Skip to content

Affiliate Disclosure

We earn commissions from affiliate programs. Learn about our relationships and how they may affect our recommendations.

Last Updated: November 25, 2025

Overview

AusPrivacyKit participates in various affiliate marketing programs. This page explains our affiliate relationships, how we earn money, and how this may influence the content on our website.

This disclosure complies with the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), specifically Section 18 (Misleading or Deceptive Conduct) and Section 29 (False or Misleading Representations) of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth).

By using this website, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this affiliate disclosure.

What Are Affiliate Links?

Affiliate links are special tracking URLs that identify when a visitor from our website makes a purchase from a partner company.

Here's how it works:

  1. You click an affiliate link on AusPrivacyKit
  2. You're redirected to the partner's website (e.g., a VPN provider)
  3. A cookie is placed in your browser to track your visit
  4. If you make a purchase within a certain timeframe (typically 30-90 days), we earn a commission
  5. The commission is paid by the merchant, not by you

Important: You pay the same price whether you use our affiliate link or go directly to the merchant's website. Affiliate commissions do not increase your cost.

Our Affiliate Partners

We participate in affiliate programs with the following types of products and services:

VPN Services

We earn commissions from VPN providers, including but not limited to:

  • NordVPN
  • ExpressVPN
  • Surfshark

Commission Structure: Typically $5-$50 per subscription, depending on the plan selected.

Password Managers

We earn commissions from password management services, including:

  • 1Password
  • Dashlane
  • NordPass

Commission Structure: Typically 15-30% of the subscription price or a flat fee per signup.

Parental Control Software

We earn commissions from parental control and monitoring tools, including:

  • FamilyTime
  • Qustodio
  • Bark

Commission Structure: Typically 15-40% of the subscription price.

Display Advertising

In addition to affiliate marketing, we may display advertisements through:

  • Google AdSense: We earn revenue when you view or click on ads
  • Other Ad Networks: May be added in the future

How Affiliate Relationships May Influence Our Content

We are committed to transparency about how our business model may influence our recommendations.

What We Disclose

On every page with affiliate links, we include a disclosure such as:

"This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you."

In affiliate product boxes, we include disclaimers such as:

"We may earn a commission if you purchase through this link."

How Commissions May Affect Our Recommendations

We want to be honest with you: The potential to earn commissions may influence which products we feature, review, or recommend.

Here's our commitment:

  1. We only recommend products we believe are valuable

    • We test products when possible
    • We research user reviews and expert opinions
    • We evaluate privacy policies and security practices

  2. We prioritize quality over commission rates

    • We do not automatically recommend the highest-paying affiliate
    • We consider factors like reputation, features, price, and user experience
    • We disclose both pros and cons of recommended products

  3. We clearly state our evaluation criteria

    • When we call something "best," we explain why based on specific criteria
    • We provide comparison tables so you can make informed decisions
    • We include both affiliate and non-affiliate options when relevant

  4. We disclose material connections

    • If a company provides free products for review, we disclose it
    • If we have a special partnership or sponsorship, we state it clearly
    • If we receive higher-than-average commissions, we mention it

What We Do NOT Do

We do NOT:

  • Make false or exaggerated claims about products
  • Guarantee results that cannot be guaranteed (e.g., "100% secure")
  • Hide negative aspects of products we promote
  • Misrepresent our relationship with partner companies
  • Claim to be "unbiased" when affiliate commissions may create bias

Compliance with Australian Consumer Law

Under Australian Consumer Law, we are required to:

  1. Not engage in misleading or deceptive conduct (ACL Section 18)
  2. Not make false or misleading representations (ACL Section 29)

Our compliance measures:

  • ✅ Prominent disclosure of affiliate relationships on relevant pages
  • ✅ Clear statements when we earn commissions
  • ✅ Honest evaluation of products (including drawbacks)
  • ✅ Verifiable claims backed by evidence
  • ✅ No "guaranteed" claims about security or privacy
  • ✅ Qualification of subjective terms like "best" with clear criteria

We avoid misleading language such as:

  • "This is the only solution you need" → Instead: "This is one option worth considering"
  • "Guaranteed 100% security" → Instead: "Strong security features based on our testing"
  • "Everyone is using this" → Instead: "This is a popular option based on market data"

Your Rights as a Consumer

Australian Consumer Guarantees

When you purchase products through our affiliate links, you are protected by Australian Consumer Guarantees under the ACL:

  • Products must be of acceptable quality
  • Products must match their description
  • Products must be fit for their intended purpose

If a product is faulty or misrepresented, you have rights to:

  • A repair, replacement, or refund
  • Compensation for damages and losses

These rights apply to the merchant you purchased from, not to AusPrivacyKit. We are not a party to your transaction.

Our Responsibility

As an affiliate marketer:

  • We are not responsible for the quality, performance, or security of products we promote
  • We are not liable for any issues with products or services purchased through our links
  • We cannot provide refunds for purchases made through affiliate links

However, we take our recommendations seriously. If you experience issues with a product we recommended, please let us know so we can:

  • Re-evaluate our recommendation
  • Update our content to reflect known issues
  • Remove the product from our recommendations if necessary

How We Evaluate Products

To maintain credibility and serve your best interests, we follow a structured evaluation process:

1. Research Phase

  • Review official product documentation
  • Analyze privacy policies and terms of service
  • Check user reviews on independent platforms (Trustpilot, Reddit, etc.)
  • Research company reputation and history

2. Testing Phase (When Possible)

  • Sign up for trials or purchase subscriptions
  • Test core features and functionality
  • Evaluate user experience and interface
  • Assess customer support responsiveness

3. Comparison Phase

  • Compare features, pricing, and performance against alternatives
  • Create objective comparison criteria
  • Identify ideal use cases and target audiences

4. Disclosure Phase

  • Clearly state if we have an affiliate relationship
  • Disclose commission structure if significantly above/below average
  • Note any free products or special access provided

Note: We cannot test every product extensively. Where we haven't personally tested a product, we clearly state this and base recommendations on research and third-party reviews.

Alternative Options

We strive to mention both affiliate and non-affiliate options when relevant.

You are under no obligation to use our affiliate links. You can:

  • Go directly to the merchant's website
  • Search for promotional codes or better deals elsewhere
  • Choose non-affiliate alternatives we mention
  • Do your own research and select different products

We encourage you to:

  • Compare multiple sources before making decisions
  • Read independent reviews (not just affiliate sites)
  • Consider your specific needs and budget
  • Try free trials before committing to paid subscriptions

Changes to Our Affiliate Relationships

Our affiliate partnerships may change over time:

  • We may add new affiliate partners
  • We may end relationships with existing partners
  • Commission rates may be adjusted by merchants
  • Products may change their features or pricing

We will update this disclosure when material changes occur to our affiliate relationships.

Free Products and Special Relationships

From time to time, companies may:

  • Provide free products or subscriptions for review
  • Offer higher commission rates for featured placement
  • Sponsor specific content or guides

When this occurs, we will disclose it clearly with statements such as:

  • "This product was provided free of charge for review purposes"
  • "This is a sponsored comparison guide"
  • "We have a promotional partnership with [Company]"

Our editorial standards remain the same regardless of compensation. We will not make false claims even for sponsored content.

Questions About Specific Products

If you're unsure whether a specific link is an affiliate link, or if you have questions about a product we recommend, please ask us before making a purchase.

Contact us at: hello@ausprivacykit.com

We're happy to:

  • Clarify our relationship with specific companies
  • Provide more details about our evaluation process
  • Share additional pros and cons we didn't include in published content
  • Direct you to alternative options

Compliance with Other Regulations

In addition to Australian Consumer Law, we aim to comply with:

  • US FTC Guidelines (16 CFR Part 255) on endorsements and testimonials
  • GDPR (for European visitors) regarding transparent data practices
  • CAN-SPAM Act (for email marketing) with clear unsubscribe options

Display Advertising Disclosure

Google AdSense

We use Google AdSense to display advertisements. Google may use cookies to:

  • Serve ads based on your prior visits to our site or other sites
  • Measure ad performance and engagement
  • Prevent fraudulent clicks

You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google's Ads Settings.

Note: We do not control which ads are displayed or their content. If you see an inappropriate ad, please report it to us.

Our Commitment to You

We commit to:

  1. Transparency: Clearly disclosing affiliate relationships
  2. Honesty: Providing genuine pros and cons of products
  3. Accountability: Updating content if products change or issues arise
  4. Responsiveness: Addressing your concerns about our recommendations
  5. Compliance: Following all applicable laws and regulations

We will never:

  • Hide our affiliate relationships
  • Make false claims to increase commissions
  • Recommend products we know to be harmful or ineffective
  • Ignore serious issues with products we promote

Updates to This Disclosure

This disclosure may be updated to reflect:

  • New affiliate partnerships
  • Changes in commission structures
  • Regulatory guidance or requirements
  • Feedback from our audience

Check the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page to see when changes were last made.

Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or feedback about our affiliate relationships, please contact us:

Email: hello@ausprivacykit.com

Please include "Affiliate Disclosure" in your subject line.

We value your trust and will address your concerns promptly and transparently.

Summary: Key Takeaways

For your convenience, here's what you need to know:

| Topic | Key Point | |---|---| | What are affiliate links? | Special tracking URLs that may earn us a commission if you make a purchase | | Does it cost you more? | No. You pay the same price with or without our affiliate link | | Which products? | VPNs, password managers, parental control software | | Do commissions affect recommendations? | Possibly. We prioritize quality, but affiliate income may influence which products we feature | | Can you trust our reviews? | We test products when possible and disclose both pros and cons honestly | | Are we required to disclose this? | Yes. Australian Consumer Law requires clear disclosure of material relationships | | What if you have questions? | Contact us at hello@ausprivacykit.com before making a purchase |

Legal Statement

This affiliate disclosure is provided to comply with:

  • Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), particularly Sections 18 and 29
  • Australian Consumer Law (ACL)
  • Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988
  • US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines (16 CFR Part 255)
  • Best practices for online affiliate marketing

By using AusPrivacyKit and clicking on affiliate links, you acknowledge:

  1. You have read and understood this disclosure
  2. You understand that we may earn commissions from your purchases
  3. You accept that affiliate relationships may influence our content
  4. You are making informed decisions about products and services

We respect your trust and take our disclosure obligations seriously.

Last updated: November 25, 2025

For questions or concerns, contact: hello@ausprivacykit.com