Research standards

Software Comparison Methodology

A transparent framework for comparisons, alternatives, pricing guides, and buyer worksheets.

1. Define the buyer job

Begin with a workflow, owner, users, data, integrations, risk, time horizon, and budget. Product names do not define the requirement.

2. Classify the relationship

A direct comparison covers substantially the same primary job. An adjacent comparison covers overlap without complete substitutability.

3. Use equal evidence requests

Each vendor receives the same scenario, roles, data sample, quantities, integrations, security questions, and assumptions.

4. Normalize cost

Separate licenses, usage, implementation, migration, support, dependent products, administration, renewal change, and exit work.

5. Prefer current sources

Vendor pages, documentation, legal terms, and trust centers support vendor-controlled facts. The buyer confirms the current quote and contract.

6. State the boundary

PR97 does not claim hands-on testing, customer interviews, private pricing datasets, or verified user reviews. The site helps buyers structure their own evaluation.

7. Correct material errors

Public sources change. Send product relationship, source, and pricing-model corrections under the corrections policy.