How we score
Score = 0.40×Quality + 0.25×Speed/time saved + 0.20×Price + 0.15×Ease of use
(each 0–10, total rounded half-up to one decimal)
Desk-research scores v1
Desk-research score v1 · checked 2026-10-22
Every score on the site today is a desk-research score. We checked each tool against the public checklist for its ranking using vendor pricing pages, help-center articles and feature pages, all on 2026-10-22. Each point links to its source on the ranking page, under "Why each tool scored what it did". We did not sign up for paid plans and have not run hands-on tests yet.
1. Which plan we score
- By default, we score the cheapest plan that covers the task's core requirement. For example, invoicing needs automatic overdue reminders, and contracts need legally binding e-signature.
- For the CRM ranking, we score the best plan at or under $20/month. For the scheduling ranking, the cap is $15/month. Checklist ties go to the cheaper plan, and one-time lifetime deals are not scored.
- Where a tool's cheapest plan can't do the core job, we score the first plan that can, and say why. Examples: Taplio is scored on Growth because Starter has no AI writing; Upwork's Uma is scored on Freelancer Plus because Basic allows about 10 messages a week; Keeper is scored on Premium because only Premium supports quarterly payments.
- The tax ranking covers US federal estimated taxes only. It is software research, not tax advice.
- If a tool can only do part of the task, we price the plan that covers its part, and its Quality score shows what is missing.
2. Quality and Speed (0–10 each)
Each ranking publishes five Quality checks and five Speed checks. Each check scores:
- 2 = documented as available on the plan we scored
- 1 = only on a higher tier, limited or capped, only through an external AI/MCP connector, or the vendor's own docs conflict
- 0 = not available, or we could not verify it in public docs
The sub-score is the sum of the points. If we can't find proof, the tool gets 0 for that check, not the benefit of the doubt.
3. Price (0–10)
We use the plan's monthly list price in USD. Introductory discounts are ignored. We use the annual price per month only when the vendor publishes no monthly price, and we say so on the ranking page.
| Monthly price | Price score |
|---|---|
| $0 (free plan covers the task) | 10 |
| up to $10 | 9 |
| $10.01 – $15 | 8 |
| $15.01 – $20 | 7 |
| $20.01 – $25 | 6 |
| $25.01 – $30 | 5 |
| $30.01 – $40 | 4 |
| $40.01 – $50 | 3 |
| $50.01 – $75 | 2 |
| over $75 | 1 |
4. Ease of use (0–10)
- Free plan / trial (0–4): a free plan that covers the task = 4; a free plan that covers part of it, or a trial with no card = 3; a trial that needs a card = 1; none = 0.
- Self-serve (0–2): you can sign up and pay without talking to sales = 2.
- Nothing to install (0–2): works in the browser = 2; needs only a browser extension = 1.
- Single seat (0–2): a single user can buy the plan scored = 2; there is a seat minimum = 0.
5. Review ratings
G2, Capterra and similar review sites blocked our automated checks, so we do not use their ratings. We use a Product Hunt rating only when every tool in a ranking has one with at least 20 reviews. Quality is then 0.8 × checklist + 0.2 × (2 × rating). In v1 that applies only to the freelance-proposals ranking. In other rankings, any rating we found is shown as context and does not change the score.
6. Ties
Equal totals are ordered by Quality, then Price, then tool name.
The raw evidence file is research/desk-research-v1.json in the site repo, and a flat export is in scores-v1.csv.
Hands-on tests (planned)
- Use the fixtures in
/tests(brief + prompt per ranking). - Use a fresh account on the plan scored above, with default settings.
- Run the exact prompt 3 times, keep the median output, and time each run.
- Score with the rubric, and record the tool version and date.
- Publish the outputs alongside the scores.
Comparisons and badges
Comparison pages (/compare) reuse the exact entries from the rankings both tools appear in; nothing is re-scored. Tools ranked #1 may embed a badge. Badges are free and never affect scores.
Independence
Sponsors never affect scores. Affiliate links are disclosed.