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How we test

This is how I test software for a review. A guide only gets a rating, a “tested” badge or a winner once the tool has been through these steps. Until then it says what it’s based on, usually the company’s pricing pages and documentation, and the date I checked them.

  1. I sign up myself

    The way you would, on the plan most creators start with, and I note every upsell on the way. If a company ever gives me free access, the review says so.

  2. I build a real test project

    A short course, a small community, a newsletter with a welcome sequence or an Instagram DM flow, depending on the tool. Real enough to find out how it behaves when it’s used, not just demoed.

  3. I use it long enough to hit its limits

    The limits a demo hides: slow editors, missing exports, support that goes quiet. How long that takes depends on the tool.

  4. I score it against one checklist

    Pricing and transaction fees, setup time, features, checkout, deliverability where it applies, support, and how easily you can take your content and customers with you.

  5. I date it and keep it current

    Every review shows when I last checked it. When prices or features change, I check what changed and update the review.

What I don’t do

  • Sell reviews, rankings or places in a “best of” list.
  • Let a vendor see or approve a review before it’s published.
  • Call a tool tested, rate it or name a winner without using it myself.

Who tests the software

Me, Johannes Kanter. I write every review and guide on GettingGrowth myself. More about me.

Written by

Founder · 15+ years in marketing and growth · Ex-LHV, Change · Master's in Business IT, TalTech

I've spent 15+ years in marketing and growth, from a T-shirt startup that flopped to leading growth at fintech and payments companies. Today I write about building an audience and turning it into a business, and I only recommend tools I'd pay for myself.

Editorial policy

  • Independent verdicts. I choose what to test and what to recommend. No company pays for a review, a ranking or a better score.
  • Affiliate links. Some links are affiliate links: if you buy through one, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. A commission never decides what I recommend. The full disclosure.
  • My own products. When something I mention is mine, such as Straycy, I say so.
  • Corrections. If I get something wrong, I fix it and note the change and its date in the post. Report a mistake.
  • Updates. Prices and features change often. Every guide shows its “Updated” date, and the oldest guides are rechecked first.