Ethics & funding

How we're funded

The short version: reader subscriptions, affiliate revenue where it does not corrupt the work, and no direct money from app makers. Ever.

Funding sources, in order

1. The weekly newsletter has a paid tier. Paid subscribers get the full archive, the long-form "what we switched to" essays, and no advertising. This is the primary way the publication sustains itself.
2. Affiliate links appear on some review pages. When a reader clicks through and buys, we receive a small commission. These links never determine which product gets the top slot, never appear above the editorial judgment, and are always clearly marked.
3. We do not accept: paid placements, sponsored lists, comped products conditional on coverage, "hands-on access" trips from product companies, or affiliate deals that require us to hit a ranking threshold.

Conflicts of interest

Our editors disclose any meaningful relationship with a company we're reviewing — prior employment, a friend on the team, a financial stake. Where a conflict exists, the review is handed to a different editor or the product is excluded from the comparison.

We have never taken equity in a company we cover, and we have no plans to.

Press relationships

We are happy to accept press pitches. We are happy to ignore them. Product teams may send us review units; we test them against the same rubric as purchase units and disclose the source in the review. A review unit does not create an obligation.

Traffic, data, and you

We use privacy-respecting analytics to measure which reviews get read. We do not sell reader data. Our newsletter is hosted on a platform that does not surveil clicks for advertising resale. If you unsubscribe we actually remove you from the list.

Reporting an ethical concern

If you think we've crossed a line we've drawn here, tell us. Contact page. We will publish corrections or ethical notes where warranted.