The
Audit Standard
How we gather intelligence, verify uptime, and calculate the true cost of ownership.
Most software directories are actually advertising platforms. You pay for placement, you get leads.StackCompare is different. We are an intelligence engine.
1. No Pay-to-Play Rankings
We do not sell "Sponsored" spots in our top 10 lists. If a tool is ranked #1, it is because it won on:
- API Latency: We verify response times.
- Compliance: We check SOC2/HIPAA certificates.
- True Cost: We calculate the price of a fully-loaded seat (SSO + Analytics), not just the marketing price.
2. The "Ghost" Audit
Our analysts sign up for services anonymously. We test the onboarding flow, the support response time, and the cancellation process. If a tool makes it hard to cancel, we deduct points.
The "G2" Problem
Traditional review sites incentivize users to leave 5-star reviews in exchange for gift cards. This creates "Review Inflation." We ignore 5-star reviews that lack technical detail. We focus on the 3-star and 4-star reviews that explain why.
3. Programmatic Verification
Our Pulse Engine monitors API uptime and pricing pages daily. If Slack changes their pricing model, our system flags it for review within 24 hours.