How we work
Editorial Policy
How we research, write, and stay independent.
GiftCardsCredit is an independent publication. This page explains how we make decisions about what to cover, who writes our content, and how we keep affiliate revenue from corrupting our recommendations.
Independence
We never accept paid placement, sponsored "reviews," or pay-to-rank. No company can pay to be included in our guides or to be ranked higher. We disclose every commercial relationship.
How we test and research
- Hands-on where possible. Where it makes sense to physically test (tools, products, services), we do.
- Primary sources. Pricing, product specs, and policy details are pulled from primary sources (manufacturer pages, official documentation, regulatory filings) at time of writing.
- Multiple comparisons. Recommendations are made against at least 3-5 alternatives in the same category.
- Plain English. If we can't explain why something matters in two sentences, we cut it.
Fact-checking and corrections
Every article is reviewed before publication. If we get something wrong, we fix it and add a note at the bottom of the piece describing what changed and when. To report a factual issue, email [email protected].
How often we update
"Best of" and pricing-sensitive guides are reviewed at least quarterly. The "last updated" date on every article reflects the most recent substantive review.
Affiliate disclosure
We participate in affiliate programs (e.g., Amazon Associates and others). When you click an outbound link to a retailer and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions never affect what we recommend or how we rank products. Articles containing affiliate links are clearly marked at the top of the page.
Advertising
We may display programmatic advertising (e.g., Google AdSense) on certain pages. Ads are clearly labeled. We do not allow advertisers to influence editorial content.
AI use
We use AI tools to help with research, outlining, and grammar checks. Every article is reviewed, edited, and approved by a human editor before publication. Our author bylines reflect the person responsible for the article's content and accuracy.
Authors
Sarah Chen — Personal Finance Writer. Sarah covers consumer finance, rewards strategy, and everyday money. She has been writing about credit cards and cashback since 2018 and reads the fine print so you don't have to.