Getting started with affiliate marketing can feel like jumping into the deep end if you’re new, but the Wealthy Affiliate Starter membership makes things a lot easier. This introductory plan gives you a clear path, real tools, and a friendly community that can help even beginners explore how to build an online business from scratch. I’ve put together this guide to walk you through what’s inside the Starter membership, how it works, the pros and cons, and what you should know upfront, all based on my firsthand experience and deep dives into the platform.
What is the Wealthy Affiliate Starter Membership?
The Wealthy Affiliate Starter membership is a free entry-level plan offered by Wealthy Affiliate, a popular name in affiliate marketing training that’s been around since 2005. The Starter plan is created for those who want to get their feet wet without spending any money up front. With the latest updates, members now have more flexibility to explore the platform, test the website building tools, and sample the training before ever worrying about upgrades.
This plan is ideal if you’re brand new to making money online or still figuring out if affiliate marketing is right for you. It covers the basics, like how affiliate marketing works, ways to pick your niche, and the steps to create your first website—often in under an hour. No credit card is required to sign up, which is pretty handy if you’re not ready to commit financially. Wealthy Affiliate does update what’s included now and then, so I always recommend checking their official Starter membership page for the most current info.
Main Features of the Starter Membership
Wealthy Affiliate’s Starter membership packs a lot in for a free plan. Here are the core features you’ll stumble upon inside:
- Level 1 Online Entrepreneur Certification: The first ten lessons of the core training. These take you from choosing your interest or niche to building your first simple affiliate website and getting a sense of getting visitors.
- Level 1 Affiliate Bootcamp: Another set of ten lessons focused on promoting Wealthy Affiliate itself. This is optional, but a lot of newbies like having a clear blueprint to follow.
- Free Website Builder: You can build and host one WordPress site completely free. Hosting is managed by WA so you don’t need technical skills. This is perfect for practicing and experimenting.
- Website Security: Free SSL (for site security), automated backups, and spam protection included on your Starter site, so you’re not exposed to the usual risks of running a website.
- Community Access: Starter members can interact with the community, ask questions, get feedback, and chat with other beginners. This access is a little limited compared to Premium users but still super useful if you need fast answers.
- Research Tools: Basic access to Jaaxy keyword research tool is included, but some advanced features are exclusive to higher tiers now.
Wealthy Affiliate regularly puts out updates for these features. As of 2024, Starter members also get to test drive WA’s SiteContent writing tool, though there’s a cap on monthly usage. They also have access to some new experimental tools, giving members a taste of what’s coming next without any pressure to commit.
Breaking Down the Training and Website Tools
The training inside Wealthy Affiliate is one thing I like most about the Starter plan. It’s all video based, step by step stuff that holds your hand but lets you move at your own pace. There’s a big focus on actually doing, not just sitting through lectures. Plus, the teaching style is intentionally beginner friendly, with plenty of real world examples.
- Step by Step Lessons: Each lesson gives you information, then actionable tasks. For example, you might watch a video on choosing a niche, then immediately use a brainstorming tool to narrow down your ideas.
- Live Help (Limited Hours): For the first week, you get live chat support each day, letting you get personal help while you get settled in. After the week, you’ll still have access to public forums and community help, though direct chat is limited.
- Website Builder: Building your first site is straightforward thanks to their guided process. The platform walks you through picking a domain (uses a free .siterubix.com subdomain for Starter members), picking a theme, and filling in the basics.
The tools might not have every premium feature, but for learning the basics, they’re userfriendly and practical. If you decide to upgrade later, anything you build as a Starter member stays with your account, so you’re not wasting your early efforts.
Besides that, you get to try their keyword research tool Jaaxy, get a peek at how to create good content, and see what makes a successful affiliate website tick. It’s all meant to make the learning curve feel much less steep, even if tech isn’t your strong suit.
Pros and Cons of the Starter Membership
I’ve noticed a few clear upsides and downsides when using the Starter plan. Here’s what stood out to me, and it’s important to set expectations as you progress:
- Upfront:
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- No upfront costs. You can walk away any time.
- Super beginner-friendly and walks you through absolutely everything step by step.
- An active and supportive community to answer your questions quickly.
- Lets you test drive building a website totally free.
- Transparent, so you always know what comes with a paid plan.
- After Your Test Drive, Prior to Upgrading:
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- Some pretty sharp restrictions, especially after the first seven days. Many higher-level features (like unlimited keyword research or advanced classes) require upgrading.
- You get just one website on a siterubix.com subdomain (custom domains require upgrading).
- Community interactions are limited after the trial period, so you won’t be able to use private messaging or full live chat.
- Training stops after level one, so if you want super detailed guidance, you’ll need to consider upgrading.
The Newest Updates to Wealthy Affiliate Starter
Wealthy Affiliate updates its Starter features at least once a year. Over the last few years, these changes have focused on keeping new members extra secure and giving them more chances to check out the platform’s strengths:
- Increased Focus on User Security: Starter websites now come standard with SSL, site protection, and daily backups. These extras were not always included, so it’s a big improvement for peace of mind.
- Improved Training Modules: Lessons have been redone recently with updated techniques and SEO best practices so new members always learn what’s current.
- More Access to Beta Features: Starter users can try out some of the latest tool launches before they get rolled out to Premium, including new AI writing assistants, though there’s a usage limit to keep things fair.
- New Design and Dashboard: The Starter platform just got a visual upgrade with easier menus and more eye catching layouts, helping people avoid overwhelm.
The Starter plan, however, doesn’t include Private Messaging after the first week, and some top classes and webinars are only for Premium. So, you can learn the basics, but you’ll know exactly where the edges are and when you might want to switch up to more features.
For 2024, feedback from users has led to even more step by step guides and tutorial walkthroughs, making the learning curve much smoother. The leadership team regularly polls users to get a feel for ways to make the free tier valuable without giving everything away, so Starter users still get that “leg up” without feeling pressured.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of the Starter Plan
From my experience, having some kind of game plan makes a huge difference. Here are a few things I’ve seen really work for newcomers who want early results:
- Set aside learning time: The lessons are short, but steady effort always wins. Even just fifteen to thirty minutes daily builds solid traction in a week or two.
- Ask questions right away: The live chat is your secret weapon for real time help while it’s available. Don’t hesitate—folks are friendly and quick to reply.
- Build your first site fast: Even if you’re nervous about your topic, get it live. You can always change your mind and start over, but the practice is what matters most.
- Take notes and bookmark as you go: Wealthy Affiliate’s platform is content rich and you’ll want to revisit key lessons as you grow.
One extra tip: spend a little time checking out what others are building, too. The public site showcase threads can be inspiring and give you practical ideas for naming, niches, and even designs.
Things to Consider Before Using Wealthy Affiliate Starter
Like any online learning platform, you’ll want to mull over a few basic points before signing up:
- How much support do you need? If you think you’ll want someone there every step, remember that Starter’s help features taper off after week one.
- How dedicated are you? Building an affiliate site—even with clear training—takes patience and sticktoitiveness. The Starter plan lets you test the process, but growing a steady business takes grit.
- Have you brainstormed your niche? The first training lessons walk you through niche selection, but doing a bit of thinking ahead helps you hit the ground running. The more clarity you have when you start, the faster you’ll see progress.
Keep in mind, too, that not every niche is created equal. Some ideas are super competitive, while others have more room to stand out. Don’t be afraid to get creative and look for gaps in the market where you could shine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Wealthy Affiliate Starter membership really free?
Yes, you can join and use the included features for as long as you like; there’s no trial clock and no payment info needed. If you want to upgrade, that’s up to you.
Can I make money on the free Starter plan?
You can set up a website and learn the basics of affiliate marketing. Making serious revenue will require more advanced features and longer training, but early wins are possible if you’re creative and focused.
Do I have to upgrade to Premium?
No, there’s no pushy upselling. Most users try out Starter, see if it sparks their interest, and then decide if they want to pay for more.
What if I want to transfer my website later?
Your .siterubix.com website is yours if you upgrade. If you want a custom domain name, you’ll need to hop to the Premium level. Either way, nothing you start is lost.
Final Thoughts
The Wealthy Affiliate Starter membership gives you solid tools, strong support, and a risk-free way to test affiliate marketing. If you want to check out the basics, build your first site, and see whether online business could be your thing, it’s well worth a look.
I’ve seen plenty of beginners use this as a launchpad for their own web adventures. With the Starter plan, you’re only risking some free time, but you get an honest taste of what it takes to build something real online. Bottom line: It’s a quality place to start for any curious beginner. I’ll wrap this page up with a memory–at the end of my first seven days, a massive wave of panic swept over me! Do I upgrade? After about 4 nano-seconds of thought, I upgraded…and here I am. The water is fine, jump in!