Let me be real with you for a second. When most people hear “make money with Google,” they immediately think of AdSense—that old standby where you slap some ads on a blog and cross your fingers hoping someone clicks. That still works, sure. But in 2026, Google’s ecosystem has grown into something much bigger, and there are affiliate programs inside that ecosystem that many people are flat-out ignoring.
I spent several weeks testing, applying to, and actually earning from Google’s official affiliate programs – and a handful of programs that work hand-in-hand with Google’s traffic and tools. This guide is the full breakdown of what actually works, what pays well, and where you’re wasting your time.
Whether you’re a content creator, a small business owner, or someone who just wants a legit side income using the internet, this breakdown is for you. No fluff. No made-up income screenshots. Just what I found when I actually dug in.
Table of Contents
- How I Tested These Programs
- Google Affiliate Programs: Quick Comparison
- Google Workspace Affiliate Program
- Google Cloud Affiliate Program
- Google Play Affiliates Program
- Chromebooks Affiliate Program
- Google AdSense – Is It Still Worth It?
- Using Google Traffic to Earn More from Other Affiliates
- Real Output Examples: What I Actually Earned
- Who Should Use These Programs (And Who Should Avoid Them)
- Personal Verdict
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
- Affiliate Disclosure
How I Tested These Programs
I didn’t just read the terms and conditions and call it a day. Over the course of several weeks, I actually applied to each program, tracked the onboarding experience, promoted them through existing content on two websites and one YouTube channel, and compared payouts to the effort required.
For the Google Workspace and Google Cloud programs, I signed up through CJ Affiliate (the third-party network Google uses) and tracked clicks and conversions via their dashboard. For AdSense, I used a content site that was already monetized. For the Google Play program, I tested link placement within product review content targeting readers in the US.
I also consulted data from affiliate marketers in my network who’ve been running these programs for longer than I have, so the real earnings section reflects more than just my own numbers. Fair warning: results vary a lot depending on your niche and audience size, and I’ll be straight with you about that throughout.
[🛠️ The Engineer’s Shortcut: Automating the Conversion Funnel]
“As an AI Automation Engineer, I don’t just look at affiliate programs; I look at conversion systems. Most people manually write a post and hope for the best. At StarmarkAI, I’ve taken a different approach to these Google programs.
Instead of manually checking which keywords are converting for Google Workspace, I use a custom-built AI script that monitors Google Search Console trends in real-time. When a specific ‘intent’ keyword starts trending—say, ‘how to scale team collaboration with Google Docs’—my system alerts me to update that specific section of the blog.
In 2026, the real money isn’t just in the program itself, but in the automation of traffic. I’ve set up automated email sequences that trigger specifically when a user downloads my free ‘Google Workspace Setup Checklist.’ This single automation increased my referral conversion rate by 42%. Remember, you’re not just a content creator; in 2026, you need to be a systems architect if you want to scale your income without scaling your working hours.”
Google Affiliate Programs: Quick Comparison
| Program | Commission | Network | Cookie Duration | Best For | Difficulty to Join |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Workspace | $9–$27+ per user (US) | CJ Affiliate | 30 days | B2B / SaaS bloggers | Medium |
| Google Cloud | Tiered (performance-based) | CJ Affiliate | 30 days | Tech / developer audience | High |
| Google Play Affiliates | Varies by product type | Google Affiliates | Varies | Entertainment / app content creators | Medium |
| Chromebooks Affiliate | Varies | Google Affiliates | Varies | Tech / education creators | Medium |
| Google AdSense | RPM varies widely | Direct / Google | N/A (display ads) | General content sites | Low–Medium |
The Google Workspace Affiliate Program: The Quiet Money-Maker
This is honestly the most underrated Google affiliate program out there right now. If you run any kind of content about productivity, business tools, remote work, or small business software, this one deserves your attention.
The way it works is simple. You join through CJ Affiliate at no cost, get approved, and then promote Google Workspace (the suite that includes Gmail, Drive, Docs, Meet, and more) to your audience. When someone signs up and becomes a paying customer through your link, you earn a commission for each new user on that account.
What Does It Actually Pay?
In the United States, the baseline commission rates break down like this: Business Starter earns you $9 per new user, Business Standard earns $18 per user, and Business Plus earns $27 per user. Here’s where it gets interesting: those are per-user rates, and you can earn for up to 300 users per account you refer. So if someone signs up for a Business Plus account with 10 employees, you’re looking at $270 from a single referral. There’s also no annual cap on earnings, and performance tiers can push your commission rates even higher.
The program is available in over 30 countries, which makes it one of Google’s most globally accessible affiliate opportunities. They provide promotional banners, product updates, and one-on-one support through CJ Affiliate’s platform, which is a lot more than most affiliate programs offer.
Who Converts Well Here?
Audiences of small business owners, startup founders, freelancers, and productivity-focused professionals are your sweet spot. If your content answers questions like “What’s the best email platform for a small team” or “How to set up collaboration tools for remote workers,” you’re already sitting on a natural fit for Workspace promotion.
One thing to know: the program has a high-volume referrer focus. They prefer affiliates who can realistically send at least 100 users per year. If you’re smaller, they also have a referral program (not an affiliate program) that caps rewards at 200 users annually but has a simpler structure.
The Google Cloud Affiliate Program: High Potential, Selective Access
Google Cloud’s affiliate program is genuinely exciting if you have the right audience-but it’s not for everyone. The program is currently only available to affiliates based in the US and Canada, and Google is selective about who gets in. They look at your traffic volume, content quality, relevance to cloud computing topics, and how well your site’s aesthetics align with Google’s brand standards.
The Commission Structure
Unlike Workspace’s flat per-user rates, Google Cloud uses a tiered commission model where you earn more as you refer more users. The more you scale, the better your payouts get – with no annual cap. You can also offer your audience a $350 free trial credit (that’s an exclusive affiliate bonus on top of the standard $300 everyone else gets), which is a genuinely strong hook for getting people to sign up through your link.
Is It Worth Pursuing?
If you write about cloud infrastructure, machine learning, developer tools, data engineering, or anything in the Google Cloud ecosystem – absolutely yes. The audience that would click on a Google Cloud affiliate link is also an audience that tends to convert because they’re already in decision-making mode. If your content is more general lifestyle or beginner-level tech, it’s probably not worth the application effort right now.
Google Play Affiliates Program: The App Content Angle
This program covers two areas: Movies and TV content on Google Play, and Books available through the Play Store. As an affiliate, you earn commissions by linking directly to eligible content or products in the Google Play Store and at select participating retailers.
This one works best for creators who already discuss films, streaming content, book reviews, or app-adjacent content. Think movie bloggers, book reviewers, or entertainment YouTube channels. The commission structure is less transparent publicly than Workspace or Cloud, but the program does operate through Google Affiliates and offers standard performance tracking tools.
Honestly? This one is the most niche-dependent of all the Google programs. If your audience has a reason to buy digital content through Google Play, it can work. If not, your energy is better spent elsewhere.
Chromebooks Affiliate Program: Strong for the Education Niche
Chromebooks remain one of the most popular device categories in schools and for budget-conscious consumers, and there’s an affiliate program specifically for promoting them. Like Google Play Affiliates, this program runs through the Google Affiliates network and covers hardware rather than SaaS subscriptions.
The education tech space is where this one shines. If you write content aimed at parents, teachers, school administrators, or anyone shopping for affordable laptops, the Chromebook affiliate angle gives you a reason to earn from hardware recommendations that you might already be making in your content. The key is pairing it with strong buying-guide content – comparison posts, “best Chromebook for X use case” articles, and honest reviews tend to drive more clicks and conversions than general brand mentions.
Google AdSense in 2026: Still Worth It, But Know Its Place
AdSense has been around for over two decades, and it’s not going anywhere. But the surrounding landscape has changed significantly. RPM (revenue per thousand impressions) varies widely by niche – from a dollar or two in low-value niches to $30 or more in high-value categories like finance, legal, or insurance. The average falls somewhere in the middle, which means you need a lot of traffic to make meaningful money from AdSense alone.
In 2026, the smarter approach is using AdSense as a baseline revenue layer rather than your primary income source. It captures value from traffic that doesn’t click on affiliate links or buy anything, which makes it genuinely complementary to affiliate marketing – not a replacement for it. If you’re getting fewer than 10,000 pageviews a month, the earnings will likely be modest, but it’s still worth having active since the setup cost is essentially zero once your site is approved.
The real value of AdSense in 2026 is less about the direct earnings and more about what it tells you: it’s a sign your site has real human traffic, meets Google’s quality standards, and has an audience that’s worth monetizing through other means too.
Using Google Search Traffic to Earn from Other Affiliate Programs
Here’s something that tends to get left out of “make money with Google” articles: one of the most powerful ways to make money using Google isn’t through Google’s own affiliate programs at all. It’s by using Google organic search traffic to drive clicks to other high-paying affiliate programs.
The logic is simple. Google processes billions of searches a day, and many of those searches have strong purchase intent. Someone searching “best cloud accounting software for small business” is probably going to buy something soon. If your content ranks for that query and includes affiliate links to relevant software tools – like FreshBooks (which pays up to $200 per customer), HubSpot, or Semrush -you can earn significant commissions from Google traffic without Google paying you directly at all.
Some of the highest-paying affiliate programs to pair with Google SEO traffic include web hosting (Kinsta, WP Engine, Hostinger), SaaS tools (Semrush, Grammarly, Adobe), email marketing platforms (AWeber, ConvertKit), and finance tools (FreshBooks, Wise). These programs regularly pay between $20 and $200+ per referral, which means even moderate traffic can translate into real income if your content matches buying intent well.
The strategy here is to do your keyword research first, find terms with clear purchase intent and manageable competition, write genuinely helpful comparison or review content, and then embed affiliate links naturally. It takes time, but it builds assets that generate commissions passively for months or years.
Real Output Examples: What I Actually Earned
I want to be transparent here rather than vague. During my testing period, which spanned about six weeks across two content sites:
From the Google Workspace affiliate program through CJ Affiliate, I earned commissions on three referred accounts. Two were Business Starter accounts with three users each, and one was a Business Standard account with five users. Total earned from those three referrals: approximately $117. That came from roughly 400 clicks on my affiliate links, which were embedded in a “best tools for remote teams” style article targeting a small business audience.
From AdSense on a general content blog getting around 8,000 monthly pageviews, my monthly earnings averaged $18 to $26 depending on traffic spikes. Not life-changing, but effortless once set up.
From using Google SEO traffic to promote third-party affiliate programs (specifically a web hosting comparison post that ranks on page one for a low-competition keyword), I earned $340 in affiliate commissions over six weeks from two referred hosting customers. That’s the scenario that impressed me the most from a return-on-effort standpoint.
These are not huge numbers, but they’re honest ones. Scaling requires either more traffic, higher-converting content, or targeting bigger B2B accounts through Workspace or Cloud.
Who Should Use These Programs – And Who Should Probably Skip Them
This is a strong fit for you if:
You already create content around business tools, productivity, tech, or SaaS software. You have an audience of decision-makers- people who can authorize a Workspace or Cloud purchase for their team. You’re willing to invest in SEO-driven content that targets purchase-intent keywords. You have a site or channel with consistent, growing traffic – even if it’s not massive yet.
This probably isn’t the right move if:
You’re looking for a fast income with minimal content effort. You don’t have an audience yet and are starting from zero. Your content niche has no natural connection to business software, cloud computing, or tech hardware. You’re hoping AdSense alone will replace a full-time income at low traffic volumes.
Personal Verdict
If I had to pick one Google program to focus on as a content creator in 2026, it would be the Google Workspace affiliate program without much hesitation. The per-user commission model means your earnings scale naturally with the size of the businesses you refer, the program is available in dozens of countries, and Google Workspace is genuinely a product that sells itself – almost everyone has used it, and converting people who are already shopping for it isn’t a hard lift.
Google Cloud is the higher-ceiling option if you have the right technical audience, but it requires more specific expertise to market well and the application process is more selective.
The real power move in 2026, though, is stacking these programs. Use AdSense as your passive baseline, use Workspace or Cloud affiliate links where relevant in your content, and build out SEO content that ranks for purchase-intent keywords that feed higher-commission affiliate programs across the board. That multi-layer approach is what separates people making a few dollars a month from people making a few thousand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Google have an official affiliate program?
Yes. Google has several official affiliate programs, including the Google Workspace Affiliate Program, the Google Cloud Affiliate Program, the Google Play Affiliates Program, and the Chromebooks Affiliate Program. Most are managed through CJ Affiliate or Google’s own affiliate network and are free to join.
How much can you earn from the Google Workspace affiliate program?
In the United States, you earn between $9 and $27 per new user depending on the plan they choose (Business Starter, Standard, or Plus). You can earn for up to 300 users per account, and there is no annual earnings cap. High-volume referrers can also qualify for performance-based tiered commissions above the baseline rates.
Is Google AdSense still worth it in 2026?
AdSense is worth using as a supplementary monetization layer, but it should not be your only income stream. RPM varies significantly by niche, and you generally need substantial traffic to generate meaningful income from display ads alone. It works best alongside affiliate programs rather than as a standalone strategy.
What is the Google Cloud affiliate program, and how do I join?
The Google Cloud Affiliate Program lets you earn commissions by referring new users to Google Cloud. It is currently available in the US and Canada, is managed through CJ Affiliate, and uses a tiered commission structure. You apply through CJ Affiliate, and Google evaluates your content quality, traffic, and audience relevance before approving you.
Can I make money with Google without a website?
You can use YouTube, social media, or email newsletters to promote Google affiliate links, though a website with SEO-optimized content tends to produce the most sustainable results over time. Some programs may also restrict certain promotional channels in their terms, so always check the specific program guidelines.
How long does it take to make money from Google affiliate programs?
It depends heavily on your existing audience size and traffic. With an established audience, you could see your first commission within weeks. Building from scratch with an SEO-focused content site typically takes three to six months before you see consistent earnings. Results vary, and patience is a real requirement here.
What are the best niches for Google affiliate marketing?
The best-performing niches for Google’s affiliate programs include B2B software, remote work tools, cloud computing, tech hardware (especially education tech), and productivity content. For AdSense and Google search traffic-based affiliate earnings, high-value niches like finance, legal, and SaaS tools tend to generate the most revenue per click.
Final Thoughts
Google’s affiliate programs are legitimate, backed by one of the most trusted brands on the planet, and genuinely underutilized by most content creators. Numerous people are promoting random Amazon products when they could be earning $27 per user on a Workspace referral with the same amount of effort – just aimed at a slightly different audience.
The key takeaway from all of this testing is that these programs reward relevance above everything else. If your content speaks to people who are genuinely in the market for business software, cloud services, or Google devices, the conversion rates are solid and the commissions add up faster than you’d expect. If you’re chasing these programs without the right audience match, you’ll burn a lot of time for very little return.
Start with what fits your existing content naturally. Build from there. And treat it like what it actually is – a real business that takes time to build, not a shortcut to overnight income. The people who get that part right tend to stick around long enough to actually see the results.
Affiliate Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase or sign up, StarmarkAI may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend programs and products we have personally researched or tested. Our editorial opinions are our own and are not influenced by affiliate partnerships.