The short version
Some links on VPN Target are affiliate links. If you click one and buy a subscription, the provider may pay us a commission. You never pay more because of it, and in some cases our links include a discount that is not available elsewhere.
How affiliate links work
When you follow an affiliate link, the provider places a tracking cookie or adds a referral code to the visit. If you sign up within the tracking period, the provider credits the sale to VPN Target. We do not receive your payment details, and the provider does not tell us who you are.
What commissions do and do not affect
| Commissions can affect | Commissions never affect |
|---|---|
| Whether a link to a provider is an affiliate link | Review scores and verdicts |
| Which discount we can show next to a link | Rankings in best VPN guides |
| Whether we can keep testing paid plans | The winner of a comparison |
| Nothing else | Criticism, warnings or the decision to recommend a free plan |
Our rules
- Scores come first. The editorial team scores a provider before anyone looks at affiliate terms, and writers do not see commission rates.
- No paid placements. A provider cannot pay to appear in a guide, move up a ranking or win a comparison.
- Free options get fair coverage. We recommend free plans when they are good enough, as in our Free Proton VPN vs NordVPN comparison.
- Unpartnered providers are still covered. We review and rank VPNs we earn nothing from when they are relevant to readers.
- Clear labelling. Pages with affiliate links show a reader supported notice near the top.
The full process behind our testing and scoring is set out in our editorial policy.
Why we use this model
Testing VPNs properly costs money: paid subscriptions, devices, streaming accounts and the time to retest when things change. Affiliate commissions let us fund that work and keep every article free to read, without paywalls or intrusive advertising.
Disclosure standards
We aim to follow the spirit of advertising disclosure rules such as the FTC Endorsement Guides in the United States and the ASA guidance on affiliate marketing in the United Kingdom: clear, close to the link and easy to understand.