Editorial Guidelines

How we test, rate, and review, and the standards that keep our verdicts trustworthy.

The Software Brief exists to help you choose software with confidence. These guidelines explain exactly how we work, so you can judge our reviews for yourself.

We test hands-on

We don't review from a spec sheet. We sign up for, install, and actually use the products we cover, usually for at least a week of real work, before forming a verdict. Where a free trial or refund window exists, we use it the way you would.

How we rate

Every product gets a rating out of 5 based on consistent criteria: ease of use, features, value for money, performance, and support. A score has to be earned, we publish the genuine pros and the cons, including the things we wish were better.

We stay independent

The Software Brief is reader-supported and earns affiliate commissions (see our Affiliate Disclosure). Commissions never influence a score, a ranking, or a recommendation. We'd rather lose a sale than point you toward the wrong tool. We are not paid by vendors to write or change reviews.

Sourcing & accuracy

We back up claims with first-hand testing and reputable sources, and we link to official documentation and authoritative references where helpful. If we state a price or a fact, we aim to verify it at the time of writing.

Updates & corrections

Software changes, so we revisit and update reviews, and we stamp each one with a "last updated" date. If we get something wrong, we fix it quickly and transparently. Spotted an error? Email hello@thesoftwarebrief.com.

Authorship

Every review is written by a named member of our team, with a bio and contact details. Where relevant, reviews may be fact-checked by a second team member before publishing.

Comments

We welcome reader comments and moderate them to keep discussions helpful and spam-free. Comments are the views of their authors, not The Software Brief.

Contact

Questions about how we work? Reach us at hello@thesoftwarebrief.com.