How We Review Software
Transparency matters. Here is exactly how every page on PilotStack is built, scored, and sourced.
Quick Answer
Every tool carries nine recorded category scores on a 1-5 scale. The overall rating on a review page is the mean of those nine scores, rounded to one decimal. Figures come from our recorded dataset, vendor documentation, and published pricing pages. Where we cannot source a fact, we leave it off or mark it unverified. We do not sell editorial placement in our coverage.
TL;DR
- Nine equally weighted category scores on a 1-5 scale; overall = their mean, rounded to one decimal
- The same rating and review count is reused everywhere a tool appears
- Every page shows when it was last reviewed
- Facts we cannot source are omitted or marked unverified, never asserted
- No vendor payments, previews, or influence on ratings or rankings
Key Takeaways
- We cover tools readers actively evaluate — no paid placements
- Every page draws from the same recorded fields, so figures agree across the site
- Ratings are arithmetic you can check on any review page
- Certification and company facts with no source are shown as unverified or left out
- Last-reviewed date visible on every page
- Published independence policy: no vendor can pay for placement
Readers reasonably want to know how tools are selected, how ratings are calculated, and how commercial relationships are handled. This page documents the process so readers can understand the context behind each score.
Our Five-Stage Methodology
1.Selection & Scoping
We do not review every tool. We cover categories where readers are actively evaluating options, and each tool page records the same fixed set of fields: pricing model, deployment, API availability, migration complexity, security entries, integrations, and nine category scores. We never accept payment to include or exclude a tool from our coverage.
2.Evidence & Sourcing
Every figure on a page comes from a source we hold: our recorded review dataset, vendor documentation, or a published pricing page. Review counts, ratings, and pricing are recorded as of the review date shown on the page. Where two sources we hold disagree — for example on a founding date or headcount — we publish neither value rather than pick one.
3.Scoring & Ratings
Each tool carries nine recorded category scores: Features, Usability, Pricing, Support, Security, Integrations, Performance, Documentation, and Scalability. Every category is scored on a 1-5 scale with equal weight. The overall rating shown on a page is the mean of those nine scores, rounded to one decimal place — you can check it yourself on any review page.
4.Consistency & Limits
A tool's rating, review count, and category scores are held once and reused everywhere that tool appears, so the same figure shows up on its review, category, and comparison pages. Certification statuses and other facts we cannot source are shown as unverified or omitted entirely instead of being stated as confirmed.
5.Updates & Revisions
Software changes constantly, and so do our pages. Every page carries a last-reviewed date, and we revisit pages when pricing, features, or product positioning change materially. Pages whose recorded figures we can no longer support are corrected or removed rather than left to stand.
Scoring Rubric
Each review page carries nine equally weighted category scores on a 1-5 scale. The overall rating is their mean, rounded to one decimal:
| Dimension | What We Measure | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Features | What the product can do — recorded as a 1-5 score | 1/9 |
| Usability | Onboarding and day-to-day clarity — recorded as a 1-5 score | 1/9 |
| Pricing | Price relative to what is included — recorded as a 1-5 score | 1/9 |
| Support | Support channels and responsiveness — recorded as a 1-5 score | 1/9 |
| Security | Security controls and disclosures — recorded as a 1-5 score | 1/9 |
| Integrations | Integration coverage — recorded as a 1-5 score | 1/9 |
| Performance | Speed and reliability — recorded as a 1-5 score | 1/9 |
| Documentation | Help material and guides — recorded as a 1-5 score | 1/9 |
| Scalability | Behaviour as usage grows — recorded as a 1-5 score | 1/9 |
Fact-Checking & Corrections
Figures on a page come from a source we hold: our recorded dataset, vendor documentation, or a published pricing page. When two sources we hold disagree, we publish neither value rather than choose one, and certification statuses with no source are shown as unverified instead of asserted. When a correction is made the page's last-reviewed date is updated. Readers can report errors via our contact form.
Review Team & Expertise
PilotStack is run by a small, independent team. Editorial roles are listed on our authors pages. Every page follows the same published rules: nine equally weighted category scores on a 1-5 scale, one recorded source per figure, and the overall rating as the mean of those nine scores. Because a single set of recorded figures is reused everywhere a tool appears, ratings do not drift between pages.
Editorial Independence
PilotStack keeps editorial decisions separate from commercial relationships. Affiliate relationships and other commercial arrangements are disclosed where applicable. Paid promotional material, if present, is kept distinct from editorial reviews and comparisons. Our methodology describes the recorded sources and criteria used for editorial pages.
PilotStack may earn referral fees when readers click affiliate links and make purchases. These fees do not influence our reviews, rankings, or editorial content. Our affiliate relationships are disclosed in individual reviews and on our about page.
If you have questions about our methodology or believe an error has been made in a review, please contact us. We review all correction requests and publish clarifications when warranted.
Methodology last updated: July 2026. We review and update this methodology annually or when industry standards for software reviews evolve.