How We Make Money
AI Tools Breakdown is a free resource. We don't charge readers, run a paywall, or require registration. So how do we keep the lights on? Here's the full picture.
Affiliate Commissions
Our primary revenue source is affiliate commissions. Here's how it works:
- We review and compare AI tools based on independent testing
- When a tool has an affiliate program, we link to it using a tracked URL
- If you click that link and purchase the tool, the company pays us a commission
- This costs you nothing extra — you pay the same price either way
Commissions typically range from 15% to 45% of the subscription fee, depending on the tool and the affiliate network.
What We Want You to Know
Affiliate links don't influence our scores
We have given low scores to tools with generous affiliate programs. We have recommended free tools over paid alternatives. Our scoring methodology is documented in our Editorial Policy and applied uniformly.
Not every tool we review has an affiliate program
We cover tools without affiliate programs when they're relevant to the comparison. If a free tool is the best option for a specific use case, we say so — even though we earn $0 from that recommendation.
You can always tell which links are affiliate links
Every article with affiliate links includes a disclosure notice at the top. We follow FTC guidelines for clear and conspicuous disclosure.
We don't do "pay for play"
No company can pay for:
- A higher score
- A guaranteed spot in a listicle
- A more favorable comparison
- Removal of negative feedback
- Priority placement in our rankings
If a tool earns its position through testing, it gets recommended. If it doesn't, it doesn't — regardless of commission rates.
Other Revenue (Future)
As the site grows, we may explore additional revenue streams such as display advertising or sponsored content. If and when that happens:
- Sponsored content will always be clearly labeled
- Display ads will never affect editorial content
- We will update this page to reflect any changes
Questions?
If you have questions about our business model, email us at contact@aitoolsbreakdown.com.