Summary
RentGuide is an independent, advertising-supported website. Some or all of the offers that appear on our comparison pages are from third-party advertisers from which RentGuide receives compensation. For example, we may receive compensation when you click on a link, when an application is submitted, or when an account is opened. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear).
This page explains, in plainer language, what that means.
What an affiliate relationship is
An "affiliate relationship" is an arrangement in which a website is paid a referral fee by a third-party company for sending visitors who go on to take a specific action — most commonly clicking a link, submitting an application, signing up for a trial, or opening an account. The fee is paid by the advertiser, not by you. You do not pay more because you arrived through RentGuide.
Most of the links that go to comparison-page offer cards are affiliate links. We may also receive flat sponsorship payments from advertisers in exchange for a placement, badge, or feature.
How and when we get paid
Depending on the partner program, RentGuide may earn:
- A flat fee when you click a link to the partner's site ("cost-per-click")
- A fee when you submit an application or complete a quote form ("cost-per-lead")
- A fee — sometimes flat, sometimes a percentage — when you open an account, purchase a policy, or otherwise become a paying customer ("cost-per-acquisition")
- A flat monthly or annual sponsorship payment for a feature, listing, or badge
The amount RentGuide is paid varies by advertiser and program. We do not disclose specific per-advertiser amounts because they are subject to confidential contracts, but we are happy to confirm whether any specific relationship exists if you ask.
Editorial independence
We work to keep the editorial side of the site separate from the advertising side. That means:
- We choose which categories to cover based on whether we believe they're genuinely useful to renters and landlords, not based on whether they have affiliate programs.
- Within a category, we include products we believe a typical reader should know about — whether or not we earn a referral fee on them.
- Editorial text on the page (the introduction, the highlights, the buyer's guide) is written by RentGuide. Advertisers do not write or approve our editorial copy.
- We do not accept payment in exchange for a specific rating or written endorsement.
Despite the above, the practical reality is that compensation can affect which advertisers we are aware of, how prominent their placement is, and in which order they appear. The next section explains how.
How and why offers are ordered
The order in which offers appear on a comparison page is influenced by a combination of factors. These can include:
- Our editorial assessment of the product or service
- The breadth and quality of features the advertiser offers
- Pricing and ease of getting started
- User-experience feedback we've observed
- Whether and how much an advertiser pays us
Because compensation is one of those factors, the ordering of offers on the Site does not always reflect a pure "best to worst" ranking. We encourage you to look beyond position and read the highlights, pricing, and buyer's guide notes for each offer before making a decision.
FTC compliance
This disclosure is intended to comply with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's "Guides Concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising" (16 CFR Part 255) and related FTC guidance for affiliate marketers and influencers. A shorter version of this disclosure appears at the top of each comparison page so that the existence of a material connection is clear and conspicuous before you click an offer link.
No personalized recommendation
Nothing on this Site is a personalized recommendation for your specific situation. We don't know your finances, your jurisdiction, your insurance needs, your credit history, or any other detail that a licensed professional would consider. Use the comparisons as a starting point, then verify everything that matters with the provider and, where appropriate, a licensed professional.
No tax, legal, insurance, or financial advice
RentGuide is not a licensed insurance agency, broker, or producer, a law firm, a credit repair organization, a financial advisor, a real estate brokerage, or a property management company. Information on the Site is not legal, financial, tax, insurance, or other professional advice. See our Terms of Service for more detail.
Contact
Questions about how a specific listing is sourced or compensated? Email editorial@rentguide.io.