Some links on TheToy.org are affiliate links.
That means if you click through and buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
That part is simple.
What matters more is this: affiliate links do not decide what I recommend.
A toy does not get a better review because it pays a commission. It does not get included because it is popular. And it does not get protected from criticism because a brand sent it over, has a big marketing budget, or sells well.
I built this site because too many sex toy reviews are vague, overhyped, or so careful about offending brands that they stop being useful to readers. I had no interest in making more of that.
The point of this site is to help you understand what a toy is actually likely to feel like in a real body, who it may work for, who it may frustrate, and when the problem is not you. That only works if I stay honest.
How affiliate links work here
Some retailers and brands pay a commission when a sale happens through a tracked link.
That commission helps support the work behind the site: testing products, photographing them, comparing them, writing the reviews, researching educational articles, paying for hosting and tools, and keeping the whole thing running without turning it into a junkyard of ads and generic listicles.
So yes, affiliate income helps fund the site.
But it does not set the editorial line.
What affiliate relationships do not buy
They do not buy praise.
They do not buy placement.
They do not buy softer language.
And they definitely do not buy silence when a toy is disappointing.
If something is overpriced, awkward, underpowered, badly shaped, irritating, or simply not worth recommending, I will say so.
Sometimes that means a product is not terrible, but still wrong for most of the people being targeted by its marketing. That matters too. A lot of toys are not failures in a technical sense. They are failures in fit, sensation, pacing, or usability. Readers deserve that distinction.
Free products and review samples
Some products on this site are sent to me for free by brands or PR companies for review consideration.
That does not guarantee coverage.
It does not guarantee a positive review.
And it does not change what I say once I have used the product.
A free sample is not a favor I owe back in praise. It is just one way a product arrives for testing.
The review that follows is still mine.
In practice, that means I can like a brand overall and still be completely blunt about the products that miss. For example, I genuinely enjoy and recommend many Lovense toys. But I cannot recommend the Lovense Tenera or Tenera 2. Those toys did not work well enough for me to tell readers to spend their money on them, and I am not going to pretend otherwise just because they come from a brand that gets other things right.
That is the standard.
How I decide what to recommend
I do not recommend toys based on what pays the most.
I recommend based on what the product is actually likely to feel like, how well it performs, how easy it is to use, how well the design solves the problem it claims to solve, and which bodies or preferences it is most likely to suit.
Sometimes that leads to a strong recommendation.
Sometimes it leads to a narrow recommendation with a lot of caveats.
Sometimes it leads to a clear no.
That last category matters more than many affiliate sites like to admit.
What I owe readers
I do not owe a brand enthusiasm.
I owe readers clarity.
That means I try to tell the truth as plainly as I can. Not just whether a toy is “good,” but whether the motor feels buzzy or deep, whether the shape helps or gets in the way, whether the controls make sense, whether the intensity ramps sensibly, whether the noise is actually distracting, and whether the whole experience is likely to work for the person reading.
That is more useful than empty positivity. And it is a much better use of your money.
Prices, stock, and retailer details
Prices change. Discount codes expire. Products go out of stock. Bundles change. Return policies change.
I do my best to keep links current, but I cannot promise that every retailer page will always reflect the exact price or offer that was there when I added the link.
Always check the final retailer page before buying.
TL;DR
Yes, this site uses affiliate links.
Yes, I sometimes receive free products.
No, those things do not control the review.
I would rather lose a commission than recommend the wrong toy.
For more on how I test products, evaluate evidence, and write reviews, see the Editorial Standards page.