The short version: I tell you what I actually did, what I did not do, what the tool costs on the date I checked, and what is wrong with it. If I cannot show my work, I do not publish a verdict.
What I actually did
Every review on this site includes a “What I actually did” box. It states, in plain language, whether I signed up for a free plan or a trial, which features I used, how long I used them, and what I checked on the vendor website instead of testing myself. If a claim in a review comes from the vendor page rather than from my own use, the box says so.
Desk reviews
Where I did no hands-on test, the review is labeled as a desk review. A desk review is based on the vendor website, documentation, pricing pages, and other public information available at the time of writing. It is not presented as hands-on testing, and it does not claim I used the tool.
Pricing
Pricing in every review is dated and taken from the vendor website on the date stated in the review. I state the billing period, whether a price is an introductory or renewal price where the vendor shows that, and the limits of any free or trial plan that affect the price. Prices change, so check the vendor page before you buy. I do not invent prices, and I do not quote a price I did not see on the vendor site.
Drawbacks in every review
Every review names real drawbacks. A drawback is a limit, cost, missing feature, or trade-off that could change whether the tool is right for you. If I cannot find a genuine drawback, I say what I checked and why I am still cautious, rather than inventing praise or criticism.
No scores, stars, or badges
I do not publish numeric scores, star ratings, or badges. A single number hides the trade-offs that matter, and two readers with different needs can reasonably reach different conclusions from the same facts. Each review ends with a plain answer: who the tool is for, who should pass on it, and why.
How I compare tools
Comparisons use the same checks for each tool: what it does, what the free or trial plan actually allows, what the paid plans cost and what changes at each level, what the main limits are, and who it fits. I compare tools in the same category and on the same basis, and I say where a comparison is limited because I could not test a feature or a plan.
Updates
Every review shows a published date and, when it is changed, an updated date. When pricing, limits, or features change, I update the review and note what changed where that matters. If a review is out of date and I have not yet rechecked it, I will say so in the review rather than leave old pricing standing as if it were current.