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Jetpack Stats: Why Your Site Might Be Flagged as Commercial and How to Fix It

32 threads Sep 7, 2025 Plugin → Jetpack

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Many WordPress site owners rely on Jetpack Stats to understand their audience. A common and often confusing issue occurs when the plugin flags a non-commercial site as "commercial," prompting for a paid upgrade. This guide explains why this happens and the steps you can take to resolve it.

Why Was My Site Flagged as Commercial?

The Jetpack team uses automated systems to scan sites for activity that fits their commercial criteria. Based on community reports, common reasons for a site being incorrectly flagged include:

  • Ads or Ad Code: Even inactive ad code from services like Google AdSense detected in your site's source can trigger the classification.
  • Affiliate or Referral Links: Links to hosting companies or other services where you might receive a commission are considered commercial.
  • Donation Links: "Buy Me a Coffee," PayPal.Me, or any other mechanism for accepting financial contributions is viewed as a revenue source.
  • Business Contact Details: Listing an email address or contact form alongside text that suggests professional services (e.g., "professional software developer") can sometimes be misread by automated systems.
  • Selling Merchandise: Links to online stores selling t-shirts or other items, even if for a club or non-profit, are typically considered commercial activity.
  • Membership Solicitations: Websites that offer paid memberships or exclusive content for a fee are considered commercial.
  • Automation Errors: Sometimes, the automated system simply makes a mistake and flags a site in error.

How to Request a Review and Resolve the Issue

If you believe your site has been incorrectly classified, follow these steps.

Step 1: Manually Re-verify Your Site

First, try to manually certify your site as non-commercial through the official process:

  1. Visit the Jetpack Stats purchase page.
  2. Check all the boxes that apply to your site, confirming it has no ads, sells no products, etc.
  3. Complete the process. You will be given an option to make a voluntary contribution, which you can decline by moving the slider to zero.

If this process works, your stats should be restored. If it fails or you are unable to complete it, proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Prepare Your Case for a Manual Review

If the automated process fails, you will need to request a manual review. To get the fastest resolution, prepare the following information:

  • Your Site URL: The full address of your website.
  • A Clear Explanation: Clearly state that your site is non-commercial. Explain what your site is used for (e.g., a hobby blog, a community project, an internal company site).
  • Address the Trigger: If you know what might have triggered the flag (e.g., "I have old AdSense code but it's not active"), acknowledge it and explain the situation.
  • Be Specific: Mention that you have no ads, sell no products/services, do not promote a business, and do not solicit donations or sponsorships.

Step 3: Where to Request a Manual Review

To have your classification reviewed, you need to contact support. You can do this by using the official Jetpack contact form. Be sure to include all the information you prepared in Step 2.

What to Expect After a Manual Review

Based on user experiences, outcomes generally fall into two categories:

  • Approved: If the Jetpack team agrees your site is non-commercial, they will adjust your status. You will then be directed back to the stats purchase page to finalize your free non-commercial license.
  • Denied: If the team determines your site engages in commercial activity (like having a "Buy Me a Coffee" link), you will be asked to remove the commercial element or upgrade to a paid plan to continue using Jetpack Stats.

Summary

Being flagged as a commercial site when you're not can be frustrating. The issue is usually triggered by ads, donation links, affiliate links, or an automated error. The solution is to first attempt the manual verification process and, if that fails, to clearly and politely request a manual review through the official support channel, providing all necessary details about your site's non-commercial nature.

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