If you had told me a decade ago that I’d be making a comfortable six-figure income from my laptop, I probably would’ve laughed. My journey to full-time online entrepreneurship wasn’t a straight line—I tried just about every side hustle you can imagine: dropshipping, freelance gigs, flipping domains, you name it. Some worked, most fizzled out, but every experiment taught me something about what it really takes to build a sustainable online business.
Fast forward to today, and affiliate marketing has become my bread and butter. I’ve invested in countless courses (and wasted money on more than a few), always hunting for that edge to stay ahead in a fiercely competitive landscape. That’s why I was especially curious about Matt Diggity’s Affiliate Lab. With its reputation for being both comprehensive and relentlessly practical, I wanted to see if it truly lives up to the hype—and if it could offer value even to someone who’s already cracked the six-figure mark.
In this review, I’ll share my honest, firsthand experience with Affiliate Lab: what impressed me, where it stands out from the crowd, and whether it’s the right fit for aspiring and seasoned affiliate marketers alike. If you’re serious about building a profitable affiliate business—or just tired of spinning your wheels with mediocre courses—read on.
Table of Contents
What is Affiliate Lab?
Affiliate Lab is a comprehensive affiliate marketing course designed to take you from the basics of building a website all the way to ranking it in Google, monetizing it, and even flipping it for a profit. What sets it apart from the sea of generic “make money online” programs is its step-by-step, data-driven blueprint. The course covers everything you need to know: how to pick a profitable niche, conduct keyword research, build and optimize your site with bulletproof SEO tactics, create content that ranks, and implement conversion strategies that actually turn visitors into commissions.
Matt Diggity, the creator, doesn’t just teach theory—he backs up every strategy with real-world test results from his own portfolio and hundreds of test sites. The curriculum is constantly updated to reflect the latest changes in Google’s algorithms, so you’re not left using outdated tactics. There’s also a strong focus on building sustainable, evergreen sites that can generate passive income for years, or be sold for a significant lump sum if you want to cash out. Whether you want to build a portfolio of niche sites or scale up to authority sites, Affiliate Lab gives you the frameworks, checklists, and community support to make it happen.
Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative
Who Created Affiliate Lab?
Affiliate Lab was created by Matt Diggity, a name that carries serious weight in the SEO and affiliate marketing world. What I respect most about Matt is that he’s not just a course creator—he’s a practitioner first and foremost. Before launching Affiliate Lab, he built and ranked dozens of successful affiliate sites in some of the most competitive niches out there. His reputation is built on results, not hype.
Matt’s background as an engineer shines through in his methodical, process-driven approach. He’s known for relentless testing—running hundreds of experiments to figure out what really works in SEO, then sharing those findings with his students. He’s also the founder of several respected companies in the industry, including Diggity Marketing, LeadSpring, The Search Initiative, and Authority Builders. Matt’s commitment to transparency and sharing proven, actionable strategies is why he’s trusted by both beginners and seasoned pros alike.
Who is Affiliate Lab For?
From my experience, Affiliate Lab is a rare course that genuinely caters to a wide range of people. If you’re a complete beginner who’s never built a website or written a blog post, the course starts with the absolute basics and walks you through every step. The Beginner Lab module is especially helpful for those just starting out, covering everything from niche selection to content creation and basic SEO fundamentals.
But it’s not just for newbies. If you’re already making money online—maybe you’ve dabbled in affiliate marketing, run a few sites, or even work at an agency—Affiliate Lab goes deep into advanced topics like technical SEO audits, conversion rate optimization, scaling content production, and even selling your sites for maximum value. The community is packed with both beginners and experienced marketers, so there’s always someone to bounce ideas off or get feedback from.
In short, Affiliate Lab is perfect for:
- Beginners who want a clear, step-by-step roadmap to their first profitable affiliate site
- Intermediate marketers looking to scale up, diversify income, or flip sites for big exits
- Agencies and freelancers seeking to add affiliate marketing as a revenue stream
- Anyone serious about building sustainable, SEO-driven online businesses—not just chasing the latest fad or loophole.
If you’re ready to put in the work and follow a proven system, Affiliate Lab gives you everything you need to succeed.
Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative
How is Affiliate Lab Structured?
When I first logged into Affiliate Lab, I was honestly impressed by how methodically the course is laid out. Matt Diggity doesn’t just throw a bunch of videos at you—he’s broken everything down into logical, actionable modules that walk you through the entire process of building, ranking, monetizing, and even flipping affiliate sites.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what you’ll find inside:
- Core Training: The heart of the course, with 34 modules covering everything from niche selection and keyword research to onsite and offsite SEO, technical audits, and conversion optimization.
- The Beginner’s Lab: A dedicated section for absolute beginners, ensuring you’re not left behind if you’re new to affiliate marketing.
- Website Flipping Masterclass: Deep dives into how to prepare your site for sale and maximize exit value.
- Featured Snippets Masterclass: Strategies for grabbing those coveted “position zero” spots in Google.
- CRO Masterclass: Advanced lessons on boosting your conversion rates and turning more traffic into commissions.
- Authority Site Module: How to scale from small niche sites to larger, more profitable authority sites.
- Outreach Masterclass: Proven tactics for building high-quality backlinks through effective outreach.
- Affiliate Email Marketing Masterclass: How to leverage email for even more affiliate revenue.
- AI Content Generation Playbook: Up-to-date strategies for scaling content creation with AI tools.
- Topical Authority Masterclass: Building topical authority to future-proof your sites.
- Downloadable SOPs and Checklists: Plug-and-play templates for every stage of the process.
- Private Community Access: A mastermind Facebook group where you can ask questions, get feedback, and network with other members.
The course is constantly updated with new strategies and modules, so you’re always learning the latest techniques that are working right now.
Are Affiliate Lab Students Getting Results?
One thing I always look for in a course is real student success—not just marketing hype. Affiliate Lab delivers here, and the community is full of people sharing genuine wins.
Here are a few standout stories I’ve come across:
“Buying The Affiliate Lab was the best business decision I’ve ever made. The blueprint, tactics, and community helped me build this very site you’re reading now. It gave me my freedom back and connected me to some of my best friends—Matt and Jay included.”
— Real student review
“Take Duc – not much experience, no budget, and a bit hesitant to try to build a site with Matt’s advice. Boom. 11.3k traffic in 4 months. Do you know how much this will be worth if it already has 11k+ traffic?” — Community testimonial
“How about Adrian here? He made $150k thanks to Matt and The Affiliate Lab. Csaba is killing it, too.” — Community testimonial
The private mastermind group is packed with nearly 4,800 members, and it’s not just a bragging board—people actively help each other, share what’s working, and celebrate each other’s milestones. I’ve personally seen students go from zero to earning four and even five figures a month, and a few have flipped their sites for six-figure exits. That kind of transparency and support is rare in this industry.
Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative
How Much Does Affiliate Lab Cost?
Let’s talk investment. Affiliate Lab is a premium course, and as of now, the standard price is a one-time payment of $997, or you can opt for two payments of $597 if you prefer to split it up. Occasionally, there are discounts available—sometimes as much as $200 off during special promotions.
Here’s what you get for your money:
- Lifetime access to all core training and bonus modules
- Access to the exclusive mastermind community
- All future updates and new modules at no extra cost
Refund Policy:
Now, this is important—Affiliate Lab does not offer a refund policy. Once you’re in, you’re committed. Matt’s reasoning is to protect the integrity of the course and prevent abuse (like people copying the material and asking for refunds), but it does mean you should be sure before you buy. For me, the value was obvious, but if you’re on the fence or not ready to take action, this is something to consider.
Praises For Affiliate Lab
After spending significant time inside Affiliate Lab and putting its strategies into practice, there are several standout strengths that make this course a top recommendation in my book:
Tested, Data-Driven SEO Methods
What really sets Affiliate Lab apart is that Matt Diggity doesn’t just teach theory—he rigorously tests every strategy on hundreds of sites before adding it to the curriculum. This means you’re getting up-to-date, proven tactics that work in the real world, not recycled advice or outdated “hacks”.Comprehensive, Step-by-Step Training
The course covers every aspect of building, ranking, and monetizing affiliate sites, from niche selection to advanced conversion rate optimization and even site flipping. The modules are logically organized and easy to follow, so you always know what to do next—no more piecing together random YouTube videos or blog posts.Constant Updates and Evergreen Content
SEO is always changing, and Affiliate Lab keeps up. Matt regularly updates the course with new modules and strategies, especially when Google rolls out major algorithm changes or new trends like AI content emerge. This ensures you’re always ahead of the curve while competitors are scrambling to catch up.Supportive, Active Community
The private mastermind group is one of the best I’ve joined. It’s full of helpful, motivated members at every level, and Matt himself is active in the discussions. Whether you’re stuck on a technical issue or need feedback on your site, you’ll find support and honest advice. The sense of community makes a huge difference, especially if you’re building sites on your own.Unique, Advanced Tactics
Even as someone with years of experience, I found plenty of “golden nuggets” in the course—like Matt’s featured snippet hijacking methods, advanced CRO tips, and the custom-built niche grading tool. These are strategies I haven’t seen anywhere else, and they’ve made a measurable difference in my results.Real Student Success Stories
The course isn’t just hype—there are countless testimonials from students who’ve grown their traffic, increased their affiliate earnings, or flipped sites for five- and six-figure exits. I’ve personally seen my sites grow faster and more profitably since applying what I learned here.
Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative
Criticisms For Affiliate Lab
While Affiliate Lab is easily one of the best investments I’ve made in my online business, it’s not without its drawbacks. Here are the main criticisms I’ve encountered and experienced:
No Refund Policy
This is the biggest sticking point for many. Once you buy, there are no refunds—period. Matt’s reasoning is to prevent abuse and protect his intellectual property, but it does mean you need to be sure before committing. If you’re on the fence or not ready to take action, this could be a dealbreaker.Overwhelming Amount of Content
The sheer volume of material can be daunting, especially for beginners. There’s a lot to absorb, and some students might feel lost or overwhelmed at first. The step-by-step structure helps, but you’ll need to pace yourself and avoid trying to implement everything at once.Production Value is Basic
If you’re expecting flashy, high-budget video production, you might be disappointed. Most of the lessons are straightforward screen shares with Matt explaining concepts and showing examples. Personally, I care more about substance than style, but it’s worth noting if you prefer a more polished presentation.Additional Recommended Tools Can Add Up
While the course itself is a one-time payment, Matt recommends several paid SEO tools (like Ahrefs, SurferSEO, etc.) for keyword research, audits, and content optimization. These aren’t strictly required, but having them does make implementation smoother—and the costs can add up if you’re on a tight budget.Not Entirely Beginner-Friendly
Despite the Beginner’s Lab, some absolute beginners may still find the learning curve steep, especially if they’ve never built a website or worked with SEO before. The community helps bridge this gap, but you’ll need patience and persistence to get up to speed.
Despite these criticisms, I still believe Affiliate Lab offers tremendous value—especially for those who are ready to put in the work and treat affiliate marketing like a real business. The pros far outweigh the cons for me, and the results speak for themselves.
Should You Join Affiliate Lab?
After going through Affiliate Lab myself and seeing the results firsthand, I can confidently say it’s one of the most complete, actionable affiliate marketing courses available today. If you’re serious about building a profitable affiliate site—whether you’re a total beginner or already have some experience—this course gives you a proven, step-by-step roadmap. The training is incredibly thorough, covering everything from niche selection to advanced SEO and even site flipping. You also get access to a mastermind community that’s genuinely helpful, not just a dead forum or a sales pitch in disguise.
That said, Affiliate Lab isn’t for everyone. The course is intense and requires real commitment. If you’re looking for a quick fix or aren’t ready to invest time and effort, you’ll probably feel overwhelmed. There’s also no refund policy, so you need to be sure you’re ready to dive in before you enroll. But if you’re willing to follow the process and put in the work, I genuinely believe you’ll put yourself ahead of 99% of aspiring affiliate marketers. The strategies inside have helped me grow my income, and I’ve seen countless others in the community achieve the same.
Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative
Affiliate Lab Alternative
If you’re not quite ready for the deep dive that Affiliate Lab demands, or if you’re looking for a more beginner-friendly, all-in-one platform, Wealthy Affiliate is hands-down the best alternative I’ve found. Wealthy Affiliate has been around since 2005 and is known for its step-by-step training, website hosting, keyword research tools, and a massive, active community. You can get started for free with their Starter Plan, which includes basic training and two websites, making it a great option if you want to test the waters without a big upfront investment.
What I like about Wealthy Affiliate is how accessible it is for complete beginners. The platform guides you through building your first website, understanding SEO, and creating content that attracts visitors. The community is always active, with live chat, private messaging, and regular webinars, so you’re never left on your own. Their Premium plan unlocks more advanced features, including up to 50 websites, higher payouts, and unlimited coaching, all for a monthly fee.
If you’re ready to go all-in and want the most advanced, up-to-date SEO training, Affiliate Lab is my top pick. But if you’re just starting out, want a lower barrier to entry, or prefer an all-in-one platform with hosting and tools included, Wealthy Affiliate is a fantastic way to begin your affiliate marketing journey.
Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative
Anthony Smith is an internet entrepreneur. He created the Side Hustle Ideas Database to help people find side hustles for making extra money, with the potential of turning into a full-time income.
After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a business degree, he gained business experience at a consulting firm. At the same time, he tried various side hustles including freelance writing, blogging, and eCommerce. He managed to turn his side hustles into a full-time business, earning over $3 million. Now, he enjoys financial freedom and travels around the world as a digital nomad.