Methodology and scoring
No vendor has ever paid for a score. Here is the rubric, the weights, and the scale we use to turn weeks of assessment into one number you can act on.
A score on VettedSaaS is a weighted sum, not a vibe. Each tool earns a mark out of 100 on five criteria, every criterion carries a fixed weight, and the weights are the same for every tool in a category so the verdicts compare cleanly. This page sets out exactly how that works.
How the score is built
We rate each of the five criteria on its own merits, then combine them by weight into a single figure. Ease of use and Features and depth carry the most weight at 25 percent each, because a tool that is either painful to use or shallow in practice fails most buyers regardless of its other strengths. Value for money is 20 percent. Integrations and Support and onboarding round out the rubric at 15 percent each.
Five weighted criteria, the same for every tool in a category.
How fast a new user gets to real work. Setup, the learning curve, the daily friction of the interface.
Whether the tool does the job well, not just on the box. Power features, edge cases, and the ceiling you hit at scale.
Published pricing against what you actually get. Plan limits, seat costs, and the price of the tier most teams really need.
How well it fits the stack around it. Native connectors, the API, and the quality of the data that flows both ways.
Getting unstuck. Documentation, response times, migration help, and what is gated behind a higher plan.
Weights shift for some best of lists where a segment demands it, for example price weighted for freelancers or governance weighted for enterprise. When they do, we say so on the page.
The 100 point scale, in plain bands.
Best in class for its category. The tool we reach for first, with few caveats. Earns Editor's Choice consideration.
A confident recommendation with clear tradeoffs named. Right for most teams in its segment.
Does the job in the right situation. We will tell you exactly which situation that is.
Workable but outclassed. Usually a better option exists at the same price.
We would not put it in front of a buyer without a specific reason.
When the weights shift
The base rubric fits the average buyer. Some best of lists serve a buyer who is anything but average, so we reweight and say so on the page. A list for freelancers leans harder on Value for money and Ease of use. A list for the enterprise leans on Integrations, governance, and scale. The criteria stay the same. Only their weights move, and only when the segment demands it.
Verification and corrections
Pricing, tiers, and limits are verified by web search in the same session a page is written, stamped as of the month we checked, and paired with a reminder to confirm current pricing with the vendor. Every commercial page shows a visible last updated date. When a figure or a feature moves, we update the verdict in public.
For the standards behind the scoring, see how we vet and our disclosure and independence page. The rubric is live in the best CRM software ranking.