How a product earns its score.
Every product gets one number from 0–100. Here's exactly what goes into it — no black box.
Our hands-on assessment of how well the product does its core job.
A bonus for our overall call: Essential, Strong, or Situational.
No-fee products earn the full bonus; high annual/monthly fees reduce it.
What we test
We open accounts, read the fine print, and use each product the way you would — not a checklist read of the marketing page. We weigh real cost (fees, minimums), the headline rate or reward, and how painless the product is to actually use.
What never moves the score
Partners cannot pay for placement, a higher score, or a better tag. Some links on this site are affiliate links and we may earn a commission — but rankings change only when the products do. See our full disclosures.
How often we re-score
Products are re-reviewed quarterly, and sooner when a provider makes a material change. Each product page shows when it was last verified.