How we test and choose deals
A recommendation is only useful if you can trust how it was made. Here’s exactly how we work.
How we check deals
- We confirm it on the provider’s site. Every price and discount is checked on the official website before we list it, not copied from another deal site.
- We check the real price. We look at the renewal price, not only the first-year price, and say when the discount only applies to long plans.
- We remove expired deals. Each deal shows its end date, and we take it down when it ends.
- We skip fake discounts. If the “original” price was never really charged, we don’t list it.
How we review apps and services
- We open a real account, on the free plan where there is one, otherwise a paid plan.
- We use it for a real task: sending a newsletter, protecting a laptop and phone, or using an app for several weeks.
- We take our own screenshots rather than using marketing images.
- We check pricing and cancellation: hidden costs, renewal prices, and how easy it is to leave.
- We score five things: ease of use, features, value for money, reliability or performance, and support.
For insurance pages
We explain what policies cover and what to compare. We don’t give personal insurance advice. For a quote, we link to the insurer or a licensed comparison service.
How we stay independent
- Commissions never decide a rating or a place in a list.
- We list good options even when they pay us nothing.
- We say clearly when a free plan is enough, or when a product isn’t worth it.
Keeping things up to date
Reviews are rechecked at least every 6 months, and deal pages every week. Each page shows the date it was last checked. Found something out of date? Email mail@unrealdeal.org and we’ll fix it.