Clickbank is an affiliate marketplace and payment processor, not a bank

Clickbank is a digital marketplace where product creators sell digital goods—courses, software, ebooks, memberships—and where affiliates earn commissions by promoting those products. It is not a bank and does not hold deposit accounts. Instead, it functions as a payment processor and middleman: it collects money from customers, takes a cut, and sends the rest to the product owner or affiliate.

Clickbank handles the transaction processing, fraud protection, and payout logistics. Sellers and affiliates connect a bank account or payment method to Clickbank to receive their earnings. The platform is known for high commission rates (often 50% or more) and a 60-day money-back may provide on most products, which means chargebacks and refund requests are common and can affect your payout.

If you are considering Clickbank as a seller, you need to understand how money flows through the platform, what fees apply, and what happens when customers dispute or return purchases. If you are an affiliate, you need to know how commissions are calculated, when you get paid, and what payment methods Clickbank offers.

Key Takeaways

  • Clickbank is a payment processor for digital products, not a bank—it collects customer payments and distributes earnings to sellers and affiliates.
  • Sellers pay Clickbank a percentage of each sale (typically 7.5% to 8.5%) plus a per-transaction fee, and must have a connected bank account to receive payouts.
  • Affiliates earn commissions on sales they refer, but commissions are held for 30 days after purchase to account for refunds within the 60-day money-back may provide period.
  • Clickbank pays out via direct deposit, check, or wire transfer, but payout schedules and minimum thresholds vary depending on your account type and location.
  • Chargebacks and refund disputes are frequent on Clickbank because of the generous return policy, and can reduce your available balance or trigger account holds.

How Clickbank takes its cut and what sellers pay

When a customer buys a product on Clickbank, the platform charges the seller a transaction fee and a percentage of the sale price. The exact fee structure depends on the payment method the customer uses and the seller's account type, but typically ranges from 7.5% to 8.5% of the sale price plus a flat fee per transaction (often $0.95 to $1.00).

Clickbank also charges a currency conversion fee if the customer pays in a currency different from the seller's account currency. This fee is usually 2% to 3% on top of the base transaction fee. For sellers in countries outside the United States, Clickbank may also hold a portion of earnings as a reserve to cover potential chargebacks or refunds.

Sellers do not pay Clickbank to list products or maintain an account—the fees only apply when a sale happens. However, if a customer requests a refund within the 60-day money-back may provide window, Clickbank reverses the transaction and the seller does not receive the money. The seller still pays the transaction fee, even if the sale is later refunded.

How commissions work for affiliates

Affiliates promote Clickbank products using a unique tracking link and earn a commission on each sale that comes through that link. Commission rates are set by the product owner and vary widely—some products pay 25%, others pay 75% or more. Clickbank displays the commission rate in the marketplace, so you can choose which products to promote based on earning potential.

Your commission is held for 30 days after the customer makes a purchase. This holding period exists because Clickbank's 60-day money-back may provide means customers can request refunds up to 60 days after buying. If a refund is issued within those 30 days, your commission is reversed and you do not get paid. After 30 days, your commission moves to your available balance and is safe from reversal due to refunds.

If a customer disputes the charge with their credit card company (a chargeback), Clickbank can reverse your commission even after the 30-day hold ends. Chargebacks are common in the digital product space because customers sometimes claim they did not authorize the purchase or did not receive what they paid for. Clickbank handles the chargeback dispute on behalf of the seller, but the affiliate loses the commission if the chargeback is upheld.

Payout methods and timing

Clickbank offers three ways to receive your earnings: direct deposit to a bank account, check by mail, or wire transfer. Direct deposit is the fastest and most common method. Wire transfer is available but typically costs $15 to $25 per transfer, depending on your bank.

Payouts are processed on a bi-weekly schedule (every two weeks), but the exact payout date depends on your account type and location. In the United States, direct deposit payouts usually arrive within 2 to 3 business days after Clickbank initiates the transfer. International payouts take longer—typically 5 to 10 business days for wire transfer, and checks can take 2 to 4 weeks to arrive by mail.

Clickbank has a minimum payout threshold, usually $10 to $20, depending on your payout method. If your balance is below the threshold at payout time, Clickbank holds the money until the next payout cycle when your balance reaches the minimum. Some accounts also have a maximum payout cap per cycle, though this is less common and usually only applies to high-volume sellers or affiliates.

Chargebacks, refunds, and what happens to your balance

The 60-day money-back may provide is Clickbank's main selling point for customers, but it creates risk for sellers and affiliates. When a customer requests a refund, Clickbank processes it automatically if the request is within 60 days of purchase. The customer's money is refunded, the transaction is reversed in Clickbank's system, and the seller's balance is reduced by the sale amount plus the transaction fee.

A chargeback occurs when a customer disputes the charge directly with their credit card company instead of requesting a refund through Clickbank. Chargebacks are more damaging than refunds because Clickbank must fight the dispute with the card network, and if the chargeback is upheld, Clickbank charges the seller a chargeback fee (typically $15 to $25) on top of reversing the sale amount. Affiliates lose their commission, and the seller loses both the revenue and pays the fee.

If your account receives too many chargebacks or refunds, Clickbank may place a hold on your balance or require you to maintain a reserve. This means a portion of your earnings is locked and not available for payout until the hold is lifted. Clickbank does this to protect itself against future chargebacks. In extreme cases, Clickbank can suspend or close your account if chargeback rates exceed their acceptable threshold.

Fraud protection and account security

Clickbank uses fraud detection tools to identify suspicious transactions before they are processed. The platform screens for patterns like multiple purchases from the same IP address, purchases using stolen payment methods, and transactions that match known fraud indicators. If a transaction is flagged, Clickbank may decline it or place a hold on the order pending manual review.

As a seller or affiliate, you are responsible for protecting your Clickbank account login credentials. If your account is compromised, a fraudster can change your payout information, redirect earnings to a different bank account, or use your affiliate links to generate fake sales. Enable two-factor authentication on your Clickbank account if it is available, and use a strong, unique password.

Clickbank does not hold customer payment information on its servers—it uses third-party payment processors to handle credit card data. This reduces the risk of a data breach exposing customer card numbers. However, Clickbank does store customer email addresses and purchase history, so if Clickbank's database is breached, your customer list could be exposed.

Clickbank versus other payment processors

Clickbank competes with other digital product platforms like Gumroad, SendOwl, and Podia. Gumroad charges a lower percentage fee (around 3.5%) but offers lower commission rates for affiliates. SendOwl is similar to Clickbank but has a smaller marketplace and lower transaction volume. Podia is newer and focuses on courses and memberships rather than one-off digital products.

Clickbank's main advantage is its large affiliate network and high commission rates, which attract both sellers and promoters. Its main disadvantage is the high refund rate due to the 60-day may provide and the resulting chargeback risk. If you are selling a digital product with a high perceived risk of buyer's remorse (like a course or software), Clickbank's may provide and affiliate reach may be worth the fees. If you are selling a low-refund product (like a template or checklist), a platform with lower fees might be better.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Clickbank if I don't have a US bank account?

Yes, but with limitations. Clickbank accepts sellers and affiliates from most countries, but payout methods vary by location. If you are outside the US, you may only be able to receive payments via wire transfer or check, both of which are slower and more expensive than direct deposit. Some countries are restricted entirely—check Clickbank's terms for your location before signing up.

What happens if a customer requests a refund after 60 days?

Clickbank's may provide is 60 days, so refunds requested after that window are not processed automatically. However, the seller can choose to issue a manual refund if they want. If the seller refuses and the customer disputes the charge with their credit card company, the chargeback process begins and Clickbank will investigate.

How long does it take to get approved as a Clickbank seller?

Approval is usually instant or within a few hours. Clickbank reviews your product and account information to ensure the product complies with its terms (no illegal content, no adult material, no services). If your product is rejected, Clickbank will tell you why and you can resubmit after making changes.

Can I withdraw my money before the bi-weekly payout date?

No. Clickbank only processes payouts on its bi-weekly schedule. You cannot request an early payout or instant withdrawal. If you need money urgently, your only option is to wait for the next scheduled payout date.

What should I do if I see unauthorized charges in my Clickbank account?

Contact Clickbank support immediately and provide details of the suspicious transactions. Clickbank can freeze your account, investigate the unauthorized activity, and reverse fraudulent charges. Change your password and enable two-factor authentication to prevent future unauthorized access.