We use real accounts
We normally pay for the plan under review and use the public product a reader can buy. We do not treat a vendor demo, press deck, or landing page as a product test. Each review states the plan and platforms tested.
The method changes with the product
An AI companion, dating app, and developer tool should not share one fake universal checklist. Companion reviews use a fixed weighted rubric. Other categories use a test plan built around their actual promise, pricing model, and user decision.
What the Try Rating means
The score runs from 0 to 5. A verdict of Try means the tested product clears the bar for its intended buyer. Mixed means the value depends on a specific use case, plan, or limitation. Skip means the evidence does not justify the cost or time for the stated audience.
We report limits
A result is only as strong as its sample. Reviews identify short test windows, untested platforms, stochastic output, regional pricing, and features we could not verify. Community feedback is researched separately and never substituted for first-hand evidence.
Read the underlying standard
Every product review shows its test context and scoring breakdown. Our editorial policy explains corrections, disclosures, and how to challenge a claim.