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Plan ValueTesting methodology

Plan Value measures what you receive for the price of the subscription.

A cheap plan is not always good value. It may leave important features behind extra payments or give you very few credits.

An expensive plan can still offer good value when it includes useful features, generous credits, and reasonable usage limits.

We check the monthly price, annual price, included features, included credits, plan limits, and annual discount.

Monthly Price, Annual Price, Included Credits, and Plan Limits currently use manual scores because the live database does not provide fixed scoring bands. These tests always show the exact raw result and a clear reason for the score.

  • 6 evidence groups
  • 6 scored tests

Plan Value is organized into 6 evidence groups. Each group contains one scored test: Monthly Price, Annual Price, Included Features, Included Credits, Plan Limits, and Annual Discount.

How the Plan Value score is calculated

Each test receives a score from 0 to 10.

We multiply each score by its weight and add the results together.

Included Credits has the biggest effect on the score at 25%. Monthly Price and Included Features are the next most important tests at 20% each.

Included Features and Annual Discount use automatic scoring. Monthly Price, Annual Price, Included Credits, and Plan Limits use the exact pricing information we collect and receive a manual score from 0 to 10. Plan Value makes up of the Pricing score.

  • 20%Monthly Price
  • 15%Annual Price
  • 20%Included Features
  • 25%Included Credits
  • 10%Plan Limits
  • 10%Annual Discount
Weighted evidence groups (combined 100%)Plan Value score of Pricing score
View exact calculation

Each test receives a score from 0 to 10. We multiply each score by its weight and add the results together.

Plan Value makes up of the Pricing score. Pricing makes up 10% of the overall performance score.

Scored tests and weights

Scored testHow much it countsSee scoring
Monthly Price20.00%View
Annual Price15.00%View
Included Features20.00%View
Included Credits25.00%View
Plan Limits10.00%View
Annual Discount10.00%View
Total100%

How the score is calculated

  1. Each test gets a score from 0–10

  2. Test score × how much it counts

    Example: 7 × 20.00% = 1.40 points

  3. We do this for every test

  4. We add all the points together

  5. Final Plan Value score

    Counts for 30% of Pricing

Example calculation

We multiply each test score by how much it counts. We then add all the points together.

Scored testTest scoreHow much it countsCalculationPoints added
Monthly Price7.0020.00%7.00 × 20.00%1.40
Annual Price8.0015.00%8.00 × 15.00%1.20
Included Features8.0020.00%8.00 × 20.00%1.60
Included Credits7.0025.00%7.00 × 25.00%1.75
Plan Limits6.0010.00%6.00 × 10.00%0.60
Annual Discount3.0010.00%3.00 × 10.00%0.30
Final Plan Value score—100%Add all points6.85/10

Automatic and manual scores

Automatic scoring

Included Features and Annual Discount convert their percentage results directly into a score from 0 to 10.

Manual scoring

Monthly Price, Annual Price, Included Credits, and Plan Limits use the exact pricing information we collect. The database does not currently provide fixed dollar or credit benchmarks for these four tests, so we record the exact result and explain the score instead of pretending there is an automatic formula.

Unknown

If we cannot verify a result, the test receives a score of 0.

Why Plan Value matters

The advertised subscription price does not always show the real value of a plan.

A plan may cost only $10 per month but still require separate credits for images, videos, and calls.

Another plan may cost more but include most features and enough monthly credits for regular use.

Annual plans can also look cheaper because the company shows the monthly average instead of the full amount charged at once.

For example, $8 per month when billed yearly may actually mean the user pays $96 immediately.

That is why we record both the full annual payment and the effective monthly price.

How we test Plan Value

We use the main paid plan available to normal customers.

We record pricing from the Pricing section of the database and confirm it using the company’s checkout and pricing pages.

We collect the full monthly price, full annual payment, effective monthly annual price, credits included with the plan, features included without extra payment, daily or monthly usage limits, and annual discount.

Included Features and Plan Limits are also checked through the guided Plan Inclusions and Limits test.

Limitations

Pricing can change at any time.

Prices may also differ because of country, currency, taxes, App Store fees, Google Play fees, website-only discounts, or temporary sales.

We use the normal website price available to our paid test account on the recorded test date.

Credit systems are also difficult to compare because every app uses different credit amounts and prices. We therefore show real usage costs separately under Usage Costs.

Plan Value makes up 30% of the Pricing score.

Evidence groups

Plan Value has 6 evidence groups made up of 6 scored tests.

20%

Monthly Price

1 scored test

Monthly Price records the normal cost of paying one month at a time.

We use the full non-discounted price of the main monthly subscription.

Monthly Price

The normal cost of paying one month at a time.

How we test

We check the pricing page and checkout screen. We record the monthly subscription price, currency, required taxes or fees when clearly shown, and whether the price is temporary or introductory.

What counts
  • The normal one-month subscription
  • The price available to regular customers
  • The full amount charged for one month
  • Required fees shown before payment
What does not count
  • A yearly plan divided by 12
  • A temporary first-month discount
  • A coupon code
  • An affiliate-only discount
  • A free trial
Result shown

$12.99 per month

Scoring

In this example, Monthly Price scores 7/10.

The exact price receives a score from 0 to 10. Lower prices usually score better, but the live database does not currently contain fixed dollar bands. The evidence result always shows the real monthly price next to the score.

Evidence group 2 of 6

15%

Annual Price

1 scored test

Annual Price measures the cost of paying for one full year.

We show both the total amount charged and the effective monthly cost.

Annual Price

The cost of paying for one full year.

How we test

We record the full annual payment and divide it by 12. For example, a $96 annual payment equals $8 per month.

What counts
  • The normal annual subscription
  • The full amount charged at checkout
  • The effective monthly price
  • Required fees shown before payment
What does not count
  • Showing only $8 per month without the $96 yearly charge
  • Temporary annual discounts
  • Coupon codes
  • Lifetime plans
  • A monthly plan multiplied by 12
Result shown

$96 billed yearly

Effective price: $8 per month

Scoring

In this example, Annual Price scores 8/10.

The annual price receives a score from 0 to 10. A lower effective price normally scores better. The live database does not yet provide fixed dollar bands for this test.

Evidence group 3 of 6

20%

Included Features

1 scored test

Included Features measures how many important features are available without another payment.

We check 10 core features that users expect on a paid plan.

Included Features

How many important features are available without another payment.

How we test

We check whether the selected plan includes standard chat, character library, character creation, image generation, image editing, video generation, voice messages, voice calls, memory controls, and message regeneration. A feature counts as included when users can access it without buying another subscription.

What counts
  • A feature available on the tested plan
  • A feature that uses the plan’s included credits
  • A normal feature available to paying users
What does not count
  • A feature requiring a more expensive plan
  • A separate one-time purchase
  • A feature shown in marketing but unavailable
  • A tool still marked as coming soon
Result shown

8 of 10 core features included

Result: 80%

Scoring

The percentage is changed directly into a score.

Features includedScore
0 of 100/10
2 of 102/10
4 of 104/10
6 of 106/10
8 of 108/10
10 of 1010/10

An app with 8 of 10 features included scores 8/10.

The exact percentage becomes the score.

Evidence group 4 of 6

25%

Included Credits

1 scored test

Included Credits records how many credits or tokens come with the subscription.

Credits may be used for images, videos, voice messages, calls, or other paid actions.

Included Credits

How many credits or tokens come with the subscription.

How we test

We record credits included at signup, credits added each billing period, whether unused credits carry over, which features use credits, and whether different plans receive different amounts.

What counts
  • Credits included with the paid subscription
  • Credits added automatically each month or year
  • Tokens that can be used for paid features
What does not count
  • Free signup credits
  • Credits bought separately
  • Temporary bonuses
  • Referral rewards
  • Promotional coupon credits
Result shown

100 credits included each month

Scoring

In this example, Included Credits scores 7/10.

Included Credits receives a score from 0 to 10. More useful credit value normally scores better. The database does not currently have fixed credit bands, so the exact amount and how those credits can be used must be shown with the score.

Evidence group 5 of 6

10%

Plan Limits

1 scored test

Plan Limits measures the daily or monthly limits placed on important features.

A plan may advertise a feature as included but still limit how often you can use it.

Plan Limits

The daily or monthly limits placed on important features.

How we test

We record the exact limits for messages, images, videos, voice messages, voice calls, and created characters.

What counts
  • Daily message limits
  • Monthly image limits
  • Maximum video generations
  • Voice-minute limits
  • Character-creation limits
  • Fair-use restrictions
What does not count
  • The number of credits included
  • Technical file-size limits
  • Safety rules
  • Limits that only apply to free accounts
  • Restrictions on features not included in the plan
Result shown

Messages: Unlimited · Images: 20 per month · Videos: 4 per month

Voice calls: 30 minutes per month · Created characters: 5

Scoring

In this example, Plan Limits scores 6/10.

Plan Limits receives a score from 0 to 10. Fewer and more generous limits normally lead to a higher score. The database does not yet provide one fixed scoring table because the limits cover several different features.

Evidence group 6 of 6

10%

Annual Discount

1 scored test

Annual Discount measures how much users save by paying for one year instead of paying monthly for 12 months.

A small discount may not justify paying the full yearly amount upfront.

Annual Discount

How much users save by paying for one year instead of paying monthly for 12 months.

How we test

We compare the monthly price multiplied by 12 with the full annual price. Annual discount equals the amount saved divided by the normal yearly monthly cost, multiplied by 100. For example, $10 × 12 = $120 versus a $90 annual plan saves $30, which is a 25% discount.

What counts
  • The same subscription tier
  • Normal public prices
  • The full annual payment
  • A discount available to regular users
What does not count
  • Comparing two different plan levels
  • Temporary sales
  • Coupon codes
  • First-year-only discounts without explanation
  • Comparing the annual plan with a higher monthly tier
Result shown

25% cheaper than paying monthly for 12 months

Scoring

The percentage is changed directly into a score from 0 to 10.

Annual discountScore
0%0/10
10%1/10
20%2/10
30%3/10
50%5/10
100%10/10

A 25% annual discount equals 2.5/10 under the linear rule. In this worked example, Annual Discount is recorded as 3/10.

The exact percentage becomes the score.

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