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Independent tech reviews, tested hands-on

How We Test and Rank Products: Methodology

Every ranking on this site is editorial. We publish the criteria so readers can see exactly what a position means, and what it does not.

What we score

  • Hands-on performance: how the product works when we install and use it on our own devices and accounts.
  • Features that matter for the job: judged against what a typical buyer in that category needs.
  • Security and privacy: encryption, data handling, published audits and the vendor’s track record.
  • Price and value: published pricing, what the free or entry plan includes, and renewal costs.
  • Public evidence: documentation, changelogs and independent test results, linked in each guide.

How a ranking is built

  1. Define the category. We set out what the product type does and what a buyer needs from it, so every product is judged on the same job.
  2. Build the long list. Products come from the current search results, app stores, vendor directories and trade press, not from who asked to be included.
  3. Test and gather evidence. We use each product, check claims against its documentation, and verify security claims against published audits where they exist.
  4. Score and order. Products are compared on the criteria above. Where the evidence is thin, we say so in the guide rather than filling the gap.
  5. Date and maintain. Each guide shows when it was last updated, and we revise it when prices, plans or features change.

What a position means

A higher position means stronger results against our criteria for that category. It is not a guarantee that a product suits every reader. Rankings reflect our testing and public information at the date shown on each guide. Always check current pricing and terms before you buy.

What money cannot buy

Companies cannot pay to appear in a ranking or to change their position in one. We do not publish sponsored content, guest posts or paid links of any kind.

Corrections

Any company can dispute a fact. Send the correction and the source through our contact page; we review every correction and, where it is supported, update the page and its date.