Readers often send us a link and ask whether a website or tool is real, safe and worth using. Our reviews answer that question as carefully and honestly as we can. This page explains exactly what we do.
What we check
Every review works through the same list. Where a check does not apply, we say so.
| Check | What we look at |
|---|---|
| Ownership | Who runs the site, whether that is stated, and whether it can be confirmed |
| Age and history | How long the domain has existed and whether its purpose has changed |
| Security basics | HTTPS, obvious malware warnings, and requests for permissions or downloads |
| What it asks of you | Sign-ups, personal data, payment details, or logins to other services |
| Does it work | Whether the site or tool does what it claims, tested by hand |
| Advertising | How intrusive the ads are and whether they mislead |
| Legal and terms | Whether terms, privacy information and contact details exist and make sense |
| Alternatives | Better known or safer options that do the same job |
How we decide a verdict
Each review ends in one of four plain verdicts, shown at the top of the page.
- Recommended. It works as described and we found nothing that should worry an ordinary user.
- Use with caution. It works, but something needs care, such as heavy advertising, vague ownership or a request for more data than the job needs.
- Avoid. We found a clear risk to your security, money or privacy, or the site does not do what it claims.
- Unclear. We could not verify enough to judge fairly. We say what was missing.
A score out of five may accompany the verdict. The verdict matters more than the number.
What our reviews cannot tell you
A review is a snapshot. Websites change owners, add features and change their behaviour, so every review shows the date it was last checked. We do not run penetration tests, audit source code, or inspect a company’s internal practices, and a clean review is not a guarantee of safety.
We never ask readers to download files from a site we are reviewing, and we do not link to downloads of apps from unofficial sources.
Links and payment
Links to reviewed sites are marked rel="nofollow", because a review is not an endorsement. We do not accept payment, free upgrades or any other benefit in exchange for a review, and a site cannot pay to change its verdict.
Keeping reviews current
We recheck reviewed sites periodically and update the verdict and the “last checked” date when things change. If you think a review is out of date, tell us and we will look again.