How we review, and how we stay honest

Scrutool publishes independent reviews of AI tools. This policy explains how we produce those reviews and the standards we hold ourselves to, so you know exactly what a Scrutool score and recommendation are built on.

Editorial independence

Our reviews reflect our honest assessment of a tool. No company can pay to influence a score, a ranking, or an opinion. Commercial relationships such as Featured listings and sponsorships are kept entirely separate from our editorial work and are always clearly labelled. You can read more in our Advertising Disclosure .

How we review

Every review is based on hands-on testing. We sign up like any user, test the free tier and the paid plan most people would choose, and run real tasks over several days rather than judging a tool from its marketing or a feature list. Each tool is then scored against a fixed set of criteria for its category. Our full method is on the How We Test page.

Evidence and sourcing

Our conclusions come from two places: our own testing, and the experiences of real users over time. We do not take vendor claims at face value, and where we reference specific facts, figures, or third-party information, we attribute them to their source.

Accuracy and corrections

We work hard to be accurate, but tools change quickly and mistakes can happen. If you spot an error, email us at [email protected] and we will review it. When we find that something is wrong, we correct it promptly and, where it is significant, note that the review has been updated.

Keeping reviews current

AI tools evolve fast. We re-test tools as they change and refresh their scores and details accordingly. Every review shows a last-updated date so you can judge how current it is.

Our use of AI

We review AI tools, and we may use AI to help with tasks such as research or first drafts. However, every review is grounded in real, human hands-on testing, and is checked and edited by a person before it is published. We do not publish unverified, AI-generated assessments as if they were tested reviews.

Authorship and accountability

Reviews are produced and approved by Scrutool's editorial team, and where a review carries a byline, the named author is responsible for it. Final editorial responsibility rests with Scrutool.

Conflicts of interest

Our reviewers do not accept gifts, payment, or other incentives in exchange for coverage. If we ever have a relationship that could be seen as a conflict, we disclose it clearly within the relevant content.

Sponsored and Featured content

We offer paid promotion, and when content or a placement is paid for, it is clearly marked as Featured or Sponsored. Paid placement never buys a better score or a more favourable review, and sponsored content is never presented as independent editorial. For details of what we offer, see our Sponsorship page.