Affiliate Disclosure

1. Introduction

VPNGuider (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is an independent online platform dedicated to reviewing, comparing, and analyzing Virtual Private Network (VPN) services and privacy-related technologies.

To keep our content free and sustain our operations, VPNGuider participates in affiliate marketing programs. This means that when you click on some of the links to third-party VPN providers on our website and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission or referral fee — at no extra cost to you.

This Affiliate Disclosure explains:

• How our affiliate relationships work
• How they affect our content and recommendations
• The steps we take to maintain transparency and editorial independence

Our goal is to ensure that readers understand exactly how VPNGuider is funded and that our reviews remain fair, accurate, and trustworthy.

2. What Are Affiliate Links?

An affiliate link is a unique tracking link that connects a referral (your click) to a VPN provider’s website. If you make a purchase after clicking an affiliate link, the VPN provider or its affiliate network may pay us a commission.

Example:
If you read our review of “ExpressVPN,” click “Visit ExpressVPN,” and later purchase a plan, we may receive a commission for referring you. This helps fund VPNGuider’s team, hosting, research, and continuous testing, without charging our readers anything.

3. Our Commitment to Transparency

We are fully transparent about our affiliate relationships and maintain clear disclosure throughout our platform. You will find affiliate disclosure statements:

• At the top or bottom of review pages
• Within comparison charts and rankings
• In our footer or within this dedicated disclosure page

Whenever you see phrases like “we may earn a commission,” it means the link is monetized through an affiliate program.

4. Editorial Independence

VPNGuider’s mission is to help users make informed, unbiased decisions about their online privacy. While affiliate partnerships support us financially, they do not influence our editorial integrity. To ensure fairness and neutrality:

• Our reviews are written independently by our editorial and research team. Please refer to our “review methodology” for more information. 
• We do not sell or accept payment for positive reviews.
• VPN providers cannot purchase ranking positions in our comparison tables.
• Our review scores are based on objective factors such as:
  
  • Security and encryption standards
  • Speed and performance
  • Logging policies and jurisdiction
  • Customer support quality
  • Pricing, refund policies, and value for money

When commercial factors affect placement (e.g., popularity or conversion rates), we indicate it transparently within the content. You can read more about our review method here (insert link to our review method page)

5. How Affiliate Tracking Works

When you click an affiliate link on VPNGuider here is a breakdown of everything that happens:

1. A cookie or tracking ID is stored in your browser by the affiliate network or VPN provider.
2. If you purchase a subscription within a specific time frame (usually 30–90 days), VPNGuider earns a referral commission.
3. These tracking technologies do not give us access to your personal details — they only confirm that a sale originated from our site.

For details on how these cookies work and your rights to control them, please read our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

6. Our Affiliate Partners

VPNGuider collaborates with reputable VPN affiliate programs and networks, including:

• VPN service providers directly (e.g., NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, etc.)
• Affiliate networks (e.g., Impact, CJ Affiliate, PartnerStack, Awin, or similar)

Each partner has its own data and cookie policies, which we encourage users to review on their official websites. We only partner with companies that meet high ethical and privacy standards. Providers with proven privacy violations or misleading claims are excluded from our recommendations.

7. How Affiliate Compensation Affects Rankings

VPNGuider’s comparison charts and “Top VPN” lists are generated based on a mix of:

• Independent testing metrics (speed, performance, logging, security features)
• User feedback
• Industry reputation and reliability
• Commercial performance data (e.g., conversion rates, user satisfaction, refund rates)

While commercial data may influence display order in certain lists, it never overrides quality-based scoring. Editorial reviews remain independent, and our testing methodology is standardized across all VPNs.

8. Accuracy and Updates

We strive to ensure that all information (pricing, features, promotions) is accurate and up-to-date. However:

• VPN providers may change pricing, servers, or features without prior notice.
• Affiliate programs may modify commission structures or availability.

We make regular efforts to verify and refresh data, but we encourage users to check the official VPN website for the most current offers before making a purchase.

9. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our affiliate partnerships rely on cookies and similar tracking mechanisms to record referrals accurately.

9.1. What Cookies Do

Cookies track:

• The link you clicked
• The VPN provider’s landing page
• The time and date of your click
• A unique anonymous referral ID

Cookies do not store personal information such as your name, email, or payment data.

9.2. Your Choices

You can control cookie behavior by:

• Managing settings via our cookie consent banner (if implemented)
• Disabling third-party cookies in your browser
• Using private/incognito mode when browsing

More details can be found in our Cookie Policy.

10. Potential Conflicts of Interest

To maintain editorial independence:

• Review writers and editors do not receive direct financial incentives from VPN providers.
• Our business development team handles affiliate relationships separately from editorial staff.
• Sponsored content, if ever published, will always be clearly labeled as “Sponsored” or “Advertisement.”

We uphold a strict internal separation between editorial content and affiliate operations.

11. Compliance with Laws and Guidelines

VPNGuider complies with all applicable advertising and affiliate marketing regulations, including:

• U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Affiliate Disclosure Guidelines
• UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) Endorsement Rules
• GDPR / UK-GDPR requirements on cookie consent and data processing transparency
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA) for U.S. users

We disclose affiliate relationships clearly and conspicuously, as required by law.

12. No Endorsement Warranty

Mentions of third-party VPN providers, trademarks, or logos do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee by VPNGuider. All brand names and trademarks belong to their respective owners.

Our reviews are opinions, not factual guarantees, and we encourage users to perform their own due diligence before purchasing.

13. Financial Disclosure

VPNGuider’s affiliate commissions are intended to:

• Fund editorial research, product testing, and security audits
• Cover web hosting, design, and maintenance costs
• Support the ongoing development of unbiased content

We do not charge users any fees for using our site, and affiliate commissions do not increase the price you pay to VPN providers.

14. Changes to This Disclosure

We may update this Affiliate Disclosure to reflect:

• Changes in affiliate programs or partnerships
• New compliance regulations
• Updated editorial or monetization policies

Updates will be posted with a new “Last Updated” date at the top of this page.  We encourage you to review it periodically for the latest version.

15. Contact Information

If you have questions or concerns about this disclosure or our affiliate relationships, please contact us:

Email: [email protected]
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16. Summary of Key Principles

To summarize VPNGuider’s stance on affiliate relationships:

Principle	Our Practice
Transparency	All affiliate relationships are clearly disclosed.
Editorial Integrity	Reviews are written independently and are not for sale.
No Hidden Fees	Users never pay more because of affiliate links.
User Trust	Our mission is to help readers make informed privacy choices.
Regulatory Compliance	Fully aligned with FTC, GDPR, and CCPA guidelines.

In Short

VPNGuider earns revenue through affiliate links, but your trust is our priority. Our reviews remain objective, and we always aim to guide you toward safer, more private, and reliable VPN services.