Our 4-step test
We sign up and pay. We buy a plan with our own card, just like you would. We don't use free “review accounts” from the company.
We use it on a real account. For at least 30 days, on accounts we actually run. We set it up the way a normal customer would.
We measure what happened. We write down the results, how long setup took, how fast support replied, and what it really cost, including any surprise fees.
We score it out of 5. Then we say who it's for and who should skip it.
What we score
Every tool gets a score from 1 to 5, in half steps. The score is built from these criteria:
| Criterion | What we look at | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Results | Did it do what it promised, in numbers we saw? | 35% |
| Safety | Account risk, login method, platform rules, data handling | 25% |
| Ease of use | Setup time, how clear the dashboard is | 10% |
| Support | How fast and how helpful they replied | 10% |
| Value for money | Price compared with what you get and with alternatives | 20% |
Each category adds its own checks. For example, for Instagram growth tools we also look at follower quality: are the new followers real accounts in your niche?
Instagram growth tools
We check where new followers come from and whether they are real accounts in our niche. We track engagement rate and accounts reached alongside the follower count, and we count how many new followers are still there 14 days after we stop. A service that adds thousands of followers while engagement falls is a red flag for bots.
LinkedIn automation tools
We look at how close a tool runs to LinkedIn's limits, whether it needs your password or runs in your browser, and whether our test account got any warnings or restrictions. We measure connection acceptance and reply rates, not just how many messages went out.
SEO tools
We compare keyword volumes, rankings and backlink data with what we can see ourselves in Google Search Console and on sites we control. We also check whether a site audit finds real problems, and whether fixing them makes a difference.
Social media management tools
We schedule real posts to real accounts and check that they go out on time and look right on each network. We also test the inbox, analytics and approval steps a small team would actually use day to day.
What the stars mean
| Score | What it means |
|---|
When we update a score
Tools change. We retest when a tool changes its prices, features, or how it works, and at least every 12 months. Every review shows the date we last checked it. If a score changes, we say what changed and why.
What we don't do
- We don't accept payment for reviews or for a better score.
- We don't let companies see or edit a review before it goes live.
- We don't publish a score for a tool we haven't tested.
Questions about a score?
If you think we got something wrong, tell us. We'll check it again.