Affiliate & Advertising Disclosure
Last updated September 27, 2026
The short version
The Award Hacker is free to read because we earn money in two ways: affiliate commissions (when you apply for a card, book travel, or buy gear through our links) and display advertising (ads shown on our pages). It costs you nothing extra — and our recommendations exist because they're good, not because they pay.
What affiliate links are
An affiliate link is a special link to a credit-card issuer, booking platform, travel-insurance provider, or retailer (like Amazon). If you click it and then apply, book, or buy, that company may pay us a commission. The price you pay is exactly the same as if you'd gone directly — the commission comes out of the company's marketing budget, not your pocket.
We participate in programs including credit-card affiliate networks, travel booking and insurance affiliate programs (via networks like Impact.com and CJ Affiliate), and Amazon Associates.
How we handle recommendations
- We state annual fees, minimum-spend requirements, and bonus terms upfront, and we qualify offers as accurate "at time of writing" — card offers change, so always verify current terms before applying.
- When a link may earn us a commission, we say so in plain language near the link.
- We will never recommend a card or product we wouldn't recommend to a friend. One reader who feels misled costs more than any commission is worth.
Display ads
You may see display advertisements on our pages, served through an ad network (such as Mediavine Journey). Advertisers pay for placement; their presence is not an endorsement, and sponsored content — if we ever publish any — will always be clearly labeled as such.
Not financial advice
Our content is educational. Credit cards involve real risk: never carry a balance to earn points, never spend more than you would anyway, and consider your own financial situation before applying for any product.
Contact
Questions about our disclosures, a specific link, or a correction? Reach us at hello@theawardhacker.com and we'll sort it out.