Effective Date: March 2026
TL;DR Summary
Tools Reviews Hub participates in affiliate marketing programs. When you click links on our site and make purchases, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support our website and allows us to continue providing free content. This does NOT influence our editorial content or reviews. We recommend products because we believe they offer value, not because we're paid to promote them.
FTC Disclosure Requirement
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires websites to disclose affiliate relationships to consumers. This disclosure is provided in accordance with FTC guidelines (16 CFR Part 255). Our disclosure appears on this dedicated page, in our website footer, and near affiliate links where appropriate.
What this means for you: You have the right to know when content contains affiliate links so you can make informed decisions about the products you purchase.
What Is Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing is a business model where publishers (like us) earn commissions by promoting products or services from other companies. Here's how it works in simple terms:
- We create content about software products (reviews, comparisons, guides)
- We include links to those products using special tracking codes
- When you click a link and make a purchase, the vendor tracks the sale back to us
- The vendor pays us a commission (typically 5-50% of the sale price)
- You pay the same price—the commission comes from the vendor's profit margin
This model allows us to provide free, high-quality content while earning revenue from companies rather than charging readers directly.
How Affiliate Links Work
When you click an affiliate link on our website, the process looks like this:
| Step | What Happens | What You See |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Click | You click a link with our affiliate tracking code | Normal click—nothing different |
| 2. Track | Vendor records that you came from our site | Cookie set on your browser |
| 3. Shop | You browse and shop normally on the vendor's site | Same shopping experience |
| 4. Purchase | If you buy within the cookie window, we earn commission | Same checkout process, same price |
| 5. Complete | Vendor pays us commission from their margin | You pay nothing extra |
Cookie Windows Explained
Affiliate programs use "cookie windows" to track purchases:
- Amazon Associates: 24-hour cookie (purchase must be made within 24 hours)
- Most SaaS Programs: 30-90 day cookies
- Some Programs: First-click attribution (we get credit if you clicked our link first)
If you click our link but purchase later, we may not earn commission depending on the cookie window. This is why we encourage purchases through our links if you found our content helpful.
Affiliate Programs We Participate In
Tools Reviews Hub participates in the following affiliate programs:
Amazon Associates Program
Tools Reviews Hub is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of the product.
SaaS Affiliate Programs
We participate in affiliate programs for various software companies, including but not limited to:
| Category | Example Programs | Typical Commission |
|---|---|---|
| Email Marketing | Klaviyo, Mailchimp, ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign, AWeber | 15-30% recurring |
| CRM Software | HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, Zoho CRM | 10-20% recurring |
| Project Management | Asana, Monday, ClickUp, Notion, Trello | 15-25% recurring |
| SEO Tools | Semrush, Ahrefs, Moz, SE Ranking | 15-30% recurring |
| Accounting | QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks, Wave | 10-20% recurring |
| Web Hosting | Bluehost, SiteGround, Hostinger, WP Engine | $50-150 per sale |
| VPN Services | ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, CyberGhost | 35-50% per sale |
| AI Tools | Jasper, Copy.ai, ChatGPT Plus, Claude | 15-30% recurring |
Note: This list is not exhaustive. We participate in many affiliate programs, and the specific programs and commission rates change over time. Commission rates shown are typical ranges and may vary.
How This Affects You
What DOESN'T Change
- Price: You pay the same price whether you use our link or go directly
- Product: You get the exact same product from the same vendor
- Reviews: Our reviews remain honest and unbiased
- Ratings: Our ratings reflect genuine opinions, not commission rates
- Recommendations: We recommend products based on merit, not payouts
What DOES Change
- Support: Using our links helps support our website at no cost to you
- Transparency: You know when links are affiliate links
- Choice: You can make an informed decision about using our links
Our Commitment to Editorial Independence
We take editorial independence seriously. Here's how we maintain honest reviews:
Our Editorial Principles
- No Paid Reviews: We do NOT accept payment for positive reviews
- Honest Ratings: We highlight both pros and cons of every product
- Independent Research: Our recommendations are based on genuine testing and analysis
- Transparent Disclosure: We clearly identify affiliate links and partnerships
- Reader-First Approach: We recommend what's best for readers, not what pays the most
How We Prevent Conflicts of Interest
| Conflict Risk | Our Safeguard |
|---|---|
| High commission could bias reviews | Reviews written before checking affiliate availability |
| Vendor pressure for favorable coverage | No editorial input from business team |
| Competing products with different commissions | Ratings based on objective criteria, not commission rates |
| Negative reviews hurting relationships | We publish honest reviews regardless of affiliate status |
What We Do When a Product is Bad
If we review a product and find it has significant issues, we:
- Report those issues honestly in our review
- Give the product a low rating if warranted
- Recommend alternatives that are genuinely better
- May still include affiliate links (labeled) so readers can verify themselves
- Won't promote a bad product just for commission
Non-Affiliate Content
Not all content on Tools Reviews Hub includes affiliate links. Some articles and reviews may not have any affiliate relationship at all. In those cases:
- We provide information purely for educational purposes
- We may not earn any revenue from that content directly
- We still maintain the same editorial standards and honesty
- Links may be informational only, not affiliate links
Where You'll See Affiliate Links
We use affiliate links throughout our website, including:
- Product Review Pages: Links to product websites and pricing pages
- Comparison Tables: "Visit Site" buttons and product links
- Buying Guides: Product recommendations with purchase links
- Top 10 Lists: Ranking pages with affiliate links to each product
- In-Article Links: Contextual links within articles and tutorials
- Banner Ads: Display advertisements from affiliate networks
How to Identify Affiliate Links
While not every link on our site is an affiliate link, here's how to identify them:
- Link Structure: Affiliate links often contain tracking parameters (e.g., "?ref=", "/ref/", "/aff/", special codes)
- Redirects: Some links may redirect through affiliate networks before reaching the final destination
- Disclosure Statements: Some pages include "This page contains affiliate links" notices
- Button Text: Buttons like "Get Started" or "Visit Site" are often affiliate links
Assumption: For simplicity, you can assume that most product links on our site are affiliate links. If you prefer not to use affiliate links, you can navigate directly to the vendor's website.
Amazon-Specific Disclosure
As required by Amazon's Operating Agreement, we provide the following disclosure:
"As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites."
FTC Compliance Details
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires websites to disclose affiliate relationships. This disclosure is provided in accordance with FTC guidelines (16 CFR Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising).
Our Disclosure Appears:
- On this dedicated Affiliate Disclosure page
- In the footer of every page on our website
- Near affiliate links where contextually appropriate
- In review articles that contain affiliate links
FTC Guidelines We Follow:
- Clear and Conspicuous: Disclosures are easy to see and understand
- Proximity: Disclosures appear near affiliate links
- Truthful: We only recommend products we genuinely believe in
- No Deception: We don't hide our affiliate relationships
- Endorsement Standards: Our opinions reflect genuine beliefs
Frequently Asked Questions
Does affiliate revenue influence your reviews?
No. Our editorial team operates independently from our commercial partnerships. We recommend products based on genuine research, testing, and analysis—not because we're paid to promote them. If a product has issues or limitations, we report them honestly, even if we have an affiliate relationship with that vendor.
Do I pay more when using affiliate links?
No. The price you pay is exactly the same whether you use our affiliate links or go directly to the vendor's website. The commission comes from the vendor's profit margin, not from your wallet. You pay nothing extra.
How can I support Tools Reviews Hub?
If you find our content helpful and plan to purchase a product we've reviewed, using our affiliate links is a great way to support us at no extra cost to you. Simply click our link before making your purchase. This helps us continue creating free, high-quality content.
What if I don't want to use affiliate links?
That's completely fine! You can navigate directly to any vendor's website without using our links. You'll pay the same price and get the same product. We respect your choice either way.
Do you review products without affiliate links?
Yes. We review products based on merit and reader interest, not just affiliate availability. Some products we review don't have affiliate programs, and we still cover them because they're relevant to our readers.
How do you choose which products to recommend?
We choose products based on quality, features, value, and relevance to our readers. Commission rates do NOT influence our recommendations. We often recommend products with lower commissions (or no affiliate program) over higher-paying alternatives because they're genuinely better for our readers.
Can vendors pay for better reviews?
No. We do NOT accept payment for positive reviews, period. Vendors can provide products for testing, but they cannot buy good ratings. If we review a product negatively, vendors cannot "fix" it with payment. Our reviews are honest and independent.
Changes to This Disclosure
We may update this Affiliate Disclosure from time to time. Changes may include:
- Adding new affiliate programs
- Updating commission structure descriptions
- Clarifying disclosure language
- Adding new disclosure locations
Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this disclosure periodically.
Questions or Concerns?
If you have questions about our affiliate relationships or this disclosure, please contact us:
Tools Reviews Hub
Email: disclosures@toolreviewshub.com
Website: Contact Form
We're committed to transparency and happy to answer any questions about how we operate.
Related Policies
- Privacy Policy - How we handle your data
- Terms of Service - Rules for using our website
- About Us - Learn about our mission and values