How ShieldScout makes money
ShieldScout earns money through affiliate links. This page explains exactly what that means and the rules we follow so it never affects what we tell you.
What an affiliate link is
Some links to software companies and retailers are affiliate links. If you click one and then buy something, the seller may pay ShieldScout a commission. You pay the same price either way.
How you can tell
- Every page containing an affiliate link shows a disclosure at the top, before any link.
- Each affiliate link is labelled next to the button ("affiliate link" or "paid link").
- This page is linked from the footer of every page.
The rules we follow
- Rankings are based on merit only. Recommendations come from independent lab results, real prices and features. Whether a product pays a commission is never a factor, and products without an affiliate program are reviewed and recommended in exactly the same way.
- No paid placements. No company can pay to be included, reviewed or ranked higher, and we don't publish sponsored posts.
- Unfavourable facts stay in. If a product we could earn from has a weakness or a documented problem, we say so.
- We recommend free options when they're enough, even though they earn us nothing. Several of our guides explain when you don't need to buy anything at all.
Affiliate programs
ShieldScout participates in affiliate programs run by software companies and affiliate networks, which may include Impact and CJ. ShieldScout is a participant in the Amazon.in Associates Programme. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Buttons marked "paid link" lead to Amazon.in.
Questions
If anything about how ShieldScout earns money is unclear, email contact@shields-scout.com.