Editorial Standards
How We Review AI Tools
Every review on WriteTested follows the same process: purchase a real subscription, test for a minimum of 30 hours against real content briefs, score across five weighted dimensions, and re-test every six weeks. No vendor access. No sponsored scores. No exceptions.
The Testing Process
Purchase a real subscription
We pay for every tool at the public rate. No free accounts, no vendor-supplied access. This is non-negotiable — free access creates obligation, even unconsciously.
30-hour minimum testing period
Every tool gets at least 30 hours of real use before any scoring begins. Some tools take 60-80 hours. There are no trial-period reviews. You can't evaluate workflow fit in an afternoon.
Real content briefs, not demo prompts
We test against actual client briefs and content goals from our own projects. We specifically avoid the prompts vendors put in their demo videos — those are designed to make the tool look good.
Output sampling and comparison
For each tool, we save 20-30 real output samples. We compare these against outputs from 3-5 competing tools at the same price point before finalizing the score.
Score across five dimensions
Each dimension is scored 0-100, then weighted (see the scoring rubric below). The overall score is the weighted average. Subscores are published so you can weight what matters to you.
Re-test every 6 weeks
AI tools update constantly. A review from 3 months ago may not reflect the current product. We re-test all active reviews on a 6-week cycle. If a major update ships, we re-test immediately.
Scoring Rubric
Each dimension is scored 0–100. The overall score is the weighted average. Subscores are published on every review.
Verdict Labels
Every review ends with one of four verdicts. The label reflects overall value for the right user — not just raw score.
Best in Class
Exceptional across most dimensions. A clear recommendation for the right user.
Worth It
Solid tool with a clear use case. Some trade-offs but delivers real value.
Situational
Good in specific scenarios. Not a blanket recommendation.
Skip It
Does not deliver value at its price point. Better alternatives exist.
Editorial Policies
No vendor access
We don't accept free accounts, early access, or any arrangement where a vendor provides review access. Every subscription is purchased at the public rate. No exceptions.
No sponsored reviews
We don't accept payment to review a tool, to review it positively, or to prioritize it in our testing queue. Tools are reviewed based on reader interest and market relevance.
Affiliate transparency
Some links on this site are affiliate links — we earn a commission if you subscribe through them. This does not affect scores, recommendations, or which tools we review. Our scoring is finalized before affiliate programs are added.
6-week re-test cycle
All active reviews are re-tested every 6 weeks. If a tool releases a significant update, we re-test immediately. Scores reflect the current version, not a historical snapshot.
Score changes
When a score changes, we update the review with the new score, the reason for the change, and the date. We don't silently overwrite past scores. Change logs are included in the review.
Corrections policy
If we make a factual error, we correct it publicly and note the correction in the review. Contact us at hello@writetested.com with evidence of the error.
Founder & Lead Reviewer. 14 years in content. Every review on WriteTested has gone through his hands.