TestYourIdea vs IdeaProof: Which One Shows Sources?
Comparing two startup validation tools. One shows receipts. One doesn't. Here's what actually matters when validating your idea.
IdeaProof claims "50+ data sources." I ran a test and counted the actual clickable links in a report.
I found 6.
Six links. In a tool that promises fifty sources. The rest? Text that looks like data but leads nowhere.
Here's what I found comparing the two tools, and why it matters when you're about to put numbers in front of an investor.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | TestYourIdea | IdeaProof |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | 60 seconds | 120 seconds |
| Data Sources | 20+ (with URLs) | "50+" (no proof) |
| Sourced Data | ✓ Every claim has a link | ✗ No source URLs |
| Investment Memo POV | ✓ VC-style analysis | ✗ None |
| Niche Coach | ✓ Actionable pivots | ✗ None |
| TAM/SAM/SOM | ✓ With citations | ✓ Claimed |
| Competitor Analysis | Funding, pricing, weaknesses | Basic |
| Financial Projections | Unit economics, scenarios | Basic |
| Logo Generator | ✗ Not included | ✓ Included |
| Ad Creatives | ✗ Not included | ✓ Included |
| White-label for Agencies | ✓ Full B2B solution | ✗ None |
| Pricing | $19 one-time | €9.99-69.99 (credits) |
| Free Tier | ✓ Full validation section | ✓ 90 credits |
The Core Difference: Receipts
IdeaProof claims "50+ data sources" and "89% accuracy." Sounds great. But when the tool tells you "the market size is $2.4B," can you click through to the source?
Can you verify it's not a hallucination? Can you show an investor where the number came from?
With IdeaProof: you cannot.
With TestYourIdea: every competitor, every market stat, every trend links to the actual source. Click it. Verify it. Put it in your deck knowing you won't get caught making things up.
We don't have pretty radar charts. We have URLs you can click. IdeaProof gives you "Industry startup benchmarks" as a source. We give you the actual Statista report, the Crunchbase profile, the Reddit thread. Because when you're raising money, investors verify.
Where TestYourIdea Wins
Sourced Data with URLs
"Your competitor raised $12M Series A." Click the link, see the Crunchbase profile. "TAM is $4.2B." Click the link, see the market report. Nothing hiding behind vague "industry benchmarks."
Investment Memo POV
We write analysis the way a VC would evaluate your idea. Not "your idea is good/bad" but "here's what an investor will ask you, and here's how to answer." Prepare for the hard questions before the meeting.
60 Seconds, Not 120
IdeaProof takes 2 minutes. We deliver in 1. When you're iterating through three variations of your idea in an afternoon, that gap adds up.
Niche Coach
Saturated market? The Niche Coach shows you which angle might work: "Enterprise-only is crowded, but mid-market has weak players. Here's who to target." Specific pivots, not generic advice.
Simple Pricing
$19 one-time for the Founder Report. No credits to track. No subscription to cancel. IdeaProof uses a credit system where validation costs 20 credits, market analysis costs 70, business plan costs 100. Math homework nobody asked for.
Agency White-Label
Embed validation on your site with your branding. Lead qualification built-in. IdeaProof has no B2B features.
Where IdeaProof Wins
Fair is fair. IdeaProof has features we don't, and some of them are genuinely useful:
Logo Generator
If you need a logo for your landing page, IdeaProof includes one. TestYourIdea doesn't. We focus on validation, not branding.
Ad Creatives
IdeaProof generates ad creative concepts. Useful if you're running paid ads early. Not our focus.
18+ Languages
IdeaProof supports 18+ languages. TestYourIdea currently supports English and French. More coming.
"Full Journey" Features
Brand strategy, email sequences, business plans. If you want one tool for everything, IdeaProof offers breadth. Whether it's all useful is another question.
IdeaProof's Red Flags
I'm not saying IdeaProof is a scam. I'm saying some of their marketing claims don't add up:
- ?"50+ data sources" but no URLs to verify. How do you know it's not hallucinating?
- ?"89% accuracy" with no methodology, no third-party audit, no proof. Accuracy of what? Measured how?
- ?"10,000+ users" claimed. No way to verify.
- ?Credit system complexity. 20 credits here, 70 there, 100 for this. Why?
- ?TAM inconsistency in same report. $2.5B in validation, $4.0B in market analysis. Same idea, different numbers. Which is real?
Maybe there's a good explanation for all of this. But if you're building a tool that tells founders their data is "89% accurate," you should probably be able to prove that claim.
Who Should Use What
| Use Case | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Serious founder preparing to raise | TestYourIdea (Investment Memo, sourced data) |
| Agency qualifying client leads | TestYourIdea (white-label, dashboard) |
| Investor doing due diligence | TestYourIdea (verifiable sources) |
| Beginner wanting "full journey" | IdeaProof (logo, ads, brand) |
| Need logo + brand assets | IdeaProof |
| Side project validation | Either works |
The Bottom Line
IdeaProof
"We give you everything"
- • Breadth over depth
- • Looks impressive
- • B2C only
- • No source URLs
TestYourIdea
"We give you data you can trust"
- • Depth over breadth
- • Is verifiable
- • B2C + B2B agencies
- • Every claim sourced
If you want a tool that does a little of everything and looks nice on a screenshot, IdeaProof might work for you.
If you're walking into a room with investors who will ask "where did this number come from?" and you need an answer, that's us.
Try Both. Compare the Outputs.
Run your idea through TestYourIdea. Free scan, no email required. Then run the same idea through IdeaProof. Count the clickable sources in each report. See for yourself.
Validate my idea →Frequently Asked Questions
Is TestYourIdea better than IdeaProof?
For validation data you can actually verify and use in a pitch deck, yes. For logo generation and brand assets, no. We do different things. If you need both, use both.
Why doesn't TestYourIdea include a logo generator?
Because you can get a decent logo from Canva in 5 minutes. You cannot get sourced market intelligence anywhere else. We'd rather be the best at the hard thing than mediocre at everything.
How accurate is IdeaProof's "89% accuracy" claim?
Nobody knows. They don't publish methodology, sample size, or what "accuracy" even measures. 89% accurate at what? Predicting startup success? Identifying competitors? Market sizing? Without details, it's a marketing number, not a benchmark.
Can I use both tools together?
Sure. Use IdeaProof for logo and brand assets. Use TestYourIdea for the market research you'll actually put in your pitch deck. Different strengths.
Which is better for investors?
TestYourIdea. You will get asked "where did this number come from?" multiple times in any serious pitch. With our reports, you have the link ready. With IdeaProof, you have to say "the AI told me."
Is TestYourIdea biased in this comparison?
Obviously. I built TestYourIdea. I tried to be fair and gave IdeaProof credit where it's due (logos, ads, 18 languages). But of course I think our approach is better. Run both tools on the same idea. You'll see the difference in the outputs, not the marketing.
