Methodology

This page explains, specifically, how we put comparisons together — what we look at, where the information comes from, and what we don't claim.

Where our information comes from

Comparisons on this site are built from each provider's own pricing pages, product documentation, help-center articles, and other publicly available information, cross-checked across more than one source rather than taken from a single page. This is research-based reporting. We're upfront that it isn't long-term, first-hand testing of every plan on every tool listed — we don't claim to have personally run every subscription for months at a time, and we won't manufacture "we tested this" claims or staged screenshots to imply otherwise. Where we do have direct, sustained experience with a specific tool, the article says so explicitly rather than implying it by default across the site.

What we compare on

The specific criteria shift slightly by category (an invoicing tool and a password manager aren't judged on the same axes), but every guide is built around the same underlying questions:

• What does the free tier actually include, and — just as importantly — what does it specifically exclude?
• Is pricing structured sensibly for one person, or does it assume a team and a per-seat model that doesn't fit solo use?
• What's the realistic switching cost — can you export your data cleanly if you leave?
• Where does a tool's marketing claim and its actual behavior diverge, based on documentation, changelogs, and user-reported experience?

Each article's own "What matters" section states the specific criteria used for that comparison, rather than relying on a generic scoring rubric applied identically everywhere.

How current the information is

Every article displays a "last checked" date. Software pricing and free-tier limits in this industry change often, sometimes within weeks of us publishing. That date reflects exactly what it says — the last time we verified the details in that article — not a guarantee that nothing has changed since. Always confirm current pricing directly on a provider's site before making a decision based on something you read here.

Corrections

If you spot something outdated, or think we got a comparison wrong, tell us — see our Contact page. We aim to fix verified errors as soon as we can rather than only on a scheduled review cycle, and we'd rather hear about a mistake than have it sit uncorrected.

Editorial independence and affiliate links

We don't accept payment to include a tool, rank it higher, or soften a criticism, and we don't publish sponsored write-ups authored by a vendor. Some links on this site are affiliate links — SoloStack may earn a commission if you sign up for a product through them, at no extra cost to you — and pages may display advertising. Neither changes what we write: when a tool has a real limitation, we say so even in the article where it's the top pick, which is why our guides are framed around "best for" a specific situation rather than a single universal winner. See our About page for more on why this site exists in the first place.