How we rank and list software
Method version 0.1
How a product gets listed
Each category has a short list of capabilities a product must have, written before any product is added. A product appears in the category only after we check each capability against the vendor's own documentation and record the page we used. No vendor can pay to be listed or to skip a requirement. A way for vendors to send us corrections is not set up yet.
When a category opens
A category page stays out of search results until it holds enough checked data to help someone choose. The current thresholds are listed here, and the page stays visible to visitors in the meantime.
- At least 8 products that meet the inclusion criteria, or 5for a more specific subcategory
- At least 5 of those products with screenshots and prices checked in the last 120 days
- At least 25 verified reviews across the category, or our own hands-on notes on 5 products
- At least 600 words of editorial copy, approved and signed off by a named editor
- Editorial copy that shares less than 30% of its phrasing with any other page on the site
How scores will work
No product has a score yet, because review collection has not opened. When scores arrive, each one will combine the five parts below and link back to this table. The weights are a draft. We will settle them before the first score is published and note them here.
| Part | Draft weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Satisfaction | 40% | Average overall rating, pulled toward the category average until a product has enough reviews, with recent reviews counting more than old ones. |
| Review confidence | 20% | Number of reviews, how each reviewer was verified, and the share of reviews the vendor did not request. |
| Value and price clarity | 15% | Value-for-money ratings, whether prices are published, and any costs outside the plan price. |
| Vendor responsiveness | 10% | Share of reviews the vendor answered, and support ratings. |
| Momentum | 15% | Change in rating and in verified review count over the last six months. |
Company size and advertising spend are not inputs. A small product with recent, verified reviews can rank above a large one.
How prices are checked
Each price comes from the vendor's public pricing page or a written quote, and the page links to it. We plan to check every price again within 90 days. When a price has gone 180 days without a new check, the page says so next to the price.
Costs outside the plan price are listed separately. Common examples are single sign-on offered only on the top plan, setup fees, minimum seat counts and annual-only billing.
How reviews will be verified
Review collection has not opened, so this describes the rules we will follow when it does. Every reviewer will confirm their identity with a work email address or a LinkedIn account before a review is published. Each review will show how the reviewer was verified and whether the vendor invited them. When a reviewer received a gift or payment, the review will say so, and the reward will never depend on the rating given.
Vendors will be able to reply to reviews and to flag a review with a reason. They will not be able to remove reviews, and every removal will be counted on the product page together with its reason.