We score software on what it publishes and what we can check. That’s it. We don’t run lab tests we can’t show you, and we never invent a result. Every fact carries the date we last checked it. A commission never changes a score.
Honestly, this makes our reviews less flashy than most. No speed charts. No “we used it for six months” stories. In practice, though, the things that decide whether you’ll be happy with a product sit in plain sight: the renewal price, the plan limits, the refund terms. Most people miss them because nobody points at them. We point.
What we check
For every product we read the company’s own pages on the day we write: the pricing page, the plan comparison, the terms and refund policy, the help center, and any audit or certification it publishes. Where a claim matters, we quote it and link to it, so you can check it yourself.
Our five YouTube channels (App Nest, Deal Digger, Smart Click, Software Point and Tool Corner) cover the same products, and every video is built from the same kind of source: the vendor’s own documentation. When a video finds a limit or a catch, it goes into the written review too.
What we don’t do
- No speed scores without speed tests. We haven’t run them, so we don’t score speed. Be wary of any review that gives a speed number without showing the test.
- No made-up experience. We don’t write “we tested” unless we did.
- No invented deals or codes. A deal goes on the site only after we’ve checked it on the seller’s own page, and it shows that date.
- No winner where there isn’t one. For travel eSIMs, the right provider depends on your trip, so we show them side by side and pick no winner.
How scores work
Each section scores five things a buyer can check before paying. A score runs from 0 to 10, and the overall score weighs all five.
| Section | What we score |
|---|---|
| VPN & Privacy | Privacy (audits, jurisdiction), security features, server network, apps, value |
| Hosting & Domains | Features, plan limits, terms (renewal and refund), support channels, value |
| Business Software | Features, plan limits, terms, support, value |
| SEO & Link Building | Transparency, process, guarantees, support, value |
| Online Learning | Catalogue, instructors, certificates, refund terms, value |
| eSIM & Travel | Not scored. Providers are compared side by side, with no winner |
Every review shows the reason behind each score, so a 9.4 for privacy comes with the evidence for it.
How we rank
Each ranked list opens with our pick. A pick has to be earned on one stated criterion you can check on the vendor’s own pages; “it’s the best” doesn’t count. After the pick, products follow their overall score. When our pick isn’t the highest scorer, the list and both reviews say so.
In the VPN section, NordVPN is our pick for the longest-running record of independent no-logs reviews among the 5 VPNs we cover: 6 reviews since 2018, against ExpressVPN’s first privacy audit in 2019, Proton VPN’s in 2022 and Surfshark’s in 2023. Proton VPN holds the highest score, and its review says why. Travel lists use their own stated criterion, the tools each VPN publishes for networks that block VPNs.
Dates and re-checks
Prices and offers change often. Each review shows the date its facts were checked, and every price sits next to that date. When we notice a change, we update the page and the date moves.
Old date? Don’t trust the price. When a page hasn’t been checked in a while, treat its prices as a guide and confirm them on the seller’s site before you pay.
How we make money
When you buy through a link on this site or in our videos, we may earn a commission. It costs you nothing extra. Commissions never change a score. A pick must rest on a criterion you can check, and we say plainly when a rival scores higher or does something better. The full details are on our affiliate disclosure.
Corrections
If you find a fact that’s wrong or out of date, tell us in the comments of any of our videos. We check it on the vendor’s page, fix the review, and move the date.