The Core Principle
ToolIntel exists to serve buyers, not vendors. The moment we accept money from a company we review, our judgment is compromised—even if we believe it isn't. This policy exists to eliminate that possibility entirely.
🚫 What We Will Never Accept
- Payment for reviews — No sponsored reviews, paid placements, or "premium listings"
- Affiliate commissions — No referral fees, affiliate links, or revenue sharing
- Free products for review — We pay for every tool at the tier being reviewed
- Advertising from reviewed companies — No display ads, sponsored content, or native advertising
- Advisory or consulting fees — No paid advisory relationships with AI vendors
- Equity or options — No ownership stakes in companies we might review
- Conference speaking fees — Not from vendors; only from neutral parties
- Gifts exceeding $50 — Swag is fine; anything more is declined
✓ What We Do Accept
- Reader subscriptions — Direct support from the audience we serve
- Advertising from non-reviewed entities — Companies we don't and won't review
- Speaking fees from neutral parties — Universities, non-profits, conferences without vendor sponsors
- Tool submission fees — A flat fee to enter the review queue (does not affect scores)
Current Disclosure Statement
| Category | Status |
|---|---|
| Ownership in AI companies | None |
| Advisory relationships | None |
| Affiliate relationships | None |
| Vendor sponsorships | None |
| Paid vendor relationships | None |
This table is updated whenever circumstances change. Historical versions are archived.
What Happens If Circumstances Change
If I ever acquire a financial interest in a company that could be reviewed:
- That company will be immediately excluded from review eligibility
- Any existing review will be flagged with a conflict notice
- The disclosure table above will be updated within 24 hours
- An explanation will be published on the Transparency page
Recusal Policy
I will not review any tool where:
- I have a personal relationship with founders or executives
- I have previously worked for or consulted with the company
- I have any financial interest, however small
- A family member has a material relationship with the company
In these cases, the tool will not be reviewed. No exceptions.
Challenge me on this. If you believe I have an undisclosed conflict of interest, email me at conflict@toolintel.ai. I will investigate and respond publicly within 7 days.
Why This Matters
The AI tool review space is broken because most reviewers have financial relationships with the tools they cover. Affiliate links, sponsored content, and advertising revenue create invisible biases that are almost impossible to overcome—even with good intentions.
This policy is my commitment to doing it differently. It may limit how fast ToolIntel can grow. That's a tradeoff I'm willing to make.