How We Research

Our goal is simple: help you make a confident decision without wading through hype.

1. Start from the reader's problem

Each guide begins with a real question remote workers ask: Which VPN features actually matter? Is shared hosting good enough? We write around the decision, not around a product.

2. Define clear criteria

Before mentioning any tool, we set out the criteria that matter – security, ease of use, total cost including renewals, support and how easy it is to leave. You can apply those criteria to any option, including ones we don't mention.

3. Check primary sources

I read official documentation, privacy policies, pricing pages and independent security audits rather than relying on marketing claims or other review sites.

4. Be clear about what is first-hand

Some guides draw on my own day-to-day use – for example running this site on Netlify and an online store on Shopify. Others are research-based. Each guide includes a short “How this guide was made” note so you know which is which. I don’t present research as hands-on testing.

5. Keep guides current

Software, prices and best practices change. Guides are revisited when that happens, and the date at the top of each guide shows when it was published.

Independence

Some links on this site are affiliate links. Commissions never decide what we recommend or how we rank options, and we say so when a free or cheaper option is the right answer. See our affiliate disclosure.

Spotted an error or out-of-date information? Let us know and we'll correct it.

The Wire Review is written by Tony Ngo. More about the author.