Editorial Guidelines
Last updated: 28 September 2025
Our standards for accuracy, independence, transparency, and reader trust.
Our Editorial Mission
We publish practical, unbiased advice to help readers choose software, services, and tools for building and growing online projects. Our north star is reader value clarity, usefulness, and trust.
Independence & Funding
Our coverage is editorially independent. We may earn through affiliate links or clearly labeled sponsorships, but partners do not influence what we cover, how we test, or our verdicts. See our Affiliate Disclosure.
Accuracy & Fact-Checking
Editors verify claims against primary sources (official docs, release notes, financial pages) and reputable references. Statistics and test results must be reproducible. For our verification workflow, see our Fact-Checking & Sourcing Policy.
Sources & Citations
We prefer primary sources and on-record experts. Anonymous sources are used sparingly and require editor approval and corroboration. We credit quotes, images, and data; third-party assets must carry proper permissions or fair-use rationale.
Conflicts of Interest
Writers and editors must disclose any employment, consulting, gifts, or investments related to a product or vendor. When a conflict exists, the assignment is reassigned or the conflict is disclosed prominently.
Reviews & Testing Standards
Hands-on testing follows consistent setups and checklists. Category-specific methods (hosting, VPN, security, SaaS/site builders) are documented in How We Test. Test notes and raw observations are kept for audit.
Scores, Rankings & Updates
We use weighted scoring frameworks and publish change notes when versions or results shift. If a score changes, we add an update note with the date and reason in the review.
Corrections & Transparency
We correct factual errors promptly and add an update note for material changes. See our Corrections Policy. Readers can report issues via Contact.
Originality, Plagiarism & AI Tools
All work must be original. We do not publish plagiarized text or lifted visuals. AI tools may assist with research or drafting under editor oversight; human editors are responsible for accuracy, tone, and compliance. Where AI materially assisted a piece, we disclose that help when appropriate. See our AI Use Policy.
Advertising & Sponsored Content
We clearly label paid placements as “Sponsored,” “Ad,” or “Partner.” Sponsored content is subject to the same editorial standards as our independent reviews: we do not promise positive coverage, and sponsors cannot influence our scoring or final verdict. An example of sponsored content might be a hosted webinar about a product where sponsorship only covers production costs; our opinions remain our own.
Investigations & Sensitive Reporting
For security/privacy topics, we double-source key claims, avoid publishing exploit details that enable harm, and allow right-of-reply to companies when feasible. Legal review may be required for high-risk stories.
For high-risk stories, legal review may be required before publication.
Language, Accessibility & Inclusion
We write in clear, inclusive language, avoid stereotypes, and consider accessibility (contrast, captions, descriptive links). We welcome feedback from readers on clarity and inclusivity.
Reader Privacy & Data in Editorial
We do not publish personal data that could reasonably identify private individuals without compelling public interest and editor approval. See Privacy Policy for how we handle user data.
Comments & User-Generated Content
Where comments are enabled, we moderate for civility, safety, and relevance. Hate speech, harassment, doxxing, and spam are not allowed. See our Community Guidelines.
Contact the Editorial Team
Questions or concerns about our standards? Reach us via Contact. We aim to respond promptly.