Every review, comparison, and recommendation on AIX Radar is backed by real, hands-on testing. This page explains exactly how we evaluate tools — so you know what our ratings actually mean.
Our Testing Process
We do not write reviews based on press releases, feature lists, or other people’s opinions. Here is what our testing process actually looks like:
1. Sign Up & Pay
We sign up for every tool using our own accounts. If a tool has a free trial, we start there. If it requires a paid plan to access the features worth reviewing, we pay for it. We do not rely on demo accounts or press credentials — we want the same experience you would get.
2. Minimum Two Weeks of Use
Every tool gets at least two weeks of active use before we write anything. First impressions can be misleading — a tool that feels amazing on day one might reveal frustrating limitations by day ten. We use the tool for real tasks, not manufactured test scenarios.
3. Feature-by-Feature Evaluation
We evaluate each tool across these dimensions:
- Core functionality — Does it do what it promises? How well?
- Ease of use — Could someone with no technical background figure this out?
- Output quality — For AI writing tools: is the content usable? For video tools: is the output professional?
- Pricing & value — Is the price fair for what you get? Are there hidden costs?
- Customer support — We actually contact support with real questions and time the response.
- Integrations — Does it work with the tools people already use?
- Performance — Load times, processing speed, reliability.
4. Screenshots From Our Own Accounts
Every screenshot in our reviews comes from our own testing sessions. We do not use stock images, press kit screenshots, or images from other review sites. What you see is what we saw during our actual use of the tool.
5. Comparison Testing
For comparison posts, we run the same tasks through both tools side by side. Same prompts, same inputs, same conditions. This is the only fair way to compare tools — and it is more work than most review sites are willing to do.
Our Rating System
We rate tools on a scale of 1 to 5:
| Rating | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5–5.0) | Exceptional. Best in class. We actively use this tool ourselves. |
| ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.5–4.4) | Very good. Solid option for most people with minor drawbacks. |
| ⭐⭐⭐ (2.5–3.4) | Average. Gets the job done but better options exist. |
| ⭐⭐ (1.5–2.4) | Below average. Significant issues that are hard to overlook. |
| ⭐ (1.0–1.4) | Not recommended. Save your money. |
How We Handle Promo Codes
- Verification: Every coupon code is tested at checkout before publishing.
- Updates: We re-verify codes monthly and update or remove expired ones.
- Expired codes: We keep expired codes visible (marked as expired) as a transparency signal. This helps you see the deal history and know when sales typically happen.
- Exclusive codes: Some codes are negotiated directly with tool companies through our affiliate partnerships. These are marked as “Exclusive” and may offer better discounts than publicly available codes.
Our Editorial Independence
AIX Radar earns revenue through affiliate commissions. This is standard for review sites, and we are upfront about it. What is not standard — and what we commit to — is that affiliate relationships never influence our editorial content.
We have published negative reviews of tools with lucrative affiliate programs. We have recommended tools with no affiliate program at all. The review comes first. The business model works because we are honest, not despite it.
If you ever feel that a review is biased or inaccurate, please let us know. We take editorial integrity seriously and will investigate any concern.
Questions?
If you have questions about our testing process or want more details about how we evaluated a specific tool, reach out through our contact page. We are happy to share additional context that did not make it into the review.