The short version: The Credit Card Compass earns commissions when you apply for and are approved for credit cards through links on our site. This compensation does not influence our ratings, rankings, or editorial opinions. We would give you the same information about every card whether or not we had an affiliate relationship with the issuer.
How We Earn Revenue
The Credit Card Compass participates in affiliate marketing programs. This means that when you click on a link to a credit card on our website and you are approved for that card, we may receive a commission from the card issuer or from an affiliate marketing network.
We work with affiliate networks including CJ Affiliate, Impact.com, FlexOffers, and Rakuten Advertising. These networks connect publishers like The Credit Card Compass with credit card issuers including Chase, American Express, Capital One, Citi, and others.
Commission amounts vary by card and issuer. Some cards pay higher commissions than others. However, our editorial ratings and recommendations are determined entirely by each card's objective merits — not by commission rates.
What This Means for You
When you click an "Apply Now" link on our site, you will be taken to the card issuer's official website. The terms you see on the issuer's site — annual fee, sign-up bonus, reward rates, APR — are the actual current terms. We always recommend verifying current terms directly on the issuer's website before applying, as offers can change.
Using our affiliate links does not cost you anything extra. You receive the same card, the same terms, and the same sign-up bonus you would get by applying directly through the issuer's website.
Our Editorial Independence Policy
The Credit Card Compass maintains strict editorial independence from our affiliate relationships. Specifically:
- Affiliate commission rates do not influence which cards we feature or how we rank them
- We do not accept payment from issuers in exchange for positive reviews or higher ratings
- We do not publish sponsored content labeled as editorial content
- Our star ratings and editorial scores are determined solely by each card's features, fees, and value
- We include cards on our site that pay lower commissions or no commissions at all, when those cards genuinely serve our readers
FTC Compliance
This disclosure is made in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's guidelines on endorsements and testimonials (16 C.F.R. Part 255). The FTC requires that websites disclose material connections — including financial relationships — when recommending products or services.
We include a shorter version of this disclosure on every page of our site where affiliate links appear. If you have questions about our affiliate relationships or editorial policies, please contact us.
Third-Party Links
All "Apply Now" and "Learn More" links on The Credit Card Compass lead to third-party websites operated by credit card issuers or their partners. We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or privacy practices of those third-party sites. Once you leave our site, you are subject to the terms and privacy policies of the site you visit.
Information Accuracy
We make every effort to ensure that card information on our site is accurate and current. Card terms — including annual fees, reward rates, sign-up bonuses, and APR — are subject to change at any time by the issuer. We verify the accuracy of information at the time of publication and update our content when we become aware of changes. Always confirm current terms on the issuer's official website before applying.
Last updated: April 2025. Questions? Contact us at service@thecreditcardcompass.com.