Every product listed on Squarespell goes through a manual verification process before it is published. This page explains what that process involves, how we keep listings accurate over time, and what to do if you find something wrong.
What “verified” means
When a product on Squarespell carries a “verified” label, it means a real person on our team installed the product, tested it on a live site, and documented the results. We check that the product does what the vendor says it does, that it works on the platforms it claims to support, and that it does not introduce obvious conflicts or performance problems.
Verification is not an endorsement. A verified product may still have limitations, trade-offs or use cases where it is not the right choice. What the label tells you is that we looked at it ourselves and that the listing reflects what we actually found, not what the vendor told us to write.
Our testing methodology
Each product goes through a structured testing process. The exact steps depend on the product type (plugin, template, extension or course), but the general flow is the same:
- Installation. We install the product on a clean test site running the platform it was built for. For Squarespace products, this means a current-version Squarespace 7.1 site. For WordPress products, a current WordPress install with WooCommerce where relevant.
- Functional testing. We go through the features the vendor advertises and confirm whether they work. If the vendor says “drag-and-drop editor,” we drag and drop. If it says “mobile responsive,” we check on actual devices.
- Compatibility check. We look for conflicts with commonly used themes, plugins or platform features. We note any issues with page speed, layout shifts or JavaScript errors.
- Documentation review. We check whether the vendor provides clear setup instructions, a changelog, and a way to contact support.
- Result logging. We record our findings in an internal test log with dates, screenshots and notes. A summary of these findings becomes the product listing on Squarespell.
Not every product passes. Products that are broken, misleading or abandoned are either rejected or flagged with a warning.
What “no pay-to-rank” means
On Squarespell, product rankings are based on test results and editorial judgement. Vendors cannot pay for a higher position in any category listing. There is no “featured placement” tier, no sponsored slot at the top of search results, and no way to buy a better score.
This is a deliberate choice. Most product directories make money by selling visibility to vendors, which means the products you see first are the ones that paid the most, not the ones that tested the best. We think that model is broken, and we chose not to use it.
How affiliate revenue works
Some product listings on Squarespell include affiliate links. When you click one of those links and make a purchase, Squarespell may earn a commission from the vendor. This is one of three ways we fund the marketplace (alongside our own products and free content that drives organic traffic).
Affiliate commissions never affect product rankings, scores or editorial coverage. A product with a high commission rate does not rank higher than one with no affiliate program. We review and list products that have no affiliate program at all if they are useful to our audience. Full details are in our affiliate disclosure.
Review cycle
Products are not tested once and forgotten. We re-test listings on a rolling basis, prioritizing products that have released major updates, products where users have reported issues, and products in categories with high traffic.
Our target is to re-verify every active listing at least once every six months. High-traffic listings and products with known issues are checked more frequently. When a product is re-tested, the listing is updated with the new test date and any changes to our findings.
Sample test log
Below is an example of what an internal test log entry looks like. This is a simplified version of the format we use for every product we verify.
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product | SquareWebsites Header Code Injection Plugin |
| Platform | Squarespace 7.1 |
| Test date | 2026-07-15 |
| Tested by | Muhammad Hussnain |
| Install method | Code injection via header |
| Claimed features | Custom header scripts, async loading, conditional page targeting |
| Features confirmed | Header injection works, async attribute present, page targeting works on all tested pages |
| Issues found | None on initial test. Minor: no UI indicator when script is active |
| Performance impact | +12ms DOM ready (within acceptable range) |
| Support docs | Setup guide available, changelog current, email support responds within 24h |
| Verdict | Listed, verified, no warnings |
Every listing on Squarespell is backed by a log like this. We do not publish the full internal logs publicly, but the key findings are reflected in each product listing.
Correction policy
If we get something wrong, we fix it. When a vendor, user or team member identifies an error in a listing, we investigate and update the listing as quickly as possible. Corrections are logged with the date and a note explaining what changed.
We do not quietly edit listings to remove negative findings. If a product was flagged and later improved, the listing will reflect both the original issue and the fix, along with the re-test date. Transparency about what changed and when is part of the point.
How to report an issue
If you believe a listing on Squarespell contains incorrect information, is missing important context, or describes a product that has changed significantly since our last test, please let us know.
Send an email to info@squarespell.com with the subject line “Listing correction” and include the product name, the specific issue you found, and any supporting evidence (screenshots, links, version numbers). We review every report and will respond within three business days.
If you are a vendor and believe your product was unfairly tested, we are happy to discuss the methodology and, where warranted, schedule a re-test. We do not remove or alter listings based on vendor requests alone, but we do take new evidence seriously.