How we make money
HonestReviews may earn money through commercial relationships with some of the providers we cover. We explain those relationships because they matter when you read a review or compare a ranked list.
Affiliate commissions and other arrangements
We may earn commissions through affiliate programs, including programs administered by Impact and CJ. Not every provider listed on this site pays us; those that don't are marked “No affiliate relationship.” When you follow a qualifying link and complete an action covered by a provider's program, such as a purchase or subscription, we may earn a commission. Codes marked “Partner code” are offered through our affiliate partners, and we may earn a commission when you use one.
Depending on the category and agreement, we may also earn a fixed fee or a payment for a qualifying click. These payment models are permitted only where our category rules allow them. The amount and conditions of payment vary by provider.
An affiliate relationship does not establish that a product is suitable for your circumstances. Check the provider's current price, terms and eligibility requirements before making a decision.
Where monetization is allowed
| Coverage | Monetization policy |
|---|---|
| Financial products | We do not monetize financial products. |
| Pre-need funeral planning | Editorial coverage only. We do not earn commissions, referral payments, per-click payments or placement fees from this coverage. |
| Business services and software we cover (business phone, LLC formation and registered agents, AI image and video, ecommerce platforms, accounting software, web hosting) | A commission on a qualifying sale, a payment per qualifying click, a fixed fee or a revenue share, depending on the provider's program. |
When earnings can affect order
Our rankings start with editorial scores based on published evidence. Until real conversion data is available for an eligible ranking, the order is editorial only. Once that data is available, earnings may move a product by no more than two positions from its editorial position. When at least three products in a list have an editorial score of 80 or more, only those products can take the top three positions. Every earnings-based reorder is logged.
This is a hybrid ranking policy. The documentary score and the position in a list are different things: the score reflects the published scoring criteria, while the order can also reflect the limited commercial adjustment described above. Compensation does not buy a higher documentary score.
The methodology explains the calculation, category criteria and current rules. If you are comparing two providers, look at their evidence and individual criteria as well as their positions.
What payment does not change
- Promotions. Payment does not change how promotions are selected or presented under our promotion rules. A commercial agreement cannot create a discount or justify a claim that an offer is better than the evidence supports.
- Popularity counts. We do not increase popularity counts because a provider pays us. The meaning of a popularity measure is explained where it appears; it should not be read as market share unless it is explicitly supported as such.
- Coverage of providers without affiliate arrangements. We still list eligible products without a commercial relationship and mark them “No affiliate relationship.” An affiliate agreement is not a requirement for inclusion.
- Our own properties. HonestFarewell and other properties we operate are excluded from rankings.
- Factual corrections. A provider does not have to become an advertiser or pay a fee to have a documented error corrected.
Who is responsible for the content
Authors and reviewers are responsible for the evidence and editorial assessment. Commercial staff manage business relationships. Those relationships do not give a provider permission to write its own verdict, remove supported criticism or bypass the review process.
If you see a claim that does not match a provider's published terms, report it here. You can also read our advertiser disclosure and editorial policy.