The Short Version
WindowsTechies participates in affiliate programs. When you purchase products through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps keep our content free. We only recommend products we’ve personally tested and genuinely believe in. Our editorial opinions are not influenced by affiliate commissions.
FTC Disclosure Statement
In accordance with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines, WindowsTechies discloses that we may earn affiliate commissions from purchases made through links on this website.
This means: When you click on certain links on WindowsTechies and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission from the company selling the product. This commission comes at no additional cost to you—the price you pay is the same whether you use our link or go directly to the company’s website.
We participate in various affiliate marketing programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to third-party products and services.
How Affiliate Marketing Works
What Are Affiliate Links?
Affiliate links are special URLs that contain a unique identifier (our affiliate code) that tells the company you came from WindowsTechies.
Example:
- Regular link:
company.com/product - Affiliate link:
company.com/product?ref=windowstechies
When you make a purchase through an affiliate link, the company tracks it and pays us a small commission—typically 5-20% of the sale price.
Which Links Are Affiliate Links?
On WindowsTechies, affiliate links may appear in:
- Product reviews
- Comparison articles
- “Best of” roundups
- Buying guides
- Embedded in educational content (when relevant)
Not all product links are affiliate links. Some products don’t have affiliate programs, but we still recommend them when they’re the best solution.
Cost to You
Affiliate links do NOT cost you more money.
- Prices are the same whether you use our link or not
- Sometimes our affiliate partners offer exclusive discounts through our links (you save money)
- No hidden fees or markup from using our links
Our Affiliate Partners
We participate in affiliate programs with various companies, including but not limited to:
Software Companies
- PC optimization software (Fortect, CCleaner, etc.)
- Antivirus and security software
- System utilities and tools
- Productivity applications
E-Commerce Platforms
- Amazon Associates Program
- Other retailer affiliate programs
Technology Companies
- Hardware manufacturers
- Component retailers
- Software licensing platforms
This list is not exhaustive. We may add or remove affiliate partnerships at any time based on product quality and relevance to our audience.
Our Editorial Independence
How We Maintain Independence
Affiliate relationships DO NOT influence our editorial decisions. Here’s how we ensure honesty:
1. Testing Comes First
- We test products for 2-4 weeks before reviewing
- Reviews are written based on hands-on experience, not marketing materials
- Commission rates don’t affect testing methodology
2. Honest Assessments
- We publish negative reviews even for high-commission products
- We recommend lower-commission products if they’re better
- We’ll tell you when a product isn’t worth your money
3. No Pay-for-Placement
- Companies cannot pay for positive reviews
- Affiliates cannot review content before publication
- We don’t guarantee positive coverage
4. Separate Editorial & Business
- Editorial decisions are made by our content team
- Business/affiliate relationships managed separately
- No pressure from business side to editorial side
5. Regular Review
- We reassess products quarterly
- We update reviews when products change
- We’ll change recommendations if better options emerge
Examples of Our Independence
We Have:
- Given 2-star reviews to products with lucrative affiliate programs
- Recommended free alternatives over paid products
- Warned readers about products with aggressive marketing
- Removed affiliate links from products that declined in quality
We Would Never:
- Recommend a product solely because it pays high commissions
- Hide negative findings to preserve affiliate income
- Accept payment to remove negative content
- Publish “reviews” without actually testing the product
Product Selection Criteria
How We Choose Products to Review
We select products to review based on:
- User Demand: What our readers are searching for and asking about
- Market Relevance: Popular or innovative products in the Windows space
- Problem-Solving: Products that address common Windows issues
- Quality Potential: Products likely to be genuinely useful
- Diversity: Covering range of price points and use cases
NOT based on:
- Which products pay the highest commissions
- Which companies contact us offering partnerships
- Promotional opportunities
Products We Won’t Review
We don’t review or promote:
- Products we can’t thoroughly test
- Scam software or known malware
- Products with deceptive marketing practices
- Overly expensive products with little value
- Products that violate user privacy without disclosure
Even if these products have affiliate programs, we won’t recommend them.
Free Products & Review Copies
Disclosure of Provided Products
Occasionally, companies provide free software licenses or hardware for review purposes.
When this happens, we disclose it in the review, typically with a note like:
Note: [Company] provided a free license/product for this review. This did not influence our assessment or opinion.
Our Policy on Review Copies
We Accept:
- Free software licenses for testing
- Review units of hardware (returned after review in most cases)
We Maintain:
- Full editorial independence regardless of who provided the product
- Same testing standards for free and purchased products
- Right to publish negative reviews of provided products
We Decline:
- Guarantees of positive coverage
- Pre-publication review of content
- Payment beyond the review copy itself
- Exclusive partnerships that limit what we can review
Sponsored Content Policy
Current Policy
WindowsTechies does not currently accept sponsored content.
If this changes in the future, sponsored content will be:
- Clearly labeled as “Sponsored” or “Partner Content” at the top
- Visually distinct from editorial content
- Disclosed prominently throughout the article
- Separate from our standard editorial process
- Reviewed for accuracy but not subject to sponsor approval
We will never disguise sponsored content as independent editorial content.
Reader Trust & Transparency
Why We Disclose
Transparency builds trust. We believe you have the right to know:
- How we make money
- Which links earn us commissions
- How we maintain editorial independence
- What relationships we have with companies we cover
Your Choice
You’re never obligated to use our affiliate links. You can:
- Search for products directly
- Compare prices across retailers
- Purchase from any source you prefer
- Disable affiliate tracking in your browser
We’d rather you make an informed decision than feel pressured to use our links.
Supporting WindowsTechies
If you find our content valuable and want to support our work:
Using our affiliate links helps:
- Keep WindowsTechies free for everyone
- Fund new content creation
- Support hands-on product testing
- Pay for hosting, tools, and team time
But we understand if you prefer not to, and our content remains free either way.
Questions About Specific Products
”Do you recommend [product] because of affiliate commissions?”
No. We recommend products based on:
- Hands-on testing (2-4 weeks minimum)
- How well they solve the problem
- Value for money
- User experience quality
- Company reputation and support
Commission rates are not a factor in recommendations.
”What if a better product doesn’t have an affiliate program?”
We’ll still recommend it. Several of our top recommendations don’t have affiliate programs, but they’re the best solutions so we recommend them anyway.
”Have you ever changed a recommendation because of affiliate income?”
No. We’ve updated recommendations when better products emerged, but never solely due to affiliate considerations.
Price Changes & Availability
We Monitor But Don’t Control Prices
Important: Prices, availability, and features may change after we publish reviews.
- We update reviews quarterly to catch major changes
- We can’t monitor real-time price changes
- Affiliate links may expire or change
Always check current price and features on the product website before purchasing.
Discounts Through Our Links
Occasionally, our affiliate partners offer:
- Exclusive discount codes for our readers
- Special promotions through our links
- Trial periods or bundles
When available, we prominently display these offers. These are genuine discounts, not inflated prices.
Contact & Questions
Questions About This Disclosure
For questions about our affiliate relationships or editorial policies:
- Email: affiliates@windowstechies.com
- General: hello@windowstechies.com
Report Concerns
If you believe an affiliate relationship has influenced our content:
- Email: editorial@windowstechies.com
We take these concerns seriously and will investigate promptly.
Learn More
- Editorial Policy - Our content creation standards
- Our Testing Process - How we evaluate products
- About Us - Meet our team and learn our mission
Legal Compliance
This disclosure complies with:
- FTC 16 CFR Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials
- FTC guidelines on affiliate link disclosure
- Applicable consumer protection laws
Changes to This Disclosure
We may update this disclosure as:
- We add or remove affiliate programs
- FTC guidelines change
- Our business model evolves
Significant changes will be noted with an update date.
Last Updated: January 20, 2025 Next Review: April 20, 2025
Our Commitment
WindowsTechies is committed to transparency in all affiliate relationships. We believe honest, helpful content builds trust—and trust is worth more than any affiliate commission.
Thank you for supporting WindowsTechies. Whether you use our affiliate links or not, we’re here to help you get the most from your Windows PC.
For more information about how we maintain editorial standards, see our Editorial Policy.