Our Methodology
At b stack radar, every score comes from the same published criteria. This page explains what we rate, how the ratings become an overall score, where the data comes from, and how we keep rankings independent.
How Scores Work
- Each category has its own criteria, and each criterion has a weight. The tables below list them.
- We give every tool an editorial rating out of 10 for each criterion of its category.
- A tool's overall rating is the weighted average of those ratings, rounded to one decimal place. A criterion with twice the weight counts twice as much.
- A tool listed in more than one category is rated on each category's criteria, and its overall rating averages all of them.
- "Best of" guides rank the tools of one category by their ratings on that category's criteria.
For example, a AI Software tool rated 8 for Cost (weight 2), 6 for Customization (weight 2) and 9 for Ease of Use (weight 2) on just these criteria would score:
(8 × 2 + 6 × 2 + 9 × 2) ÷ 6 = 7.7
Criteria and Weights by Category
AI Software
| Criterion | Share of the score |
|---|---|
| Cost | 14.3% |
| Customization | 14.3% |
| Ease of Use | 14.3% |
| Integration | 14.3% |
| Output Quality | 14.3% |
| Analytics | 7.1% |
| Scalability | 7.1% |
| Security | 7.1% |
| Support | 7.1% |
CRM
| Criterion | Share of the score |
|---|---|
| Cost | 16.7% |
| Customization | 16.7% |
| Ease of Use | 16.7% |
| Integration | 16.7% |
| Analytics | 8.3% |
| Scalability | 8.3% |
| Security | 8.3% |
| Support | 8.3% |
Marketing
| Criterion | Share of the score |
|---|---|
| Cost | 16.7% |
| Customization | 16.7% |
| Ease of Use | 16.7% |
| Integration | 16.7% |
| Analytics | 8.3% |
| Scalability | 8.3% |
| Security | 8.3% |
| Support | 8.3% |
Project Management
| Criterion | Share of the score |
|---|---|
| Cost | 16.7% |
| Customization | 16.7% |
| Ease of Use | 16.7% |
| Integration | 16.7% |
| Analytics | 8.3% |
| Scalability | 8.3% |
| Security | 8.3% |
| Support | 8.3% |
Where the Data Comes From
We research each tool from public sources: the vendor's website, documentation, pricing pages and changelog, along with independent reviews and comparisons. Prices are the vendor's published list prices, so negotiated or regional prices can differ.
"Data last updated" on a tool page is when that tool's record last changed, for example after its pricing or features were checked again.
Editorial Independence
Our rankings and reviews are editorially independent. We do not allow vendors to pay for higher scores or preferred placement. When we earn a commission from a referral (e.g. affiliate links), we disclose that in our content—and it does not change how we evaluate or rank tools.
We believe transparency builds trust. If you have questions about our methodology or a specific review, we encourage you to contact us.