How Best-of Lists & Comparisons Are Built

A product can only appear on a best-of list after it has completed our full evaluation. Products are then ordered on documentation, testing scope, identity, origin, value and purchasing experience, in that order of weight. If only one product has qualified, the list shows one product and says so.

Eligibility

Batch COA reviewedCovering metals and microbiology at least.
No result above a legal limitFor the batch evaluated.
Identity verifiedA purchased jar matched to the tested batch.
Lawful claimsNo disease claims in the product’s marketing.

Ordering, once eligible

Criteria in order of weight
Weight	Criterion
1	Laboratory documentation: batch-specific, accredited, complete
2	Testing scope: metals, microbiology, mycotoxins, pesticides, PAHs, speciation
3	Identity, authenticity and origin documentation
4	Cost per serving
5	Purchase, delivery and support experience
6	Customer feedback, weighted by how it was collected

Partner brands in lists

Where a listed product belongs to a partner brand, the list says so beside the product. Any brand with equal or stronger evidence on the criteria above is listed alongside or above it. See our conflict-of-interest policy.

Comparisons

Side-by-side comparisons only include products evaluated to the same depth. Where evidence differs, the difference is stated rather than hidden. See shilajit comparisons and the current shortlist.