Affiliate Disclosure: Transparency in Our Affiliate Relationships
How we monetize while maintaining editorial independence
π° Our Affiliate Business Model
SaaS Verdict participates in various affiliate programs to support our mission of providing free, comprehensive SaaS reviews. This affiliate disclosure explains how our affiliate relationships work, how we earn money, and our commitment to maintaining editorial independence.
π What Are Affiliate Links?
How Affiliate Marketing Works
Affiliate marketing is a legitimate business model where:
- We recommend products we genuinely believe in
- You click our affiliate links to visit partner websites
- Partners pay us a commission if you make a purchase
- You pay the same price as if you went directly to the partner
Our Affiliate Philosophy
- Value-first approach - We only recommend tools we would use ourselves
- Transparency above all - All affiliate relationships are clearly disclosed
- No influence on reviews - Affiliate status never affects our editorial content
- Reader trust - Your confidence in our recommendations is paramount
π Our Current Affiliate Partners
Active Affiliate Programs
| Partner | Commission Range | Cookie Duration | Disclosure Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proxy6 | 15-30% | 60 days | β Active |
| Webshare | 20-35% | 30 days | β Active |
| Oxylabs | 10-25% | 90 days | β Active |
| Bright Data | 5-20% | 30 days | β Active |
| IPRoyal | 15-40% | 60 days | β Active |
| Smartproxy | 20-35% | 30 days | β Active |
| NordVPN | 20-40% | 30 days | β Active |
| Surfshark | 25-45% | 30 days | β Active |
| ExpressVPN | 30-50% | 30 days | β Active |
| 1Password | 20-40% | 90 days | β Active |
Commission rates are estimates and may vary based on geography, account type, and promotional periods.
π·οΈ How We Mark Affiliate Links
Clear Disclosure Standards
All affiliate links on SaaS Verdict are clearly marked:
Link Appearance
π Affiliate Link - Get Deal β
or
[Company Name] Affiliate Link
Button Styling
- Green accent buttons with affiliate link icon
- Clear “Affiliate Link” text in button or nearby
- Hover tooltips explaining the affiliate relationship
Content Integration
- Contextual placement - Links appear naturally in content
- Value justification - We explain why we recommend each tool
- Alternative options - Non-affiliate alternatives always mentioned
π΅ How Affiliate Commissions Work
Commission Structure
- Performance-based - We only earn when you make a qualifying purchase
- Percentage of sale - Usually 10-50% of the amount you pay
- Cookie tracking - Commissions earned within the cookie window
- Geographic variations - Rates may differ by country/region
What We Earn From Commissions
Affiliate earnings support our operations:
- Content creation - Funding for research and writing
- Website maintenance - Hosting, development, and tools
- Team expansion - Hiring reviewers and editors
- Free resources - Providing free tools and guides
Commission Transparency
- Monthly reporting - We track and report affiliate earnings
- No minimums - We recommend based on merit, not commission potential
- Ethical caps - We won’t promote unsustainable commission structures
- Regular audits - Our affiliate relationships undergo regular review
π― Our Affiliate Ethics
Editorial Independence Guarantee
Our affiliate relationships never influence our content:
Review Integrity
- Unbiased ratings - Scores based on merit, not commission potential
- Honest criticism - We highlight both strengths and weaknesses
- Comparative analysis - Fair comparison with non-affiliate competitors
- Long-term testing - Extended usage beyond affiliate cookie windows
Content Standards
- No paid promotions - We don’t accept payment for favorable reviews
- No sponsored content - Editorial content is never influenced by affiliates
- No exclusive deals - We don’t trade reviews for special affiliate terms
- No vendor control - Companies cannot review or edit our content
Reader-First Approach
- Best recommendations - We recommend what we believe is best for you
- Full disclosure - You always know when a link is affiliate
- Value justification - We explain why each recommendation is valuable
- Alternative options - Non-affiliate alternatives always available
π Affiliate Link Tracking
How Tracking Works
- Cookie-based tracking - Standard industry practice
- Secure encryption - All tracking data is encrypted
- Privacy compliance - GDPR and CCPA compliant tracking
- No personal data - We don’t collect personal information through tracking
Cookie Duration Explained
- 30 days - Standard for most affiliate programs
- 60-90 days - Longer for high-value purchases
- Account-based - Some programs track by account creation
- Geography-dependent - May vary by region
What Happens When You Click
- Secure redirect - You’re safely redirected to the partner site
- Cookie placement - Tracking cookie placed (if you accept cookies)
- Normal shopping - You browse and purchase normally
- Commission earned - If you purchase, we earn commission
- Same price for you - You pay exactly what others pay
π Affiliate Performance & Impact
2025 Affiliate Metrics
- Active partnerships: 15+ affiliate programs
- Monthly clicks: 10,000+ affiliate link clicks
- Commission earned: $5,000+ monthly (varies by month)
- Reader satisfaction: 98% of users appreciate transparency
How Earnings Are Used
Content Creation: 40%
Website Operations: 30%
Team Development: 20%
Free Tools/Resources: 10%
Growth Impact
Affiliate revenue enables us to:
- Scale our review team from 3 to 8 reviewers
- Expand language support to 10 languages
- Develop free tools like proxy checkers and calculators
- Maintain independence from venture capital or advertising
π« What We DON’T Do
Strictly Prohibited Practices
- β Paid reviews - Never accept payment for favorable coverage
- β Fake reviews - All reviews based on genuine testing
- β Hidden affiliates - Every affiliate relationship is disclosed
- β Commission influence - Reviews never affected by earnings potential
- β Exclusive access - No trading reviews for special affiliate terms
Ethical Boundaries
- β Misleading claims - Never exaggerate product benefits
- β Negative omission - Always disclose known issues
- β Competitor sabotage - Fair treatment of all companies
- β Data manipulation - Honest reporting of all test results
π International Affiliate Compliance
Regional Variations
Affiliate programs may vary by region:
- EU Compliance - GDPR-compliant tracking and disclosure
- US Compliance - FTC endorsement guidelines followed
- Global Standards - Local laws and regulations respected
- Currency Conversion - Commissions paid in local currency
Language-Specific Disclosure
- Localized disclosure - Affiliate links marked in local language
- Cultural adaptation - Disclosure methods adapted for local preferences
- Legal compliance - All local affiliate laws and regulations followed
π Affiliate Program Application Process
How We Choose Partners
We carefully evaluate potential affiliate partners:
Eligibility Criteria
- β Quality products - Tools that provide genuine value
- β Fair commission rates - Sustainable commission structures
- β Reliable tracking - Accurate and transparent reporting
- β Good support - Companies that support their customers well
- β Ethical practices - Companies with good business practices
Application Process
- Product evaluation - We test the product thoroughly
- Partnership discussion - Terms and conditions negotiated
- Agreement signing - Formal affiliate agreement established
- Integration - Links and tracking implemented
- Ongoing monitoring - Performance and compliance monitored
Rejection Criteria
- β Poor quality products - Tools that don’t deliver value
- β Unsustainable commissions - Unrealistic or predatory rates
- β Questionable ethics - Companies with poor business practices
- β Technical issues - Unreliable tracking or poor integration
π Affiliate Relationship Management
Ongoing Partnership Management
- Performance monitoring - Regular review of affiliate performance
- Commission verification - Monthly reconciliation of earnings
- Policy compliance - Ensuring adherence to our ethical standards
- Relationship maintenance - Regular communication with partners
Termination Policy
We may terminate affiliate relationships for:
- Policy violations - Breach of our editorial standards
- Quality issues - Significant decline in product quality
- Ethical concerns - Changes in company practices
- Performance issues - Consistently poor tracking or payments
Partner Feedback
We provide constructive feedback to partners:
- Product improvement - Suggestions based on user feedback
- Market insights - Trends and competitive analysis
- User preferences - What features users value most
- Support enhancement - Areas for customer service improvement
π Affiliate Earnings Transparency
Monthly Reporting
We publicly report affiliate earnings:
- Total commissions - Monthly totals (rounded to nearest $100)
- Top performers - Best-performing affiliate partners
- Geographic breakdown - Earnings by region/country
- Trend analysis - Month-over-month comparisons
Annual Disclosure
Complete annual affiliate report including:
- Total earnings - Full year affiliate income
- Program breakdown - Earnings by affiliate program
- Cost allocation - How earnings are used
- Tax compliance - Proper tax reporting and payment
π€ Frequently Asked Questions
Do affiliate links affect your reviews?
Absolutely not. Our reviews are completely independent. We only participate in affiliate programs for products we genuinely recommend based on our testing and analysis.
Why do you use affiliate links?
Affiliate commissions help fund our mission of providing free, comprehensive SaaS reviews. Without this revenue, we’d need to charge for access or rely on advertising, which could compromise our independence.
Do I pay more when using affiliate links?
No. Affiliate links don’t increase prices. You pay exactly the same amount as if you visited the company website directly. The commission comes from the company’s marketing budget.
How long do affiliate cookies last?
Cookie duration varies by program, typically 30-90 days. This means if you click an affiliate link and purchase within that timeframe, we earn a commission.
Can I opt out of affiliate tracking?
Yes, you can disable cookies in your browser settings or use privacy tools. However, this will prevent us from earning commissions that help support our free content.
How do you choose affiliate partners?
We only partner with companies whose products meet our quality standards and provide genuine value to users. We thoroughly test products before joining their affiliate programs.
What if I don’t want to use affiliate links?
We always provide direct links to company websites alongside affiliate links. You can choose to use either option based on your preference.
π Contact Us About Affiliates
Questions about our affiliate relationships or disclosure practices?
π§ [email protected]
π Editorial Policy
π Privacy Policy
π Related Pages
- Editorial Policy - Our review standards and ethics
- Privacy Policy - How we protect your data
- Terms of Service - Website usage terms
- Contact Us - Get in touch with our team
π Our Commitment to Transparency
At SaaS Verdict, affiliate marketing supports our mission while maintaining complete editorial independence. We believe in full transparency so you can make informed decisions about how you interact with our content.
We earn commissions when you make purchases through our affiliate links, but this never influences our honest reviews and recommendations.
Last Updated: November 7, 2025