How we make money
Online Meditation Planet is free to use. We do not charge programs, teachers, or retreat centers to be listed, and our editorial rankings cannot be bought. This page explains, in plain language, how we keep the lights on — and what we will never do.
Editorial independence
Every program in our MTT Database, every teacher in our Teachers Directory, and every retreat center in our Retreats Directory is ranked editorially. A program cannot pay to rank higher. A teacher cannot pay to be featured. A retreat cannot pay to be marked "notable." We do not accept payment in exchange for favorable coverage, period.
Our methodology is published. The data is public. If you ever spot a ranking that doesn't match the methodology, write to us — see contact below.
How we're funded
Three sources, in roughly this order of importance:
- Affiliate referrals to retreat & training booking platforms. When you click through to a partner like BookRetreats or BookYogaTeacherTraining and complete a booking, we earn a referral fee (typically 35–50%). This does not change the price you pay or affect our editorial rankings.
- Reader-supported products. Guides, workbooks, and tools we write ourselves and sell directly through our shop. These are first-party products. There are no third-party affiliate commissions involved.
- Future: optional verification fees (programs claiming their MTT listing for $299/year — adds a verified badge but never changes ranking position). When we launch this, we'll update this page and disclose the structure publicly.
What's affiliate-funded (disclosed)
These are the only places on Online Meditation Planet where we earn referral
revenue. Every affiliate link is marked with the standard
rel="nofollow sponsored" attribute and includes a visible
disclosure.
| Surface | Partner | Commission |
|---|---|---|
| Retreat profile pages (279 listings) | BookRetreats / BookMeditationRetreats / BookYogaRetreats (Tripaneer) | 35–50% |
| Retreats index hero widget | Tripaneer network | 35–50% |
| MTT Database "in-person YTT abroad" widget | BookYogaTeacherTraining (Tripaneer) | 35–50% |
| Retreat-related blog post CTAs (15 posts) | BookMeditationRetreats (Tripaneer) | 35–50% |
Our 597-program MTT Database, 666-teacher Directory, and 279-center Retreats Directory are all editorially ranked. The data sits free. The affiliate links are an optional path to booking, not the primary content.
The simple rule: if you're browsing our directories, no money changes hands between us and the program / teacher / retreat. If you click through one of our partner widgets to book a retreat or in-person training, we earn a small referral fee — and it's always labeled.
What we will never do
- We will never let a program, teacher, or retreat pay to rank higher in our directories.
- We will never write a fake "best of" list that's actually paid placement.
- We will never accept a payment in exchange for a positive review or write-up.
- We will never hide affiliate disclosures in fine print or footers no one reads.
- We will never sell your email address or share contact data with programs without your consent.
- We will never run sponsored content dressed up as editorial. If we ever publish a sponsored piece, the entire piece will be labeled "Sponsored" at the top.
Our research methodology
Programs are evaluated on lineage credibility, accreditation (where it exists), curriculum depth, faculty experience, track record of graduates, and price-to-value ratio. "Notable" status is editorial — assigned by us based on these factors, not by the program. The methodology is informed by our own research and by the public records of major accreditation bodies (CFM, BAMBA, IMTA, university partnerships).
Teacher profiles are sourced from public Dharma Seed, AudioDharma, Upaya, and Tergar registries. Retreat centers are curated by editorial selection.
Our editorial pledge
If we ever start a business relationship with a program, teacher, or retreat center that could affect editorial coverage, we will disclose it on this page within 30 days, and on any article that mentions them. If you ever spot an inconsistency between what we write and what we earn, write to us — see below.
Contact us
Concerns about editorial independence, undisclosed conflicts, or anything related to how we make money: [email protected].
Press, partnerships, or media inquiries: [email protected].