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What to Take Instead in 2026
I rechecked what is on sale in October 2026. These are the paid options I could confirm, with prices from each vendor's own page. Prices change, so check the page before you pay.
- Project 24 by Income School: $499 for the first year, then $299 per year. Built around YouTube, with blogging as one module.
- Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner: $197, or two payments of $105, with a 30-day refund. The course page lists no SEO module.
- Authority Hacker AI Accelerator: from $99 per month billed yearly, or $149 per month. It teaches AI workflows, not how to build an affiliate site step by step.
Free option: Ahrefs Academy has a free SEO course for beginners (14 lessons, about 2 hours). More in my guide to free affiliate marketing courses.
Prices, who each course fits and the courses that closed are on my best affiliate marketing courses page.
My Original Comparison
As someone who's really into affiliate marketing, I'm always looking for new ways to get better at it and stay on top of things.
A while back, I decided to buy two of the biggest affiliate marketing courses out there: The Affiliate Lab by Matt Diggity and The Authority Site System by Authority Hacker. Both are closed to new students now.
After going through both programs, I learned a ton of things that's helped me make more money from my affiliate sites and get way more traffic from Google.
A lot of people try to say one course is better than the other, but honestly, I found both really useful - though I have to say, I was pretty impressed with how Matt Diggity kept adding new stuff to his course, like the sections on YouTube and Digital PR.
In this comparison, I'll tell you about my experience with both courses and how they compared while they were on sale.
What Was The Affiliate Lab?
The Affiliate Lab was an SEO affiliate marketing course created by Matt Diggity in 2017.
It guided you on how to build affiliate websites that generate income through effective SEO techniques.
The course covered everything from picking profitable niches to optimizing your site for search engines, making it useful for both beginners and experienced marketers.
What set it apart was its focus on SEO methods that had been proven to work in real-world tests.
It had over 4,800 students, which made it a popular program for anyone wanting to succeed in affiliate marketing.
What Was The Authority Site System?
The Authority Site System (TASS) was designed to help you build successful affiliate sites.
Created by Authority Hacker co-founders Mark Webster and Gael Breton, it focused on strategies that were sustainable and future-proof.
TASS walked you through everything from picking a niche to mastering SEO techniques, with clear, easy-to-follow steps.
One of the highlights was the real-world examples, showing how others had built authority sites from scratch.
With regular updates and a supportive community, you were always in the loop with the latest strategies, until Authority Hacker discontinued the course in 2024.
Learning Curve
TASS was great if you were new to affiliate marketing. It walked you through each step, from creating an affiliate link to optimizing your content for search engines.
The Affiliate Lab also worked well for beginners but introduced more technical details earlier on.
If you were starting from scratch, Authority Hacker might feel easier to follow. The Affiliate Lab could feel a bit much for those without prior SEO knowledge, but it offered plenty of helpful content.
Course Layout and Design
Authority Hacker offered a polished, professional feel with smooth videos. The layout was clean and easy to follow, making the learning experience enjoyable.
The Affiliate Lab did not focus as much on style but emphasized getting the material across clearly. The design was simple, but the content was effective and kept up to date.
Both courses focused on providing valuable information, though their production styles varied.
Niche Selection Strategies
The Affiliate Lab course offered in-depth keyword research and niche selection guidance using tools like the LeadSpring Niche Grading Tool.
It was designed to help you identify profitable and rankable niches right from the start.
TASS also covered niche selection, but with a stronger focus on building long-term authority sites that dominate a specific niche.
Back then, if you wanted more granular keyword research strategies and a focus on high-converting niches, my view was that the Affiliate Lab gives you more tools.
Monetization Strategies
Both courses taught effective monetization techniques, but they took different approaches.
TASS focused on using affiliate links to build long-term revenue.
The Affiliate Lab covered multiple monetization methods, including site flipping and advanced SEO affiliate marketing.
If you wanted to explore various revenue streams, The Affiliate Lab provided a wider range of options upfront.
Advanced Techniques for Growth
If you were ready for advanced SEO strategies, The Affiliate Lab offered a wealth of content.
Matt Diggity covered everything from white-hat SEO to grey-hat techniques like Private Blog Networks (PBNs), although these were optional.
TASS kept it strictly white-hat and reserved its most advanced strategies for Authority Hacker Pro.
For those wanting a full arsenal of tactics upfront, The Affiliate Lab delivered more on the advanced front.
Group Support
Both Affiliate Lab and Authority Hacker offered support through private Facebook groups.
The Affiliate Lab group tended to have more discussions about advanced SEO techniques and strategies.
Matt Diggity was an active member and shared insights regularly, making it a solid resource for SEO advice. Authority Hacker's group was also helpful, but Affiliate Lab brought in more real-time updates and shared experiences.
Staying Up-to-Date
Both TASS and The Affiliate Lab kept their content fresh with regular updates while they were on sale.
However, The Affiliate Lab took it a step further by integrating the latest trends, like AI content generation, into its course materials.
While TASS also stayed current, The Affiliate Lab's focus on pushing boundaries with new techniques made it appealing for those who wanted the latest in affiliate SEO.
Practical Application
Both courses excelled in demonstrating practical applications of their taught strategies.
TASS used a dedicated case study site for real-world implementation.
Looking back, the Affiliate Lab provides diverse examples across various niches for broader perspective.
Both approaches effectively helped students apply learned concepts to their own projects.
Price vs. Value
Both courses were priced similarly when discounts were applied.
TASS could appear cheaper upfront, but its advanced content was locked behind Authority Hacker Pro.
The Affiliate Lab gave you everything, including advanced tactics, in its base price.
If you were thinking long-term, both courses offered strong value for their investment.
It came down to whether you wanted all the goodies upfront or were okay with leveling up later.
Bonus Features
TASS offered practical tools like to-do lists and content templates.
These features made the learning process more structured and actionable for beginners.
The Affiliate Lab, however, included unique bonuses like website flipping, YouTube setup, and AI content generation courses.
These additional modules catered to more advanced marketers looking to diversify their skills and income streams.
Long-Term Strategy
TASS focused on building authority sites for sustainable growth.
It was ideal if you were looking to build a long-term presence in your niche.
The Affiliate Lab, on the other hand, offered a more aggressive approach with the option to scale and sell websites.
It even included grey-hat SEO for faster growth, though that wasn't for everyone.
Both courses had their strengths, depending on how fast, or how safe, you wanted to play the game.
So Which Course Should You Take Now?
Back when both were on sale, I thought The Affiliate Lab and TASS were top-notch courses for affiliate marketers. Neither is sold today, so the choice between them is gone.
While free affiliate marketing resources exist, paid courses can offer a depth of knowledge that's worth the money. If you want to buy one today, start with my list of the best affiliate marketing courses. It shows what is still on sale, what it costs and who each course fits.
In short: Project 24 if you also want to build a YouTube channel, Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing if you want the lowest price with a refund guarantee, and Authority Hacker's AI Accelerator if you want AI workflows for content and SEO. None of the three is a direct replacement for The Affiliate Lab or TASS as a full SEO site-building course.
For a deeper look at Matt Diggity's course as it was, read my Affiliate Lab review.
If you already own either course, you keep your access. Authority Hacker says existing members retain access to their course materials.
