Affiliate disclosure

Last updated: May 28, 2026

GymScored is operated by Hilly Shore Inc. (parent: Hilly Shore Labs). This page explains how the site is paid, what affiliate relationships are active vs pending, and the editorial independence rules we follow.

Canonical summary, reproduced verbatim on /about, /methodology, and /legal/terms: “GymScored participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs. We may earn commissions on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are based on the Gym Score formula — never on affiliate relationships.”

1. What this site earns from

• Amazon Associates Program — the official Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Roughly half of the products on GymScored are listed on Amazon; clicks on those listings carry our Amazon Associates tag. We earn a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you.
• Brand-direct affiliate programs (pending approval where applicable):
  • Rogue Fitness — pending
  • REP Fitness — pending
  • Titan Fitness — pending
  • Bells of Steel — pending
  When each of these approves our application, links to those manufacturers will carry the program’s tracking parameter. We’ll update this page in the same commit that wires the tracking.
• Other brand-direct retailers — currently bare URLs (no tracking):Peloton, Tonal, Concept2, Hydrow, Ergatta, NordicTrack, Force USA. We recommend these brands when they earn it on the Gym Score, even when there’s no affiliate relationship in place.
• No sponsorships, no paid placements, no “preferred partner” upgrades.

2. What this site does NOT earn from

• Display ads— we don’t serve any.
• Email capture / newsletter signups— we don’t maintain a list. There’s no subscribe form anywhere on the site.
• “Pro tier” upgrades — the home gym planner is free, the scores are free, the content is free.
• Paid product reviews— we don’t accept money from manufacturers to write about their products.
• Free equipment in exchange for coverage— we decline review samples from manufacturers. The trade-off (we can’t hands-on test) is explained on the methodology page.

3. How affiliate links work

When you click an Amazon link on GymScored and complete a qualifying purchase, Amazon pays us a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. The brand-direct programs (Rogue, REP, Titan, Bells of Steel) will operate the same way once they approve our applications.

Editorial independence: the Gym Score formula does not factor in affiliate commission rate. A product that pays us less can still rank #1. The formula is fully documented at /methodology.

4. What changes when a brand program lands

Today the brand-direct URLs on the site (Rogue, REP, Titan, Bells of Steel, Peloton, Tonal, Concept2, Hydrow, Ergatta, NordicTrack, Force USA) are bare manufacturer URLs. When Rogue / REP / Titan / Bells of Steel approve our affiliate applications, those four URLs will gain a tracking parameter.

The user-facing experience is unchanged. Same destination, same product, same price. The only difference is whether the manufacturer pays us a cut.

5. The rejection log — what we refuse to do

• Recommend products without a verifiable retailer URL.
• Quote individual Amazon, Reddit, or YouTube reviewers verbatim.
• Cite Forbes Advisor, Tom’s Guide listicles, or generic “fitness expert” SEO blogs as primary sources for strength-training claims.
• Recommend specific weight progressions, programs, or rehab loads — programming belongs to coaches and physical therapists, not affiliate sites.
• Accept paid placement (any form, any disguise, including “sponsored top pick”).
• Fabricate testing claims. We don’t say “we tested” or “we tried” on any page.

6. Strength training safety

Consult a physician before starting any new exercise program. Loading weight beyond capability risks injury. Form > weight. GymScored is a research-based affiliate site, not a personal trainer. See /legal/terms for the full disclaimer.

7. Contact for corrections

We respond to formula errors, stale prices, retired SKUs, and product mis-categorization in the planner. Email hello@gymscored.com— please include the URL you’re referring to.

8. About the operator

Operator: Hilly Shore Inc.
Parent: Hilly Shore Labs
Amazon program legal name: Amazon Services LLC Associates Program
Contact: hello@gymscored.com