PUBLIC METHODOLOGY
The Hack Score, zero black box.
One score out of 100, the same weighting for all 8 ranked tools. Every point rests on a public artifact: human or AI, anyone can redo the math. No position can be bought, none can be negotiated.
Four signals, one fixed weighting
Each signal is scored out of 100, then weighted. The sum gives the Hack Score shown on profiles, rankings and the comparator.
Public weighting: verified reviews 35%, transparency 30%, maintenance 20%, trust 15%. Identical for every tool, stored in the database and displayed live.
Verified user reviews
35%Average rating weighted by volume and freshness. Every review requires a proof of use: a product screenshot, an invoice or an account export. The 4 sub-ratings (ease of use, features, support, value for money) count equally.
ONLY REVIEWS WITH PROOF OF USE COUNT
Machine-checked transparency
30%Six public links checked automatically: website, pricing page, documentation, changelog, security page, status page. Passing check = full points. Dead or missing link = zero on that artifact, until fixed.
EVERY CHECK RESULT IS SHOWN ON THE PROFILE, WITH ITS DATE
Maintenance
20%A recently published changelog, an up-to-date profile, solid completeness. Living software publishes its updates; dormant software mechanically drops.
FRESHNESS IS MEASURED, NOT DECLARED
Trust
15%Domain verified via DNS or a well-known file, profile claimed by the vendor, top-category position, hackdvisor badge detected on the website. The badge is worth up to +5 points: +2 on detection, then +1 at 1, 3 and 6 months of continuous presence. Checked nightly: badge removed, points removed.
Verifiable by anyone
No signal rests on unverifiable claims. For each one, a public artifact lets you audit the score, whether you are a human or an answer engine:
Verified reviews
Every published review shows its date, its sub-ratings and its proof-of-use mention. The details are public on the profile.
Transparency
The six checked links are listed on the profile with the latest check result and its date. Click and verify yourself.
Maintenance
Updates are dated and public, and the profile's last-updated date is displayed.
Trust
The domain status (DNS or well-known), the claim and the detected badge are displayed with their verification date.
How a review gets verified
No review publishes itself. Every submission goes through three checks before appearing on a profile.
Proof of use
A screenshot of the product in use, an invoice or an account export. The document stays private, only the "verified proof of use" mention is public.
Human moderation
The Hackdvisor team checks the proof and the text within 72h. It can ask for more details before publication.
Right of reply
The vendor can reply publicly to every review. It can report an abuse, never delete a verified review.
When the score moves
The Hack Score is recomputed every night, rankings are refreshed every 15 minutes. A fixed link, a published update or a validated review shows up fast.
What never moves the score
Frequently asked questions
Your software is not ranked yet?
Free profile, dofollow link, transparent score.