Affiliate Disclosure

Last updated July 2026

The Backyard Sear may earn a small affiliate commission on some of the tools, books, or services we link to. When you buy through one of those links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. If a link is an affiliate link, that is the only difference; the price you pay is the same.

The one rule

Affiliate revenue never changes what we recommend. We point to what we would actually use, and we say plainly when the free option is the right one. Sometimes the cheapest tool, or no tool at all, is the right call, and we will tell you that even though it earns us nothing. No tool is recommended just because it pays more.

Why we use affiliate links at all

Honest, useful guides take time to write and money to host. Affiliate links let the guides stay free, with no paywall and no pop-up ads chasing you around the page. It is the least intrusive way we found to fund the work.

A note on the guidance

Everything here is general, educational information, not professional advice, and an affiliate link never changes that. For anything specific to your situation, check with a qualified professional. See the terms for the full picture.

Questions

If a recommendation ever reads like it was bought, tell us at hello@thebackyardsear.com. Catching that is the whole point of saying this out loud.