The coroner's method
How We Review
How we pronounce a tool dead — and crown its heir. Our methodology for testing and rating AI tools.
Our Testing Process
Every tool we review goes through a rigorous, hands-on evaluation process. We don't just read spec sheets — we sign up for every product, use it for real workflows, and test it against the scenarios our readers care about.
1. Hands-On Testing (2+ Weeks)
We spend at least two weeks actively using each tool. This includes setting up projects, inviting team members, configuring workflows, and testing integrations. We use the free trial or lowest paid tier — the same way most of our readers would start.
2. Real-World Scenarios
We test each tool against common real-world scenarios: onboarding a new team member, managing a cross-functional project, generating reports for stakeholders, and handling deadline changes. This surfaces usability issues that spec sheets miss.
3. Customer Support Evaluation
We contact support as a prospective customer — measuring response time, helpfulness, and channel availability (chat, email, phone). We also scour community forums, review sites, and social media for recurring complaints or praise.
Our Rating Criteria
Each tool receives a rating from 0 to 5, based on weighted scores across five categories:
| Criteria | Weight | What We Evaluate |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 30% | Core functionality, depth of feature set, customization, automation capabilities |
| User Experience | 25% | Interface intuitiveness, onboarding speed, mobile experience, accessibility |
| Pricing & Value | 20% | Transparency, free tier quality, scaling costs, hidden fees, ROI at each tier |
| Support & Community | 15% | Documentation quality, support responsiveness, community size, training resources |
| Integrations | 10% | API quality, native integrations, Zapier/Make support, import/export capabilities |
How We Maintain Reviews
Tools change fast. We re-review every tool at least once per year — more frequently if there's a major update, pricing change, or significant shift in user sentiment. Each review page shows the last updated date so you know how current the information is.
How We Choose Tools
We prioritize tools our readers ask about most. We also track product launches, funding announcements, and market trends to identify emerging tools worth reviewing. We do not accept payment for reviews, and our ratings are never influenced by affiliate relationships.
Our Promise
- No pay-for-placement. We never accept payment to feature a tool or boost its rating.
- Hands-on only. We never review a tool we haven't personally used for at least two weeks.
- Transparent updates. Every review shows its last-updated date. If something changes, we update the review.
- Reader-first. Our recommendations prioritize what's best for you — not what pays the highest commission.