Advertising Disclosure
How CardStack earns money and how it affects what you see
The Short Version
CardStack earns money when you click links on our site and apply for credit card products. This compensation comes from card issuers, not from you. It does not affect our data-driven rankings.
How We Earn Revenue
CardStack participates in credit card affiliate programs. When you click a link to a credit card product on our site and submit an application, we may receive compensation from the card issuer. This is the primary way we fund our operations and keep the site free to use.
What This Means for You
- You pay nothing extra — affiliate compensation comes from the card issuer, not from you
- Clicking a link does not obligate you to apply or commit to anything
- You may see the same (or better) offers by going directly to a card issuer's website
- Our affiliate relationships are with the card issuers, not with you as the consumer
What This Does NOT Affect
- Rankings: Our card scores and rankings are generated algorithmically from 35+ data sources. No issuer can pay to improve their ranking.
- Data Accuracy: All card terms, fees, and benefits are sourced from official product pages regardless of affiliate status.
- Coverage: We review and rank all major credit cards, including those from issuers we do not have affiliate relationships with.
What This MAY Affect
- Card Visibility: On some pages, cards with affiliate partnerships may be shown more prominently alongside other recommended cards.
- Link Destinations: Affiliate links may route through tracking services before reaching the card issuer's website.
Our Commitment to Transparency
We believe you deserve to know how we make money. That's why:
- Every page on CardStack includes a disclosure notice
- Our methodology is publicly documented
- Our scoring algorithm treats all cards equally regardless of affiliate status
- We clearly label when content may be influenced by advertising relationships
FTC Compliance
This disclosure is provided in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's guidelines on endorsements and testimonials (16 CFR Part 255). CardStack is committed to full transparency about our financial relationships with credit card issuers.
Questions?
If you have questions about our advertising practices, please contact us.