How ToolGuide works
At ToolGuide, we believe in transparency. That’s why we explain exactly how our reviews are created here.
Our 5-step process
Hands-on testing & desk research
We test tools ourselves whenever possible with free and trial accounts. For premium features we can’t afford ourselves, we conduct extensive desk research: official documentation, demo videos, and user experiences on YouTube, G2, Capterra, and ProductHunt.
AI-assisted research
We use AI tools for analyzing technical documentation and gathering user experiences. AI never determines the final verdict or rating – we do that ourselves. We use AI as a research assistant, not as a replacement for expertise.
Human editing
Ruud and Willem add personal experiences, adapt the tone to the ToolGuide style, and determine the final rating. We write as you would talk to a friend: no marketing jargon, no exaggerated claims, honest about limitations and strengths.
Fact-check & verification
Before publication, we check that prices and subscriptions are correct, features are accurately described, all links work, and claims are verifiable. We base ourselves on official documentation, pricing pages, and user reviews.
Regular updates
We review our most popular reviews every quarter, update immediately with major feature releases, and update price changes within two weeks. You can see the last update date with every review.
What we do (and don’t) do
What we do
What we don’t do
Revenue transparency
ToolGuide makes money in three ways:
Affiliate links: If you buy a tool through our link, we sometimes get a small commission. This costs you nothing extra.
Sponsorship: Sometimes tools pay for extra visibility, always clearly marked as “Sponsored”.
This never influences our ratings, pros and cons, or which tools we review. We only review tools we would use or recommend ourselves.
Have questions about our process?
Or want to see a specific tool reviewed? We’d love to hear from you!
Contact us