Affiliate Disclaimer Example: Ready-to-Use Templates
Find a clear affiliate disclaimer example you can copy and customize. Covers FTC rules, placement tips, and sample affiliate disclaimers for any website.
An affiliate disclaimer is a written statement that informs your audience you earn commissions or other compensation when they purchase products or services through links on your website. Every website that participates in affiliate marketing needs a proper affiliate disclaimer example to follow, because the FTC requires disclosure of these financial relationships.
This tutorial walks through ready-to-use affiliate disclaimer templates you can copy, customize, and publish today. The content here is educational and should not be treated as legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
What Is an Affiliate Disclaimer?
An affiliate disclaimer is a transparency statement that tells visitors your site contains links to third-party products or services for which you receive compensation. When someone clicks an affiliate link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission. The disclaimer makes that financial relationship clear to your audience.
The distinction matters because undisclosed affiliate relationships are considered deceptive advertising. When a reader trusts your recommendation without knowing you profit from it, the FTC views that as a misleading endorsement.
An affiliate disclaimer typically covers three points:
- Your site contains affiliate links
- You may earn a commission from qualifying purchases
- The reader pays no additional cost when using your links
Why You Need an Affiliate Disclaimer
The legal foundation for affiliate disclaimers in the United States is Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, which prohibits unfair or deceptive acts in commerce. The FTC Endorsement Guides (16 CFR Part 255) spell out that "material connections" between endorsers and sellers must be disclosed.
A commission from an affiliate program qualifies as a material connection. The FTC has issued enforcement actions against affiliates and brands that omit disclosures, and penalties under Section 5 can include civil fines and mandatory corrective action.
Beyond U.S. law, disclosure requirements apply in other jurisdictions:
- United Kingdom: Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 requires disclosure of commercial intent
- European Union: Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (2005/29/EC) prohibits misleading omissions
- Australia: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 covers deceptive conduct in trade
Affiliate networks also enforce their own rules. Amazon Associates, for example, requires a specific statement acknowledging participation in their program. Failure to include it can result in account termination and forfeited commissions.
Affiliate Disclaimer Example for Website Pages
The following affiliate disclaimer sample is designed for a dedicated disclaimer page on your website. You can link to this page from your footer navigation.
Affiliate Disclaimer
This website contains affiliate links to products and services. When you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. These commissions help support the operation of this website and allow us to continue providing free content.
We only recommend products and services we believe will add value to our readers. Our opinions are our own and are not influenced by compensation. Not all links on this site are affiliate links, and we clearly identify sponsored content where applicable.
For questions about our affiliate relationships, contact us at [your email address].
This format works for most websites. It is direct, covers the key points, and uses plain language that any visitor can understand.
If you need a comprehensive disclaimer generator to create a full disclaimer page that covers affiliate relationships alongside other liability statements, TermsBox offers one that lets you customize clauses for your specific situation.
Sample Affiliate Disclaimer for Blog Posts
Blog posts need an inline disclaimer that appears before the first affiliate link. This is separate from your site-wide disclaimer page. The FTC evaluates whether a disclosure is "conspicuous" based on placement, and a link to a separate page does not meet this standard on its own.
Short inline version
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
This works well at the top of a blog post, placed immediately after the introduction. It is brief enough to avoid disrupting the reading experience while meeting the FTC's clarity requirement.
Detailed callout version
Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, meaning I receive a commission if you make a purchase through them. This does not affect the price you pay. I only recommend products I have personally tested or thoroughly evaluated. My full disclaimer is available [here].
The callout version is appropriate for review articles, comparison posts, or any content where product recommendations are the primary focus. More detail strengthens your compliance position.
Contextual per-link version
I recommend ConvertKit for email marketing. (This is an affiliate link. I earn a commission if you sign up through this link.)
Use this alongside a general top-of-post disclaimer, not as a replacement. Per-link disclosures add extra transparency at the point of decision but do not satisfy the FTC requirement on their own.
Affiliate Disclaimer Example for Social Media
Social media posts require adapted disclosures that fit the format and character limits of each platform. The legal obligation is identical: disclose before the audience encounters the affiliate link.
Instagram and TikTok
Place the disclosure at the beginning of your caption, not buried among hashtags at the end:
Disclaimer Generator
Create legal disclaimers for your website. Create yours in minutes with TermsBox.
Generate Now#ad I earn a commission if you purchase through my link. [Product recommendation follows.]
The FTC has specifically warned against hiding disclosures in a block of hashtags. Use #ad or #affiliate as the first hashtag, and include a written statement in the caption text.
YouTube
YouTube requires a two-part approach:
- Enable the "includes paid promotion" checkbox in your video settings
- State the affiliate relationship verbally within the first 30 seconds of the video
A verbal disclosure might sound like: "Some of the links in the description are affiliate links. If you use them, I earn a small commission at no cost to you."
Email newsletters
Note: This email contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.
Place this at the top of your email, before any product mentions.
How to Write Your Own Affiliate Disclaimer
If you want to create a custom affiliate disclaimer rather than copying a template, include these five elements:
- State the relationship clearly. Use the word "affiliate" and explain what it means (you earn a commission).
- Specify the trigger. Explain that the commission occurs when the reader clicks a link and makes a purchase.
- Clarify the cost to the reader. State that the reader pays no additional cost, if that is accurate for your programs.
- Describe your recommendation policy. Explain how you select the products you recommend.
- Provide contact information. Give readers a way to ask questions about your affiliate relationships.
Avoid vague language. Phrases like "this site may contain compensated links" are weaker than "I earn a commission when you purchase through these links." The FTC evaluates whether a reasonable reader would understand the disclosure.
Where to Place Your Affiliate Disclaimer
Placement determines whether your disclaimer actually protects you. The FTC uses a "clear and conspicuous" standard, which means the disclosure must be hard to miss.
Required placements:
- Dedicated disclaimer page linked from your site footer and main navigation
- Top of every blog post that contains affiliate links, before the first link appears
- Within every social media post that includes affiliate links
- At the top of email newsletters containing affiliate recommendations
Common mistakes that weaken compliance:
- Placing the disclaimer only in the footer of a blog post
- Relying solely on a site-wide disclaimer page without per-post disclosures
- Burying the disclosure in a long block of text where readers will skip it
- Using font sizes or colors that make the disclaimer hard to read
A practical approach is to create a reusable callout block in your content management system that you insert at the top of every affiliate post. This ensures consistency and reduces the chance of forgetting.
Affiliate Disclaimer Requirements by Platform
Different affiliate networks have specific disclaimer requirements beyond what the FTC mandates. Violating these terms can result in account suspension.
| Program | Specific Requirement |
|---|---|
| Amazon Associates | Must state: "As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases" |
| ShareASale | Must disclose affiliate relationship on every page with links |
| CJ Affiliate | Requires compliance with FTC guidelines as a program condition |
| Rakuten | Disclosure must be "clear and prominent" per program terms |
| Impact | Requires adherence to local advertising disclosure laws |
Amazon's requirement is the most prescriptive. Their Operating Agreement (Section 5) mandates a specific phrase that must appear on your site. Using a generic disclaimer without this exact language can lead to removal from the program.
When building your site's legal pages, consider pairing your affiliate disclaimer with a comprehensive privacy policy generator and terms of service generator to cover all your compliance bases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an affiliate disclaimer legally required?
Yes, in the United States. The FTC Endorsement Guides (16 CFR Part 255) require anyone who earns a commission from product recommendations to disclose that material connection clearly and conspicuously. The FTC can take enforcement action against affiliates, influencers, and brands that fail to include proper disclosures. Similar requirements exist under UK, EU, and Australian consumer protection laws.
Where should I place an affiliate disclaimer on my website?
Place your affiliate disclaimer in two locations: a dedicated disclaimer page accessible from your site footer, and an inline disclosure at the top of every page or post that contains affiliate links. The FTC requires the disclosure to appear before the reader encounters any affiliate link, so placing it only in a footer or on a separate page is not sufficient.
What happens if I do not include an affiliate disclaimer?
The FTC can issue warning letters, require corrective action, or pursue civil penalties for deceptive practices under Section 5 of the FTC Act. Beyond enforcement, advertising networks like Amazon Associates can terminate your account for failing to include required disclosures. Brands you partner with may also drop affiliates who create compliance risk.
Can I use the same affiliate disclaimer for every platform?
You should adapt your disclaimer for each platform while keeping the core message the same. A blog post can use a longer, more detailed disclosure, while a social media post needs a shorter version that fits the format. The legal requirement is identical across platforms: the disclosure must be clear, conspicuous, and appear before any affiliate link or recommendation.