Quick answer: Pinterest allows affiliate links on Pins. Join an affiliate program, create an original Pin for a product you'd genuinely recommend, and paste your affiliate link as the Pin's destination link. Pinterest's creator guide says an affiliate link added directly to a Pin should lead to the shop's product detail page. Tell people plainly that you may earn a commission, keep to one authentic Pinterest account and publish affiliate Pins in moderation. Pinterest isn't part of your affiliate agreement and doesn't pay commission itself: the affiliate program does.
Every Pinterest rule in this guide comes from Pinterest's own policy, Help Center and creator pages. We link each source next to what it supports.
How Affiliate Marketing on Pinterest Works
An affiliate link is a tracked link from an affiliate program. When someone clicks it and buys, the program may pay you a commission under its own terms.
On Pinterest, the affiliate link usually sits in the Pin's destination link. Someone finds your Pin in search, on a board or in their home feed, clicks through to the product and buys from the merchant.
Pinterest's creator guide, Getting started with affiliate links on Pinterest, says Pinterest isn't part of the affiliate agreement, so you choose an affiliate network yourself. It names Rakuten, LTK, ShopStyle and Amazon Associates US as its official partners. Your commission depends on the terms you agree with the merchant or program.
There is no standard Pinterest affiliate rate and no guaranteed income. Clicks don't always turn into sales, and each program sets its own commission and payment rules.
What You Need Before You Start
| What you need | Why |
|---|---|
| A Pinterest account you run as your authentic presence | Pinterest's affiliate guidelines say you should generally operate only one account |
| Membership in an affiliate program | Pinterest doesn't run one; the program creates your links and pays commission |
| The program's permission to promote on Pinterest | Programs set their own rules on where and how you can share links |
| Products you can recommend honestly | Pinterest asks for affiliate content that is original and adds unique value |
A business account is free and gives you Pinterest Analytics, which shows saves and outbound clicks. Our guide to Pinterest business vs personal accounts shows how to switch.
Step 1: Join an Affiliate Program
Pick a program that sells products your audience already looks for on Pinterest. Before you create any Pins, read the program's terms for:
- whether Pinterest, or social media in general, is an allowed promotion channel
- whether you may link straight to products or must send people to your own website first
- the commission rate, cookie length and payment threshold
- the disclosure wording the program requires
If the program doesn't allow direct affiliate links on social platforms, check whether its terms permit you to send Pinterest visitors to your own product review or guide. Only use that route if the program allows it.
Step 2: Create an Original Pin
Start a Pin as usual by uploading an image or video. Pinterest's creator guide recommends a high-quality image or video that matches what people will see when they click through.
- Show the product clearly and accurately. Use an image or video that matches the product and the destination page. Pinterest recommends high-quality visuals that reflect what people will find after clicking.
- Use the recommended size. Pinterest recommends a 2:3 ratio, such as 1000 x 1500 pixels. See our Pin dimensions guide.
- Make your own visuals where you can. Pinterest's affiliate guidelines ask for content that is original and adds unique value.
Step 3: Add Your Affiliate Link as the Destination
Generate a product link in your affiliate dashboard and paste it into the Pin's destination link field, in place of a regular product URL. Pinterest's creator guide says the link should go directly to a shop's product detail page.
Write a Pin title and description that match the product page and include the words people search for. Our guide to adding keywords on Pinterest shows where, and Pinterest character limits lists how much room you have.
Test the link after publishing. Pinterest says some link shortener services aren't supported, and you can edit a broken link if your Pin's link is blocked.
Step 4: Disclose the Affiliate Link
Pinterest's Commercial and Branded Content Guidelines ask affiliates to be transparent about the commercial nature of their content and about their links. If you're in the European Economic Area, Pinterest requires a clear disclosure on commercial content and asks you to use any functionality it provides, such as a hashtag or a label.
In the US, the Federal Trade Commission's Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers says to disclose a financial relationship with the endorsement itself, so it's hard to miss. It warns that disclosures shown only on a profile page, or hidden behind a "more" click, are likely to be missed, and that a platform's disclosure tool may not be enough on its own.
In practice:
- Make the disclosure easy to notice on the Pin. Put it clearly on the image or prominently near the beginning of the description, where people can see it without expanding hidden text. For video endorsements, the FTC recommends disclosure in the video itself.
- Explain the financial relationship plainly. For example, "I may earn a commission if you buy through this link." Don't rely on "affiliate link" alone or bury the disclosure among hashtags.
- Follow your program's wording too, if it sets one.
Affiliate link vs paid partnership
Pinterest describes a paid partnership as a relationship where a creator promotes a brand or its products because of a material connection with that brand. This can include payment or other forms of compensation. Pinterest requires paid partnerships to disclose their commercial nature, for example with #ad or Pinterest's paid partnership label. Pinterest says the label is added when you publish, from the Pinterest app, and can't be added after the Pin is live. A commission-only affiliate link still needs a clear disclosure, even without a brand deal.
Pinterest's Affiliate Rules at a Glance
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Run one authentic Pinterest account | Use fake accounts to create or save affiliate Pins |
| Make original affiliate content that adds value | Ask people to save your affiliate Pins in exchange for something, or ask them to create Pins containing your affiliate identifier |
| Be clear about your links and how they behave | Publish affiliate Pins repetitively or in large volumes |
| Save to relevant boards | Try to manipulate Pinterest's algorithms or traffic |
Source: Pinterest's Commercial and Branded Content Guidelines. Pinterest says it may remove or limit content or accounts that break these guidelines, and points marketers to its spam policy.
Direct Affiliate Links or Your Own Website?
| Direct affiliate link on the Pin | Pin to your own page | |
|---|---|---|
| What the person sees after clicking | The merchant's product page | Your review, guide or roundup, with affiliate links inside |
| What you need | An affiliate program that allows Pinterest | A website you control, plus the program's permission |
| Where you disclose | Clearly on the Pin | On the Pin when it endorses or commercially promotes the product, and clearly alongside affiliate recommendations on your page |
| Useful when | One product answers the search | People want to compare options or read a review first |
You don't need a blog for affiliate marketing on Pinterest. Your own page can give people more context, and you can claim your website on Pinterest so your Pins are linked to your account.
How to Tell If Your Affiliate Pins Are Working
Pinterest Analytics shows saves and outbound clicks for your Pins. Your affiliate dashboard shows clicks, sales and commission. Compare the two: an outbound click is not a sale, and the numbers won't match exactly because each side counts differently.
Check which topics and Pin styles bring outbound clicks, then make more original Pins in that direction, at a pace that stays well within Pinterest's spam rules. Our Pinterest marketing strategy shows how to set one goal and review it every month.
Where PinEasy Fits
PinEasy reads organic Pin metrics from a connected Pinterest business account, so you can see which Pins earn saves and outbound clicks in one place. PinEasy doesn't track affiliate sales or commissions: those stay in your affiliate program's dashboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put affiliate links on Pinterest?
Yes. Pinterest allows affiliate links in a Pin's destination link. Keep your content original, disclose the link clearly and follow Pinterest's affiliate guidelines and your program's terms.
Do you need a blog for Pinterest affiliate marketing?
No. You can link a Pin directly to a product page with your affiliate link, if your affiliate program allows it. Your own page is optional and can help when people want to compare products first.
How do you disclose affiliate links on Pinterest?
Make the financial relationship clear on the Pin, using wording such as "I may earn a commission if you buy through this link." Put it where people can notice it without expanding hidden text. For a paid brand partnership, follow Pinterest's disclosure rules, including #ad or its paid partnership label where appropriate.
Does Pinterest have its own affiliate program?
No. Pinterest says it isn't part of affiliate agreements. You join a network or merchant program, which creates your links and pays commission under its own terms.
Which affiliate programs work with Pinterest?
Pinterest names Rakuten, LTK, ShopStyle and Amazon Associates US as its official affiliate partners. Other programs may allow Pinterest too; check each program's terms.
Can Pinterest remove affiliate Pins?
Yes. Pinterest may remove or limit content or accounts that break its affiliate and commercial content guidelines, for example by publishing affiliate Pins in large volumes or using fake accounts.
Sources
- Pinterest Policy: Commercial and Branded Content Guidelines
- Pinterest Create: Getting started with affiliate links on Pinterest
- Pinterest Business Help: Paid partnerships for creators
- Pinterest Help: Fix a broken link
- Pinterest Business Help: Claim your website
- FTC: Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers
- FTC: Endorsement Guides - What People Are Asking
Sources checked October 31, 2026.