How we research

1. Choosing what to write

We pick topics where B2B buyers face a real decision with money attached: which approach to take, what to buy, what to build. We don't write about a topic because a vendor asked us to.

2. Sources we use

We start from primary sources: standards bodies, regulators, official documentation, published pricing pages and original research. We avoid citing other listicles or content written to rank in search. When a fact about a product comes from the company itself, we say so in the text ("according to its pricing page").

3. Every claim in the margin

Each price, number, date, rule and product capability is cited in a margin note next to the paragraph that uses it (on phones, the notes are listed under "Sources and notes" at the end of the guide). If we can't source a claim, we leave it out or label it clearly as general guidance.

4. Prices and dates

Software prices change often. We quote list prices with the month we checked them, and we mark guides with the date they were last updated.

5. Verdicts

Every guide ends with a verdict: who an approach is best for, who should avoid it and what it costs. Verdicts are our judgement, based on the evidence in the guide. They are not paid for and not shared with any company before publication.

6. Regulated topics

Security, legal and compliance guides explain and compare. They are not legal advice and not a substitute for a qualified assessor, lawyer or auditor, and each says so.

7. Corrections and updates

When a fact changes or a reader shows us an error, we correct the guide and update its date. To report one, use the contact form and tell us which guide and which claim.

8. What we will never do

• Accept payment for inclusion, ranking or coverage.
• Use affiliate links or sponsored placements.
• Invent quotes, case studies, survey results or testimonials.
• Let a company review a guide before it is published.