Affiliate Disclaimer: What to Write and Where to Put It

An affiliate link disclaimer is a short statement telling your audience that you may earn money when they buy through your links, written in plain words and placed where they'll see it before they click. The best affiliate link disclaimer is simple: "I earn a commission if you buy through links in this post," placed near the first recommendation, with a fuller version on a separate page.

Most beginners get one of two things wrong: the wording (too vague or too legal) or the placement (hidden in a footer). Below you'll find example wording for each format, where each one goes, and the one exact sentence Amazon requires.

What is an affiliate disclaimer, and why do you need one?

An affiliate disclaimer (also called an affiliate disclosure) is a notice that you have a financial relationship with the businesses you link to. People use both words; regulators talk about "disclosure", but the job is the same.

You need it because, in the US, the FTC's Endorsement Guides say readers should know about a connection that could affect how much weight they give your recommendation. The FTC's answer for affiliate sites is direct: disclose your relationship to the retailer "clearly and conspicuously on your site." The FTC finalized updated Endorsement Guides in 2023, and they add a definition of "clear and conspicuous" and warn that a platform's built-in disclosure tool might not be adequate on its own.

Other countries have similar rules, with their own labels; the UK, for instance, expects "Ad" upfront. Our guide on how to promote affiliate links has a country-by-country table. If you're still learning the basics of the model, our guide to how affiliate marketing works for beginners puts disclosure in context alongside niche, content and programs.

Do you need a disclaimer page and a disclosure near the link?

Yes, both, and they do different jobs. The disclosure near the link is the one that satisfies the FTC; the page is a supplement.

The FTC is explicit on three points:

• A home page notice isn't enough. A single disclosure on your home page "won't be sufficient," because visitors may read one review without ever seeing it.
• A link to a disclosure isn't enough. A button that says DISCLOSURE or LEGAL and links to the full text is "easily avoidable," so it doesn't count as clear and conspicuous.
• Closer is better. "The closer the disclosure is to your recommendation, the better."

What should an affiliate disclaimer say?

It should say, in words a non-marketer understands, that you earn money from some links. Everything else is optional.

A good disclaimer usually covers:

1. That you earn money, using "commission", "paid" or "earn".
2. From what, such as purchases made through links in this post.
3. Whether it costs the reader anything, but only if that's true for every program you use.
4. How you choose what to recommend, if you can say it honestly, for example that you only link to products you've used.

The words matter more than people think. The FTC addresses several common phrases directly:

The FTC also says your disclosure should be in the same language as the endorsement. A Spanish-language video needs a Spanish disclosure.

Affiliate disclaimer examples you can adapt

These are examples we wrote for this guide. Adjust them so every word is true for your site; don't copy a claim like "I only recommend products I've used" unless you do.

Short inline disclosure, for blog posts

• "I earn a commission if you buy through links in this post."
• "Some links in this article are paid links: if you buy, I get a commission at no extra cost to you."

Next to a product box or comparison table

• "Paid links: I earn from purchases made through these buttons."

Top of a review, before the first recommendation

• "Quick note: I earn a commission from some of the stores linked below. I bought and tested everything in this review myself, and the ranking would be the same without the links."

Full disclaimer page

Title it "Affiliate disclosure" and keep it readable:

• "This site earns money through affiliate programs. When you click certain links and make a purchase, the retailer pays us a commission."
• "In most cases this doesn't change the price you pay. Where a program works differently, we say so on the page."
• "We choose products based on our own research and use. Retailers don't approve or edit our reviews."
• "We participate in programs including [list the programs you actually use]. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases."

Email

• "This email contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I earn a commission."

Video and short-form posts

• Spoken and on screen, at the start: "Links in the description are paid links; I earn a commission if you buy."
• In a caption, before any "more" cut-off: "Ad: I earn from purchases through the link in my bio."

Where should you put your affiliate disclaimer?

Put it where it's hard to miss and before the reader can act. The FTC gives specific guidance on both the top and the bottom of a page: readers might overlook a disclosure at the very top, outside the post, because their eyes go to the headline, and many won't read to the very end. A disclosure is more likely to be seen when it's very close to, or part of, the recommendation itself.

The FTC's guidance for influencers lists the places disclosures are likely to be missed: an About Me or profile page, the end of posts or videos, anywhere that needs a click on MORE, and mixed into a group of hashtags or links. On video platforms, a built-in paid promotion label can help, but the FTC advises using it in addition to your own disclosure, not instead of it.

What does Amazon require in its disclaimer?

Amazon Associates requires one specific sentence. Its Operating Agreement says you must "clearly and prominently" state on your site: "As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases." It also accepts any substantially similar statement it has previously allowed.

Three things to know:

• It's a program rule, not an FTC disclosure. Amazon's sentence goes on your site; you still need plain disclosure near your Amazon links for readers.
• Don't overstate the relationship. The same agreement says you must not express or imply that Amazon supports, sponsors or endorses you.
• Other programs have their own wording rules. Read each program's terms after approval; some require specific text, placement or both. Our Amazon Associates guide covers the rest of that program's rules.

Does an affiliate disclaimer protect you legally?

No. A disclaimer tells readers about your incentive; it doesn't make the content itself acceptable. The FTC's guidance for influencers says you can't talk about your experience with a product you haven't tried, and you can't say a product is great if you thought it was terrible.

So a disclaimer won't cover:

• Fake or exaggerated reviews.
• Claims about a product that you can't back up, such as health or income claims.
• Breaking a program's terms, which can close your account and forfeit unpaid commissions.

This article is general information, not legal advice. If your site makes significant money or covers regulated topics like health or finance, a short consultation with a lawyer who knows advertising law is worth the cost.

Next steps

Write one inline line you can reuse, add it to every post and video with affiliate links, and publish a short disclaimer page with your program statements. Then check old content, because the posts you wrote before you knew the rules are the ones most likely to be missing it.

• To see how disclosure fits with choosing a niche, creating content and joining programs, read our guide on how to make money with affiliate marketing.
• For search, also mark those links for Google, as explained in our guide to affiliate links and SEO.
• Comparing options before you commit? See our guide to making money online.