How We Make Money
Quick answer: Idiom Insider is funded mainly through advertising, sponsored content and partnerships, all clearly labelled. This page explains each revenue source in plain language and, just as importantly, how we keep that money from influencing the independent explanations and recommendations our readers rely on.
Key takeaways
- We are ad-supported: advertising and sponsorship keep the site free to read.
- Everything paid is labelled: you can always tell commercial from editorial.
- Editorial is independent: our explanations and recommendations are not for sale.
- We may use affiliate links: disclosed, and never the reason we recommend something.
- Transparency is the point: if we earn from it, we tell you.
Why we explain this
A language site only helps if you can trust what it says. If you cannot tell whether a recommendation is honest or bought, the whole thing is worthless. So we would rather be completely open about how the lights stay on. Being ad-supported lets us keep our content free — and being transparent about it is how we keep your trust while doing so.
Our revenue sources
- Advertising — clearly labelled placements from brands relevant to learners and educators. See advertise.
- Sponsored content — longer, labelled brand articles. See sponsored content.
- Partnerships — ongoing collaborations with schools, publishers and EdTech. See partners.
- Press releases — labelled, company-supplied announcements. See press release.
- Affiliate links — where used, disclosed, earning a small commission at no extra cost to you.
How affiliate links work here
Sometimes we link to a product — a book, an app or a course — through an affiliate link, which means we may earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. This never decides what we recommend. We suggest something because we believe it helps learners; the link is just how we sometimes recover the cost of the work. Where affiliate links appear, they are disclosed.
How we protect editorial independence
The rule is simple: money cannot buy our opinion. Advertisers and sponsors get labelled placements, not influence over our explanations of idioms, our study advice or which resources we genuinely rate. Commercial and editorial decisions are kept separate, and a paid relationship never guarantees a positive mention in our independent content.
What paying gets you — and what it doesn’t
- Paying gets you: a clearly labelled placement, article or announcement, reaching our audience.
- Paying does not get you: a favourable editorial review, a place in our independent recommendations, or hidden coverage.
How we choose what to recommend
When we recommend a tool, book or method, it is because we think it genuinely helps our readers learn — based on usefulness, accuracy and fit, not on who pays us. If a paying partner’s product also happens to be genuinely good, we still label the commercial relationship. The recommendation and the payment are always kept distinct.
Following the FTC guidelines
We label paid placements in line with the FTC endorsement guidelines, which set out how commercial relationships should be disclosed. Our full labelling policy lives on the advertising disclosure page.
About Idiom Insider
Idiom Insider is an independent English-language learning resource focused on idioms, expressions and the way real people actually use English. Our work is written and checked by people who teach, study and edit the language, and our reference explanations are kept separate from anything a brand pays for. You can learn more about our mission and the people behind the site on our about page, and you can always reach a real person through our contact page or at [email protected]. Any commercial placement on Idiom Insider is labelled in line with the FTC endorsement guidelines, and our editorial explanations of idioms and usage are never for sale.
Frequently asked questions
How does Idiom Insider make money?
Mainly through advertising, sponsored content, partnerships and press releases — all labelled — and sometimes disclosed affiliate links.
Do advertisers influence your recommendations?
No. Paid placements are labelled and kept separate from our independent explanations and recommendations.
What are affiliate links?
Links through which we may earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. They are disclosed and never the reason we recommend something.
Is your content free to read?
Yes. Advertising and sponsorship keep Idiom Insider free for readers.
Can I pay for a good review?
No. You can buy a labelled placement or sponsored content, but not a favourable editorial opinion.
How do you label paid content?
Clearly, following the FTC guidelines. See our advertising disclosure for details.
Who can I ask about this?
Reach us anytime through the contact page or at [email protected].