Short version
Some links on ToolsBrief are affiliate links. If you click one and buy something, we may earn a commission — at no extra cost to you. This never changes what we write. If a tool is mediocre, we say so, commission or not.
What is an affiliate link?
An affiliate link is a tracked URL that tells a software company or marketplace that a visitor came from ToolsBrief. When that visitor purchases a subscription or product, we receive a referral commission — typically a flat fee or a percentage of the sale price.
This is a standard and widely-used monetisation model for independent publishing. It is one of the ways ToolsBrief funds the research, testing, and writing time required to produce in-depth reviews.
Affiliate programs we participate in
We work with the following affiliate networks and direct programs. This list is not exhaustive and may be updated as we add or remove partnerships:
Impact.com
Hosts affiliate programs for tools such as Semrush, Surfer SEO, and others in the SEO and marketing category.
PartnerStack
Used by many B2B SaaS vendors including project management, productivity, and AI writing tools.
Amazon Associates
Used occasionally for physical products, books, or hardware mentioned on the site.
Direct vendor programs
Some software companies run their own referral programs outside of major networks. We participate in these on a case-by-case basis.
How we identify affiliate links
Affiliate links on ToolsBrief are typically followed by a label such as affiliate link or noted in a disclosure block at the top of the relevant page.
Where a review page contains a primary CTA button to a tool's website, that button is almost always an affiliate link. We do not attempt to hide this — it is simply how independent review sites operate sustainably.
Why our opinions remain independent
This is the part that actually matters. Here is our editorial policy, stated plainly:
No vendor influence on scores. Vendors cannot pay to improve their rating, remove negative sections, or alter our verdict. We have turned down such requests.
We review tools we have actually used. Every review on ToolsBrief reflects hands-on testing. We do not summarise marketing copy and call it a review.
Negative reviews stay up. If we give a tool a low score and it happens to have an affiliate program, the review stays exactly as written. Lost commissions are the price of credibility.
Tools without affiliate programs get reviewed too. Many tools we cover pay us nothing. We cover them because they are relevant to our readers.
Commissions do not determine our recommendations. Our "recommended" label reflects genuine utility for the stated use case — not commission rate.
We built ToolsBrief specifically because we were frustrated with review directories that charge vendors for placement and then present the results as objective rankings. We have no interest in becoming what we set out to fix.
FTC compliance
In compliance with the US Federal Trade Commission's guidelines on endorsements and testimonials (16 CFR Part 255), we disclose affiliate relationships clearly and prominently. This disclosure page, combined with in-page labels on affiliate links, constitutes our ongoing disclosure.
If you are a reader outside the United States, similar disclosure requirements exist in most jurisdictions (EU, UK, Canada, Australia). We apply the same standards globally.
Sponsored content
Occasionally, a vendor may sponsor a newsletter issue, a comparison post, or a dedicated feature. Sponsored content is always clearly labelled as "Sponsored" at the top of the piece. Sponsored content represents the vendor's perspective and is kept separate from our independent editorial reviews.
We do not accept payment for positive reviews. Sponsorship of a content piece does not influence the score or conclusions of any separate review of the same product.
Questions?
If you have questions about our affiliate relationships, want to report a link that is not properly disclosed, or are a vendor who wants to discuss our review of your product, reach out directly:
[email protected]