We want to be completely transparent about how SmartVault makes money, because trust is the most important thing we have. In short: some of the links on this site are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you sign up for or purchase a product after clicking one — at no additional cost to you. This page explains exactly what that means and, just as importantly, what it does not mean.
This disclosure is provided in the spirit of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines on endorsements and in keeping with similar transparency expectations around the world.
What an affiliate link is
An affiliate link is a special tracking link. When you click one and then subscribe to or buy a tool, the company knows the referral came from SmartVault and may pay us a commission or referral fee. The price you pay is exactly the same as it would be if you had gone to the tool directly. In some cases an affiliate partnership even comes with an exclusive discount that we are happy to pass on to you.
How this supports SmartVault
Researching, testing, and writing honest reviews of AI tools takes a great deal of time. Affiliate commissions are one of the ways we fund that work and keep SmartVault free for everyone to read, with no paywalls. When you use our links, you are directly supporting the independent reviews and guides you came here for. Thank you.
Our editorial independence
This is the part that matters most. Affiliate relationships never influence our ratings, rankings, or opinions. We hold every tool to the same standard regardless of whether we have a commercial relationship with it. Specifically:
- We rate and rank tools on their merits — features, value, usability, and real-world performance — not on commission rates.
- A tool does not get a better review for being a partner, and we never accept payment in exchange for a positive review or a higher ranking.
- We recommend tools we genuinely believe in, and we are equally willing to point out weaknesses, even for partners.
- Many of the tools we cover are not affiliate partners at all, and that has no effect on how we write about them.
How our partnerships work
We participate in affiliate and referral programs operated by the software companies we cover, sometimes directly and sometimes through affiliate networks. We only join programs for tools we are comfortable recommending on their own merits. Whether or not a tool offers a program is decided after our editorial assessment, never before it, and never as a condition of coverage.
Where we can, we mark sponsored placements or paid partnerships clearly so you always know what you are looking at. Our editorial reviews and our commercial relationships are kept separate by design.
Your choice always
Using our affiliate links is entirely optional. You are always free to navigate to any tool directly, and doing so will not change your price or your experience. We simply hope that if our work helped you make a decision, you will consider using our links as a no-cost way to say thanks.
A genuine thank-you
SmartVault exists to help you find the right tools faster and with more confidence. Every time you read a review, share an article, or use one of our links, you make that mission possible. We do not take that lightly — thank you for being here and for trusting us with your time.
Questions
If you would like to know whether a specific link is an affiliate link, or you have any other questions about how we earn money, email us at hello@smartvault.ai or use our contact form. For related information, see our Disclaimer and Terms of Service.