How we test analytics tools.
Every review on Haalytics uses the same seven-factor scoring rubric. This page tells you exactly how we generate the numbers you see.
The test setup
We maintain a live reference site — a real, public-facing content site that receives between 3,000 and 10,000 visitors per month. Every tool we review gets installed on this site (or an identical staging clone) and runs for a minimum of 14 days before scoring.
Where the tool requires a paid plan to access features we're scoring, we purchase that plan at our own expense. No vendor has ever had advance access to a review or influence over the score.
The scoring rubric
Each tool is scored out of 10 total points across seven factors, weighted as shown:
| Factor | Weight | What we measure |
|---|---|---|
| Setup experience | 15% | Time from signup to first usable data |
| Data accuracy | 20% | Parallel comparison against a known-good baseline |
| Dashboard usability | 15% | Can a non-technical user find key metrics in under 2 minutes? |
| Reporting depth | 15% | Custom events, funnels, segmentation, retention |
| Privacy & compliance | 10% | GDPR, cookieless, data residency, IP handling |
| Pricing value | 15% | Features relative to cost at a realistic small-business scale |
| Support & docs | 10% | Response time, quality of docs, community |
Score bands
- 9.0–10.0 — Category leader. We'd recommend it without hesitation.
- 7.5–8.9 — Strong choice for most teams. Minor weaknesses.
- 6.0–7.4 — Solid, but with real trade-offs to consider.
- 4.0–5.9 — Only choose this if you have a specific reason.
- Below 4.0 — We don't recommend this tool. Full stop.
Conflicts of interest
Many tools we review offer affiliate programs. We join most of them, disclose every affiliate link, and — this is the important part — affiliate status does not affect scores. Our review of a tool with a generous affiliate program is scored identically to a tool with no affiliate program at all.
See our full affiliate disclosure.
Updates and corrections
Analytics tools change fast. We re-test every tool we've reviewed at least once per year, and immediately if a major feature changes. You'll see the "Updated" date on every review. If we make a factual mistake, we correct it and note the correction at the bottom of the article.
Spotted an error? Tell us.
One honest review, every Tuesday.
Join 1,200+ founders, marketers, and creators getting our weekly take on the analytics tools worth paying for.