How we review AI tools
A transparent, six-step methodology that keeps our recommendations trustworthy — and our affiliate relationships separate from our verdicts.
We define the category
Before reviewing any tool, we establish what the category is supposed to do — what a reasonable user expects, what problems it solves, and what separates a good product from a great one. This keeps our scoring consistent across tools in the same space.
We test the product directly
Wherever possible we sign up, use the tool on real tasks, and form our own opinions. We don't rely on marketing copy or other reviews. When we can't test something directly (e.g. enterprise-only features), we say so explicitly and cite the source.
We score on five dimensions
Every tool is rated on output quality, ease of use, value for money, practical usefulness, and limitations. Each dimension is scored out of 10 and then averaged into the overall rating you see on the review page.
We verify pricing and features
Pricing changes frequently. We check the official pricing page at the time of review and record the date. If we spot a discrepancy between our page and the provider's, we update ours and note the change.
We write the verdict independently
Our verdict is written after testing and scoring — not before. Affiliate partnerships do not influence the rating, the pros and cons, or whether a tool gets an AskZyro Pick badge. Partners cannot pay for a positive review.
We re-review periodically
AI tools evolve fast. We aim to re-check listings every 90 days and flag tools that haven't been verified recently. Major product changes trigger an immediate re-review.
How we score
| Dimension | Weight | What we ask |
|---|---|---|
| Output quality | 30% | Does it produce accurate, useful, well-structured results for the tasks it claims to handle? |
| Ease of use | 20% | Can a new user get value quickly? Is the interface intuitive? Are the docs helpful? |
| Value for money | 20% | Is the free plan genuinely useful? Are paid tiers fairly priced for what you get? |
| Practical usefulness | 20% | Does it solve a real problem people actually have, or is it a novelty? |
| Limitations & transparency | 10% | Are limitations clearly communicated? Does the provider act ethically on data and content? |
What we don't do
- Accept payment for positive reviews or higher ratings
- Let affiliate partnerships influence our verdict, pros, cons, or Pick badges
- Publish reviews without at least attempting to test the product
- Copy descriptions from the provider's website without adding our own assessment
- Hide pricing changes — we update and date-stamp them
Re-review cadence
We aim to re-check every listing every 90 days. Each review page shows the last-verified date. Tools that haven't been checked in over 6 months display a freshness warning. Major product updates trigger an immediate re-review regardless of the schedule.