Breaking Muscle is a credentialed editorial operation that discloses its affiliate model upfront, but its own disclaimer concedes financial ties to nearly every brand it ranks, and its best-of lists lack any published testing methodology to verify that hands-on evaluation drives the rankings.
What it's really for Drive affiliate-linked product purchases through SEO-optimized fitness content and best-of lists.
What our grade covers The grade on this page is about Home gym equipment, strength training gear, supplements, and fitness accessories, not everything the site does.
Medium Scoring Confidence Mostly sourced, but a detail or two still needs a primary source, so the grade could shift slightly.
Breaking Muscle's own affiliate-disclaimer page states it has "an affiliate relationship (either direct or through places like Amazon) with nearly every company whose products are reviewed" and generates commissions when readers purchase through review links. The site also receives free products from vendors.
Source →- Operating since
- 2012 (14 years) · source
- What it costs you
- Free to read The reviews are free to read.
- How they make money
- Affiliate commissions on product links (primarily Amazon and direct brand programs) plus free product receipt from reviewed brands.
- What they do
- Staff writers and certified coaches publish hands-on equipment reviews, supplement roundups, and best-of rankings for home gym gear, barbells, protein powders, and training accessories. Authors hold fitness certifications (ISSA-CPT, etc.) and the site discloses affiliate relationships near the top of review articles.
- What to watch for
- Best-of lists lack published testing protocols — no stated criteria weights, testing duration, or objective measurements. The site receives free products from the brands it ranks, and holds affiliate relationships with "nearly every company whose products are reviewed" per its own disclaimer, meaning the financial incentive runs toward recommending purchasable products rather than against them.
- Composite score
- 2.30 / 5.00 → grade C
How the grade was reached
Does the site take money from the very entities it ranks? Pay-for-placement, vendor-funded data, and affiliate commissions all pull this down. The less the ranking can be bought, the higher the score.
What is the ranking actually built on? Hands-on testing scores highest, then verified first-hand reviews, then opinion or popularity surveys and self-reported figures, then pay-to-rank, which scores lowest.
Is the methodology published, specific, and reproducible? Can a reader see how a given rank was reached, or is it a black box?
Are commercial relationships, sponsorships, and affiliate arrangements disclosed clearly and near the rankings themselves, rather than buried?
How hard is it to game? Controls against fake reviews, solicited reviews, and vendor gaming raise this; an open box anyone can stuff lowers it.
Evidence
- Breaking Muscle's affiliate-disclaimer page states: 'We have an affiliate relationship (either direct or through places like Amazon) with nearly every company whose products are reviewed,' and that referral links generate commissions on purchases. Source: Breaking Muscle Affiliate Disclaimer →
- A best-of home gym equipment page carries a top-of-page note stating 'We receive free products and receive commissions through our links,' and product links contain Amazon affiliate tags (tag=breakingmu0da-20). Source: Breaking Muscle — Best Home Gym Equipment →
- The methodology section for the home gym equipment roundup reads only that the team 'chose a variety of equipment and machines' prioritizing 'value for money,' with no testing protocols, evaluation criteria, or comparative measurements described. Source: Breaking Muscle — Best Home Gym Equipment (methodology section) →
- The About page identifies named staff (Chris Colucci, Associate Editor; Robert Zeglinski, Staff Writer) and describes a team of writers, editors, and athletes, but provides no detail on how products are tested or how editorial decisions are made. Source: Breaking Muscle About Page →