The LEVERAGE & EASE
Methodology

We measure software through two complementary dimensions to help you find what actually fits—not just what's popular.

The Dual-Score System

Every software product is evaluated on two orthogonal axes.

LEVERAGE

SCORE 1-10

How much value and power does the software unlock?

Deep feature set
Extensive integrations
Strong customization
Robust API
Security and compliance

EASE

SCORE 1-10

How frictionless is the software to adopt, learn, and use daily?

Quick onboarding and setup
Intuitive interface
Clear pricing
Good documentation
Easy data import/export

Why Two Scores?

A single score hides important trade-offs.

SAP

Powerful but complex

LEV: 9.2 EASE: 3.8
Sweet Spot

The best of both worlds

LEV: 8.5 EASE: 8.7
Simple App

Easy but limited

LEV: 4.2 EASE: 9.1

Choose based on your priorities:

Need quick adoption?

Prioritize EASE — get your team up and running fast

Need enterprise capabilities?

Prioritize LEVERAGE — depth and power for complex needs

Want both?

Look for the sweet spot — tools that excel at both dimensions

The Competitive Landscape

Each category page shows software plotted on LEVERAGE vs EASE.

EASE → LEVERAGE → Powerful but Hard Sweet Spot (Best of both) Limited Fit (Reconsider) Easy but Limited SAP Linear Simple

This visualization helps you quickly understand where each product sits relative to alternatives.

Data Sources

Scores are generated by synthesizing multiple independent signals.

User Reviews

Feedback from verified users, weighted by role and context.

Public Commentary

Analysis from G2, Reddit, GitHub issues, and forums.

Technical Analysis

AI-powered analysis of docs, APIs, and pricing.

Category Calibration

Scores normalized within categories for fair comparison.

Category-Specific Weights

Different software categories have different priorities.

🏢

ERP Systems

Implementation speed weight: 2.0
Data migration weight: 1.5
Mobile access weight: 0.7
💬

Team Chat

Performance weight: 2.0
Search quality weight: 1.5
Learning curve weight: 0.5

Each category has calibrated weights reflecting what actually matters for that type of software.

How We Differ from Review Sites

Most platforms suffer from rating inflation. We don't.

The Problem with Star Ratings

⭐ 4.6

Average across most platforms

4.0 - 5.0

Where scores cluster

Everyone is
"excellent"

Critical differences disappear

The StackPick Difference

Two dimensions reveal trade-offs hidden by single scores

Category normalization prevents grade inflation

Calibrated weights reflect what actually matters

Affiliate model means we only earn when you find a good fit

Transparency

Published — You can see how scores are calculated

Consistent — Same criteria applied to all software

Auditable — Vendors can request corrections

Evolving — We update criteria as the industry changes

Right of Reply

Software vendors can:

Claim their profile

Submit official responses to evaluations

Request re-evaluation after significant updates

Editorial independence is preserved in all cases.

Ready to find software that actually fits?

StackPick — Pick smarter. Switch faster.