How We Test & Rate Supplements

Most supplement review sites never explain how their ratings work. That's convenient — because if nobody knows the method, nobody can check it. We do the opposite: our full methodology is on this page, and every review links back to it.

If you disagree with a rating, this page tells you exactly where to look and why we scored the way we did.

What We Actually Do

Let's be precise about our method, because precision is the whole point:

• Label analysis — we read the full Supplement Facts panel: every ingredient, every dose, serving size, allergens, and warnings.
• Ingredient research — we check each key ingredient against published human research: what doses were studied, what effects were found, and how strong the evidence is.
• Vendor check — we verify pricing (including bundle pricing and shipping), guarantee terms, availability, and company contact information.
• Transparency scoring — we assess whether the label is fully disclosed, claims are realistic, and the vendor's presentation is honest.
• Update reviews — we re-check each live product at least quarterly and update pricing, availability, and new information.

What We Refuse to Do

Just as important as what we do is what we won't do:

• No lab tests we didn't run. We don't claim laboratory testing, personal trials, or before/after results we can't verify. Many review sites imply testing they never did. We won't.
• No fake testimonials. We never publish customer testimonials with real names — because we can't verify them. Stock-photo "customers" are a hallmark of fake review sites, and we want no part of it.
• No paid ratings. Ratings are set by our scoring criteria. Commissions never change a rating, and vendors can't buy a better score.
• No miracle claims. We describe supplements as what they are: support tools inside a broader routine — not cures, not miracles.
• No hidden affiliate links. Every affiliate link on this site is marked #ad next to the button. No exceptions.

The Four Scoring Criteria

Every product is scored on the same four factors, weighted equally:

1. Ingredient Quality & Dosing (25%)

Are the ingredients disclosed in full, at sensible doses? We reward products that list every ingredient with its dose, use doses in line with published research, and avoid proprietary blends. Products that hide doses behind blends, or use trace amounts of headline ingredients, score poorly here.

2. Evidence Behind the Formula (25%)

Is there real published research behind the formula — and how strong is it? We distinguish between ingredients with solid human evidence, ingredients with preliminary or animal-only evidence, and ingredients with essentially no evidence. We also penalize products whose marketing overstates what the evidence actually shows.

3. Value for Money (25%)

What does a month actually cost at the recommended dose? We calculate true monthly cost (accounting for serving size), check bundle pricing, factor in shipping, and compare against similar products. A fairly priced product with honest bundle discounts scores well. An overpriced product with a thin formula scores badly — even if its ingredients are good.

4. Transparency (25%)

Is the label clear? Are claims realistic? Is the company real, reachable, and honest about its guarantee? We reward vendors that publish full labels, state guarantee terms clearly, and present their product without hype. We penalize hidden labels, disease claims, fake urgency, and missing company information.

How the Final Rating Works

The four criteria produce a score out of 5. We round to one decimal place. Roughly:

The final rating is our editorial judgement, not a customer vote or an average of user reviews. Two reviewers can look at the same product and score it differently — that's why the method matters more than the number. Read the reasoning, not just the stars.

How We Handle Affiliate Links

Some links on this site are affiliate links, always marked #ad next to the button. If you buy through one, the vendor may pay us a referral fee. It costs you nothing extra.

Here's our firewall: affiliate status never affects a rating. Products we rate highly and products we criticize both carry the same disclosure. We rate first, and the disclosure follows — never the other way around. If we ever recommend a product, it's because it scored well on the four criteria above, not because it pays well.

How We Handle Updates & Corrections

Supplement formulas, prices, and guarantee terms change. We re-check each live product at least quarterly and update the review when something material changes. If we get something wrong, we correct it and note the correction. A review site that never updates its reviews is a review site that's slowly going stale — we don't want to be that.

Why This Matters

The supplement industry has a trust problem, and review sites are part of it. Too many "reviews" are undisclosed ads. Too many ratings are bought, not earned. Too many sites claim testing they never did.

We can't fix the whole industry. But we can run one site that shows its work: published method, honest limitations, disclosed incentives, and ratings you can audit. If every review site did that, the trust problem would shrink fast.

FAQ