Our 14 Evaluation Criteria
Every tool we review is evaluated against the same 14 criteria. Each criterion is weighted based on its relative importance to the average buyer decision.
The Scoring System
Each criterion is scored on a 0–10 scale. The final score is a weighted average. Here's how to interpret scores:
| Score | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 9.0 – 10.0 | Exceptional — best-in-class, few or no meaningful weaknesses |
| 8.0 – 8.9 | Excellent — strong choice, minor limitations |
| 7.0 – 7.9 | Good — solid product with notable tradeoffs |
| 6.0 – 6.9 | Average — works, but better options likely exist |
| Below 6.0 | Below average — significant issues worth flagging |
How We Test
We create real accounts and use the actual product. Our testing process includes:
- Free trial walkthrough — testing onboarding, first-run UX, and initial setup time
- Core workflow testing — creating real records, running automations, building reports
- Pricing verification — checking actual checkout prices including all fees and minimums
- Support testing — submitting real support tickets and measuring response quality
- Mobile app evaluation — testing on both iOS and Android where available
- Integration testing — verifying key integration claims with common tools
Update Frequency
Software changes constantly. Our policy:
- Full review refresh: quarterly minimum (every 3 months)
- Pricing updates: monthly or on price change announcements
- Major feature launches: within 30 days of release
Every page includes a "Last Updated" date. If a review hasn't been updated in over 6 months, we flag it with a freshness warning.
Editorial Independence
No vendor can pay to improve their score, ranking, or recommendation. Our editorial team operates independently from our affiliate partnerships. Scores are based solely on product merit against our criteria. This is non-negotiable.
We earn commissions through affiliate links — this is how we fund the research and keep the site free for readers. But the editorial team and the affiliate team are firewalled. A high affiliate commission rate has never moved a score and never will. See our full affiliate disclosure →