Methodology
Our ratings come from a consistent, transparent research process. Here's exactly what we evaluate and how we score — the process behind every review and comparison on this site.
For every system we cover, we dig into the manufacturer's published specifications, current pricing and plans, contract and cancellation terms, equipment lineup, and app details. We cross-check that against verified owner feedback from real buyers — support forums, retailer reviews, and public complaint records — to see where the marketing and the lived reality diverge. We do not accept demo units, loaner kits, or payment from brands in exchange for coverage.
Pricing, plans and contract terms change often in this industry, so we revisit each page on a regular cycle, re-verify the numbers against current sources, and update the "Last Updated" date whenever something changes. A review that hasn't been checked recently is a review you shouldn't trust — so we treat freshness as part of the methodology, not an afterthought.
Spec sheets don't tell you everything — contract fine print, hidden fees, and how a company actually treats customers after the sale usually only show up in owner feedback and public complaint records. That's why we weight those sources heavily, not just the marketing page.
Every product is scored on five weighted criteria:
We combine the five criteria into a single score out of 10 (also shown as a 5-star rating for Google). A 9.0+ is exceptional, 8.0–8.9 is very good, 7.0–7.9 is solid with trade-offs, and anything below 7.0 has meaningful shortcomings we'll explain plainly. Scores are updated as products and prices change.
Manufacturers cannot pay for a better score, and no brand previews our verdicts before publication. When a provider pays us a referral fee, it never influences rankings — we disclose it clearly and explain our full policy in our editorial standards. If we get something wrong, we correct it and note the change.
Last updated July 12, 2026
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