How I test and rate tools
The methodology behind every Radar Score on SaaS Radar: who rates, against which criteria, and what sponsorship changes (and does not).
Who rates
Behind SaaS Radar there is one person: Alexis Morain, growth marketer. No ghost newsroom, no purchased ratings. Every Radar Score carries my signature, and every listing says who reviewed it.
I use automation to collect information (public pricing, features, documentation), then I review, correct and rate. When a tool has been used hands-on, its listing carries the "Tested by SaaS Radar" badge. The others are documented reviews, not hands-on tests, and I do not pretend otherwise.
The rating grid
The Radar Score (0 to 10) aggregates six weighted criteria. Weights can shift by category (deliverability matters for an emailing tool, not for a design tool), but the logic stays the same:
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Core features and product depth | 25 % |
| Pricing and value for money | 25 % |
| Ease of onboarding | 15 % |
| GDPR compliance and data hosting | 15 % |
| Support, documentation and French availability | 10 % |
| Integrations and ecosystem | 10 % |
Where the information comes from
Pricing and features are collected from the vendors' public pages and documentation, as of the date shown on the listing. A price can change after collection: if you spot a gap, report it and I will fix it.
When a vendor claims their listing, they can suggest factual corrections. The score itself is not negotiable.
Three content levels, three labels
Reviewed listing
A documented review based on public sources: the default level for directory listings.
Tested listing
The tool was used hands-on. The listing carries the "Tested by SaaS Radar" badge and details what was observed.
Test article
A long-form test published on the blog. When it is sponsored (the vendor pays for the testing time), it says so at the top of the article. Payment funds the time spent, never the conclusion: a paid test can be negative.
Sponsorship and affiliation: the rules
Some outbound links are affiliate links: if you subscribe through them, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. These links are marked "sponsored" for search engines and a disclosure sits in the footer.
Sponsored articles are labeled as such. A vendor can buy my testing time and visibility, not my score or my verdict.
No directory ranking is for sale: paid placements (Boost, sponsor) are visually distinct from editorial results.
Spotted an error on a listing?
Write to me and I will fix it fast: a wrong listing serves no one, starting with me.