Affiliate disclosure generator
Write a clear affiliate disclosure that follows the FTC's guidance for any format, with the placement rules that go with it. Then paste your current disclosure into the checker to catch wording the FTC calls unclear.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Disclosure checker
Paste a disclosure you already use. It's checked against the wording the FTC's guidance calls clear or unclear, plus a few vague tags the FTC doesn't mention.
4 steps, no signup
- 01
Pick where it goes
Choose the format: blog post, YouTube or video, Instagram/TikTok post, newsletter, podcast, or a site-wide page.
- 02
Say what the connection is
Affiliate commissions, a paid sponsorship, a free product, Amazon Associates, or several at once.
- 03
Copy the disclosure
You get the disclosure text, a short version for tight spaces, and placement rules for that exact format.
- 04
Check your existing ones
Paste any disclosure you already use and the checker flags wording the FTC calls unclear.
Short answer: an affiliate disclosure says, in plain words, that you earn money when people buy through your links, for example "I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post." The FTC wants it next to the recommendation, before the link, and visible without clicking "more". Pick your format above and copy the result.
What this affiliate disclosure generator does
If you earn a commission, get paid, or receive free products for recommending something, US law expects you to say so clearly. The affiliate disclosure generator writes that statement for the format you're publishing in and tells you where to put it. Placement matters as much as wording: a perfect sentence in the footer still doesn't count.
Everything it produces follows the FTC's own published guidance, "FTC's Endorsement Guides: What People Are Asking", rather than another generator's interpretation. Where this page quotes a rule, the quote is from that document.
The four rules that matter
- Say you're paid, in plain words. The FTC's example: "I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post." It warns that "affiliate link" alone may not be understood, and "commissionable link" probably isn't clear.
- Put it next to the recommendation. Best practice is a disclosure "very close to, or – even better – part of, the endorsement." Not only at the top of the page, not only at the bottom, not in the comments.
- Make it impossible to miss. Visible without clicking "more", in the video itself rather than only the description, and repeated during a live stream.
- Don't rely on someone else's label. A platform's "Paid partnership" tag is "no guarantee" of an effective disclosure; responsibility rests with the creator and the brand.
Clear and unclear wording
| Clear (per FTC guidance) | Unclear or insufficient on its own |
|---|---|
| "I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post." | "Affiliate link" |
| "Paid link" next to the link | "Commissionable link" |
| "#ad", "Ad:" or "Paid ad" at the start of a post | #ambassador, #partner, #client, #advisor, #consultant |
| "Sponsored by XYZ" or "Promotion by XYZ"; "Sponsored" or "Promotion" at the start of a post "might also be effective" | #sweepstakes on its own |
| "Paid post by [brand]" | #comped, #hosted, #freeproduct, "Gifted", #endorsement |
| A disclosure next to each recommendation | A "DISCLOSURE" or "LEGAL" link, or a homepage-only notice |
Placement by format
| Format | Put the disclosure | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Blog post | Before the first affiliate link, near the top of the post body; repeat "paid link" next to links in long posts | Footer only, sidebar, separate page only |
| YouTube / video | Said and shown on screen near the start; again at the top of the description | Description only, end of video only |
| Instagram / TikTok | At the start of the caption and on the image or video itself | After "more", buried in hashtags, in the comments |
| Live stream | Repeated periodically through the stream, on screen and said aloud | Once at the start only |
| Newsletter | Near the top of the issue and next to sponsored sections | Footer only |
| Podcast | Read out before the sponsor segment or recommendation | Show notes only |
Amazon Associates
Amazon's Associates Program Operating Agreement requires a specific sentence: "As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases." It must appear clearly on your site. It satisfies Amazon, but it doesn't replace the FTC requirement for a disclosure near the links themselves. Use both: the Amazon sentence on your site, plus a plain disclosure on each post.
Example disclosures
- Blog: "This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I get a commission at no extra cost to you."
- YouTube, said aloud: "Quick note: some links below are affiliate links, so I earn a commission if you buy through them."
- Instagram caption: "#ad Paid partnership with [brand]."
- Free product: "[Brand] sent me this for free to review. They didn't see this before I posted."
Checking a disclosure you already use: an example
The checker's placeholder is a typical weak caption: #ambassador #gifted Check out my favourite blender (link in bio). Paste it and you get four flags. "#ambassador" is on the FTC's list of labels that aren't enough on their own. "Gifted" without a brand name is, in the FTC's words, "likely to be ambiguous". There's no clear disclosure wording at all. And "link in bio" points elsewhere instead of disclosing in the post. A fixed version: #ad Blendco sent me this blender for free. Link in bio.
What the generator and checker don't do
- The checker matches wording. It can't see where the disclosure sits on your page or in your video, which matters just as much.
- It only knows the terms listed in the FTC's guidance plus a few common abbreviations. A disclosure can pass the checker and still be unclear in context.
- It writes in English only and follows US guidance. Other countries' rules are similar but not identical.
- It doesn't write terms of service, privacy policies or the full legal page an affiliate programme might require.
Beyond the US
The FTC's rules cover endorsements that reach US audiences. Other countries have their own: the UK's ASA and CMA, the EU's consumer-protection rules as applied in each member state, Canada's Competition Bureau, Australia's ACCC and India's ASCI all expect advertising to be obviously identifiable. The wording differs; the principle of clear, up-front and close to the content is the same. Check your local regulator if most of your audience is outside the US.
Related tools for creators
Tag affiliate links with the UTM builder so you can see which posts drive clicks. Before pitching brands, work out your numbers with the engagement rate calculator. For video, the YouTube title generator helps with the title, and the disclosure goes at the top of the description.
Not legal advice. This tool is a writing aid built on the FTC's public guidance. If affiliate income is a significant part of your business, or you run a brand programme, have a lawyer review your disclosures.
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