
Only up to five of the same item per order earns commission.
Gift cards and warranties are commonly reported as excluded.
Publishers cannot promote Best Buy offers on social communities without written permission or an insertion order. Social creators should use the Creator track.
You cannot bid on Best Buy brand terms in paid search, including names like Geek Squad and Magnolia.
Order inquiries must be raised within 45 days of the transaction.
How Much Do Best Buy Affiliates Make?
Honestly, not much per sale. Here is a sizing example using the commonly reported 0.5% to 1% range, not a forecast:
A $1,500 TV sale would earn about $7.50 to $15.
$20,000 in monthly referred sales would earn about $100 to $200.
$100,000 in monthly referred sales would earn about $500 to $1,000.
If most of your traffic goes to laptops, gaming consoles or Apple products, the figure could be close to zero, because those categories have been reported at 0%. Add the 1-day cookie and the 60-day payment delay, and Best Buy works best as a secondary link for high-ticket items that pay a non-zero rate.
Best Buy Publisher Vs Best Buy Creator Vs Amazon Associates
Most tech publishers weigh Best Buy against Amazon. Here is how the options compare.
Best Buy Publisher: for websites and apps. Category rates set in Impact, commonly reported at 0.5% to 1%, with a short cookie. Strong shopper trust for big purchases and in-store pickup.
Best Buy Creator: for social creators. You get a personal storefront and commission on sales from it, with no stated commission cap. Best Buy does not publish creator rates; they are shown in the Impact Creator dashboard.
Amazon Associates: publishes its rates openly, including 2% on televisions, 2.5% on PCs and PC components, 3% on headphones, 1% on video game consoles and 4% on many other categories, with a 24-hour cookie. Amazon also pays on other items in the shopper’s cart.
For most electronics categories, Amazon’s published rates are higher than what is commonly reported for Best Buy. Best Buy still earns a place where shoppers prefer it, such as large TVs, appliances and same-day store pickup, and some publishers link to both so readers can choose.
Who Should Join The Best Buy Affiliate Program?
Tech review sites that already rank for buying guides and want a trusted second retailer next to Amazon.
TV, home theater and audio sites, where order values are high.
Appliance and smart home publishers covering big-ticket purchases.
Deal sites that post Best Buy sales and need same-day conversions.
Social tech creators, through the Best Buy Creator storefront.
How To Join The Best Buy Affiliate Program
Go to Best Buy’s official affiliate page and choose Publisher or Creator.
For the Publisher track, follow the sign-up link to Impact, create or sign in to your partner account, and apply to the Best Buy US campaign.
For the Creator track, apply through Best Buy’s creator onboarding page and connect your social accounts.
Add your site or channel details, promotional methods, and tax and payment information.
Wait for Best Buy’s decision. Rejected applicants can reapply under the Creator terms.
Once approved, check the category rates and referral window in your dashboard before you build links.
Tips To Earn More With The Best Buy Affiliate Program
Check category rates first. Before writing a guide, confirm the category does not pay 0%, then focus Best Buy links where the rate is above zero.
Go big on Black Friday and holiday deals. Best Buy’s sale events produce the highest-intent traffic of the year, which suits a 1-day cookie.
Link to deal pages. Best Buy’s Top Deals and Deal of the Day pages convert well in deal roundups and newsletters.
Target high-ticket categories. TVs, appliances and home theater gear give you the most dollars per sale at a low rate.
Write for same-day buyers. “Best TV under $1,000 at Best Buy right now” type content fits the short window better than broad research guides.
Keep Amazon as a second option. Offer both retailers in product boxes so you capture the sale wherever the reader prefers to buy.
Best Buy Affiliate Program Alternatives
Amazon Associates: published rates of 1% to 4% on most electronics categories, plus credit on the whole cart.
Walmart: 1% to 4% by category on Impact, with a broad electronics range.
Yes. Best Buy runs a Publisher program and a Creator program, both on impact.com. Both are free to join.
What is the Best Buy affiliate commission rate?
Best Buy sets rates by category in the Impact dashboard and does not publish them. Most categories are commonly reported at 0.5% to 1%, and some, such as computers and Apple products, have been reported at 0%.
How long is the Best Buy affiliate cookie?
The referral window is set in your dashboard. It is commonly reported as 1 day, so purchases usually need to happen within 24 hours of the click.
Is the Best Buy affiliate program worth it?
It is worth it for tech sites with high-intent traffic to TVs, appliances or deals, mainly as a second retailer next to Amazon. For laptops, gaming hardware and Apple products, the low or zero reported rates make it hard to justify on its own.
How do I get paid by Best Buy?
Impact pays commissions about 60 days after the end of each month. Best Buy does not state a minimum payout amount, and payment methods follow your Impact account settings.
Can I promote Best Buy on social media?
Publishers need Best Buy’s written permission to post offers on social communities. Social creators should apply to the Best Buy Creator program, which is built for that.
Conclusion
The Best Buy affiliate program is easy to join and backed by one of the most trusted names in US electronics, but its rates are low, some categories pay nothing, and the cookie is short. Use it for high-ticket, high-intent content and keep a second retailer alongside it.
