The idea
Choose a tool by testing the work you need it to do. A polished demo may hide weak source links, missed pages, or hard-to-export results. A model's score on a general test may not predict success on your file.
What to check
Give each candidate the same public or fictional records and the same task. Write the expected answers first. Include a missing fact, a disputed date, and a question the records cannot answer.
Compare errors, missed facts, source access, and the time needed to review the result. Check data terms, cost, and firm approval too. Speed alone is not success.
For model selection, establish a baseline with a capable model, then test a faster or cheaper model on equivalent inputs and permissions. Keep mandatory requirements fixed: no invented dates, preserved conditions, and an honest account of failed reads. Compare total cost, time, and correction effort; passing a few examples does not prove equal reliability. Retain fresh cases for the comparison. [source]