Transparency
Last reviewed October 7, 2026
How We Make Money & Stay Independent
We earn a commission when you buy through our Amazon links, at no extra cost to you. Here is how that works and why it does not set our ratings.
- Affiliate links disclosed
Quick answer
How does this site make money?
Through affiliate commissions. When you buy through our links, the retailer may pay us a commission, and you pay the same price as going direct.
That money funds testing. It does not set ratings, and brands cannot buy reviews, badges or rankings. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
How do affiliate commissions work?
Most links go to Amazon through the Amazon Associates program. Other programs are disclosed where they appear.
Read. You read our review of a coffee grinder.
Click. You click a product link to Amazon (or another retailer).
Buy. You buy the grinder, or anything else, within 24 hours.
Commission. The retailer pays us a commission, at a rate set by its program.
Same price. You paid the same price you would have paid anyway.
Why this model: it keeps the content free, ties our income to helping you make a good purchase, and pays for product testing. The legal wording and the list of programs are on the affiliate disclosure page, linked under Related pages below.
How can I tell which links are affiliate links?
Assume any link that leaves the site for a retailer is one.
- Buttons such as "Check current price on Amazon" are affiliate links.
- Pages with affiliate links carry a plain-language disclosure notice near the top.
- We do not use cloaked, shortened or disguised URLs to hide the relationship.
- Every page links to the affiliate disclosure from the footer.
To see it in practice, open any review, for example our best coffee grinders roundup.
What don't we do for money?
Five things that would make a review less trustworthy, and that we refuse.
- No sponsored reviews
- We do not accept payment from manufacturers for product reviews, and we decline any such offer.
- No paid placements
- Brands cannot pay for "Best Overall" badges, higher rankings or featured positions in roundups.
- No free products
- We purchase all products with our own funds at full retail price, and we decline product samples, loaner units and discounted-purchase arrangements.
- No paywalls
- Reviews and recommendations are free for everyone.
- No commission-based rankings
- A product that earns less is recommended above one that earns more if it performs better.
Does affiliate money change the ratings?
No. Editorial decisions and business decisions are kept separate.
Editorial judgment decides
- Ratings and scores
- "Best" picks and rankings
- Updates when products fail
Revenue does not change
- Ratings
- Whether a review stays published
- Which products are prioritized
If long-term testing reveals reliability issues, the rating and recommendation are updated, whether or not the product earns commissions.
Where does the money go?
Back into the reviews.
- Product purchases, often including competing products for comparison testing
- Testing equipment
- Hosting and software tools
- Researching, writing and editing reviews
What do I gain and give up as a reader?
The model has a built-in tension, so here it is plainly.
You gain
- Free reviews with no paywall or subscription
- Recommendations that are not for sale to brands
- The same retail price as buying direct
Keep in mind
- We earn only when a purchase happens, so we have a financial interest in clicks. Read the "skip if" sections as closely as the picks.
- You can buy anywhere. Using our link is optional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about affiliate links and commissions.
No. You pay the same price as you would going to the retailer directly.
The retailer pays us a commission out of its own revenue.
No. Rankings follow testing results and ratings, not commission rates.
A product that earns less is recommended above one that earns more if it performs better.
If long-term testing reveals reliability issues, the rating and recommendation are updated whether or not the product earns commissions.
No. We do not accept payment from manufacturers for reviews, "Best Overall" badges, higher rankings or featured positions in roundups, and we decline such offers.
Amazon Associates links can earn a commission on other qualifying items bought within 24 hours of clicking.
It still costs you nothing extra.
Treat any button or link that takes you to Amazon or another retailer as one.
Pages with affiliate links carry a disclosure notice near the top, and we do not use cloaked or disguised URLs.
The full wording is on the affiliate disclosure page.
Reviews and recommendations are free for everyone and are not behind a paywall or subscription.