How we test & rate IT software
Every tool on GoToResolve is scored against the same five-part framework. Here's exactly what we look at and how the final score is built.
Our scoring framework
Each product earns a score out of 5, made up of five weighted categories. We use the same rubric for a free remote-desktop tool and an enterprise RMM platform, then judge each within its class.
| Category | Weight | What we assess |
|---|---|---|
| Setup & ease of use | 20% | Time to first session, deployment of agents, clarity of the interface, learning curve for a new technician. |
| Features & capability | 25% | Unattended access, file transfer, multi-monitor, scripting/automation, reporting, integrations, mobile support. |
| Security | 25% | Encryption, multi-factor authentication, granular permissions, session logging, audit trails, SOC 2 / ISO posture, and resistance to scam abuse. |
| Support & reliability | 15% | Connection stability, uptime track record, quality and channels of vendor support, documentation. |
| Value for money | 15% | Pricing transparency, what's included per tier, per-technician vs per-endpoint fairness, free tier. |
Where our information comes from
- Hands-on use where we can obtain a trial or free tier — we run real remote sessions, test file transfer, and deploy agents.
- Vendor documentation for feature and security claims, which we treat as claims until verified.
- Aggregated user reviews from public review platforms, weighting recent feedback and recurring themes over one-off complaints.
- Pricing pages captured at the date shown on each review. Software pricing changes often; we note the "as of" date and re-check periodically.
How we handle security & scam risk
Because remote-access tools are a favourite of tech-support scammers, we treat abuse-resistance as part of the security score: does the tool support locking down unattended access, enforce MFA, warn inexperienced users, and give administrators session logs? A tool that's trivial to weaponise against non-technical users loses points even if its raw feature set is strong.
Keeping reviews honest
- Affiliate relationships never change a score. We disclose them on every page.
- We publish the downsides. Every review has a cons list and a "who it's not for".
- We date our pricing and re-verify when vendors change plans.
- We accept corrections from readers and vendors, with sources.
Frequently asked questions
Do vendors pay you for better reviews?
No. Some links are affiliate links that earn us a commission if you buy, but payment never affects a product's score or ranking. Vendors cannot buy a rating or remove criticism.
How often are reviews updated?
We re-check pricing and major features periodically and whenever a vendor announces a significant change. Each review shows the date it was last assessed.
Do you test every tool hands-on?
We test hands-on wherever a trial or free tier is available. For enterprise products without open trials, we rely on documentation, demos and verified user feedback, and we say so in the review.