Complete FTC-compliant disclosure of our affiliate relationships, sponsored content policies, and partnership arrangements. Full transparency on how hcm.life is funded and how partnerships are managed to maintain editorial integrity.
Disclosure: hcm.life participates in affiliate partnerships with HCM software vendors, implementation partners, and consulting firms. When you click links to vendor sites or request demos from our pages, we may earn referral commissions if you purchase or sign up.
We have affiliate relationships with select HCM vendors. When readers click our links to vendor websites (marked with "Visit [Vendor]" buttons), and subsequently purchase or sign up, we receive a referral commission. These commissions are:
Some vendors we review do not offer affiliate programs. We link to their websites, but earn no commission. Editorial quality and honesty are identical whether or not we have an affiliate relationship—we wouldn't give a positive review to generate commissions, nor would we negatively review a non-affiliate vendor.
Commissions vary by vendor and relationship type:
Affiliate commissions fund platform operations, research activities, content creation, and customer support. They enable us to remain independent from venture capital and maintain editorial freedom. Affiliate revenue does not create incentive to promote weaker platforms—our reputation depends on honest analysis.
These vendors have affiliate programs with hcm.life. When you see "Visit [Vendor]" links on review pages for these platforms, it includes our affiliate tracking:
Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, ADP Workforce Now, UKG Pro, Paycor, BambooHR, Rippling, Gusto, 15Five, Lattice, and others
Select Workday, SuccessFactors, and UKG implementation partners; consulting firms specializing in HCM
Select payroll, PEO, and managed HR services providers
This list is not exhaustive. New affiliate relationships are added periodically. Every page with affiliate links clearly discloses the relationship where applicable.
We accept sponsored content, but maintain strict boundaries to preserve editorial integrity:
All sponsored content is clearly labeled "Sponsored" or "Sponsored by [Company]" at the top of the page. Readers immediately know it's paid content, not editorial analysis.
Sponsorship does not influence editorial reviews, rankings, or comparisons. A sponsored company will not appear higher in our rankings simply due to sponsorship. Editorial and commercial content are completely separate.
We reserve the right to reject sponsored content with false claims, misleading comparisons, or unsupported assertions. Sponsored content must be factually accurate.
We do not publish sponsored content disguised as editorial. No "advertorial" or native ads designed to trick readers. Sponsorship is always transparent.
Sponsored content is limited to dedicated sponsor modules, sponsor directories, or clearly labeled sponsor pages. Not injected into core editorial content.
Sponsorship is an advertising arrangement. It does not guarantee positive editorial coverage, vendor review placement, or favorable rankings. Editorial decisions are independent.
Bottom line: Sponsored content funds platform operations, but never influences what we write editorially. Readers can trust that our reviews and comparisons are based on honest analysis, not sponsorship relationships.
How we manage partnerships while maintaining editorial independence:
All financial relationships are disclosed. Readers know which vendors we have affiliate relationships with, which pages include sponsored content, and how hcm.life is funded.
We don't sign exclusive partnerships that would prevent us from reviewing competing vendors fairly. Affiliate relationships don't limit our ability to review or compare all platforms in a category.
Partnership agreements do not include terms that would restrict editorial freedom, prevent negative reviews, or require advance approval of content. We maintain editorial control.
Vendors can request corrections to factual errors, but cannot request changes for subjective reasons or to hide negative feedback. Editorial content is never subject to vendor approval.
If any team member has a significant financial interest in a vendor (stock options, consulting agreement, etc.), that person recuses themselves from writing about that vendor.
Our affiliate and sponsorship model creates value for readers:
All vendor reviews, comparisons, and analysis are free. Affiliate revenue allows us to publish thousands of pages of research without charging readers.
Independence from venture capital and vendor funding means no pressure to rank specific platforms higher or avoid negative reviews.
Affiliate links connect you directly to vendors. No redirects or tracking overlays. You benefit from affiliate commissions (vendors give hcm.life referral fees), and you can always visit vendor websites directly if you prefer.
Affiliate revenue funds content updates, research, customer support, and platform improvements. Sustainable revenue model keeps hcm.life independent long-term.
When you click an affiliate link to a vendor website, we include a referral parameter in the URL (e.g., "?ref=hcm.life"). This tells the vendor that you came from hcm.life, so they credit us with the referral if you purchase.
This is transparent and standard. Vendors do not receive personal information about you beyond what you voluntarily provide them. We do not track you or collect data on your behalf.
We welcome questions about our affiliate relationships, sponsored content, and partnership practices.
For partnership inquiries, sponsorship, or concerns about affiliate relationships:
Email us at partnerships@hcm.life