How we review software

Every product on Stack Workbench goes through the same four-stage process. If a product hasn’t completed it, we say so — you’ll see “not yet reviewed” instead of a score.

1. Research

We document pricing, plan limits, and features from official vendor sources. Every fact carries a last-verified date, and we re-check pricing on a regular cycle. If we can’t verify something, we don’t publish it.

2. Hands-on testing

We sign up for the product — usually on a free plan or trial — and use it the way a real customer would: building a real workflow, sending real campaigns, hitting real limits. Reviews are labeled honestly:

• Researched — documented from official sources, not yet hands-on tested.
• Hands-on tested — we used the product ourselves.
• Verified — claims independently confirmed.

3. Scoring

Tested products are scored against seven weighted criteria, applied identically to every tool in a category:

1. Ease of use (20%) — can a non-technical user get value in the first session?
2. Features & depth (20%) — does it do the job completely?
3. Value for money (20%) — what you get per dollar, including the free tier.
4. Reliability & support (15%) — uptime, documentation, and support responsiveness.
5. Integrations (10%) — how well it connects to the rest of your stack.
6. Scalability (10%) — does pricing stay sane as you grow?
7. Transparency (5%) — honest pricing, no dark patterns.

Scores appear only after testing is complete. We never publish a score based on research alone.

4. Ongoing updates

Software changes; reviews must too. We re-verify pricing and key features regularly and note what changed and when. If a vendor raises prices or removes a feature, the review says so.

What we never do

• Publish fake scores or invent test results.
• Let commissions influence rankings — see our editorial policy.
• Publish vendor-supplied copy as our own review.
• Use fake testimonials, countdown timers, or manufactured urgency.