Can You Use Affiliate Links On Medium? What The Rules Allow
You wrote a helpful story on Medium, and now you want to add a link that pays you when a reader buys. Then a worry shows up: will Medium pull the story, or will the affiliate program shut you down?
Short answer: yes, you can use affiliate links on Medium. Medium's Rules allow them as long as you tell readers about them.
Allowed does not mean risk free. Medium also bans spam, third-party ads, and affiliate marketing dressed up as product reviews, and your affiliate program adds its own rules on top.
Quora is full of the same questions, such as how to add an affiliate link in a post on Medium, or if you can use your own Amazon affiliate links there. The answers you find online are old, thin, or both.
The seven steps below cover the program, Medium, the FTC, story type, the Partner Program, tracking, and safer options. A worked example with invented numbers, common mistakes, and a short FAQ close things out.
Disclosure: Some of the links I share might be affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission as a thank you. But don’t worry, it won’t cost you anything extra. I only recommend stuff I genuinely believe in. Your support helps me keep creating awesome content. You can read my full affiliate disclosure in my disclaimer page.
If you want to save a lot of hours searching for high-paying affiliate programs, check out our exclusive list of 2500+ affiliate programs. You’ll find all the information about the programs inside the list. This list is perfect for affiliate bloggers and influencers.
Why The Answer Depends On Two Rule Books
Medium does not ban affiliate links. Its Rules say affiliate links, such as a link to Amazon with your affiliate code, are fine in a post.
The catch comes right after that. Federal Trade Commission law says you must disclose the links, and Medium's Rules say a simple sentence in the footer can do it.
Medium has other rules too. Third-party advertising and sponsorships are not allowed, and posting content mainly to drive traffic to an outside site, product, or service counts as spam.
Your affiliate program is the second rule book. Each program decides where your links may appear, and breaking its terms can cost you commissions.
The FTC is the third voice in the room. It cares about how you tell readers that you earn money, so a link that Medium and the program both allow can still cause trouble if the disclosure is hidden.
Think of it as three layers: the program, Medium, and the FTC. A link has to pass all three, and the strictest layer wins.
Many beginners check only Medium and forget the program. That is a common way to lose commissions over a story that Medium never touched.
Others do the reverse and check only the program. Then a missing disclosure or a spammy pattern gets the story removed from Medium.
Medium's wording has shifted over the years. An older policy post about an ad-free Medium said affiliate links are allowed with a disclosure, and it said images that work as banner ads for third-party brands are not.
Medium's current help pages add a warning that matters more than any other line for affiliate writers. They list affiliate marketing in the guise of product reviews as a reason for suspension, and Step 2 explains how to stay clear of it.
Medium publishes no cap on the number of affiliate links in a story. It also publishes no separate rule for affiliate links inside locked stories.
Silence is not permission, though. Where a rule is missing, stick with what a careful reader would call honest, useful, and clearly labeled.
If you want the wider picture of seeding content on Quora and Medium, read our guide on using Quora and Medium first. The article you are reading goes deeper on the rules only.
Take the steps in order. Each one answers a question that the next one depends on.
Step 1: Check The Affiliate Program's Rules First
Start with the program, because it can end your earnings faster than Medium can. Open the terms and look for the words site, social media, app, and links.
Amazon Associates gets the most questions, so it gets the most space here. Its Operating Agreement defines your Site as your website, social media user-generated content, an online software application, or an Alexa skill.
A Medium story is user-generated content, so it can fit that wording. Amazon's agreement does not name Medium, though.
Amazon's Participation Requirements say you must identify your Site or Sites in your application. Add your Medium profile address to your Associates account before you publish a tagged link there.
Another line says your Site must contain original content and be publicly available at the address you give. Original content that uses third-party materials needs significant commentary or analysis.
Public availability matters for locked stories. A story behind the paywall is not open to every reader, so keep Amazon-linked stories free to read if you want to play it safe.
Amazon also says all Special Links must be accessed directly from your Site. Use the tagged link formats that Amazon provides.
Ask yourself a plain question before you post: do I run this place, and is it listed in my account? If the answer is no, do not put your tag there.
Amazon's Operating Agreement also says content you post on the Amazon website must follow its Community Guidelines. Keep that in mind if you ever repost a Medium story on Amazon.
Link tricks are out. Amazon bars you from cloaking, hiding, or spoofing the web address of your Site, and a link shortener cannot make it unclear that you are linking to Amazon.
Prices need care too. Amazon lets a Site show prices and availability only when Amazon serves the link or the data comes from its approved tools, so leave typed prices out of the story.
Bought ads earn nothing. Amazon pays no commission on a purchase by a customer who reached Amazon through an advertisement you purchased, so paying to promote a Medium story that holds your tagged link is a poor plan.
Amazon also requires a disclosure line in its Operating Agreement. The line is "As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases," and it must appear clearly and prominently.
Other programs differ. A software program may allow social posts, ban brand-name ads, or want each site approved, so read each set of terms before you place a link.
Use a quick test for any program. Find the site rule, the link format rule, the ad rule, and the disclosure rule.
If any of the four is unclear, ask the program's support team in writing. Keep the reply, because an email from support is the best proof you can have if a commission is ever questioned.
Step 2: Read Medium's Rules On Affiliate Links
Medium's Rules page covers the basics. It says affiliate links, such as a link out to Amazon with an affiliate code, are allowed, but per Federal Trade Commission law you must disclose them.
The same page says the disclosure can be a simple sentence in the footer. Treat that as the minimum, and Step 3 shows why you should do more.
Next comes the ban on third-party ads. Medium says third-party advertising and sponsorships are not allowed, while promoting your own business, website, mailing list, or fundraiser is.
That split matters for you. An affiliate link points to someone else's product, so the story has to stand as your own useful writing and not read like an ad.
Spam is the next risk. Medium's Rules call out content posted mainly to drive traffic to, or raise the search rankings of, an outside site, product, or service.
They also name clipped stories that exist only to send readers to the rest of the article on another website. And they name the repeated use of responses and mentions as a way to promote yourself.
Spam is removed from Medium without notice, according to the help center. Plan on no warning email.
Medium's Rules also say first-party promotion is allowed. So your own writing, with a link to your own site, sits on firmer ground than a pile of third-party links.
Keep a copy of every story as a draft file on your own computer. If Medium ever removes a story, you can fix it and republish without starting over.
Now the line that worries affiliate writers most. Medium's list of reasons for suspensions includes affiliate marketing in the guise of reviews of products or services, either AI-written or hand-written.
Another item on the same list is using deception to generate revenue or traffic. Put the two together and the pattern is clear.
A story that gives real help and holds a few labeled links sits on safe ground. A fake review whose only job is to push a buy button does not.
Medium also bars misleading tags, links, titles, and other metadata. Do not write a title that promises one thing while the link sends readers somewhere else.
When a link sends readers to a form hosted elsewhere, or to your own newsletter, Medium's Rules ask for a note right next to the link saying it leaves Medium. A short phrase like "opens on my site" does the job.
Medium publishes no cap on affiliate links per story. It also publishes no safe ratio of links to words.
Older Medium material and the newer help pages do not match word for word. Read the Rules and the suspension-reasons page yourself before you publish, and write down the date you checked.
If a suspension does happen, Medium's appeals article tells you to fix the problem first and then write to trust@medium.com. Appeals take time, so it is cheaper to avoid the problem.
Step 3: Disclose Every Link The Right Way
The FTC says to disclose when you have any financial, employment, personal, or family relationship with a brand. An affiliate commission is a financial relationship.
The FTC also says to place the disclosure with the endorsement itself and to make it hard to miss. The closer the disclosure sits to your recommendation, the better.
A disclosure outside the post, or at the bottom where many readers never scroll, can be missed. That is why Medium's footer sentence is a floor and not a finish line.
Follow both rule books. Meet Medium's footer minimum and also put a plain note near the links.
Use simple wording. The FTC offers "I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post" as a sample.
The words "affiliate link" alone can confuse shoppers, because they may not know it means you get paid. The FTC says "paid link" placed right next to a link can work, while "commissionable link" probably does not.
A buy button alone is not enough either. Say in words that you earn from the purchase.
Do not hide the note in a pile of hashtags or links. The FTC says a disclosure mixed into a group of hashtags or links is too easy to miss.
Add Amazon's own line too if you use Amazon. "As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases" belongs somewhere clear and prominent.
Here is a simple plan with two spots. Put one plain sentence above the first link, and put a short label such as paid link beside each group of links.
A sample opener could read: "I earn a commission when you buy through links in this story." Short, honest, and easy to scan.
Free products and perks need a disclosure too. The FTC says to disclose if you got anything of value to mention a product, even when you think your opinion is unbiased.
Keep the wording the same from story to story. Readers learn to spot it, and you never have to wonder if you forgot.
Check the story on your phone before you publish. Readers also open stories on small screens, where a note that sits near the link on a laptop can end up far from it.
Do not rely on Medium to add a label for you. The FTC says not to assume a platform's disclosure tool is good enough, so write your own.
Our affiliate disclosure generator writes the sentence for you if you want a quick draft.
Step 4: Choose The Story Type And Link Placement
Not every story suits an affiliate link. Pick the type first, then decide where the links go.
A how-to story is the best fit. You teach a task and mention the tools you used, so a link feels like help and not a sales pitch.
A comparison or buying guide also works, as long as you have used the products and say what you liked and what you did not. Medium names fake reviews as a suspension reason, so real use is your protection.
A personal story with one link in a natural spot is fine. A story that reads like a list of buy buttons is not.
Skip news-style or opinion pieces that only exist to hold links. Medium's spam language targets content posted mainly to drive traffic or sales.
Keep the links few. Medium sets no limit, but a story with one link per section reads like a guide, and a story with a link in every sentence reads like an ad.
Put each link next to the sentence that explains why the product helps. Describe the product in your own words, and use plain link text that names the product.
Keep links out of the title, the subtitle, and the first lines. Put the value up front and let the links come after readers have a reason to click.
Skip banner-style images with a link. Medium's older policy post said images that work as banner ads for third-party brands are not permitted.
Do not use responses on other writers' stories to drop your links. Medium's Rules name repeated use of responses and mentions as promotion, so keep your links inside your own stories.
Check the tags. Medium bars misleading tags and titles, so choose tags that match what the story is about.
Add a short ending that invites questions. A reply from you in the comments of your own story shows a real person is behind the links.
Read the story out loud once before you publish. If it sounds like a sales pitch, cut links until it sounds like advice from a friend.
Publications set their own submission rules. Read an editor's guidelines before you submit a story with affiliate links, because a publication can be stricter than Medium.
Do not repost the same story many times. Medium's spam section also covers scraped content and duplicate posts.
Write each story so it stands alone. A reader should get the full answer without clicking anything.
Step 5: Know How The Partner Program Fits In
The Partner Program pays writers for member activity on paywalled stories. Medium's help center lists time spent reading or listening, engagement, boost bonuses, and member read ratio as the factors.
A read counts after a member has spent 30 seconds on your story. Reads from non-members do not add to your earnings, and that includes non-members who open a story through a Friend Link.
Medium publishes no separate rule for affiliate links behind the paywall. The Partner Program has its own acceptable use rules, and those sit on top of the general Rules.
The acceptable use page treats non-genuine engagement as misuse. It lists making multiple accounts to engage with your own stories and relying only on AI-generated content to earn.
The penalty is harsh. Misuse leads to removal from the program or account suspension without notice and without an option to appeal.
Removal from the Partner Program is permanent, according to Medium's removal article, and your locked stories come off the paywall. Affiliate links are not named there, but the risk shows why you should keep every story honest.
There is also a rule that touches this very topic. Stories mainly about Medium itself, the Partner Program, or how the platform works are not eligible for the paywall.
So a how-to about adding affiliate links to Medium would have to stay free to read. You can still write about Medium outside the paywall.
The paywall also changes who can see your links. A free story can be read by everyone, so it fits Amazon's public availability rule more cleanly.
A locked story earns Partner Program money from members. Pick the goal for each story before you publish: reach and clicks, or member reading time.
You do not have to choose forever. Lock some stories, leave others free, and compare the results in Step 6.
Do not add links to a locked story and then hide the disclosure because it feels out of place. Members read the same words, and the FTC rules apply the same way.
Keep your own records of which stories are locked. You will need that list when you compare results in Step 6.
Step 6: Track What Your Links Do
Tracking tells you which stories earn and which only feel productive. Without it you are guessing.
Start with Medium's Stats page. It shows views and reads for each story, and it is the base for every comparison.
Then match those numbers with your program reports. If your program lets you set a separate tracking tag, use one tag per story.
Record four things once a week: views, clicks, orders, and commission. A simple sheet is enough.
Add one more column for notes. Write down the story type, the disclosure placement, and if the story was free or locked.
Medium publishes no per-read rate, so do not borrow someone else's income screenshot. Use your own numbers.
Give each test four weeks before you judge it. One slow week tells you nothing, and one lucky week tells you even less.
Treat the first month as practice. Early numbers are small, and the goal is to learn which story types get clicks.
Change only one thing at a time. If you move the disclosure and the link spot together, you will not know which change helped.
Save a copy of the rules you read, with the date. If a link or policy changes later, you can show what you followed.
Check for removed stories once a month. A story that Medium takes down can still send traffic to a dead link in your newsletter.
Keep a short log of program emails too. Commission changes and policy notices tend to arrive there first.
Step 7: Pick Safer Alternatives When Unsure
Medium allows first-party promotion. You may promote and link to your own business, website, mailing list, or fundraiser.
That opens a safer path. Write a complete, helpful story, then link to your own site, where the affiliate links and the full disclosure live.
The story must still give real value on its own. A clipped teaser that exists only to send readers elsewhere is named in Medium's spam rules.
A link to your newsletter works too. Add a short note next to it saying it opens outside Medium.
Another option is to use only one or two affiliate links in a story and place them where the product truly helps. Fewer links mean fewer chances for a reader to feel sold to.
You can also skip links on Medium and build trust there. Readers who like your writing can follow you to your own site, where you control the rules.
If you want other places to share links, compare the rules for Facebook and Pinterest. Each platform has its own limits.
When a rule is unclear, ask. Your program's support team can answer questions about where links may appear.
Save every answer you get. A written reply beats a memory of what someone said.
If the choice is between a risky link and a safe one, take the safe one. A suspended account earns nothing, and a slow, steady account earns something every month.
Think long term. Medium is rented space, so move readers toward a place you own, such as your email list, over time.
A Worked Example: Maya Tests Three Stories In Six Weeks
Maya is a made-up writer, and every number in this example is invented to show how to read results. Real numbers will differ.
She writes about home offices and joins Amazon Associates. She adds her Medium profile address to her account first.
Over six weeks she publishes three stories. The first is a free buying guide with 5 Amazon links, the second is a locked story with 5 links, and the third is a personal essay with 1 link.
Each story opens with one plain disclosure sentence. Each link group also carries a paid link label.
The free guide gets 612 views, 46 clicks, and 4 orders. Maya earns $9 in commission.
The locked story gets 205 views and 11 clicks. It brings 1 order for $2 in commission, plus $7 from the Partner Program.
The personal essay gets 330 views and 5 clicks, with no orders and no commission. It still earned new followers, though.
Across six weeks Maya sees 1,147 views, 62 clicks, and 5 orders. Her commission totals $11, and the Partner Program adds $7, so the grand total is $18.
Look at the pattern. The free guide and the locked story each ended with $9, but they got there in different ways.
The guide earned from clicks, and the locked story earned from member reading time. Both numbers are small, which is normal for a new account.
Maya keeps the free guide as her main link story. She adds one locked story a month for the Partner Program.
She also keeps her notes, her rule screenshots, and her support emails in one folder. If anything is ever questioned, she can show what she followed.
Common Mistakes When Using Affiliate Links On Medium
The first mistake is skipping the program's rules. Medium may allow a link that your program does not.
The second mistake is forgetting to list Medium as a site. Amazon says you must identify your Site or Sites in your application.
The third mistake is hiding the disclosure. A sentence at the very end may meet Medium's minimum, but the FTC wants it near the recommendation.
The fourth mistake is writing fake reviews. Medium lists affiliate marketing in the guise of reviews as a reason for suspension, so only review what you have used.
The fifth mistake is stuffing the story with links. Medium sets no cap, but a page of buy buttons looks like spam.
The sixth mistake is typing prices. Amazon limits when a Site can show prices and availability, and a stale price misleads readers.
The seventh mistake is shortening or hiding links. Amazon bars cloaking and unclear shortened links, and Medium bars misleading links.
The eighth mistake is promoting through responses. Medium names repeated promotion through responses and mentions as misuse.
The ninth mistake is buying ads for a tagged story. Amazon pays no commission on purchases that come from ads you bought.
The tenth mistake is posting clipped teasers. Medium names stories that exist only to link to the rest of the article elsewhere.
The eleventh mistake is trusting old advice. Policies change, so read the live Rules before you publish.
The last mistake is ignoring the numbers. Without tracking, you will keep writing stories that look busy and earn nothing.
Final Thoughts
So, can you use affiliate links on Medium? Yes, Medium's Rules allow them, as long as you disclose them and follow the other rules.
Your affiliate program has its own say, and the FTC cares about how you tell readers. Pass all three and your links are in good shape.
Start small. Publish one honest story with a few labeled links, track it for four weeks, and learn from the result.
Then keep going at a steady pace. If you want more ideas for where to share, read our guide on using Quora and Medium and plan your next story.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can you use affiliate links on Medium?
Yes. Medium's Rules allow affiliate links, such as a link to Amazon with your affiliate code, but you must disclose them under Federal Trade Commission law.
2. Can I use my own Amazon affiliate links on Medium?
Yes in most cases. Amazon's Operating Agreement covers social media user-generated content, but it does not name Medium, so add your Medium profile to your Associates account and ask support if you are unsure.
3. How do I add an affiliate link in a post on Medium?
Highlight the text in the editor, choose the link tool, and paste your tagged link. Then add a plain disclosure sentence near the link.
4. Does Medium allow affiliate marketing?
Medium allows affiliate links with a disclosure. It does not allow spam, third-party ads, or affiliate marketing in the guise of product reviews.
5. Do I have to disclose affiliate links on Medium?
Yes. Medium's Rules say you must disclose them per Federal Trade Commission law, and a simple sentence in the footer is the stated minimum.
6. Where should I put the disclosure?
Put it close to the links, as the FTC recommends. A sentence above the first link and a paid link label beside each group works well.
7. Can I put affiliate links in a member-only story?
Medium publishes no rule that bans them. Amazon wants your Site to be publicly available, so keeping Amazon-linked stories free to read is the safer choice.
8. Will Medium suspend me for affiliate links?
Medium lists affiliate marketing in the guise of product reviews as a reason for suspension. Honest stories with disclosed links are not named as a problem.
9. Are Medium affiliate links nofollow?
Medium publishes no statement about link attributes. Outside reports say links in stories carry nofollow tags, so do not count on search ranking value from them.
10. How many affiliate links can I use in one story?
11. Can I use Amazon links in my responses on Medium?
It is a bad idea. Medium's Rules name repeated use of responses and mentions as a method of promotion, so keep links inside your own stories.
12. Do I need to be approved by my affiliate program before I post a link?
Apply first. Amazon says you must identify your Site or Sites in your application, so list your Medium profile there.
13. Does Medium pay for affiliate clicks?
No. Medium pays Partner Program earnings from member reading and engagement on paywalled stories, and any commission comes from your affiliate program.
Medium publishes no limit. Use as few as help the reader, and make sure the story still reads like your own writing.
14. Can I link to my blog from Medium instead?
Yes. Medium allows you to promote and link to your own website or mailing list, but the story must still be complete and useful by itself.
