Affiliate Disclosure
Last updated April 21, 2026
Current status
As of April 21, 2026, Independent Reviews does not have any active affiliate accounts with the applications we evaluate. We have not received, nor have we agreed to, any payment in return for the placement, ranking, or favorable representation of any application on this site. The links to MyFitnessPal, Cronometer, Lose It, MacroFactor, Cal AI, or any other app that has been reviewed on this website are standard links; the publication does not receive a commission when a reader downloads an app through an Independent Reviews link.
Why this matters
Much of the content comparing apps found online is funded through affiliate commissions. A reader might see "best calorie tracking apps of 2026", while the editor's financial incentive is "highest commission rates of 2026." This can lead to systemic biases, rankings that fluctuate with commission rates instead of app updates, and "best of" lists that are rearranged quarterly without substantial re-evaluation, resulting in vendors that pay the most being labeled as "winners" while superior apps with lesser affiliate programs are pushed down the list. Our goal is not to create such content. The lab's revenue structure is not affiliate-driven, and our editorial guidelines strictly forbid any contributor from having an affiliate account with a reviewed app in their own name in connection with Lab operations.
FTC stance
This disclosure aligns with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's Endorsement Guides (16 CFR Part 255), which mandate the disclosure of any significant relationship between an endorser and a marketer that consumers would not typically anticipate. Currently, Independent Reviews has no such significant relationships to disclose. If we were to establish one, we would promptly update this page and individually mark the affected pieces.
If our affiliate policy changes
In the future, we might opt to engage in affiliate programs for a selection of applications reviewed on this site. Should that occur, the modification will be:
- Announced on this page on the day the first affiliate link becomes active, along with a dated entry in the change log below.
- Noted at the article level, with a clear indication on each piece that features an affiliate link.
- Protected by an editorial firewall: a contributor cannot write a review or comparison whose ranking is influenced by whether the app being evaluated is one with which Independent Reviews is involved in an affiliate program. Sebastian and Helena will oversee this.
- Reviewed yearly by Sebastian and Helena to ensure the program has not caused any ranking distortions.
We will not covertly change our revenue models. If you ever visit an Independent Reviews page and question whether a link to an app is an affiliate link, the answer should be found on this page first.
Other disclosures
We accept access to review units (complimentary premium accounts, beta access) under the same conditions as the public press list. We do not accept sponsored trips, compensated review-unit hardware, or any remuneration in exchange for coverage. If a piece relies on a complimentary premium account, we will disclose this within the text itself. For further details, see our complete editorial policy regarding contributor conflict-of-interest regulations.
Change log
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 2025-08-12 | Site launches with no affiliate accounts established. |
| April 21, 2026 | Status confirmed: no affiliate accounts in operation. |
Questions
For inquiries regarding our affiliate or compensation policy: editor@independent-reviews.org.