How we review products and services

Every article states how it was researched

We use three labels. They are not interchangeable.

• Hands-on tested: we obtained and used the product or service. The article describes the test period, conditions, and what we could not test.
• Desk-researched: we compared current official specifications, labels, contracts, pricing, and independent evidence without using the product ourselves.
• Expert reviewed: a named professional with relevant credentials reviewed the article. We do not display this label unless that review happened.

If an article does not say that we personally tested something, assume we did not. We never turn manufacturer copy or customer reviews into a fictional first-person experience.

How products enter a comparison

We start with the reader's problem, then set the criteria before choosing products. A commission rate is not a selection criterion. Depending on the category, we may compare:

• Published ingredients, nutrition facts, certifications, and safety information
• Total regular price, required fees, recurring charges, and cancellation rules
• Eligibility, delivery area, compatibility, accessibility, and data handling
• Evidence for the claimed use, plus material limitations and contraindications
• Whether a less expensive or noncommercial alternative solves the same problem

The article should explain why each criterion matters. A product does not earn a high rank merely by reporting more features or using a health-oriented label.

Evidence standards

Medical, nutrition, and physiology claims must trace to primary research, clinical guidance, or an official public-health or regulatory source. Product specifications come from the current manufacturer documentation whenever possible. We use retailer listings only when the manufacturer does not publish the fact, and we say when that happens.

A manufacturer's statement proves what the company claims, not that the claim is independently established. We attribute it accordingly. Customer reviews may identify issues worth investigating, but they do not prove safety, effectiveness, or typical results.

Prices, promotions, and availability

Commercial facts go stale quickly. We date price checks and separate regular prices from introductory discounts. Where checkout determines the actual total, we tell readers to verify the nonpromotional price, shipping, taxes, renewal schedule, and cancellation cutoff. We remove a price rather than preserve one we cannot verify.

Health claims and medical devices

Well Basecamp does not diagnose, prescribe, or promise outcomes. A food, supplement, wearable, smart scale, or coaching program is not medical treatment merely because it is marketed to people using GLP-1 medications. Consumer body-composition estimates are not treated as diagnoses. Supplements are not described as preventing medication side effects or preserving muscle unless competent evidence supports that exact claim.

Readers with symptoms, medication questions, allergies, kidney disease, pregnancy, diabetes treatment, an eating-disorder history, or a clinician-directed diet should use individualized professional guidance rather than a product ranking.

Affiliate relationships

Some links may earn Well Basecamp a commission at no additional cost to the reader. Pages with commercial links carry a clear disclosure before or beside those links. Affiliate availability may affect where a product can be purchased, but it does not decide whether the product enters the article, its rank, or the drawbacks we report.

We do not accept agreements that require a favorable conclusion, suppress criticism, or hide sponsorship. If a product is supplied free or an article is sponsored, that relationship is disclosed separately from an ordinary affiliate link.

Corrections and updates

We record a last-checked date for time-sensitive comparisons and recheck material facts before adding or changing commercial links. A recommendation may be downgraded or removed when its formulation, price, terms, evidence, availability, or risk changes. Readers can report an error at [email protected].

What a ranking does not mean

“Best” always means best under the criteria stated in that article. It does not mean best for every person, medically superior, risk-free, or guaranteed to produce a result. The right choice may be a different product, a noncommercial option, or buying nothing.

See our editorial policy, affiliate disclosure, and medical disclaimer for the broader standards behind this site.