Our rules
- Recommendations come first. Picks are chosen before anyone checks whether a retailer or brand pays an affiliate commission. People writing guides do not see commission rates.
- No paid placement. Brands and retailers cannot pay to be included, ranked higher or described more favourably, and they do not review our guides before publication.
- Samples. We prefer to buy what we test. If a company supplies a product, we say so in the guide and return or donate it after testing.
- Unpaid options are included. If the best choice is a product that pays us nothing, it is still our pick.
- Honest labels. We never imply testing we have not done. See how we test.
Why this matters
An affiliate site is only useful if readers can trust that recommendations are not for sale. These rules also follow the US Federal Trade Commission’s Endorsement Guides and its rule on consumer reviews and testimonials, and the Competition Bureau of Canada’s guidance on deceptive marketing.
Questions or concerns
If you think a guide falls short of these rules, please tell us.