Affiliate Network
CJ
Publicis-owned affiliate network connecting publishers and creators with major retail, travel and finance brands.
- Best for Content and review sites, Coupon…
- Niche E-Commerce, Finance, Fintech…
- Models CPL, CPS, Pay Per Call
- Payouts twice a month
Editor's verdict
CJ is a safe, established choice for publishers who want access to large retail, travel, finance and software brands. One account gives access to thousands of programs, consolidated reporting, twice-monthly payments in USD, GBP and EUR, direct deposit in more than 150 currencies through bank or Payoneer, and serious tracking, including in-app, phone call, in-store and clickless coupon attribution. Being part of Publicis Groupe and operating since 1998 adds stability few networks can match.
The trade-offs are speed and access. Commissions typically lock on the 10th of the following month and are paid around the 20th, so cash arrives four to seven weeks after a sale, and open-ended locking at some travel brands can stretch that further. Each advertiser approves publishers separately, and big brands often turn down new or thin sites. There is no PayPal or crypto, and accounts that stop earning can be deactivated.
Content publishers, coupon and cashback sites, and creators with a real audience should apply. CPA media buyers looking for fast-paying offers and broad traffic rules will find better fits elsewhere.
Key facts
Traffic rules
Promotional methods
- SEO / organic
- PPC / paid search
- Paid social
- Coupon
- Cashback
Only methods the network states a policy for are shown — always confirm with your manager before running.
Restricted traffic
Rules set per advertiser program (coupon, cashback, trademark bidding, email, social). Network-wide ban on illegal, obscene, hateful, violent, defamatory, cracking and warez content. Active website required.
Score breakdown
Pros, cons & fit
Payment details
- Approval type
- Manual review
- Payment net window
- Other
- Runs on
- CJ
- Payout currency
- USD
- Creative assets
- Banners, Text links, Coupons / deals, Data feed / API
- Active affiliates
- 187,000+ click-active publishers
- Account model
- Self-serve + managed
About CJ
What CJ is
CJ, formerly Commission Junction, is one of the oldest affiliate networks in the world. It was founded in Santa Barbara, California in 1998 and is still headquartered there, operating as Commission Junction LLC. Publicis Groupe acquired CJ as part of Epsilon in 2019, and it now operates within Publicis, aligned with Publicis Media. CJ says it pays out more than $1.8 billion in publisher commissions a year, creates 4.8 million brand and publisher relationships annually and gives advertisers access to more than 187,000 click-active publishers.
Offers and verticals
CJ is a brand marketplace rather than a CPA offer wall. Publishers join the network once, then apply to individual advertiser programs, each with its own commission rate, cookie window and rules. The advertiser base leans toward large retail, travel and hospitality, financial services and software brands, with a dedicated fintech publisher program. Beyond standard links, CJ has added Marketplaces (commission on influenced Amazon sales), TikTok Shop integration, CJ Wallet offers that can pay on in-store purchases, pay-per-call campaigns and CJ Leads programs.
Commission models and payouts
Most programs pay a percentage or flat fee per sale, with lead and pay-per-call programs also available. Commissions move through a locking cycle: under the standard cycle a transaction locks on the 10th of the following month, advertisers can set custom lock periods of 7 to 60 days, and some travel brands use open-ended locking where commissions stay pending until the advertiser acts. Advertisers on the standard cycle can extend a commission by one pay period, and CJ pays only once the advertiser has funded its account. Payments run around the 20th of each month for all currencies, with a second run around the 28th for USD, GBP and EUR, which is what CJ markets as two monthly payouts. Publishers set their own minimum payment in account settings; the lowest threshold for USD direct deposit is $50 (25 in EUR or GBP), and paper checks need a higher balance. Payouts go by direct deposit in more than 150 currencies or through Payoneer to a local bank account. PayPal and crypto are not offered.
Tracking, tools and platform
CJ tracks web, mobile, in-app, phone call and in-store conversions, and its clickless tracking can credit coupon codes used at checkout. Publishers get a Deep Link Generator, a Chrome deep-link extension, automatic conversion of existing links, product data feeds and the SID parameter for sub-tracking. Reporting covers conversion rate, device, location and promo code. The developer portal exposes APIs for commission details, product feeds and link search. Fraud monitoring combines AI anomaly detection, external data and an investigation team.
Traffic rules and compliance
Traffic rules are set program by program. Each advertiser decides whether it accepts coupon sites, cashback and loyalty, paid search and trademark bidding, email, social, browser extensions or sub-affiliates, and violations lead to reversed commissions or removal. Network-wide, CJ bars sites with obscene, hateful, violent, defamatory, cracking or warez content, or anything illegal. An active website with a valid domain is required to apply. CJ periodically deactivates publisher accounts that are not earning, and reactivation requires re-accepting the Publisher Service Agreement. CJ never asks publishers for passwords or upfront payments, which helps spot phishing.
Support and getting started
Signup is free. Publishers choose a language and country, verify an email address and set a password, then complete a profile with website, promotional methods, tax and payment details before applying to brands. Each advertiser reviews applications separately, so a network account does not guarantee access to major programs. Content Certification speeds approval for editorial publishers and adds a dedicated content team, and creators can apply to CJ Influence campaigns. Support runs through the in-account Support Center and a phone line at (800) 761-1072, Monday to Friday, 6 AM to 5 PM Pacific.
Who it suits
CJ suits content sites, review and comparison publishers, coupon, cashback and loyalty platforms, and creators who want direct relationships with major brands under one payment and reporting system. It is a poor fit for CPA media buyers running pop, push or broad paid traffic, for anyone without a live website, and for affiliates who need weekly or crypto payouts.
How to join
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Start the free publisher signup
Publishers open the CJ publisher signup, choose language and country, and enter an email address and password.
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Verify the email address
CJ sends a confirmation email. Publishers who do not see it within 24 hours should whitelist cj.com and resubmit.
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Complete the publisher profile
The profile covers the website URL, promotional methods, audience and tax and payment details, including the preferred minimum payment.
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Apply to advertiser programs
Publishers browse brands by category and target market, review each program's commission and rules, and apply. Each advertiser approves separately.
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Generate links and track results
Approved publishers build links with the Deep Link Generator or extension, add SID values for sub-tracking and monitor commissions in reporting.
Data & sources
At $50 it sits $87 better than the directory average.
Frequently asked questions
How does CJ approval work for publishers?
Creating a CJ publisher account is free, but an active website with a valid domain is required. After that, each advertiser reviews applications to its program separately, so approval for major brands depends on site quality, audience and promotional methods.
What is the minimum payout at CJ?
Publishers set their minimum payment amount in account settings. The lowest threshold for USD direct deposit is $50, or 25 for EUR and GBP, and paper checks require a higher balance.
When does CJ pay publishers?
CJ pays around the 20th of each month for all currencies and runs a second payment around the 28th for USD, GBP and EUR. Under the standard locking cycle, a sale made in one month locks on the 10th of the next and is paid around the 20th.
Which payment methods does CJ offer?
CJ pays by direct deposit in more than 150 currencies and through Payoneer, which lets publishers receive funds into a local bank account. PayPal and crypto payouts are not available.
What commission models does CJ use?
Most CJ programs pay per sale, as a percentage or flat amount, while CJ Leads and pay-per-call programs pay for qualified leads and calls. Each advertiser sets its own rates and cookie terms.
Why are some CJ commissions still pending after a month?
Advertisers choose a locking cycle: standard (the 10th of the following month), custom (7 to 60 days) or open-ended, which is common in travel. Advertisers on the standard cycle can also extend a commission by one pay period, and CJ can only pay once the advertiser account is funded.
What traffic sources does CJ allow?
Rules are set by each advertiser, covering coupon and cashback sites, paid search and trademark bidding, email, social and browser extensions. Network-wide, CJ bans illegal, obscene, hateful, violent and warez content.
Does CJ offer an API and sub-ID tracking?
Yes. The CJ developer portal provides APIs for commission details, product feeds and link search, and the SID parameter in tracking links supports sub-tracking.
How can publishers contact CJ support?
Publishers use the Support Center inside their account or call (800) 761-1072, Monday to Friday, 6 AM to 5 PM Pacific. CJ only emails from cj.com, publicisresources.com or publicisgroupe.net addresses and never asks for passwords or upfront payments.
Who owns CJ Affiliate?
CJ is part of Publicis Groupe, which acquired it with Epsilon in 2019. It was founded in Santa Barbara in 1998 and is still headquartered there.
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