This WhatsOnTech review is not an independent review. It was written by the WhatsOnTech team about our own website, so please read it as an honest self-assessment rather than a verdict from an outside reviewer. Our summary: if you want free, plain-language explanations of everyday health topics, with clear pointers on when to see a doctor, our health guides are a sensible place to start. If you need personal advice, a diagnosis or a treatment plan, it is not the right tool, and it was never meant to be.
One clarification before we go further. This page reviews the free health and wellness guides published at whatsontechs.com.
What’s on Offer
Our health guides explain everyday health topics in plain language. Its main areas are health and wellness, dentistry, dermatology, pain management, cardiology, eye health, and ear, nose and throat (ENT) care, along with related subjects such as digestion, allergies, sleep and family health.
Alongside individual articles, there are in-depth guides that pull a topic together in one place, such as the ear, nose and throat health guide and the skin health guide. These guides include a “When to See a Doctor” section and link to the sources they draw on.
Everything is free to read. There is no account, no subscription and no app, and the site does not sell products or ask for payment details.
Where the Guides Work Well
Judged against what the site sets out to do, these are its genuine strengths:
- Readable explanations. Topics are written in plain language for people without a medical background, which makes them a useful first step when a term from an appointment or a product label doesn’t make sense.
- No barriers. You can read without signing up, paying or installing anything.
- Nothing to sell. Because the site doesn’t sell products, articles aren’t steering you toward a purchase from us.
- Clear signposting. The “When to See a Doctor” sections in the in-depth guides help readers recognize when general reading should give way to professional care.
- Sources you can check. The in-depth guides link to their sources, and across the site you’ll find links to public bodies such as the World Health Organization, the NHS, the CDC, the NIH and MedlinePlus.
- Open to correction. Readers can point out errors through the contact page, and articles are revisited when guidance changes.
Where the Guides Fall Short
Any WhatsOnTech review worth reading has to cover the limits too, and ours are real:
- General, not personal. An article can’t take into account your medical history, medications, age or test results. Two people with the same symptom may need very different advice.
- No substitute for a clinician. Nothing here is medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. A doctor, dentist, pharmacist or other qualified professional who knows your situation should guide decisions about your health.
- Mixed authorship. Some articles are contributed by outside writers, and we do not claim that every article is written in-house or reviewed by doctors.
- Guidance moves on. We revisit articles when guidance changes, but there can be a gap between new advice appearing and an article being updated, and mistakes can happen.
- Not for emergencies. If you think you or someone else needs urgent help, contact local emergency services right away; in the US, call 911.
- Breadth over depth. The focus is everyday topics. For a rare or complex condition, specialist resources and your care team will go much further.
Who Our Health Guides Suit, and Who They Don’t
Our health guides are likely to be a good fit if you:
- want a clear overview of a common health topic before or after an appointment
- are helping a family member and need background in everyday language
- prefer reading about health without creating accounts or handing over personal details
It is probably not what you need if you:
- want someone to assess your symptoms or tell you what condition you have
- need professional or academic-level detail for study or clinical work
- have symptoms that are severe, sudden or getting worse quickly, in which case contacting a professional or emergency services comes first
If you are in the second group, a doctor, dentist, pharmacist or other qualified professional is the right next step. The guides can still be useful later, as background reading to help you understand what you were told and what to ask at a follow-up visit.
Getting the Most From Our Guides
Whatever you conclude from this WhatsOnTech review, these steps will help you use the guides well:
- If you are worried about a symptom, read the “When to See a Doctor” section first.
- Follow the source links to see the original guidance for yourself.
- Write down questions to take to your next appointment.
- Compare what you read with reputable public resources such as MedlinePlus or the NHS website.
- If something looks wrong or out of date, tell us so we can check it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this WhatsOnTech review independent?
No. It was written by our own team about our own site. We’ve tried to be balanced by listing limits alongside strengths, but you should weigh it as a first-party description and form your own view by reading a few articles and checking their sources.
Does it cost anything to use the site?
No. Articles are free, with no sign-up, subscription or app. The site doesn’t sell products and won’t ask for payment details. You can read how information is handled in our Privacy Policy.
Are the guides written or reviewed by doctors?
We don’t make that claim. Some articles are contributed by outside writers, and the in-depth guides link to their sources so you can check the underlying information. For more on how guides are put together, see how our health guides are researched and updated.
Our honest bottom line for this WhatsOnTech review: our health guides are useful for understanding everyday health topics in plain language, and they are upfront about what they can’t do. Treat it as a starting point for learning, not the final word on your health. If you want to know more about the team and how the site operates, our About page and our overview of who we are are good next stops.
You can browse every guide category from the WhatsOnTech homepage.
