Methodology & disclosure
How we verify facts
Every price, limit and feature claim is checked against the vendor's own pricing page plus at least one independent secondary source, on the date shown as “verified” on each page. Where sources conflict or something can't be confirmed twice, we either omit it or say so explicitly. Sources are listed at the bottom of every comparison.
How rounds are scored
Each comparison is split into rounds — pricing, ease of use, depth, ecosystem and category-specific criteria. A round goes to the tool that is objectively stronger on that dimension, with a one-line factual justification. Ties are real ties. We never declare one absolute winner: the final verdict is always split by use case, because that's how software decisions actually work.
How we make money
Some outbound links are (or will become) affiliate links: if you sign up through them, the vendor pays us a commission at no cost to you. Three commitments: commissions never influence a round or a verdict; we compare tools regardless of whether they pay (several tools we feature have no affiliate program at all); and every comparison carries a visible disclosure. If a verdict ever seems to favor whoever pays more, call us on it: hello@stackshowdown.com.
Update cadence
SaaS pricing changes constantly — several tools we cover changed prices or plans in the last twelve months. We re-verify each category periodically and stamp every page with its last check date. If a page says July 2026 and it's December, treat exact prices with suspicion and check the vendor — then tell us.
Start with any showdown to see all of this in practice.