Our Verification Protocol
CredNull enforces a rigorous editorial protocol before granting any offer a "Verified" status. We prioritize real developer utility over marketing hype.
Source Hierarchy
Our team evaluates information using a strict three-tier source hierarchy:
- Tier 1 — Official Developer Documentation & Pricing: Primary developer portals, terms of service, and official pricing tables.
- Tier 2 — Official Corporate Announcements: Verified blog posts, changelogs, and press releases from provider domains.
- Tier 3 — Direct Signup Testing: Hands-on verification of registration flows and console dashboards.
Unverified forum posts, social media rumors, and third-party promo aggregators are never accepted as primary verification sources.
What We Verify
- Credit Grant Details: Accurate USD or nominal value, expiration rules, and whether the grant is one-time or recurring.
- Access Interfaces: Confirmation that developers receive programmatic API keys, not just a browser chat window.
- Card Requirements: Clear identification of whether a credit or debit card is required for identity verification.
- Identity Checks: Documentation of SMS phone OTP or enterprise domain requirements.
- Model Availability: Accurate mapping to supported foundation models and hosted weights.
Verification Statuses
- Verified: Evaluated and confirmed accurate within our standard editorial review window.
- Needs Recheck: Due for regular re-audit or flagged by a community report awaiting moderator review.
- Expired: The promotion has concluded, terms have changed significantly, or free credits are no longer offered.
Append-Only Audit Trails
Transparency is foundational to CredNull. Every status check, date of review, and editorial note is saved to an immutable, append-only verification log accessible on the provider's public detail page.
Editorial Independence
No provider can pay to expedite verification, alter requirement badges, or suppress community issue reports. Editorial integrity is our highest priority.