Affiliate Disclosures for AI Tool Reviews That Readers Can Understand
A practical guide to clear affiliate disclosures for AI-tool reviews, based on FTC guidance and designed for honest conversion pages.
Affiliate disclosure: This article may later contain clearly labeled affiliate links. Our reporting and conclusions are not sold. Read the full policy.
The short answer
If a publisher can earn a commission from a recommended link, the relationship should be disclosed clearly and close to the recommendation. A distant footer policy is useful background, but it may not be enough for a reader deciding whether to trust a specific review.
What changed
The FTC’s endorsement guidance explains that readers need to understand the material connection. Labels such as “affiliate link” or a “buy now” button may not clearly tell ordinary readers that the publisher can be paid.
A plain statement works better: “We may earn a commission if you purchase through this link.”
Why it matters
Disclosure is not an obstacle to conversion. Hidden incentives damage trust when readers discover them later. A clear policy can make a recommendation easier to evaluate and helps distinguish editorial content from paid placement.
Where to place it
Put a short disclosure near the first affiliate link or recommendation. Repeat it where a long page or comparison makes the relationship easy to miss. Keep a full affiliate policy linked from the article and footer.
Do not hide the disclosure in a tooltip, terms page, low-contrast text, or an ambiguous abbreviation. It should appear before or at the moment the commercial recommendation can influence the reader.
Build a better review
A disclosure does not make a thin review useful. Explain the test date, plan, tasks, limitations, and who the product fits. Include non-affiliate alternatives when they are better for a meaningful segment of readers.
Separate sponsorship from ordinary affiliate links. A sponsored placement is paid exposure and should be labeled accordingly. Do not sell a ranking position while presenting it as an independent result.
The conclusion
The best affiliate page makes three things obvious: how the publisher may be paid, how the product was evaluated, and why the recommendation follows from the evidence. Clarity is both a compliance practice and a conversion advantage.
Primary source: US Federal Trade Commission guidance. Last reviewed September 11, 2026.