A review is only useful if you know how it was produced. This page explains what we do before we publish a number or a recommendation, and what we do not do.
We test on sites we run
We operate our own WordPress content sites with real content and real plugins. Speed tests, settings and fixes come from those sites or from fresh installs we set up for the purpose. When a result comes from a fresh install rather than a busy live site, the article says so, because a clean demo always scores higher.
How we measure speed
- Tool: Google PageSpeed Insights, mobile profile, which runs Lighthouse with a throttled connection and a mid-range phone CPU
- What we report: the performance score, plus Largest Contentful Paint, Total Blocking Time and Cumulative Layout Shift where relevant
- Before and after: for fixes, we test the same page before and after the change and state what changed between the two
- Date: every measurement carries the date it was taken
Lab scores vary by a few points from run to run, so a difference of two or three points is noise. We only draw conclusions from larger gaps.
How we compare products
- Features and limits are checked against the product’s own documentation
- Prices are copied from the official pricing page, with the date checked, and we note first-term discounts versus renewal prices when they differ
- When we use a product ourselves, we say so. When a comparison is based on documentation rather than our own use, we say that too
What we do not do
- We do not invent test results, scores or ratings
- We do not accept payment for reviews, rankings or verdicts
- We do not recommend something only because it pays a commission
- We do not hide a product’s limits to make a comparison tidier
Affiliate links
Some links may be affiliate links. They are marked rel="sponsored" and a notice appears before the first one in an article. Commissions never change what we write. The full explanation is in our affiliate disclosure.
Updates and corrections
WordPress products change quickly. Articles show an “Updated” date when we revise them. If you spot something that is out of date or wrong, tell us and we will check it and correct the article.