The rules around using Amazon product images on your site are confusing and have changed more than once. Not to mention, the consequences for getting it wrong are real.

So, let me break down what’s allowed, what’s changed, and how to get the freshest Amazon product images on your blog (with zero code required).

Can Amazon affiliates use product images?

If you're in the Amazon Associates program, you can use Amazon product images on your blog.

But you can’t just screenshot them, download them, or host Amazon affiliate images on your site yourself. That goes against Amazon’s rules and puts your affiliate account at risk.

Amazon requires that all product images be served through their official API. That means the image comes directly from Amazon's servers, stays current, and automatically updates if the product listing changes.

📸 Your own photos are fine. If you have a shot of yourself using the French press you're reviewing, use it throughout your post. Original photos add personality and credibility — it's literally you using the product you're linking to. And that's an A+ for authenticity.

What changed: SiteStripe, the PA API, and the Creators API

Amazon has changed its image policy twice in recent years. And both times left a lot of bloggers scrambling.

December 2023: Amazon discontinued static image links from SiteStripe. Any image embeds created through SiteStripe stopped working. If you added Amazon images before that date and never updated them, those images are broken on your site right now.

January 31, 2025: Amazon retired the Product Advertising API (PA API) entirely and replaced it with the Amazon Creators API. If you set up Amazon image automation before this date, your credentials no longer work. Images won't update automatically until you switch to the new Creators API credentials.

If you're seeing missing Amazon images across your posts, this is likely the culprit.

Requirements to get Amazon Creators API access

Not every Amazon Associate can access the Creators API right away.

To qualify for the Creators API, you need to (per Amazon documentation):

  • Be enrolled in the Amazon Associates program for your target marketplace
  • Have a minimum of 10 qualifying sales within the past 30 days to access the PA API through the Creators API
  • Register for API access through Associates Central
  • Generate API credentials
  • See Register for Creators API for detailed instructions.

New to Amazon Associates and not there yet? You can still use Tasty Links for text-only affiliate links while you build up your qualifying sales. More on that below.

Once you have Creators API access, the setup is quick. Now you just need a simple way to get those images on your site.

Tasty Links (our WordPress link plugin) connects to the Amazon Creators API and pulls product images automatically.

It's the perfect plugin for managing your Amazon affiliate links. Tasty Links makes it easy for you to connect your Amazon Creators API to your website. No HTML code or headaches!

You'll need version 1.6 or higher to use the Creators API. Grab your subscription, install the plugin, and activate your license key under WP Tasty in your dashboard.

Once Tasty Links is activated, you're ready to go!

Need more help? Follow our easy-to-use support doc for getting Tasty Links up and running!

Step 2: Get your Amazon Creators API Credentials

If you're using text-only links, then you don't need Amazon API keys. But to add Amazon product images from Amazon, you must get your API keys and enter them in Tasty Links.

First, log in to your Amazon affiliate account. Click the hamburger menu → Tools. Then, find your Creators API credentials on that page.

You'll need four things: Credential ID, Secret, Version, and your Amazon Store ID.

Once you have them, go to WP Tasty → Tasty Links → Settings and enter your Credential ID, Secret, Version, and Amazon Store ID. Then, hit Save.

Where to add your Amazon Associates Creator API details in Tasty Links. There a lines to input: Credential ID, Secret, Version, and Amazon Store ID

For the full walkthrough with screenshots, see the Tasty Links Amazon setup guide in our support docs.

From WP Tasty → Tasty Links → Links, click the Add Amazon Link button. Then, it's a few quick clicks:

  1. Paste your SiteStripe text link.
  2. Add the keyword (or keywords) that you want your affiliate link to be associated with.
  3. Paste your copied Amazon link in the Link section.
  4. Adjust your link settings and save your link.

Tasty Links pulls the product image automatically.

Tasty Links can automatically pull Amazon affiliate product images to your site.

That's it! Tasty Links imports the product photos for you (with the Creator Credentials)!

From there, your text link will show up automatically whenever you use that keyword in a post.

Where to use Amazon product images on your blog

Once your product image is ready, you might wonder…”Okay, but where should it go?” 💭

Here are two spots in blog posts where they do the most work.

1. For food bloggers — your recipe card’s equipment section. It’s perfect for showing tools you used, like your go-to baking dish or trusty pizza cutter. Readers can see the product and buy it in one click.

An image showing Amazon affiliate images in a Tasty Recipes recipe card equipment section

2. A featured link block – Great for gift guides, product roundups, and anywhere you want a product to stand out. The image and link together are far more clickable than a text link alone.

An image showing how to get Amazon product images on your website as clickable product images that take you to Amazon shopping via affilaite link.

Both options keep things looking clean and organized, while still making your affiliate links easy to spot and easy to click.

What if you don't have API access yet?

Text-only links still work and still earn commissions.

Tasty Links doesn't require API credentials for adding Amazon affiliate links to WordPress. There are also plenty of alternative affiliate programs out there beyond Amazon.

In the meantime, set up your Amazon affiliate keywords in Tasty Links — product names, brand names, ingredient brands you link to regularly — and every mention of that keyword across your site automatically becomes an affiliate link. No Creator API needed.

Once you hit the qualifying sales threshold and get API access, adding images to those existing links is a one-time update.

Amazon product image FAQs

Can I use product images from Amazon?

Yes, as long as you're using the Creators API. Screenshots, downloads, and edited versions of Amazon's images violate their program policies. Tasty Links takes care of this the right way through the API.

How do I get images for Amazon affiliate links?

Through the Amazon Creators API and an Amazon affiliate plugin like Tasty Links. Connect your credentials, paste your product link, and the image pulls automatically. If you don't have API access yet, text-only links work in the meantime.

My Amazon affiliate images are broken or not showing — what happened?

Two likely causes: SiteStripe image links stopped working in December 2023, and the PA API was retired on January 31, 2025. If you set up Amazon image integration before either of those dates, you'll need to update your setup. See our Amazon Creators API setup guide for the fix.

Are text links better than image links?

Text links blend into content naturally. Image links are more eye-catching and typically drive higher click rates. The best approach is usually both: auto-linked text keywords throughout your post, plus a featured link block or equipment section for key products.

What's the best plugin for Amazon affiliate images on WordPress?

Tasty Links was built specifically for bloggers who want to stay compliant without dealing with the tech headaches. It connects to the Creators API, pulls product images automatically, handles broken link detection, and manages all your affiliate keywords in one place.

Keep your affiliate links clean and compliant

Amazon's rules change. Links break. Products go out of stock.

Tasty Links keeps up with all of it — broken link alerts, automatic image updates through the Creators API, built-in disclosures, and keyword auto-linking that works across every post on your site.

Set it up once. Then go back to creating.

If you found this post helpful, we’d love to keep sharing our best tips with you!

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If you have any questions, please check out our support docs to help or contact our support team!