How VPN Deal Sites Make Money (Including This One)
VPN deal and comparison sites — including this one — make money from affiliate commissions when readers click links and subscribe. Understanding how this works helps you read our recommendations (and competitors') with appropriate calibration.
The Affiliate Model, Explained
When you click a link on this page to NordVPN or Surfshark and subsequently purchase, we receive a commission from the VPN provider. The commission is paid by the provider, not added to your cost — the price you pay is the same regardless of whether you came through an affiliate link or went directly to the provider's website.
Commission rates vary: VPN affiliates typically pay 30–40% of the first subscription payment, sometimes with recurring commissions on renewals. For a $83.76 NordVPN 2-year plan (at $3.49/mo × 24), a 40% commission = ~$33.50.
What This Means for Our Recommendations
We have a financial interest in recommending NordVPN, Surfshark, PrivateVPN, and VeePN — these are our confirmed affiliate partners. We mention ExpressVPN, ProtonVPN, CyberGhost, PIA, Mullvad, and others editorially without monetized links because we don't currently have affiliate arrangements with those providers. Our mentions of unlinked providers are editorial; our mentions of linked providers are affiliate-compensated.
This creates a potential bias: we might unconsciously (or consciously) favor linked providers in recommendations. We try to counter this by: noting clearly when a provider without an affiliate link is the honest best answer for a specific use case, including unlinked providers in comparison tables at their actual current prices, and flagging when our linked providers are not the best option for a stated need.
How to Read Any VPN Deal Site
Look for an affiliate disclosure — any legitimate site should have one. Check whether the "top picks" are all major affiliate programs (common) or include providers without affiliate programs like Mullvad (rarer, indicates more editorial independence). Cross-reference recommendations against a source that explicitly has no affiliate links (r/VPN on Reddit, Wirecutter consumer reports) for high-stakes decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does using an affiliate link cost me more?
No — the price you pay is identical whether you click an affiliate link or navigate directly to the provider. The commission is paid by the VPN provider from their margin, not added to your cost.
Why don't you have affiliate links for Mullvad?
Mullvad doesn't have an affiliate program — this is a deliberate choice consistent with their overall privacy-first ethos. We mention Mullvad editorially when it's the honest recommendation for a use case.
How can I tell if a VPN review is biased by affiliate relationships?
Check: (1) Is there a disclosure? Any legitimate site must disclose material affiliate relationships. (2) Are all top picks conveniently among the highest-commission programs (ExpressVPN, NordVPN)? This is a signal. (3) Does the site mention providers without affiliate programs when appropriate? Absence of Mullvad from a 'best privacy VPN' list is suspicious.