Methodology
How we rank
every page on this site.
Step 1 — Pick the shortlist
For each tool, we start with every credible alternative — not the longest list, but the most-credible. A product makes the shortlist if (a) it's been in production with real customers for at least 12 months, (b) it has public pricing, and (c) it covers the core job the user came in for.
Step 2 — Score for fit
Each alternative is scored on four axes: price predictability, switching cost (data export, lock-in), core feature parity, and fit for the buyer we're writing for. Industry shortlists re-weight these against the vertical's specific buying criteria.
Step 3 — Name a winner
One top pick per cell. We don't punt to "it depends". If we can't pick a winner, the page isn't ready to ship.
Freshness cadence
We re-verify every page on a rolling quarterly basis. Pricing changes, acquisitions, and material product shifts trigger an immediate update. Every page carries a "Last reviewed" stamp so you can see exactly when we last checked it.
Last sitewide editorial pass: 2026-06-15.
What we don't do
- · Score vendors using their own marketing copy as the source of truth.
- · Treat free trials as "free tier".
- · Hide a product's downsides because it pays the most affiliate revenue.
- · Generate pages with AI and ship without an editor reading every word.
Read more about who we are on the About page.