If you ever read something online that made you cock your head and do a double-take, you’re not losing your mind. The world is. Trust your gut: the internet is boiling with information of dubious quality. Which is exactly why sites like FactCheck.org exist. This nonprofit, nonpartisan fact-checking organization wants to keep things honest and free from outside influence. And so do we!
Quick Overview
FactCheck.org positions itself as a resource for voters, working to cut through the noise and misinformation in U.S. politics. They keep an eye on major political figures, fact-checking public statements (so, info presented in ads and news releases or things said during debates and interviews). Their approach combines journalistic methods with academic research to help the public better understand political issues. FactCheck.org operates under the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. APPC was founded by philanthropists Walter and Leonore Annenberg in 1993 and brings scholars together to “study public policy at local, state, and federal levels.
| TOP services |  Updated February 2025 |
|---|---|
MediaBiasFactCheck
|
Read review |
Snopes.com
|
Read review |
Politifact.com
|
Read review |
FactCheck.org
|
Read review |
Washington Post
|
Read review |
The site’s clean and simple design is easy to navigate. However, due to the specifics of FactCheck’s research methods and operations, it doesn’t exactly mark the published material as “X said Y: we rate it as FALSE”. There are no supporting graphics with the verdict and often no TL;DR, either. Though the article titles (and occasionally thumbnails) can be self-explanatory in this regard, we do not recommend FactCheck if you need an instant answer — bar the Viral Spiral tab. It’s a resource to sit over as you drink your morning coffee and dig into the intricacies. Though an enriching experience, it doesn’t fit every occasion.
Value for Money 40/40 
: Does FactCheck.org Deliver?
FactCheck.org clearly explains how it selects and researches topics, which grants the site full marks from A*Help team. It also claims to apply the same accuracy standards across the board, no matter which side of the political spectrum is involved. The editing policy is disclosed; any changes to the original post are marked on the page when applicable. If you think the site got something wrong, you can request a correction or a clarification via email. And if you notice some violations of the International Fact-Checking Network’s principles, a formal way to file a complaint is linked on the site.
The context around each fact on trial is thoroughly explored. You can follow the journey information went on before reaching FactCheck, thanks to the team’s research. However, this same aspect decidedly puts the site into the longread category, even if “in a nutshell” section happens to be included at the start (which isn’t always the case). FactCheck.org is not the solution when you only have a second to spare.
FactCheck.org isn’t limited to political claims, either. It has a section dedicated to fact-checking scientific topics. If you prefer reading in Spanish, they’ve got versions of articles available in that language as well. The site hosts resources to uplift media literacy in online users: basic educational articles on how to avoid misinformation, separate tabs on debunking viral claims, including those made about COVID-19 vaccination, and internet rumors (especially effective, because it is presented as a list of bite-sized conclusions).
As for financing, the site doesn’t take money from unions, political groups, or advocacy organizations to, as previously stated, avoid outside influence. Their donors have zero say in what gets fact-checked, and all financial details are publicly available, right down to listing individual donors who contribute over $1,000. FactCheck goes as far as to provide financial disclosure by fiscal year and quarter.
FactChecker.org is a part of third-party fact-checking programs with Meta, Google, and YouTube to “combat the spread of viral deceptions.” Considering this fact, most funding for the site comes from the APPC Endowment, Meta, Google, and individual donors. You, too, can become one — donations are one-time or monthly and go through the University of Pennsylvania. But worry not — your contribution won’t be funding university coffee runs. Every dollar stays within FactCheck.org to help them continue their work.
Overall Experience 35/60 : FactCheck.org is a Solid Choice — If You Have The Time
FactCheck includes the links to relevant sources throughout the text, so you can verify claims as you read. Sources are also listed separately at the end as a mini-bibliography, which is very handy. Users can email the FactCheck team with questions under “Ask FactCheck” and “Ask SciCheck” tabs, as well as send in e-mails for possible publication. Readers can also request corrections if they notice something off or contact FactCheck via snail mail, e-mail, and even over the phone. Finally, the social media comment sections are open (though not the liveliest of places).
The Verdict
FactCheck presents the research in an approachable way: it is not a slog to get through. The articles are interesting, even if the topic is not in your wheelhouse, and the information is laid out well — you won’t lose the narrative thread out of boredom. You also won’t be left confused: if the statement you came to look up is false, you will not only get the message but will gain an understanding of why it is so. At the same time, like many other fact-checking sites online, FactCheck simply cannot cover every possible quote or occurrence, so you may find yourself left high and dry. Still, they do try to deal with the most hot-button issues flying around.
FactCheck is a quality source to burst your bubble with facts, but it is better suited for when you have some time to educate yourself — which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The absence of eye-catching infographics still knocks its score down a notch, though.
FAQ
| Why academichelp.net is a credible source of information: Stay curious with us. Academichelp.net has been a reliable educational resource since 2011, providing students with the latest news, assignment samples, and other valuable materials. Even with the extensive information we process, our quality remains consistent. Each team member has experience in education, allowing us to evaluate new sector offerings critically. Our reviews are up-to-date and relevant, with impartiality ensured by the A*Help score methodology from mystery shopping. We aren’t affiliated with any listed service providers. Our focus remains on providing our audience with reliable and unbiased data. |
Follow us on Reddit for more insights and updates.
Comments (0)
Welcome to A*Help comments!
We’re all about debate and discussion at A*Help.
We value the diverse opinions of users, so you may find points of view that you don’t agree with. And that’s cool. However, there are certain things we’re not OK with: attempts to manipulate our data in any way, for example, or the posting of discriminative, offensive, hateful, or disparaging material.