Every ranked comparison on this site must use this process. If the evidence or editor scores are incomplete, the page does not receive a final verdict.
The five-step operating model
- Gather. Archive pricing, security, privacy, support and product documentation.
- Extract. Record only claims supported by a source. Missing evidence stays missing.
- Score. A human editor scores every tool against the published rubric.
- Sanity check. Open the product only where access is available, and state the number of hands-on checks.
- Publish. Show the winner, losers, evidence count, commercial conflicts and corrections publicly.
The scoring rubric
| Dimension | What it measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Review evidence | Volume and consistency of independently published user experience | 35% |
| Price clarity | Whether a buyer can establish a realistic entry cost without a sales call | 25% |
| Data handling | Security, privacy, retention, subprocessors and deletion evidence | 20% |
| Setup friction | Time, contracts, seat minimums and technical work required to start | 12% |
| Support | Published support channels, onboarding, help documentation and service commitments | 8% |
Verdict bands
- Buy it: 8.0–10.0. Clears the evidence bar for the named buyer.
- Wait for v2: 6.5–7.9. Promising, but the current evidence or product is not strong enough.
- Skip it: below 6.5. Do not buy on the present evidence. Skipped tools carry no affiliate link.
What our claims mean
Scored, read, checked and sourced describe evidence work. We use tested only when someone on the team actually opened and used the product. Every verdict page includes a source strip showing verified reviews, vendor documents, hands-on checks and vendor briefings used.
Independence and money
- Affiliate relationships do not affect a score.
- Sponsored placements are labelled and never receive a score or rank.
- Our own products are disclosed beside their entry and can receive a Skip it verdict.
- Vendors do not approve copy or scores before publication.
- Corrections are dated rather than made silently.
Questions or missing evidence? Contact the editor.