How We Rate Products

Last updated: July 2026

Every product we feature receives an Insider Score out of 10. This page explains exactly where that number comes from — because a rating you can't verify is just an opinion.

The Insider Score: what goes into it

Our score is built from four weighted inputs:

1. Verified customer ratings (the foundation — 50%)

We start with what real, verified buyers report — the aggregate customer rating a product has earned at major retailers, normalized to a 10-point scale. A product rated 4.6 out of 5 stars by verified purchasers starts from a 9.2 baseline. We don't invent this number, and we don't inflate it: it reflects the experience of the people who actually bought and used the product.

2. Review volume and consistency (20%)

A 4.8-star product with 40 reviews is less proven than a 4.6-star product with 12,000. We weight scores by the volume of reviews behind them and check consistency over time — products whose recent reviews trend sharply below their historical average are flagged or excluded.

3. Value for money (15%)

We compare each product's price against its closest competitors, factoring in current discounts, cost per use where relevant, and what you get for the money (materials, warranty length, included extras).

4. Brand reliability and buyer protection (15%)

Returns windows, warranty terms, shipping speed, and the brand's track record of standing behind its products. A great product from a company that won't take it back if something goes wrong is not a great buy.

What our badges mean

• Best Overall / Editor's Choice — the highest combined Insider Score in the category.
• Best Value — the strongest score relative to price.
• Deal badges — a genuine, currently-running discount from the retailer or brand. We do not display expired or fabricated offers.

What we don't do

• We don't fabricate test results or claim laboratory testing we haven't performed. Where our team has hands-on experience with a product, we say so explicitly; otherwise, our analysis is data-driven.
• We don't display fake review counts or invented user ratings. Review figures shown on our pages reflect actual retailer data at the time of our last update.
• We don't accept payment to change a product's score. Compensation can influence which categories and products we choose to feature and their placement — never the underlying score. See our Advertising Disclosure.

How we make money

When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission from the retailer or brand — at no extra cost to you. This is how we fund our research. It's also why we're transparent about it: our long-term business depends on you trusting our recommendations enough to come back. Full details are in ourAdvertising Disclosure andAffiliate Disclosure.

Updates and corrections

Rankings are reviewed and refreshed regularly as prices, availability, and review data change. Every review page displays its last-updated date. If you believe any information on our site is inaccurate, pleasecontact us and we'll investigate promptly.