- We earn commissions when you purchase tools through our links
- You pay the exact same price - commissions come from vendors, not you
- Affiliate partnerships never influence our ratings or recommendations
- We only recommend tools we've actually tested and believe in
- We're transparent because trust matters more than clicks
01 What Are Affiliate Links?
An affiliate link is a special URL that tracks when someone clicks through from our site to a vendor's website. If you make a purchase after clicking one of our links, we may earn a small commission from the vendor.
You'll find affiliate links throughout our site, including:
- Tool review pages - Links to try or purchase reviewed tools
- Comparison guides - Links to tools being compared
- Blog posts - Links to tools mentioned in tutorials and guides
- Pricing tables - Links to vendor pricing pages
Per FTC guidelines, we disclose affiliate relationships prominently because we believe transparency builds trust. We'd rather you know exactly how our business works.
02 How We Earn Money
AI Productivity is funded primarily through affiliate commissions. Here's exactly how it works:
| What Happens | What We Earn |
|---|---|
| You click an affiliate link | Nothing - clicks don't earn us money |
| You sign up for a free trial | Sometimes a small commission, depends on program |
| You purchase a paid plan | Commission (typically 15-30% of first payment) |
| You renew your subscription | Usually nothing - most programs are first-purchase only |
What We Don't Do
- We don't sell your data or personal information
- We don't accept payment for favorable reviews
- We don't run intrusive ads that interrupt your reading
- We don't create fake urgency or manipulative marketing
03 Editorial Independence
This is the most important part of our disclosure. Please read it carefully.
Affiliate relationships never influence our ratings, recommendations, or reviews. We choose what to recommend first, then check if an affiliate program exists - not the other way around.
How We Maintain Independence
- Research comes first - We evaluate tools through documentation, demos, user reviews, and hands-on trials where possible
- Ratings are earned - High commissions don't mean high ratings
- Negative reviews happen - We've published critical reviews of tools with generous affiliate programs
- No pay-for-placement - Companies cannot pay to appear in our guides or comparisons
- Honest cons - Every review includes genuine drawbacks, even for tools we recommend
Proof of independence: We recommend several tools that have no affiliate program at all. We feature them because they're genuinely useful, knowing we'll earn nothing if you choose them.
Why This Matters to You
Our business model only works if you trust our recommendations. If we steered you toward inferior tools just because they pay more, you'd stop trusting us - and rightfully so. Honest recommendations are both the right thing to do and the only sustainable business strategy.
04 Affiliate Programs We Use
For transparency, here are the types of affiliate arrangements we participate in:
| Program Type | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Direct Affiliate Programs | Partnerships directly with AI tool companies |
| Affiliate Networks | Platforms that manage multiple brand partnerships |
| Referral Programs | User referral programs offered by some tools |
Not every tool we review has an affiliate program. When we recommend a tool without an affiliate relationship, we note that we won't earn commission - but recommend it anyway because it's genuinely good.
05 What You Pay
Let's be crystal clear about pricing:
You pay the exact same price whether you use our affiliate link or go directly to the vendor's website. Our commission comes from the vendor's marketing budget, not from your pocket.
In fact, we often negotiate exclusive discounts for our readers. When we have a special offer, we'll clearly display it - and you'll actually pay less than going direct.
How Vendors Benefit
Vendors pay affiliate commissions because it's cost-effective marketing. Instead of spending on ads that may or may not convert, they pay only when someone actually becomes a customer. It's a win-win-win: you find useful tools, vendors get customers, and we earn a commission to keep creating content.
06 Why We Disclose Prominently
You might have noticed we put affiliate disclosures at the top of our pages, not buried in the footer. Here's why:
Legal Compliance
The FTC requires affiliate disclosures to be "clear and conspicuous" - visible before you encounter affiliate links, not hidden away. Footer-only disclosures don't meet this standard.
Building Trust
Research consistently shows that transparent disclosures build trust rather than diminishing it. Readers appreciate honesty about business relationships. We'd rather you know exactly how we make money and trust our recommendations than feel deceived later.
Our Philosophy
- Transparency is a feature, not a liability
- Readers who understand our model become more loyal, not less
- Hiding commercial relationships feels dishonest - and we're not
- If knowing about affiliate links changes your decision, that's your right
FTC compliance note: Per FTC Endorsement Guidelines, material connections must be disclosed clearly. Violations can result in penalties up to $50,000+ per incident. We take compliance seriously - both for legal reasons and because it's simply the right approach.
07 Questions?
If you have questions about our affiliate relationships, how we make money, or our editorial process, we're happy to explain. Transparency works both ways.