Why a tool is covered
Coverage starts with a clear user problem and something we can evaluate. Payment, sponsorship, or affiliate availability does not determine inclusion or order.
Editorial standard
Make the evidence visible.
Our job is to make practical tool research easier to inspect. We show where material claims come from, when a source was checked, what was actually tested, and what remains uncertain. Inventory records, vendor claims, observations, and editorial assessments use different labels so one kind of evidence is not mistaken for another.
Methodology version 2.0 · 13 September 2026
What supports a claim
Material product claims are checked against dated primary sources. Secondary sources may add context. They are identified and are not treated as product documentation or direct observation.
What we actually observed
A hands-on label requires a documented task, access level, environment, date, observed result, and limitation. A public form test does not establish account-level usability or data accuracy.
How products are compared
Both products use the same criteria, source date, and evidence tier. Source-only comparisons may explain scope and fit, but cannot score performance or assign a winner. Unknown evidence remains unknown.
How relationships are disclosed
Affiliate, referral, sponsorship, access, and other material relationships are disclosed near the affected content. Paying us does not improve a product's position.
How research changes
Material corrections identify what changed and when. Product facts are rechecked on a dated schedule based on how quickly they can change.
Publication gates
What must be true before a profile or comparison goes live?
- 01
Profile source gate
Use at least two current primary sources, map each material capability to a source, and state the access we did not have.
- 02
Hands-on gate
Record one bounded task, environment, access tier, result, duration when relevant, and every limitation. Do not generalize beyond that task.
- 03
Comparison gate
Use matched criteria and evidence dates. If account access is not equivalent, compare only documented scope and label the page source-checked.
- 04
Recommendation gate
No rating, performance winner, or value claim without equivalent hands-on trials, repeated observations where outputs vary, and current commercial terms.
Evidence labels
A compact language for research status
Source checked
An official source supports the statement and the check date is visible.
Hands-on test
We describe the tested task, conditions, date, and observed result.
Vendor claim
The statement comes from the vendor and remains clearly attributed.
Editorial assessment
The conclusion is ours and is kept separate from sourced facts.
Not tested
We did not test this capability and will not imply that we did.