Editorial guidelines

Trust is the only thing a comparison site has. These guidelines explain how we research products, where our data comes from, how the VS Score is calculated, and how we stay independent. They apply to everything we publish.

How we research

Each product is described by a structured set of specifications defined per category, so two products in the same category are always measured on the same criteria. We prioritise primary sources — official manufacturer documentation and datasheets — and corroborate with reputable secondary sources when needed.

How the VS Score works

Individual specifications are normalised within their category and combined using transparent, consistent weights to produce a 0–100 VS Score. Because the same method is applied to every product in a category, scores are directly comparable. Where it helps, you can adjust the weights yourself to reflect your priorities and the scores recalculate instantly.

The full method — how each spec is normalised, how the weights are set, what happens to a value we cannot verify and what the score deliberately ignores — is written out on How we score.

Independence

Scores and rankings are derived from specifications only. No advertiser, retailer or affiliate partner can pay to change a score, a ranking or a verdict. Commercial content, if any, is always clearly labelled and kept separate from editorial scoring.

Affiliate links

Many product and deal links are affiliate links. If you buy through one we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. This funds the site and never influences our scoring or what we choose to cover.

Prices and availability

Prices change constantly. We refresh them regularly and show when a price was last seen, but the figure on the retailer’s site at checkout is always the authoritative one. Price history and drop alerts are provided for guidance only.

Sources on every page

Every product page lists the documents its sheet was built from — the official product page, the datasheet or manual, support and firmware documentation and any independent testing — together with the date it was first published and the date its specifications were last checked. If a source cannot be linked, the page says the links are still being compiled rather than pretending.

Hands-on versus research

Most of our pages are research-based: written from manufacturer documentation and cited independent measurements, not from using the product. Each page states which it is. We never write “we noticed in use” about a product nobody here has used; where an independent lab measured something, we say so and link the test.

Corrections

We get things wrong sometimes. When we do, we fix it promptly and, for anything material, note the change. If you spot an error in a spec, score or price, please tell us and we will review it.

Reviews from readers

Reader reviews are moderated before they appear. We remove spam, abuse and anything that breaches our terms, but we do not edit opinions to suit advertisers.