Review Methodology
How we evaluate products before recommending them.
Every product review on ClutchPost is assessed against the same set of criteria, regardless of the brand or whether the article contains an affiliate link. This page explains exactly what we look at and how.
Why This Page Exists
A fixed standard, applied consistently.
A lot of “review” content online is really just marketing copy with a star rating attached. We publish this methodology so readers can see exactly what a ClutchPost review is checking for, and hold us to it.
This methodology applies to supplements, wearables, kitchen and fitness products, and any other item we cover in a review or comparison article.
Same rules, every review
We don’t create custom criteria to make a particular product look better. The same framework applies across categories.
What We Evaluate
Six criteria behind every product review.
Ingredient & formula transparency
Whether the brand discloses full ingredient lists, dosages, and sourcing rather than hiding behind proprietary blends.
Core criterionEvidence behind the claims
Whether marketing claims are supported by credible research, and how strong that evidence actually is.
Core criterionSafety & third-party testing
Whether the product discloses independent testing, certifications, or quality control practices.
Core criterionValue for the price
Cost relative to what’s actually delivered, compared against similar products in the same category.
Supporting criterionPracticality & usability
How realistic the product is to use day-to-day — taste, convenience, setup, or learning curve where relevant.
Supporting criterionBrand transparency
Whether the company is upfront about who they are, return policies, and how they handle customer complaints.
Supporting criterionHow We Rate
A qualitative scale, not an invented score.
Rather than assigning an arbitrary number out of 10, each criterion is rated against this scale, and the review explains the reasoning behind each rating in plain language. This keeps the assessment honest about what we actually know versus what a brand simply claims.
Our Review Process
How a review actually gets made.
Gather product information
We collect the brand’s own disclosed ingredients, specs, pricing, and claims directly from official sources.
Check claims against evidence
Each marketing claim is checked against available research and recognized health guidance.
Rate against the six criteria
The product is rated on each criterion using the scale above, with reasoning documented for each.
Compare against alternatives
Where relevant, the product is placed alongside comparable options so readers see it in context.
Fact-check & publish
The finished review goes through the same fact-checking step as every other ClutchPost article before it’s published.
What We Don’t Do
No pay-to-play, no guaranteed positive coverage.
A review methodology only means something if brands can’t buy their way around it. Here’s what we rule out, regardless of any commercial relationship.
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No guaranteed positive reviews. An affiliate relationship never determines the outcome of a rating.
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No brand-written review copy. Reviews are written independently, not adapted from a brand’s marketing materials.
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No fabricated testing claims. We don’t claim in-house lab testing or clinical trials we haven’t actually conducted.
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No undisclosed sponsorships. Any paid or sponsored coverage is labeled clearly as such, separate from independent reviews.
Affiliate Relationships
Reviews can contain affiliate links. Ratings don’t change because of them.
Some reviews include affiliate links, meaning ClutchPost may earn a commission if you make a purchase through them. This is disclosed within the article and never influences the criteria, ratings, or conclusions above.
This methodology works alongside our editorial standards.
Review Methodology governs how we evaluate products specifically. Our Editorial Process explains how every article, including reviews, gets researched, checked, and published.
FAQ
Common questions about how we review products.
Do brands pay for a positive review?
No. Affiliate commissions are only earned when a reader makes a purchase, and they have no bearing on how a product is rated.
Do you physically test every product?
Where hands-on testing is feasible, we do it. Where it isn’t, the review is based on the brand’s disclosed information and independent, publicly available evidence, and this is stated in the article.
Why don’t you use a numeric score out of 10?
A single number can hide more than it explains. We’d rather show ratings per criterion with the reasoning behind each one, so readers can weigh what matters most to them.
What if a product changes its formula after a review is published?
Reviews are updated when we’re made aware of a meaningful change, following the same update process described in our Editorial Process.
Last Updated: August 6, 2026
