How We Test
We test every app in real daily use for two weeks instead of just comparing spec sheets. An overall score is calculated automatically from four weighted criteria: feature set, value for money, usability, and support and privacy. Vendors have no influence on the result, and we only mark up what is visibly documented on the page.
Our four rating criteria
The overall score is a weighted average of four sub-scores. It is calculated and never set by hand, so ratings stay comparable across every app we review.
Feature set (30 %) measures what an app actually does: core features, useful extras, export and sharing options, and its limits in real use. We weight this highly because it decides whether an app solves the underlying task at all.
Value for money (30 %) relates the feature set to price, subscription model, and the hidden limits of the free version. Weighted as high as features, because a strong tool at the wrong price is a non-starter for many readers.
Usability (25 %) rates setup, first-run experience, clarity, and how quickly you reach your goal without a manual. An app you use every day has to be easy to understand, so this share sits at a quarter.
Support and privacy (15 %) checks response time and quality of support, how data is handled, server location, and how transparent the privacy policy is. Important, but felt less often in everyday use than the other three.
How a test works
We install every app fresh and use it for two weeks the way real users would. A photo manager, for example, has to prove itself at an actual wedding with hundreds of images, not just a handful of test files.
We look at the whole journey: setup and first run, the typical everyday tasks, and deliberately the edge cases where many apps fall apart – poor connections, large files, unusual formats. For support, we ask real questions and measure how fast and how helpful the answer is. For privacy and hosting, we check where data sits and how clearly the vendor explains it. Every sub-score comes from this concrete experience, not from marketing claims.
Independence and funding
appcompare is a privately funded project – with no ads, no affiliate links, and no paid placements. No vendor pays for a test, a rating, or a link.
The overall score is calculated from the four criteria and never set by hand. Vendors can neither buy ratings nor see or change results before publication.
How often we update
Prices, subscription models, and features change constantly. That is why we revisit tested apps regularly and adjust scores and text whenever something material changes. Every page shows a last-updated date, so it is clear which state our rating refers to.
Frequently asked questions
Do vendors influence the rating?
No. Vendors have no access to our rating and do not see results before publication. We buy the apps or use regular accounts, test independently, and publish the score unchanged.
How is the overall score calculated?
The overall score is a weighted average of four sub-scores: feature set (30 %), value for money (30 %), usability (25 %), and support and privacy (15 %). It is always calculated and never set by hand. That keeps a value such as 9.4 directly comparable across every app we test.
How is appcompare funded?
appcompare is privately funded. There are no ads, no affiliate links, and no paid placements – no vendor can buy a good score or a recommendation.
How current are the tests?
Every page carries a last-updated date. We retest apps when prices, subscription models, or key features change, then adjust scores and text. This way the rating reflects the state that applied on the date shown.