Affiliate Disclosure

1. Disclosure statement

CertBlueprint participates in affiliate marketing programs. Some links on this site are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission if you click through and complete a purchase on the linked site. This commission comes at no additional cost to you — you pay the same price you would have paid by going directly to the vendor.

We are required by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under its Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (16 CFR Part 255) to clearly disclose affiliate relationships to readers. This page, along with inline disclosures placed near monetized content throughout the site, fulfills that requirement.

Affiliate links are labeled clearly on individual certification pages in the resource sections. If you see a notice that reads "some links are affiliate links" near a resource listing, those specific links are covered by this disclosure.

2. How affiliate links work

When you click an affiliate link on CertBlueprint, a tracking cookie is placed in your browser by the affiliate network. If you complete a purchase on the destination site within the cookie window (typically 24–48 hours depending on the program), we receive a commission from the vendor.

What this means in practice:

• The price you pay is identical to the price you would have paid without using our link
• No fees or surcharges are added to your purchase
• The vendor (not you) pays the commission to CertBlueprint
• You can clear your cookies at any time to remove affiliate tracking
• You are never required to use an affiliate link — direct links to vendor sites are always an option

Affiliate commissions are one of the primary ways CertBlueprint funds ongoing content development, hosting, and maintenance. Without this revenue model, the site would require paid subscriptions or display advertising alone to operate.

3. Editorial independence

Affiliate relationships do not influence which resources we recommend, how we rank them, or how we describe them. Our editorial process works as follows:

• Resources are evaluated based on community reputation, content quality, exam topic alignment, and candidate outcomes reported in study communities
• We include resources regardless of whether they have an affiliate program — several of our top recommendations generate zero commission
• We do not accept payment, sponsored placement, or any other consideration to feature or positively review specific products
• Resources with affiliate links are not ranked above resources without them
• If a free resource outperforms a paid one for a given certification, we say so explicitly

The free resources sections on certification pages exist specifically to provide value that has no revenue component. Jeremy's IT Lab (YouTube), Cisco Packet Tracer, and similar free tools are recommended because they are genuinely the best options at their price point — not because they generate commission (they do not).

One of the free tools we link to is our own: NetDrill, a browser-based network simulator made by the team behind CertBlueprint. Links to it earn no commission and say each time that it is ours. It is listed alongside the other free tools, not instead of them, and it is free during its beta.

Our goal is to be a reference that readers trust. That trust depends on honesty. If we recommended inferior paid resources over better free ones to capture commissions, our recommendations would lose value. We have no incentive to do that and every incentive to maintain accurate, honest guidance.

4. Current affiliate programs

CertBlueprint currently participates in or is applying to the following affiliate programs:

• Udemy Affiliate Program — online video courses including instructor-led certification prep courses for CCNA, Security+, AWS SAA, AZ-104, and others

We may add additional affiliate partnerships as the site expands to cover more certifications and resource types. Potential future programs include Boson ExSim (practice exams), Amazon Associates (book recommendations), and vendor-direct affiliate programs where available.

This disclosure page will be updated whenever new affiliate relationships are established. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision.

5. Advertising

In addition to affiliate links, CertBlueprint displays advertising through Google AdSense. AdSense uses cookies to serve ads based on your browsing history and interests. You can opt out of personalized advertising through Google Ads Settings.

Neither Google nor any advertiser has editorial influence over the content on this site. Ad placement is automated through the AdSense platform. CertBlueprint does not sell direct advertising or sponsored content placements.

Ad revenue and affiliate commissions together fund site operations. This dual-revenue model keeps the site free to access without paywalls, subscriptions, or required account creation.

6. Third-party sites and pricing

When you follow a link from CertBlueprint to a third-party site (affiliate or otherwise), the policies of that third-party site govern your purchase and data. CertBlueprint is not responsible for pricing changes, product availability, or the terms of sale on external sites.

Prices referenced on this site — for courses, practice exams, or exam vouchers — are subject to change and are provided as general guidance only. Always verify current pricing directly on the vendor's site before purchasing. Udemy courses in particular fluctuate significantly in price; they are frequently available at substantial discounts from list price.

7. Your choices

You are never required to use affiliate links to access our content or recommendations. If you prefer to purchase directly from vendors without affiliate tracking:

• You can go directly to the vendor's website (udemy.com, boson.com, etc.) without using our links
• You can clear your browser cookies after clicking any link to remove tracking
• You can use a browser extension that blocks affiliate tracking if you prefer

We appreciate when readers use our affiliate links — it directly supports the site — but we understand if you prefer not to, and we have no way to know either way.

8. Contact

If you have questions about our affiliate relationships, want to know whether a specific link is an affiliate link, or have concerns about how we evaluate resources, contact us at contact@surewhynot.app. We respond to every message.

For privacy-related questions about cookies and tracking, see our Privacy Policy. For general terms of site use, see our Terms of Use.