Is ClickBank a Scam? 

If you’re thinking of using ClickBank, you need to know if it’s safe. Is ClickBank a scam? 

Below, we explain whether ClickBank is a scam and discuss some steps you can take to improve your safety when using this platform. 

What Is ClickBank?

ClickBank is an online marketplace and affiliate marketing platform that connects sellers with affiliates who promote those products.

Sellers (people or companies who create digital or physical products, like e-books, courses, or supplements) put their products on ClickBank, and affiliates (people who want to earn commissions) pick products from the ClickBank marketplace, which they then promote using unique affiliate links. If someone buys through that link, the affiliate earns a commission. 

ClickBank handles the payment processing, tracking, and payouts for both sellers and affiliates.

Is ClickBank a Scam?

No, ClickBank is not a scam. It’s a legitimate affiliate marketing network.

Several third-party review sites have reviewed ClickBank, including Crazy Egg and Authority Hacker. Their conclusion? ClickBank is not a scam, but there are a lot of low-quality products on the platform.  

• 4.6 out of 5.0 stars (from 5,749 reviews) on Trustpilot.
• 4.2 out of 5.0 stars (from 16 reviews) on Getapp.
• 4.3 out of 5.0 stars (from 16 reviews) on Capterra.
• 4.5 out of 5.0 stars (from 20 reviews) on G2. 
• 1.44 out of 5.0 stars (from 63 reviews) on Better Business Bureau. 
• 1.0 out of 5.0 stars (from 106 reviews) on ConsumerAffairs.

On online forums like Reddit, people report varying experiences with ClickBank. 

However, the consensus seems to be that ClickBank is a good choice for affiliates who know how to market, i.e., people who already have email lists, know traffic sources, or are skilled at funnel building.

People who know how to market the products they choose say they can make real money through ClickBank. 

However, some people warn that it’s possible you’ll need to return the money you make through selling ClickBank products if customers ask for returns.

For instance, one individual reported earning over $300 from promoting ClickBank products. However, after receiving customer refunds, they ended up owing $250, which prompted them to stop using ClickBank.

A few people also reported that their accounts were disabled for no apparent reason. Some people suggested the account was likely disabled because of ClickBank’s fraud-prevention and refund rules. 

According to these users, ClickBank requires commissions to come from a minimum number of different payment methods before releasing funds (to prevent fake/self-purchases). If you only make a couple of sales and they get refunded or charged back, your refund rate looks very high, which can trigger an automatic suspension.

ClickBank is Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited and has an “A+” rating on the BBB website. The company has received 202 total complaints on the BBB website in the last three years as of this writing, with 57 complaints closed in the past 12 months. (See our review of whether the BBB is a scam).

ClickBank Security 

In its privacy policy, ClickBank briefly notes its security controls.

It says it has “implemented measures intended to protect your personal information” and stores your data on “secure servers behind firewalls.” 

It also states that any payment transactions are encrypted using SSL technology. 

ClickBank goes into more detail about its security controls in its security policy. 

It says it relies on secure technology partners, applies strict allow-list (“inclusion-based”) security rules, and enforces physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards.

Additionally, it monitors all IP activity with proprietary fraud-detection systems. 

Plus, it assigns users strong, unique passwords that even ClickBank staff cannot view or recover, reducing the risk of weak or reused passwords.

ClickBank Privacy 

ClickBank explains the kind of information it collects, for what purposes, and with whom it shares it in its privacy policy. 

It collects data directly from you (during account setup, purchases, etc.), from affiliates/partners, and automatically (through cookies, device info, IP, and analytics).

Data collected may include:

• Personal information (name, email, payment info).
• Demographics.
• Usage behavior.
• Device details.

The company may use your data to process orders, deliver services, communicate offers, provide customer support, analyze trends, and improve products. It may also use it for fraud prevention, legal compliance, and enforcement of terms.

ClickBank may share your information with service providers, business partners, law enforcement (if required), for marketing (unless opted out), and in business transfers (e.g., mergers). Aggregated/anonymized data may be shared freely.

Data may be stored/processed in the U.S. and other countries.

It uses cookies, web beacons, and third-party trackers (e.g., Google Analytics) for personalization, advertising, and analytics.

It does not respond to “Do Not Track” (DNT) browser signals.

You can opt out of cookies, promotional emails, Google Analytics tracking, and third-party advertising. You can also access, update, or delete account information by contacting ClickBank. 

Depending on where you reside, you may have additional privacy rights, like the right to have your personal information deleted. 

So, Should You Use ClickBank?

Depends. 

It’s a legitimate platform where skilled affiliates can make a steady income. 

However, many ClickBank products (especially in health/weight-loss) are considered low quality or “scammy,” so promoting them can hurt your credibility (and result in refund requests and chargebacks). 

How to Use Clickbank Safely and Privately 

• Use a dedicated email. Don’t sign up to ClickBank with your personal email. Create a dedicated email for affiliate accounts and customer inquiries. 
• Be selective with what products you choose to market. Choose offers with low refund rates and good vendor support.
• Follow ClickBank’s rules. And keep refund and chargeback rates low to prevent account suspension.
• Track refunds closely. Don’t spend commissions until the refund period passes.
• Diversify. Don’t rely only on ClickBank. Have multiple affiliate networks or income streams.
• Protect your reputation. Avoid promoting products that look deceptive or overhyped.
• Opt out. Limit tracking and marketing use of your data via account settings and opt-out tools.