ClickBank has been going strong in online marketing for over a decade. It’s a platform trusted by affiliate marketers and product vendors alike for making money online.
In 2013, they launched their own online training program called ClickBank University, which has now been upgraded to 2.0. What is CBU all about? We share it all in this review.
CB University 2.0 provides users with handy tools that they can use to produce high-quality digital products, sell on ClickBank, and earn money.
They also offer a course that teaches the basics of affiliate marketing, but the information it contains is outdated and incomplete. There’s also a hidden upsell which is totally optional.
ClickBank University is for people who want to get started as product creators. If you’re not interested in creating your product, you can instead promote products as an affiliate and earn commissions. Be sure to check out our top recommendation if that’s something of your interest.
Clickbank University 2.0 is the upgraded version of the original 1.0 course, which gained quite some fame in 2013. So, what do you get as part of the subscription?
It comes with an 8-week training program that covers affiliate marketing and teaches how you can make money promoting other people’s products on the platform. The information, however, is outdated and lacks a punch. If it’s affiliate marketing you’re interested in, you should check out our top recommendation instead.
Click Here For Our #1 Recommendation
If you want to start creating products, they have a thorough 12-week video training which you will absolutely love. This is the bread and butter of this program, and for product creation, most products out there can’t hold a candle against CBU. Some of the topics which they cover include:
If you have specialized knowledge and want to share it with others, you should create a digital product and make it available to the masses. If that’s the case, you should definitely get started with the platform.
If you decide to sign up, you will get instant access to a bunch of PDFs and step-by-step video tutorials. You also get to watch weekly Q&A webinars, which are hosted by Justin & Adam. This is probably to make sure people always have something new to watch.
See Related: How to Use ClickFunnels for Affiliate Marketing
The program unlocks weekly lessons over time. You don’t get the whole thing at once, which feels slow, but it keeps you from skipping ahead and missing key steps.
Each lesson is a video, and you usually get transcripts if you’d rather read. The modules cover everything from niche research and building customer avatars to writing sales copy that actually converts.
Later on, you’ll dig into upsells, video sales letters, and split-testing landing pages. They don’t just talk theory—you get shown how to use the ClickBank Builder to create opt-in pages and connect payment processors.
Some tools cost extra, which is a bummer, but at least you’re not left scratching your head about next steps.
ClickBank University 2.0 splits the learning into two tracks. The affiliate track teaches you to promote digital products for commissions—definitely the easier way in if you don’t want to create something yourself.
The vendor track is for launching your own digital products, like eBooks or courses. This one takes more work upfront, but you get full control over pricing and branding.
Most people start as affiliates and move to product creation once they get the lay of the land. Which path you pick really depends on your goals. Want quick wins? Go affiliate. Want more control and bigger earning potential? Vendor is your move.
Everything’s drip-fed. The affiliate track runs about 8 weeks; the vendor side is closer to 12. If you want to go faster, you can ask for early access, but otherwise, the pace is locked in.
You get short, digestible videos and access to a private community forum. That’s actually a huge help—building an online business gets lonely if you’re solo.
There are extras too: bi-weekly interviews with successful members and a “Traffic Center” for bringing in visitors. The structure’s clear, but you’ll need patience. If you’re looking for overnight results, this isn’t your shortcut.
ClickBank University came from two entrepreneurs who started making money online at a young age. Each brings something different—one’s all about affiliate marketing and product sales, the other’s into mobile and social media.
Their backgrounds definitely shape the course. It doesn’t feel like a cookie-cutter program.
Justin Atlan studied economics at UC, but he really got started making money online as a teenager. He kicked things off with affiliate marketing, then started selling his own digital products on ClickBank.
Justin’s big on building systems—funnels, email lists, scalable stuff that works long-term. If you like structure over chasing shiny objects, his style might work for you.
He co-founded ClickBank University to help beginners skip years of trial and error. I’ve noticed he leans more toward the vendor side, but he covers affiliate strategies too.
If you want things laid out step by step, Justin’s approach is less hype, more “here’s how it actually works.”
Adam Horwitz started young too. He launched Mobile Monopoly, a course about making money with mobile marketing, back when most people still used flip phones for texting.
Adam’s got a knack for creative marketing angles. He experiments with social platforms and influencer strategies. If you’re into modern traffic methods, his background brings that vibe into the course.
He’s also tried his hand at YouTube and content creation, so his teaching style feels more casual and relatable. He talks about building income streams that fit around your life, not the other way around.
Justin brings the systems; Adam brings the flair. Together, they keep things balanced—one’s grounded, the other’s always looking for a new angle.
If you want to make money with affiliate marketing, you need more than just a link and a pipe dream. You need a roadmap—how to choose products, build funnels, drive traffic, and actually turn those clicks into commissions.
The affiliate mastery training covers picking your niche, finding proven products in the ClickBank marketplace, and building a plan to promote them. No more bouncing between random YouTube advice—you get a step-by-step system.
You’ll kick off with goal setting and mindset. Yeah, it sounds a little fluffy, but if you don’t know what you’re aiming for, you’ll give up after your first flop. Then, you’re shown how to research niches, evaluate offers, and spot products that actually have legs.
The lessons break down how affiliate networks work, how commissions pay out, and why some programs are worth it while others aren’t. You’ll see how to build simple websites, email lists, and funnels that can eventually become passive income streams.
What I appreciate is the hands-on stuff—writing email swipes, positioning bonus offers, and building trust with people who have no clue who you are.
No traffic, no sales. The training covers both free and paid methods so you can pick what matches your budget and comfort zone.
On the free side, you’ll get the basics of SEO, content creation, and some YouTube strategies. These take time but can pay off in the long run.
On the paid side, you’ll see how to use Facebook ads, Google ads, Bing, and even Instagram shoutouts to drive traffic. The lessons are mostly webinar-style, which honestly makes sense since platforms change all the time.
You’ll get practical walkthroughs for setting up campaigns, tracking results, and knowing when to scale or bail. I think the biggest value is showing you how not to burn through cash—testing small, measuring, and only scaling what works.
The funnel training ties it all together. You’ll learn to build a simple path that turns a click into a buyer through your affiliate link.
It starts with a squeeze page to collect emails. After that, you use tools like AWeber to send automated sequences.
The course explains how to write an email blueprint—mixing content emails, promos, and bonuses to keep people engaged. You’ll also learn how to structure upsells and follow-ups, not to trick people, but to make buying feel natural.
This part isn’t just theory. You get templates, examples, and split-testing methods to boost conversions. As someone who’s built affiliate sites, I’ll say it straight—if you skip the funnel, you’re just sending random clicks and hoping for miracles. This training helps you avoid that rookie mistake.
When you move to the vendor side, you stop just promoting offers and start building your own digital products. Now you’re solving real problems, setting up a sales funnel, and tweaking until it works.
Creating a digital product isn’t just slapping together an eBook or a quick video. You start with a customer avatar—who’s your buyer, what do they struggle with, what do they actually want?
ClickBank University pushes you to build courses, guides, or software that promise real outcomes. If you’re in fitness, for example, a 6-week program beats a generic “get fit” PDF every time.
The course shows you how to package your product professionally. That means a clean members’ area, solid video sales letters, and sales copy that’s all about benefits, not just features.
Honestly, even a simple product can sell if it’s laser-focused on one specific problem. Don’t overthink it—clarity beats cramming in too much every single time.
When your product’s finally ready, you need a sales funnel to nudge buyers from just browsing to actually pulling out their wallets.
Usually, it starts with a squeeze page or opt-in page where you offer a freebie in exchange for an email address.
After that, you guide them toward your main offer.
ClickBank gives you tools like the ClickBank Builder so you can piece together landing pages, upsells, and webinars without needing to be a tech wizard.
You might set things up like this:
Funnels exist to squeeze out as much revenue as possible from each visitor.
Adding high ticket products or a sneaky upsell can seriously boost your bottom line.
I’ve watched funnels where 30% of folks actually grab the upsell, and that can double your profit without spending a dime more on traffic.
No funnel works perfectly the first time, no matter how much you wish it would.
That’s why split testing matters so much.
You pit two versions of a page against each other—maybe swap out headlines, button colors, or toss in a new video—and see which one wins.
ClickBank University teaches you to watch numbers like opt-in rate, sales conversion, and average order value.
Even tiny tweaks add up.
Switching a headline from “Lose Weight Fast” to “Drop 10 Pounds in 30 Days” might bump conversions by 10-20%—seriously, it happens.
If your funnel’s finally profitable, that’s when you can push the gas with paid ads, webinars, and YouTube traffic.
I’ve blown cash scaling too soon, so trust me—don’t rush it.
Get the basics locked down, then go wild.
Joining this online training platform doesn’t just hand you videos—it unlocks tools and resources meant to make the whole online business thing less overwhelming.
Some tools focus on building your site, others help with support, networking, and keeping your skills sharp.
The ClickBank Builder is a core tool here.
This drag-and-drop builder lets you whip up sales pages, opt-in forms, and even membership sites—no code, no headaches.
You just move stuff around, tweak layouts, and hook up your payment processor right inside the tool.
I’ve played with tools like this before, and while none are flawless, the big win here is just how much time it saves.
No more juggling a bunch of WordPress plugins or hiring someone just to get a funnel online.
Heads up though—the builder costs extra on top of your monthly membership, and that can sting if you’re not making sales yet.
This isn’t just another landing page tool, either.
It hooks right into the ClickBank marketplace, so you can connect your own offers or affiliate products with a couple clicks.
If you want to get something live fast and don’t love tinkering with tech, this builder’s a real time-saver.
Honestly, one of the most overlooked perks of ClickBank University is the community forum.
You get to hang out with other students working through the same stuff, and that kind of peer support is underrated.
It’s not just about troubleshooting—you actually get to share what’s working (and what’s not).
I’ve been in plenty of online groups, and the vibe totally depends on how active people are.
From what I’ve seen, CBU’s community is pretty lively, with newbies and folks already pulling in decent commissions.
The ClickBank team offers support too.
It’s not lightning fast, but it’s there if you need it.
Sometimes, bouncing ideas off other marketers in the forum is more helpful than waiting for official help anyway.
The program throws in webinars and live sessions on stuff like traffic, affiliate strategies, and product creation.
These aren’t just dusty pre-recorded videos—you actually hear from affiliates and vendors who’ve built legit businesses on the platform.
I always find live training way more motivating than just clicking through static lessons.
You can ask questions, get feedback, and sometimes see real-life case studies—wins and flops included.
That kind of honesty saves you from making the same rookie mistakes.
Webinars also get updated more often than the core training, so you’re not stuck with outdated info.
In an industry where things change overnight, that’s a big deal.
Whether you’re pushing affiliate offers or launching your own stuff, these sessions help you stay sharp without feeling totally alone.
When you’re shopping for affiliate marketing training, you probably want to know if the course actually gives you practical skills, useful tools, and support you’ll use in the real world.
Some platforms stick to one marketplace, while others teach you how to build a business across different affiliate programs.
Wealthy Affiliate takes a broader approach.
Instead of locking you into ClickBank, it teaches you how to build websites, find a profitable niche, and grow traffic using SEO and content.
You get hosting, keyword tools, and live mentorship all bundled in.
ClickBank University 2.0 is more focused.
It shows you how to promote ClickBank offers or launch your own digital products there.
The training is beginner-friendly, but it’s drip-fed and not as interactive.
Cost-wise, Wealthy Affiliate gives you most tools for $49/month, while ClickBank University charges $47/month plus a $594 upsell for its funnel builder.
Honestly, a lot of people find Wealthy Affiliate a better value since you get everything without endless upsells.
There’s a whole world of other programs out there.
Some focus on paid ads, others on email marketing, and a few get deep into niche strategies.
Courses like Authority Hacker or Affiliate Lab are big on SEO and building long-term assets.
These are great if you already know the basics and want to up your game, but they’re pricier and expect you to put in some serious work.
ClickBank University feels more like a starter kit, while Wealthy Affiliate and similar programs help you build a wider online business.
It really comes down to whether you want to stick with one affiliate marketplace or branch out.
Here’s a quick side-by-side that might help:
ClickBank University 2.0
Wealthy Affiliate
Other Programs
If you’re brand new, ClickBank University is easier to digest.
If you want to build a bigger, long-term business, Wealthy Affiliate or another advanced program might give you more of what you need.
Check out ClickBank University reviews and you’ll see people split down the middle.
Some love the structure and hand-holding, while others gripe about the price tag.
Your results honestly depend on the work you put in and whether this teaching style fits how you learn.
Plenty of folks say they’ve gotten solid results after sticking with the program.
Beginners often mention that the step‑by‑step videos helped them finally “get” funnels, pick products, and score their first sale.
Having a clear roadmap can be the difference between giving up and actually making progress.
I’ve heard from people who built small but consistent side incomes after following the steps.
Some even went on to launch their own digital products, which is what the vendor part of the course aims for.
They didn’t get rich overnight, but they saw real progress.
The community stands out too.
A lot of students find it motivating to connect with others on the same journey.
Swapping wins, asking questions, and sharing ideas makes the process less lonely.
That’s huge when things get tough.
Not everyone walks away thrilled.
The biggest complaint you’ll see in a ClickBank University review is the price.
Some folks think the monthly fee is steep, especially when there’s so much free info out there.
And while the course is structured, it can feel pretty basic if you already have some marketing chops.
Upselling is another sore spot.
Several users mention that the program pushes extra tools or services, and the costs add up fast.
If you’re on a tight budget, that’s something to watch out for.
Results also come slower than most people hope.
Affiliate marketing isn’t a quick win, and if you expect to cash in within a few weeks, you’re setting yourself up for frustration.
Patience and showing up consistently matter way more than any “secret” tactic.
ClickBank has been around since 1998, so it’s not some fly-by-night operation. That gives ClickBank University a bit of built-in credibility.
You’re learning straight from the company behind one of the biggest affiliate marketplaces out there.
Some reviewers do say the training feels limited compared to other options.
For example, Scambusters USA notes that while the course offers structure, it doesn’t always cover the broader business skills you’ll need in 2025.
So yes, it’s legit, but it’s not the most comprehensive education around.
On the trust side, they offer a 30‑day money‑back guarantee.
That takes the edge off if you want to try it and bail out later.
Since ClickBank handles all payments, you’re working with a company that’s been processing digital sales for decades—and that peace of mind actually counts for something.
ClickBank Builder 2.0 is an upsell they don’t mention in the sales video. Using the builder, you can create decent-looking websites and offer and capture pages quickly. It’s similar to other drag-and-drop page builders, but the pricing is too steep.
We use Thrive Architect, which is a lot cheaper, and you do not only get the easy-to-use front-end editor (YES, truly front-end, easy-to-use drag-and-drop page builder). We have used a dozen of page builders since 2016, and the only one which we simply can’t ditch is Thrive.
With the Thrive membership, you get not only the page builder but also a handful of plugins that you will absolutely love and a wide range of WordPress themes that come optimized out of the box. In short, Thrive is built with conversions in mind.
If you want something cheap and reliable, Thrive TRULY thrives; you simply can’t go wrong with them. (detailed review here)
Recommendation: Get Started With Thrive Today
CBU 2.0 will also encourage you to sign up for several tools and resources required for running an online business. They include a domain and email provider. They will send you to these must-have services (often through their affiliate links)
See Related: Builderall Review: Is It Worth the Price?
No, ClickBank University is far from being called a scam. The training resources they provide are legit, and they have some of the best (if not the best) training for product creation.
It’s tailor-made by ClickBank and comes with a 30-day no-questions-asked money-back guarantee. It’s risk-free; there’s no reason for you not to test the waters yourself.
However, it’s only for those wanting to create their digital products and sell them on a platform. The page builder upsell they have is unnecessary, and there are a lot of better tools, like Thrive, which are available for half the price.
If you’re interested in affiliate marketing, CBU is not for you. You should instead check out our top recommendation for making money online, which serves the purpose very well.
The Clickbank affiliate program allows affiliates to earn a roughly 10-20% commission. It involves referring customers to the marketplace, and the rate will vary depending on what is being sold. Affiliates gain monetary rewards by bringing clients to this platform, with their share derived from how successful these sales are.
Most students just don’t end up making a full-time income. That’s honestly just the reality of online business. A small percentage actually find real success. Usually, they stick with it for months, keep testing different offers, and put money into traffic. If you’re expecting instant results, you’ll probably feel let down. Treat it like a business—something you build over time—and your odds get better.
The Accelerator program gives you more hands-on help—think coaching calls and clear milestones to hit. The real magic is accountability; having someone actually check in on your progress makes it a lot tougher to just drop off the map.
It’s definitely not cheap, and you’ll still need to set aside money for ads and tools. But if you’re genuinely serious about scaling, that extra support can be a game-changer.
Spark, which is just ClickBank University with a new coat of paint, feels more polished than the old version. Still, it’s kind of pricey compared to other beginner-friendly courses out there.
Platforms like Authority Hacker or Affiliate Lab go way deeper with strategy. Spark leans heavily into ClickBank-specific stuff and keeps things pretty basic. If you’re brand new and want a step-by-step path, Spark isn’t a bad place to start. It does a decent job walking you through the early stages.
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Last updated: September 13, 2025
