I’ve been in the affiliate marketing game for several years now, and I’ve seen my fair share of training platforms promising to teach beginners how to make money online. When I came across Commission Academy, I was immediately intrigued by their bold claims of providing free, comprehensive affiliate marketing training. As someone who’s also tried Wealthy Affiliate and other programs, I was curious to see how Commission Academy stacked up. In this in-depth Commission Academy review, I’ll share my personal experience with the platform, break down exactly what’s inside, and help you decide if it’s the right choice for your affiliate marketing journey.
Quick Snapshot
- ✅ About: Commission Academy is a free affiliate marketing training platform founded by Dale, designed to teach beginners how to build profitable affiliate websites from scratch.
- 💰 Price: Free to join with premium options available later.
- 😍 Pros:
- Completely free to get started with no credit card required
- Step-by-step training videos with practical implementation advice
- Active community support with direct access to the founder
- 😩 Cons:
- Limited tools compared to paid platforms like Wealthy Affiliate
- Some upsells for advanced features and training
- Success requires significant time investment (not a get-rich-quick scheme)
- 🟡 Verdict: Commission Academy offers legitimate, high-quality affiliate marketing training that’s accessible to beginners, though serious success will likely require upgrading to premium features.
- ⭐️ Overall Rating: 4.2/5
So, how does this actually make you money?
Commission Academy teaches the affiliate marketing business model, which is how I’ve built my own online income. The concept is straightforward: you create content (usually a website) around a specific niche, attract visitors through methods like SEO, and earn commissions by recommending relevant products.
For example, one of the first lessons I completed in Commission Academy showed me how to build a website reviewing camping gear. When visitors read my honest reviews and click through my affiliate links to purchase items on Amazon or specialized outdoor retailers, I earn a commission from each sale—typically between 3-10% of the purchase price.
Dale, the founder, claims on the sales page that “anyone can build a profitable affiliate marketing business with the right step-by-step training,” and from my experience, the training does deliver on showing you exactly how to set up each piece of this business model. While they don’t promise overnight riches (which I appreciate), they emphasize that with consistent effort, you can build a sustainable online income through affiliate commissions.
Who Is This Course For?
Based on my time with Commission Academy, I can confidently say it’s ideal for complete beginners to affiliate marketing. If you’ve never built a website before, don’t understand SEO, or feel overwhelmed by the technical aspects of creating an online business, you’ll find the step-by-step approach extremely helpful.
The training is particularly suited for:
- People looking to start a side hustle while working full-time
- Anyone wanting to learn affiliate marketing without a significant upfront investment
- Complete beginners who need hand-holding through each technical step
- Those who have tried and failed with other marketing methods
However, Commission Academy isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking for a get-rich-quick scheme or aren’t willing to put in consistent work over months, you’ll likely be disappointed. Advanced marketers with established websites might find the initial training too basic, though the premium content could still offer value.
Also, if you’re specifically interested in paid traffic methods like Facebook or Google ads, this might not be your best option as the training focuses heavily on free traffic methods, particularly SEO.
About the Instructor
Dale is the face and founder of Commission Academy, and I found his teaching style refreshingly down-to-earth. Unlike many flashy “gurus” in the space, Dale presents himself as an everyday person who discovered affiliate marketing and used it to build a sustainable online business.
From my research and interaction with the platform, Dale has been in the affiliate marketing industry for over 10 years. He doesn’t flaunt fancy cars or mansions, which was actually a relief after seeing so many over-the-top marketers. Instead, he focuses on practical strategies that have worked for him and his students.
Before founding Commission Academy, Dale built several successful affiliate websites in various niches. He’s particularly known for his straightforward, no-nonsense approach to training. When I reached out with questions in the community, I was surprised to receive direct responses from Dale himself on multiple occasions.
While not as well-known as some other affiliate marketing trainers, Dale has built a positive reputation for delivering high-quality, actionable content without the hype. This credibility is reflected in the growing Commission Academy community and the success stories from his students.
What’s inside the course?
After signing up for Commission Academy, I was immediately impressed by how well-organized the training was. The platform is designed to take you from absolute beginner to running your own affiliate marketing business through a series of practical modules.
The core of the program is the step-by-step video training that breaks down each aspect of building an affiliate website. Each lesson comes with specific action steps, ensuring you’re implementing what you learn rather than just passively consuming content.
The main training path is divided into three primary sections:
- Website Creation & Setup: I found this section particularly helpful as it walked me through selecting my niche, setting up WordPress, choosing a domain, and configuring all the technical aspects in a way that wasn’t overwhelming. The video where Dale shows exactly how to set up hosting saved me hours of frustration.
- Content Creation & SEO: This section dives into creating the type of content that both ranks in Google and converts visitors into buyers. The lesson on keyword research was eye-opening—I discovered dozens of low-competition terms in my niche that I could easily rank for.
- Monetization Strategies: Here’s where it all comes together. The training shows exactly how to sign up for affiliate programs, where to place links for maximum conversion, and how to scale your income over time. The case study where Dale breaks down one of his profitable articles was particularly valuable.
Beyond the core training, Commission Academy includes several resources that I found immensely helpful:
- Niche Finder Tool: This helped me identify profitable niches with good affiliate potential and manageable competition.
- Weekly Live Q&A Sessions: These were invaluable for getting personalized advice on my specific website challenges.
- Templates & Swipe Files: The review article template saved me hours of work and helped me structure content that actually converts.
What impressed me most was how the training connected theory to practice. After each lesson, I knew exactly what action to take on my own website, which made the learning process much more effective than other courses I’ve tried.
Are people seeing real results?
This was one of my biggest questions when I first joined Commission Academy. After spending several months in the program and engaging with the community, I can say that yes, students are achieving real success—though results vary significantly based on effort and consistency.
I’ve personally connected with several members who have built websites generating anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars monthly. One member, Sarah, shared in the community forum that she started with zero technical knowledge and now has a home decor affiliate site earning over $2,500 monthly after about 14 months of consistent work.
What I appreciate about Commission Academy is the transparency around timeframes. Unlike many programs that promise quick riches, Dale emphasizes that most successful students see their first commissions around the 3-6 month mark, with more substantial income coming after 9-12 months of consistent effort. This aligns with my own experience in affiliate marketing.
The community forum features a “Success Stories” section where members share milestones like first commissions, first $100 days, and even screenshots of four-figure months. I did notice that the most successful students typically opted for the premium training options and invested significant time—often 10-15 hours weekly—into implementing the strategies.
However, it’s worth noting that not everyone sees results. From my observation, those who quit early or implement inconsistently typically don’t achieve meaningful income. This isn’t a criticism of Commission Academy specifically—it’s the nature of affiliate marketing as a business model.
Pricing & Other Costs
One of Commission Academy’s biggest selling points is that it’s free to join, which I was initially skeptical about. After signing up, I confirmed you can indeed access a substantial amount of training without paying anything. The free membership includes:
- Basic website setup tutorials
- Introductory SEO training
- Access to the community forum
- Niche selection guidance
However, to access the full suite of training and tools, there are premium options:
Premium Membership: $49/month or $397/year (saving about $191 annually)
This unlocks:
- Advanced SEO and monetization strategies
- Weekly live coaching calls
- Full access to the niche finder tool
- Priority support from Dale and the team
Beyond the course itself, you’ll need to budget for:
- Website Hosting: $10-15/month (I use Bluehost as recommended in the training)
- Domain Name: About $12-15/year per website
- Optional Premium Theme: $59-89 one-time fee (though the free themes recommended work well)
- Keyword Research Tool: While Commission Academy teaches some free methods, most serious affiliates eventually invest in tools like Ahrefs ($99/month) or a more affordable alternative like Mangools ($29/month)
In total, the minimum investment to properly implement what’s taught is around $30/month (hosting + free training), while the recommended setup with premium membership and basic tools runs closer to $90-100/month.
Compared to Wealthy Affiliate’s pricing ($49/month or $495/year), Commission Academy offers similar value but with the advantage of letting you start for free and upgrade when you’re ready.
Course Breakdown
- Module Structure: Commission Academy contains 7 core modules with 42 individual lessons, plus bonus training sections.
- Content Format: Training is primarily delivered through:
- High-quality video lessons (most 10-20 minutes long)
- Over-the-shoulder tutorials showing real implementation
- Downloadable worksheets and checklists
- Community discussions under each lesson
- Topics Covered:
- Finding profitable affiliate niches
- Setting up WordPress websites correctly
- Keyword research for beginners
- Creating content that ranks and converts
- On-page SEO optimization
- Getting approved for affiliate programs
- Email marketing basics
- Scaling your affiliate business
- Analyzing website traffic and conversion data
- Bonuses and Extras:
- 90-Day Challenge program with milestone tracking
- Niche research tool access
- Article templates for reviews, comparisons, and “best of” posts
- Case studies of successful affiliate sites
- Direct feedback on your website from community members
The training is methodically organized, with each lesson building on the previous one. I appreciated that I could track my progress through each module, and the platform remembered where I left off between sessions.
Pros
- Genuine Free Entry Point: Unlike many “free” programs that barely teach you anything before hitting you with upsells, Commission Academy provides substantial value in their free training. I was able to set up my entire website and publish my first few posts without spending a penny on the course itself.
- Clear, Jargon-Free Instruction: Dale has a gift for explaining technical concepts in simple terms. As someone who initially found WordPress confusing, I appreciated how the videos walked through each step without assuming prior knowledge. The training truly is beginner-friendly.
- Focus on Sustainable Methods: The training emphasizes white-hat, long-term strategies rather than exploiting loopholes or shortcuts. This approach aligned with my goals of building a legitimate business rather than a temporary income stream that could disappear with the next algorithm update.
- Responsive Community and Support: Questions I posted in the forum typically received responses within 24 hours, often from Dale himself or experienced members. This level of support exceeded my expectations, especially for a free platform.
- Regular Updates: The training is regularly refreshed to reflect changes in affiliate marketing best practices. For instance, when Google released a major update during my time in the program, Dale quickly added a new lesson explaining how to adapt.
- Practical Implementation Focus: Each lesson includes specific action steps, pushing me to implement rather than just consume content passively. This accountability element was key to my progress.
Cons
- Limited Tools Compared to Competitors: While the training is comprehensive, Commission Academy offers fewer built-in tools than platforms like Wealthy Affiliate. For example, there’s no integrated website hosting or keyword research tool in the free version, requiring separate purchases.
- Some Upsells Throughout the Platform: Though not aggressive, there are regular reminders about the benefits of upgrading to premium. As a free member, this occasionally felt distracting from the learning experience.
- Basic Community Features: The forum functionality is somewhat basic compared to more established platforms. While effective for questions and answers, it lacks some of the social features that make communities engaging in the long term.
- Success Requires Significant Time Investment: This isn’t a criticism of Commission Academy specifically, but the business model taught demands consistent content creation over months before seeing significant results. Some members get discouraged when not seeing quick returns.
- Limited Focus on Paid Traffic Methods: The training heavily emphasizes SEO and content marketing, with less attention on paid traffic sources like Facebook or Google ads. Members interested in faster traffic methods might find this limiting.
Other Things to Know
One thing that surprised me about Commission Academy was the personal touch from Dale. Unlike larger platforms where the founder is distant, Dale regularly participates in the community and even does occasional website reviews for members. This hands-on approach creates a more intimate learning environment than I expected.
The training emphasizes building authority websites rather than thin affiliate sites, which aligns with current industry best practices but means you’ll need patience. Most successful students I connected with didn’t see significant results until they had published 30+ quality articles.
The platform is mobile-responsive, allowing me to watch training videos on my phone, though I found implementing the lessons worked better on a desktop. The lesson interface remembers where you left off, which was helpful when returning after a break.
One minor frustration was the lack of a direct messaging system to connect privately with other members. All communication happens in the public forum, which sometimes limited the depth of discussions about specific website strategies.
Lastly, while the free training is substantial, the most successful case studies featured in the platform are from premium members who had access to the advanced strategies and support. This is worth considering when evaluating the potential ROI of upgrading.
Alternatives
If Commission Academy doesn’t seem like the perfect fit for your needs, here are some alternatives worth considering:
Wealthy Affiliate (4.3/5 based on reviews)
This established platform offers comprehensive training, hosting, and a large community. At $49/month, it’s more expensive than Commission Academy’s free option but includes website hosting and more integrated tools. Wealthy Affiliate is particularly strong for complete beginners who want an all-in-one solution and don’t mind the higher cost.
Authority Hacker’s TASS (4.7/5 based on reviews)
At $997, The Authority Site System is a premium one-time purchase course focusing on building authority affiliate sites. It offers more advanced strategies than Commission Academy but comes at a much higher price point. Their content is exceptionally well-produced, and they’re known for staying current with industry trends.
Income School’s Project 24 (4.4/5 based on reviews)
Priced at $499 for the first year and $199 for renewals, Project 24 teaches a content-focused approach to affiliate marketing with specific timelines and expectations. Their no-backlink strategy differs from what’s taught in Commission Academy and may appeal to those who find link-building overwhelming.
Affilorama (3.8/5 based on reviews)
Offers both free lessons and premium training ($997 one-time fee for AffiloBlueprint). The free content is more limited than Commission Academy’s offering, but their premium training includes some unique tools for affiliate research.
Income School’s Project 24 (4.4/5 based on reviews)
A $449 course focusing on a specific content creation methodology designed to rank in Google without building backlinks. The community is known for its positivity and support, though their approach is somewhat different from Commission Academy’s more traditional SEO methods.
Verdict
After spending considerable time with Commission Academy and comparing it to alternatives like Wealthy Affiliate, I can confidently say it offers legitimate, valuable training for affiliate marketing beginners. The fact that you can access substantial training without paying is remarkable in an industry full of high-ticket courses.
Commission Academy’s greatest strength is making affiliate marketing accessible to those who can’t afford expensive upfront investments. The step-by-step approach effectively demystifies website creation and content production, turning complex concepts into manageable tasks. Dale’s teaching style is refreshingly straightforward, without the hype and unrealistic promises that plague many marketing courses.
That said, Commission Academy isn’t perfect. The free version, while valuable, has limitations that serious affiliates will eventually want to overcome through the premium upgrade. And as with any affiliate marketing training, success requires consistent effort over months—this is not a path to quick riches.
Who should join Commission Academy? If you’re new to affiliate marketing, on a tight budget, and willing to invest time rather than large sums of money upfront, Commission Academy is an excellent starting point. The free training provides enough guidance to launch your first affiliate website and start creating content that can generate commissions.
However, if you’re an experienced affiliate marketer looking for advanced strategies, or if you prefer an all-in-one platform with integrated hosting and tools, alternatives like Wealthy Affiliate or Authority Hacker might better suit your needs—albeit at a higher price point.
In my experience, Commission Academy delivers on its core promise: providing accessible, practical affiliate marketing training that can lead to a legitimate online business when implemented consistently. Just remember that as with any business model, your results will ultimately depend on your dedication to applying what you learn.
FAQ
Is Commission Academy free?
Yes, Commission Academy offers a comprehensive free membership that includes enough training to launch your affiliate website. There’s an optional premium upgrade for advanced strategies and tools, but you can get started without spending anything on the training itself.
What is the Commission Academy review on Reddit saying?
Reddit discussions about Commission Academy are generally positive, with users appreciating the free training quality and straightforward approach. Some Reddit users have compared it favorably to Wealthy Affiliate, particularly for those on a tight budget. However, opinions vary, with some users preferring platforms with more integrated tools.
How does Commission Academy affiliate marketing training compare to competitors?
Commission Academy’s training focuses on building legitimate, content-driven affiliate websites using primarily SEO for traffic. Compared to competitors, it offers exceptional value in its free tier but has fewer built-in tools than all-in-one platforms like Wealthy Affiliate. The teaching style is straightforward and practical, with less theory and more implementation guidance.
Is there an Authority Hacker discount available?
Commission Academy is not affiliated with Authority Hacker, which is a separate premium affiliate marketing course. Authority Hacker occasionally offers discounts during product launches or special promotions, but these are not available through Commission Academy.
What is the on-screen authority gear list?
The “on-screen authority gear list” appears to be unrelated to Commission Academy. This may refer to equipment recommendations for video creation from another course or content creator. Commission Academy focuses on affiliate marketing training rather than video production equipment.
Can I find the on-screen authority gear list PDF?
Commission Academy doesn’t provide an “on-screen authority gear list PDF.” This appears to be content from a different course or creator focused on video production. Commission Academy is specifically about affiliate marketing website creation.
What are people saying in the 24 Hour Commission Academy review?
24 Hour Commission Academy is a different program than Commission Academy. While both relate to affiliate marketing, they teach different approaches. 24 Hour Commission Academy tends to focus on faster methods while Commission Academy teaches a more sustainable, long-term website building approach.
Is Commission Academy similar to Wealthy Affiliate?
Yes, Commission Academy and Wealthy Affiliate teach similar affiliate marketing approaches centered on creating content websites. However, Commission Academy offers a more generous free tier, while Wealthy Affiliate provides more integrated tools (like hosting and keyword research) in their paid membership. Both platforms have active communities, though Wealthy Affiliate’s is larger due to its longer history.
