How We Review Software
Every guide follows the same process, so you can judge our picks on their merits. We do not test products hands-on. We compare what vendors publish: plans, prices, limits and documentation.
1. Start from the trade
Before looking at any product, we write down the jobs a business in that industry needs the software to do. For a nonprofit's accounting software that means fund accounting, grant tracking and Form 990 support. For a restaurant's payroll it means tip handling and hourly staff. Products are judged against that list.
2. Shortlist the tools the trade actually uses
We shortlist tools that are built for, or widely used in, the industry, and prefer vendors that publish their prices. Tools whose published features do not cover the core jobs are cut early.
3. Verify plans and prices
Pricing, plan limits and add-on costs are checked on the vendors' own pages. Each guide shows the date of that check. When we cannot confirm a price, we say so or mark it as quote only. Prices change often, so always confirm on the vendor's site before you buy.
4. Rank on fit
We weigh four things, in this order:
- Industry fit: how well the tool handles the trade-specific jobs.
- Total cost: the real monthly cost for a typical small team, including add-ons.
- Ease of use: how much setup and specialist knowledge the vendor's plans and documentation suggest.
- Room to grow: whether the tool still works if the business doubles.
5. Keep it current
We re-check prices whenever we update a guide, and the check date at the top of each guide shows when that last happened. If you spot something out of date, tell us.
What never affects rankings
Commission rates. We may earn a commission from some of the products we recommend, but a product with no affiliate program can still take the top spot. See our affiliate disclosure.