ClaroRank earns commissions on some of the tools it reviews. Every commercial relationship is disclosed on the page where it exists and listed in full below. There are no undisclosed arrangements. Tools with no affiliate relationship are reviewed with identical depth and rated on the same criteria as tools that pay a commission.
These tools have an active affiliate arrangement with ClaroRank as of July 2026. ClaroRank earns a commission when a reader signs up through a link on this site. Commission structures are not disclosed — this is standard practice across affiliate publishing.
SE Ranking — affiliate arrangement. ClaroRank earns a commission on paid signups via links on this site.
SEMrush — affiliate arrangement. ClaroRank earns a commission on paid signups and free trial activations via links on this site.
Mangools — affiliate arrangement. ClaroRank earns a commission on paid signups via links on this site.
Moz — affiliate arrangement. ClaroRank earns a commission on paid signups via links on this site.
Zerobounce — affiliate arrangement. ClaroRank earns a commission on paid signups via links on this site.
Nightwatch — affiliate arrangement. ClaroRank earns a commission on paid signups via links on this site.
Neuronwriter — affiliate arrangement. ClaroRank earns a commission on paid signups via links on this site.
Ahrefs has no affiliate program. All Ahrefs links on this site are standard editorial links with no tracking or commission. This is disclosed on every page where Ahrefs appears.
These tools are reviewed and linked without any commercial arrangement. ClaroRank earns nothing when a reader visits their pricing page or signs up. They are included on editorial merit only.
Ubersuggest — no affiliate arrangement. Included on editorial merit.
Surfer SEO — no affiliate arrangement. Included on editorial merit.
Scores and verdicts are written before affiliate links are considered. A tool is tested on real marketing work — rank tracking, site audits, keyword research, client reporting. A score is assigned using a fixed rubric covering data accuracy, interface, pricing fairness, support, and use-case fit. The written verdict is produced from that score. Affiliate links are added to the published page after editorial is complete.
The practical test: Ahrefs scores 8.9/10 on ClaroRank and is recommended for link building and backlink analysis despite earning zero commission. SE Ranking scores 9.1/10 and is recommended as the best-value all-round tool — a verdict that holds regardless of the affiliate relationship. If SE Ranking raised its prices or reduced its feature set to the point where a competitor offered better value, the recommendation would change.
When you click an affiliate link on ClaroRank and sign up for a tool, ClaroRank earns a commission from the tool provider — not from you. The price you pay is identical whether you arrive via ClaroRank or directly. No tool has ever paid ClaroRank for a higher score, a featured position, or a positive verdict.
When a tool has no affiliate program — such as Ahrefs — ClaroRank links to its pricing page as a standard external link. These tools receive identical editorial coverage. The absence of a commercial relationship has no effect on how they are reviewed or ranked.
The honest answer to “how do you stay independent”: you don’t fully — no affiliate site does. What you can do is be transparent about every arrangement, never change a score because of one, and review tools that have no affiliate program with the same depth as tools that pay well. That is the standard ClaroRank holds itself to.
This page is updated when affiliate relationships change — when a new program is joined, an existing one ends, or the status of a tool’s program changes. If you believe any information on this page is incorrect or incomplete, contact clarorank@gmail.com.
Last updated: July 2026