How we make money & how we rank

Try AI Dating is reader-supported. We earn affiliate commissions from a subset of the AI dating tools we list when readers start a paid plan, subscription, or purchase through our links. We do not accept payment for ranking position, we do not let advertisers see content before publication, and we do not run sponsored content disguised as editorial. Here is exactly how the money flows and what it does (and does not) influence.

The money flow

When you click a tracked outbound link on a tier-1 brand page and complete a paid action, the brand may pay us a commission. Some relationships are direct with the brand (Roast Dating, PhotoAI, Aragon AI), others are through affiliate networks (CJ Affiliate for eHarmony and EliteSingles). The commission is paid by the brand, not by you — your price is the same whether you click our link or go direct.

Not every brand on this site is an affiliate partner. We list tier-2 brands (YourMove AI, Rizz, Hinge, Iris Dating) without open public affiliate programs for editorial completeness — their CTAs route to our match quiz, which then recommends a tier-1 brand whose use case fits. Tier-3 brands (Tinder) are mentioned editorially without any link.

What compensation does not change

• Ranking order. Position is computed from a weighted blend of editor rating, reader-verified outcomes, last-verified recency, product fit, and pricing transparency. Commission rate is not a factor.
• Whether we cover a brand. If a brand is relevant to readers, we cover them — partner or not, with the routing tier transparently labeled.
• What we say in a review. Negative findings stay in the review even when the brand pays us.

Editorial methodology — how we rank

Every tool on this site is scored on the same five-factor rubric.

1. Product fit. Does the tool actually solve the workflow it claims to (opener, photo, profile, reply, matching)? Our editorial team uses each tool end-to-end before we publish.
2. User-time respect. Pricing model + onboarding friction + cancellation flow. Free first try beats paid trial; pay-as-you-go beats subscription where the use case is one-shot.
3. Reader-verified outcomes. Reader feedback is collected on every brand page after readers have used the tool. Brand pages display the live tally.
4. Last-verified recency. Pricing, AI features, and program terms change frequently. We re-verify weekly.
5. Affiliate program transparency. We surface tier-1 (real affiliate) vs tier-2 (no public program) vs tier-3 (editorial mention only) on every brand. This is a transparency signal — not a ranking factor.

FTC compliance + AI guidance

Per FTC Endorsement Guides + the August 2024 final rule on fake reviews, this site:

• Marks affiliate links clearly as "Paid link" / "Affiliate link" in the same view as the link itself.
• Does not publish AI-generated reviews. Every editorial pitch is written or human-vetted by the Try AI Dating Editorial Team.
• Does not publish AI-fabricated user testimonials.
• Discloses commercial relationships above-the-fold via the site-header strip and inside this disclosure page.

Where we use AI in the match quiz to interpret your answers, we disclose "you are interacting with an AI" on first interaction (per EU AI Act Article 50, effective August 2026).

Our commitments

• We will list brands we have not partnered with when they are best for the reader.
• We will surface negative findings even when a partner pays us.
• We will delist a brand if quality drops — even when it costs us revenue.
• Every brand page shows a last-verified date and the routing-tier label.
• We do not pipe match-quiz answers into Meta Pixel, GA4 custom dimensions, or any third-party ad pixel.
• We do not advertise AI companion / AI girlfriend / AI boyfriend products.

What we are not

Try AI Dating is an editorial directory. We are nota dating app, AI vendor, or licensed counselor. We do not provide therapy, mental-health, or relationship advice. The match quiz is an editorial directory filter — its output is a tool match, not a clinical or therapeutic recommendation. If you're experiencing emotional distress related to dating or relationships, work with a licensed therapist — not a dating coach or AI tool.

Affiliate networks & partners

Active affiliate relationships are managed through CJ Affiliate (eHarmony, EliteSingles) plus direct-to-brand relationships with Roast Dating, PhotoAI, and Aragon AI. The list of programs we run changes; the per-row routing-tier label and last-verified date on every listing are the freshest signal of which brands are tier-1 partners.

Have a concern?

If you spot something on this site that seems wrong — outdated pricing, a brand you believe should be downgraded, a reader complaint pattern — email editorial@theoryroad.com. We read every message and update the site within 7 days for anything material.

Last reviewed: 2026-05-10 · Try AI Dating Editorial Team · A Theory Road property.