Best examples of e-commerce affiliate disclaimer examples for 2025

Short, high-impact examples of e-commerce affiliate disclaimer examples

Let’s start with the kind of language real shoppers actually see: short, punchy affiliate disclaimers that appear near product links and buttons. These examples of e-commerce affiliate disclaimer examples are designed for product pages, blog posts, and recommendation sections where space is limited but transparency still matters.

Here is one example of a clear, front-and-center affiliate notice:

“Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.”

This works because it uses plain English, explains the relationship, and addresses the customer’s main concern: price. It also follows the FTC’s guidance that disclosures must be hard to miss and easy to understand. You can find that guidance directly from the FTC at ftc.gov.

Another short example you might place above a product grid or under a headline:

“We partner with brands we trust. When you click our links and make a purchase, we may receive an affiliate commission.”

This version briefly references the selection criteria (“brands we trust”) without turning the disclaimer into a marketing pitch. When you study the best examples of e-commerce affiliate disclaimer examples online, you’ll notice they are short, specific, and placed right where the decision is happening.

Full-page policy examples of e-commerce affiliate disclaimer examples

Beyond the quick one-liners, every serious online store should have a dedicated affiliate disclosure or “Affiliate & Advertising Policy” page. These longer examples of e-commerce affiliate disclaimer examples give context: how you choose partners, how commissions work, and how this affects your editorial independence.

Here is a sample structure written in natural language you can adapt:

Sample long-form affiliate disclaimer (policy page)

Affiliate relationships
Our website contains links to products and services from third-party companies. When you click these links and make a purchase, we may earn an affiliate commission. These commissions help support our business operations and allow us to continue providing content and tools at no additional cost to you.

How we choose products
We recommend products based on features, quality, pricing, customer feedback, and our own experience where applicable. Affiliate partnerships do not influence whether a product is included in our recommendations, though they may affect how often we update or feature certain offers.

No extra cost to you
If you purchase through our affiliate links, you pay the same price (or sometimes a discounted price) as you would by visiting the merchant directly. Our commission is paid by the merchant, not by you.

Compliance and transparency
We follow the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s guidelines on endorsements and testimonials. You can read more about these guidelines on the FTC’s official site: https://www.ftc.gov.

This kind of long-form example of an affiliate disclaimer works well for your footer navigation ("Affiliate Disclosure” or “Advertising & Affiliates") and gives you a central place to point users from shorter notices.

Product page and cart examples include subtle but clear language

The most effective examples of e-commerce affiliate disclaimer examples don’t hide in footers. They appear right where money changes hands: product pages, comparison tables, and sometimes even the shopping cart.

For a product review or comparison page, you might use language like:

“Our product recommendations may include affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you shop through our links, which helps support our reviews and comparison tools.”

Placed directly above a comparison chart, this example of a product-page affiliate disclaimer makes the relationship obvious without scaring users away. If you offer a curated “Top Picks” list, you can add a short note above the list:

“Disclosure: Some products listed below are from partners who pay us a commission. This does not affect our evaluation or ranking.”

For cart or checkout pages where you’re redirecting users to a partner’s site, a short line near the button can help:

“You’ll complete your purchase on our partner’s website. We may earn a commission from this referral.”

These are some of the best examples of e-commerce affiliate disclaimer examples for high-intent pages: short, clear, and placed exactly where the user needs to understand what’s happening.

Email, SMS, and newsletter examples of affiliate disclosures

Affiliate links don’t live only on your website. If you run email campaigns, SMS promos, or app push notifications, you need to adapt these examples of e-commerce affiliate disclaimer examples for those channels as well.

A typical email footer disclosure might look like this:

“Some links in this email are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, we may earn a commission that helps support our content and offers.”

For promotional newsletters that are mostly affiliate offers, put the disclosure near the top rather than buried at the bottom:

“Heads up: This email contains affiliate links. When you shop through these links, we may earn a commission. We only feature deals we believe offer real value.”

For SMS, you’re working with a strict character limit, so you need a very short example of a disclaimer:

“Ad: May include affiliate links. We may earn a commission. Terms on our site.”

You can then link to your full affiliate disclosure page. The FTC has repeatedly emphasized that disclosures must travel with the content, including in mobile and social formats. Their mobile advertising guidance (”.com Disclosures") is available at https://www.ftc.gov.

Social media and influencer-style examples of e-commerce affiliate disclaimer examples

If your e-commerce brand uses TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, or Pinterest to promote products with affiliate links, you need platform-appropriate disclosure language. The FTC has explicitly said that tags like #sp, #spon, or vague phrases are not clear enough.

Here are some social-first examples of e-commerce affiliate disclaimer examples you can adapt:

Instagram caption example:

“This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through my link in bio, I may earn a commission. I only share products I genuinely like and use.”

YouTube video description example:

“Affiliate disclosure: Some of the links in this description are affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, we may receive a commission. This helps support the channel at no extra cost to you.”

TikTok overlay text example:

On-screen text near the product link: “Affiliate link – we may earn a commission.”

These are real-world style examples of e-commerce affiliate disclaimer examples that match how people actually consume content in 2024–2025: fast, mobile-first, and heavily social.

Region-specific and niche examples (health, finance, kids’ products)

Some categories demand extra care. While the core affiliate disclosure stays similar, you may need additional language for regulated areas like health, finance, or products aimed at children.

Health product example:

“Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you purchase through our links. Our recommendations are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified health provider with questions about your health.”

For medical or wellness content, it’s smart to reference reputable sources in your broader site content, such as Mayo Clinic or NIH, even though the affiliate disclaimer itself should stay short.

Financial product example:

“We may receive affiliate compensation when you click on links to partner products. This may influence which products we review and where they appear on the site, but it does not affect our assessment of their features or fees. Always consider your personal financial situation and, if needed, consult a licensed financial professional.”

Children’s products example:

“Some links on this page are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase. All product suggestions are intended for parents and guardians. Please review safety information and age recommendations from the manufacturer before buying.”

These specialized examples include both the affiliate disclaimer and a short category-specific warning, which regulators in the U.S., EU, and U.K. increasingly expect in sensitive sectors.

2024–2025 trends that affect how you write affiliate disclaimers

Affiliate marketing has matured, and regulators have caught up. When you’re looking at the best examples of e-commerce affiliate disclaimer examples in 2024–2025, you’ll see a few common patterns:

More prominent placement.
Disclosures are moving from tiny footer text to in-line notices near “Add to Cart” buttons, price comparisons, and top-of-page callouts. The FTC has made it clear that hidden or hard-to-see disclaimers are not acceptable.

Plain-language, human tone.
Legalese is fading. Short, conversational examples like “We may earn a commission if you buy through our links” are now standard. The goal is that an average user, not a lawyer, understands the relationship.

Channel-specific wording.
Brands now maintain slightly different examples of e-commerce affiliate disclaimer examples for web, email, social, and mobile apps. The message is the same, but the length and placement change.

Global audiences, local rules.
If you sell to users in the U.S., U.K., and EU, you should assume you need clear disclosures everywhere. The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the European Commission also expect transparent commercial communications. While this article focuses on U.S. rules, international brands should track local guidance from their regulators and consumer protection agencies.

For U.S. readers, the FTC’s Endorsement Guides and FAQs are the best starting point: FTC Endorsement Guides – What People Are Asking.

Practical tips for writing your own affiliate disclaimer

After seeing multiple examples of e-commerce affiliate disclaimer examples, the pattern becomes obvious. Effective disclosures tend to follow a simple checklist:

Use the words “affiliate” or “commission.”
Make it immediately clear that you get paid when users click or buy.

Explain the impact on the customer.
A short phrase like “at no extra cost to you” can reduce suspicion, as long as it’s accurate.

Keep it short but specific.
Most of the best examples of e-commerce affiliate disclaimer examples are one to three sentences. Long walls of text are ignored.

Place it where decisions are made.
On-page near product links, in email near the top, in social captions or on-screen text, and in app screens before the user clicks out to a partner.

Link to a full policy.
Your short disclaimer can link to a more detailed “Affiliate Disclosure” page that explains your selection process and editorial independence.

Review regularly.
Affiliate programs, partners, and regulations change. Plan to review your disclaimers at least once a year, and whenever you expand into a new market or product category.

If you want more general background on advertising disclosures and consumer protection law, many law schools and consumer law centers publish open resources. For example, Harvard Law School’s Berkman Klein Center and other academic programs often discuss digital advertising transparency and consumer rights: https://cyber.harvard.edu.

FAQ: examples of affiliate disclaimers for e-commerce sites

Q1: Can you give a short example of an affiliate disclaimer I can use on my store?
A: Here’s a simple, ready-to-use option:

“This site contains affiliate links. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.”

You can place this near product recommendations, in your footer, and on your dedicated disclosure page.

Q2: Where should I put my affiliate disclosure on product pages?
A: Put it close to the affiliate links or buttons, not buried in the footer. For example, a one-sentence disclaimer directly above a list of products or immediately under a “Recommended Products” heading. The user should see it without scrolling or hunting.

Q3: Do I need different examples of e-commerce affiliate disclaimer examples for social media and email?
A: Yes, you should adapt the wording for each channel’s format. A short line in an Instagram caption (“This post includes affiliate links; I may earn a commission”) and a footer note in email are both good examples. The key is that the disclosure travels with the content and is easy to notice.

Q4: Is it enough to say “affiliate links may be used” in my site footer?
A: A footer notice is better than nothing, but the FTC has indicated it’s usually not enough by itself. Stronger examples of e-commerce affiliate disclaimer examples place the disclosure next to the affiliate content, not only in the footer or terms page.

Q5: Do I have to mention every affiliate partner by name in my disclaimer?
A: Typically no. Most sites use general language (“third-party companies,” “our partners,” “affiliate programs”) rather than listing each merchant. If a specific brand relationship is especially prominent or exclusive, you might mention it in context, but your standard disclaimer can stay general.

Q6: Are there legal templates I can copy directly?
A: The FTC doesn’t provide a single official template, but its guidance includes many examples of acceptable and unacceptable disclosures. You can review those examples at https://www.ftc.gov and then adapt the plain-language samples from this article to fit your business.