Read the evidence label first
A directory listing, a documentation check and a hands-on test establish different things. Look for the evidence attached to the individual guide.
Listed
The tool appears in the directory, but its claims have not completed our source-review process. Treat it as a lead to investigate, not a tested recommendation.
Source-checked
Documented features, plans or limits have been checked against identified vendor sources, with a date. This does not by itself establish output quality or suitability for your task.
Tested
This label requires a completed test following a defined task brief, the product or model version, the date, saved output evidence and a named reviewer who graded the results. A suggested evaluation is not a completed test.
What a guide can establish
Vendor documentation can support a feature or limit. It cannot show how well the tool will work for you. Check the source date, billing term, usage allowance and the limitations described in the guide. A dated check is not a permanent guarantee.
Use the directory as a starting point
A position in a list or a task-router suggestion is not a performance score. Compare the evidence for your intended task and confirm any essential requirement with the vendor before paying.
Affiliate relationships
Commercial relationships help fund the site, and the directory is not an exhaustive view of the market. An affiliate link does not establish that a tool has been tested. A click is not evidence of a purchase or a successful outcome. Review the vendor's current billing and cancellation terms.
Older content is being reviewed
Much of our archive predates the current source-review process. Older ratings, prices and testing claims have not all been revalidated. A newer page design does not mean that every claim has been updated. Check the individual guide's evidence and source date.
Make your own comparison
Give each candidate the same task and source material. Record what worked, the corrections required, the total cost for your intended use and any non-negotiable requirements. Keep those observations separate from the vendor's claims.
Report a correction
Tell us which claim needs attention, include its page URL and provide a supporting source. Product capabilities and sources change, so a specific example helps us review the issue.