How we test
Plainweb ranks tools by what they do, never by what their makers say or pay. Every tool gets a report card built from two sources: an automated check that loads its homepage on a phone-sized browser and records ad networks, trackers and HTTPS, and documented facts such as price, account requirements and known incidents. Any tool that breaks The Junk Rule is marked Avoid.
The Junk Rule
Any one of these and a tool is marked Avoid, no matter how popular it is.
- Hidden catch at the end. A watermark, paywall or signup that only shows up after you did the work.
- Malware or bundled junk. Installs extra software you did not ask for, or has shipped malware.
- Scare tactics. Fake scans, fake warnings, or countdowns to pressure you into paying.
- Caught selling your data. A regulator, court or public investigation showed it sold or shared user data or connections without clear consent.
- No spending cap. For developer services: no way to stop a surprise bill.
- Renewal trap. For developer services: renewal costs more than twice the first year, or privacy protection is extra.
The automated check
A script opens every tool's homepage in a headless Chromium browser sized like a phone, waits for the page to settle, and records every server it talks to. Those servers are matched against a list of known ad networks, analytics trackers and social media trackers. It also records whether the page loaded and whether it used HTTPS, and saves a screenshot. Last run: 15 Oct 2026.
It is a homepage check. A tool's inner pages, apps and downloads can behave differently, and a clean homepage is not a promise. The raw results are published as open data under CC BY 4.0.
Statuses
- Our pick: the one we would hand a friend for that job.
- Good: legitimate, no Junk Rule problems.
- Skip: not dangerous, but a better free option exists, or something about it is not worth the trade.
- Avoid: breaks The Junk Rule.
What we never do
- No affiliate links. We earn nothing when you click.
- No paid placement, sponsored listings or "featured" spots.
- No ads and no tracking cookies on this site.
- Makers can ask for a recheck. They cannot edit a verdict.
Why no pick for AI assistants and coding agents
Plainweb is built with help from AI tools, including one of the coding agents we list. Rather than judge our own tools, those categories list options side by side with no pick.