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How We Test Digital Products
Our Independent Review Process – Because you deserve more than a guess.
At InformedBuys, we don’t rank tools based on popularity, affiliate payouts, or TikTok trends.
We test them — thoroughly, fairly, and independently.
This page explains exactly how we evaluate every app, course, and service we recommend — so you know our reviews are trustworthy, repeatable, and built on real experience.
Our 4-Step Testing Framework
We follow a strict process to ensure fairness, depth, and accuracy.
1
Research & Shortlisting
Before we test, we analyze:
- Market leaders and rising tools
- Reddit threads, Quora discussions, and Trustpilot reviews
- Expert opinions and industry reports
- User pain points and search demand
From this, we create a shortlist of 5–10 tools worth deep testing.
2
Hands-On Testing (Minimum 14 Days)
We don’t skim. We use each tool daily — across multiple devices and real-world scenarios.
Examples:
- Writing 3 blog posts with an AI tool
- Building a Shopify store from scratch
- Tracking sleep for 2 weeks with a wellness app
- Investing $100+ on a fintech platform
We test both free and paid plans to assess real value.
3
Scorecard Evaluation
Each tool is scored on 5 key criteria (1–10 scale):
| Criterion | What We Measure |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | Learning curve, interface clarity, mobile experience |
| Performance | Speed, reliability, output quality |
| Value for Money | Features vs. price, free plan quality |
| Support & Updates | Help center, live chat, update frequency |
| Privacy & Security | Data policies, encryption, third-party tracking |
Only tools scoring 7.5+ average move forward.
4
Real User Validation
We survey our 87,000+ subscribers to validate long-term satisfaction:
- “Are you still using this tool 3 months later?”
- “Would you recommend it?”
- “What’s one thing you wish it did better?”
This ensures we don’t just recommend what works now — but what lasts.
What We Test (By Category)
AI Tools
Key Tests: Output quality, speed, tone control, plagiarism check
Wellness Apps
Key Tests: Sleep improvement, stress reduction, ease of routine integration
Finance Apps
Key Tests: Accuracy, ease of funding, customer support, bonus fulfillment
E-commerce Platforms
Key Tests: Setup time, checkout flow, mobile responsiveness
Online Courses
Key Tests: Instructor quality, pacing, real-world applicability
What We Don’t Do
To maintain independence, we:
- Never accept payment for positive reviews
- Never publish sponsored content
- Avoid tools that lack transparency or data ethics
- Disclose all affiliate relationships clearly
Affiliate Transparency
Yes, we earn commissions when you buy through our links.
But here’s the truth:
We only include affiliate links for tools we genuinely recommend.
And if a better non-affiliate tool exists?
We’ll tell you — even if it means less income for us.
Want to Suggest a Tool?
We’re always expanding our testing queue.
👉 Suggest a tool for review: Submit Here
We review suggestions monthly and notify submitters if selected.