Review Guidelines
Write reviews you would want to read. Be honest, be specific, and help other buyers make better decisions.
Why your review matters
Every review on Candeq helps someone make a better decision. Whether you loved a product or had a frustrating experience, your honest feedback helps others find the right tools.
We do not filter reviews based on rating. A thoughtful 2-star review can be just as useful as a thoughtful 5-star review.
Before you submit
- Review a product you actually used. Firsthand experience is the baseline.
- Explain your rating. Tell readers what happened and why you gave that score.
- Add useful context. Mention what you used, for how long, and what you were trying to do.
- Use your own words. Do not paste marketing copy, other reviews, or generic AI text.
- Disclose conflicts. If you work for the company or have a financial relationship, say so clearly in the review.
What strong reviews include
Tell us what you actually think. The best reviews share specific, honest experience rather than vague praise or vague frustration.
Be specific
Instead of saying "it is great" or "avoid this," answer the questions buyers actually care about:
- What features did you use?
- How long did you use the product?
- What were you trying to accomplish?
- What worked well, and what did not?
Explain your rating
A rating without reasoning is not very helpful. Connect the number of stars to your actual experience so readers understand the tradeoffs behind your score.
Share your context
Your use case matters. A review from a first-time buyer and a review from a power user can both be valuable if readers understand where you are coming from.
Comparisons are welcome
If you tried alternatives, say how this product compared. Comparisons help readers who are evaluating similar options.
How moderation works
We review submissions for authenticity, relevance, and quality. Most reviews fall into one of these outcomes:
Approved
The review is clear, relevant, and appears to reflect genuine firsthand experience.
Revision requested
Your review may be real but too vague, missing context, or missing a required disclosure. If that happens, we will tell you what to fix.
Rejected
We reject reviews that are fake, promotional, abusive, copied, or otherwise outside these guidelines.
Most reviews are processed within 24 to 48 hours. If we need more detail, we will email you with specific feedback.
What is not allowed
These issues will lead to rejection:
- Fake reviews: Do not review products you have not actually used.
- Spam or promotion: No ads, affiliate links, or marketing copy.
- Personal attacks: Criticize the product or service, not the people behind it.
- Hate speech or harassment: No targeted abuse toward individuals or groups.
- Confidential information: Do not post private data about yourself, a company, or another person.
- Plagiarism: Your review must reflect your own experience in your own words.
- Undisclosed conflicts: If you have a relationship with the company, you must say so.
Conflicts of interest
If you work for the company whose product you are reviewing, you must disclose it.
This includes:
- Current employees
- Contractors or consultants
- Immediate family members of employees
- Anyone with a financial stake in the company
You can still leave a review, but the relationship needs to be stated clearly in the review text. Reviews with undisclosed conflicts will be rejected.
About rewards
Some reviews on Candeq are invited by companies and may include a sats reward. The rule is simple:
Rewards are for your time, not for positive sentiment.
- Negative reviews can earn the same reward as positive ones.
- Rewarded and non-rewarded reviews go through the same moderation process.
- Companies do not get to trade rewards for favorable ratings.
- We do not share reviewer identity with companies beyond what is already visible on the public profile.
AI-assisted writing
You can use AI to help organize your thoughts, but the final review should still reflect your real experience and your own judgment.
Reviews that feel generic, templated, or disconnected from firsthand experience may be rejected or sent back for revision.
Support, shipping, and one-off issues
If your experience was mostly about support, shipping, or a one-time incident, you can mention that context. But the review should still help readers understand the overall product or service experience.
- Include the issue if it materially affected your experience.
- Avoid making the entire review about a small side issue unless it was central to the product.
- For service-heavy businesses, support quality can be part of the core experience.
Frequently asked questions
Can I edit my review after submitting?
Yes. While your review is pending moderation, you can update it. Once it is approved, editing is no longer available.
Can I review the same product twice?
No. You can only have one review per product. If your opinion changes materially, contact us and we can point you to the right next step.
What if my review is rejected?
We explain the reason when we reject a review. In many cases, you can submit a revised version that addresses the feedback.
Can I stay anonymous?
Your review shows your display name. If you want more privacy, update your profile to use a pseudonym instead of your real name.
Write reviews you would want to read. Honest, specific, and useful wins every time.
Questions? Contact us
Last updated: April 2026