How we test
The rules every ToolDebrief review follows, so you know exactly what a verdict is based on.
Most software reviews online are rewritten from the vendor's own marketing page. A ToolDebrief review is a report of what happened when we used the tool. These are the rules we hold ourselves to.
1. We use the tool before we judge it
We create our own account, on a free trial or a paid plan, and run a real task from start to finish. For a video tool that means producing a video. For a site builder it means publishing a site. Screenshots and outputs in a review come from that session.
2. We tell you what we tested and when
Each review states the plan we used and the date we tested. Software changes fast, so a review also shows when it was last updated. If a tool has changed and we have not re-tested it, we say so.
3. We show the real cost
We report the price we saw on the day, what the free tier actually allows, and any limit we ran into before the tool asked for a card. Prices change, so always confirm on the vendor's site before you buy.
4. No test, no score
A score out of 10 appears only on tools we used ourselves. When an article mentions a tool we have not tested, for example in a list of alternatives, it is labelled as not tested and it gets no score.
5. Commissions do not buy verdicts
Some links on this site are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you buy. We review tools that pay nothing, we recommend skipping tools that would pay us, and no vendor sees or approves a review before it is published. The full details are on the affiliate disclosure page.
How the score works
The score reflects four questions, weighted by what matters for the task:
- Does it do the job? The quality of the result on our test task.
- How long did it take? Setup time and friction for a first-time user.
- Is the price fair? Cost against what you get, including free-tier limits.
- Can you trust it? Reliability during the test, export options, and how easy it is to cancel.
Found a mistake?
If a review is out of date or wrong, tell us and we will check it and correct it. Contact details are on the about page.