What this page is for
Short rules for how HostStack Compare builds VPS matrices — so you (and we) can tell a dated snapshot from a forever claim.
Sources we use
| Source type | How we treat it |
|---|---|
| Official pricing / product pages | Primary for money numbers |
| Official docs / status / ToS | Specs, fair-use, bandwidth footnotes |
| Public marketing cards (intro vs renew) | Cite both when shown; never only the promo |
| Cart / checkout | Only if we can open it without signup or pay — else mark TBD |
| Third-party blogs / forums | Leads only — re-check official before publish |
We do not scrape behind logins, invent SKUs, or copy competitor matrices.
As-of dates
- Every money table carries an as-of stamp (timezone: Asia/Shanghai).
- “Last price-check” in the footer is site-wide; page-level dates win when they differ.
- Before go-live or a major refresh, re-open the official URL and update the stamp — or mark the row TBD.
What we claim
- Dated bands for listed plans (CPU / RAM / disk / transfer / list price when public).
- Billing shape when public (hourly vs prepaid, intro→renew when both are on the same public card).
- “Best for / skip if” as editorial opinion, not a ranking sold to vendors.
What we do not claim
- “#1 cheapest” / forever winners
- Guaranteed uptime %, unpublished SLAs, or support response times we have not verified
- Exact cart totals (VAT locale, setup fees, promo codes) when only visible after signup
- Affiliate “exclusive” savings we cannot show on an official page
- Any endorsement of counseling brands (听见青春期 / 懂一点爱 stay firewalled)
Affiliate & money pages
Until programs are approved in the affiliate ledger, CTAs stay placeholders or official URLs only. Full policy → /disclosure/.
Soft CN note
披露原则：价格与配置以官网为准；本站标注核验日期（Asia/Shanghai）；未核验项标 TBD，不编造优惠或排名。
Sister brand
Dealwright (AI / SaaS digest) uses a related sourcing checklist — separate list, same “verify or omit” bar. No shared subscriber lists with counseling brands.
FAQ (clarifications)
Why do Hostinger intro prices look cheaper than Contabo/DO?
Often term length and promo framing. We label intro vs renew and currency; we never treat a 24-mo intro as a DO monthly list equivalent without saying so.
Why are some cart fields TBD?
If a number only appears after signup or payment, we mark TBD rather than invent it. Public pricing cards are enough for dated bands.
Do provider deep-dives mean affiliates are live?
No. Deep-dives can publish with official vendor URLs only. Affiliate hrefs stay empty until ledger approval + disclosure update.