How we judge
How the Innovation Prizes are decided: five weighted criteria, applied to public evidence, with no entry fees and no paid placements.
Every category is decided by the same five criteria. The weights show how much each one counts. In each category the editors name one Winner, two Finalists and two or three Commended products.
Does it do something useful that was hard to get before, or does it only repackage what everyone already offers?
Validation studies, FDA clearances, peer-reviewed research and clear documentation behind the claims the maker makes.
Whether it fits a normal week: how much effort it asks, how quickly it pays back, and how many kinds of people it serves.
Platforms, a usable free option where one exists, accessibility features and availability in the United States.
A readable privacy policy, export and deletion of your own data, and no surprises about who else sees it.
What counts as evidence
We work from what can be checked: the maker's own specifications and documentation, FDA clearances and approvals, peer-reviewed studies, app store listings and published privacy policies. Claims a maker makes without support count for less than claims backed by a study or a regulator. When a figure appears on a prize page, it is attributed to whoever published it.
What we do not do
- We do not charge entry fees, sell badges or accept payment for placement.
- We do not run lab tests or claim hands-on testing. Our assessments are editorial and based on published information.
- We do not rank on price or user ratings, and prize pages do not carry affiliate links.
- We do not give medical advice. Pages about glucose, blood pressure, pregnancy or cycle tracking point readers to a clinician where it matters.
Two editions
The 2026 edition recognizes the products that defined the year. The 2027 edition was announced in October 2026 for the year ahead, the way model-year awards are, and only considers products already on sale or officially announced. A product can win both if it remains the best choice.
Keeping pages current
Products change after the prizes are awarded. We review prize pages regularly and update facts when a maker changes a product; the date at the top of each page shows the latest review. If a product is withdrawn from sale, its page says so.
Conflicts of interest
We have no commercial relationship with the makers we cover. No maker pays to enter, to win or to display a badge, and the site carries no advertising or affiliate links. More about the prizes.