StackInsider Editorial Policy
StackInsider is committed to publishing honest, evidence-based software reviews that help businesses make informed purchasing decisions. This editorial policy describes our standards for independence, accuracy, transparency, and conflict of interest management.
Independence and Financial Disclosure
StackInsider does not accept payment from vendors to influence review outcomes. Every review on this site is editorially independent. We do not sell positive reviews, guaranteed placements, or favorable ratings to any software company.
Our revenue comes exclusively from:
- Google AdSense display advertising — non-targeted ad placements that do not influence editorial content
- Affiliate links — when we participate in vendor affiliate programs, we disclose this clearly on each review page. Affiliate commissions do not affect our ratings, conclusions, or which products we choose to review.
We maintain a strict firewall between our editorial team and our advertising/sales operations. No member of the editorial team has contact with advertisers regarding content decisions.
Review Methodology
Every review on StackInsider follows a standardized research process:
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Public Documentation Review: We examine vendor pricing pages, feature documentation, API references, release notes, and terms of service to establish factual baselines.
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Hands-On Testing: Where possible, we create free-tier accounts and test core features firsthand. We document setup time, usability, performance characteristics, and integration capabilities.
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User Feedback Analysis: We aggregate sentiment from G2, Capterra, Gartner Peer Insights, Reddit communities, and vendor-specific forums. Patterns in user complaints and praise inform our assessment of real-world reliability.
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Total Cost of Ownership Analysis: We calculate 3-year TCO including base subscription, required add-ons, implementation costs, training expenses, and potential overage fees. This reveals the true cost beyond advertised pricing.
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Competitive Benchmarking: Each reviewed product is compared against at least 3 alternatives across pricing, features, usability, and support quality.
Accuracy and Correction Policy
We strive for accuracy in every published review. If you identify an error — outdated pricing, incorrect feature claims, broken links, or factual inaccuracies — please contact us at editorial@stackinsider.org.
All corrections are:
- Reviewed within 5 business days
- Implemented promptly when verified
- Logged in the article revision history
- Communicated to readers when material to the review conclusions
Conflict of Interest Management
Editorial team members must disclose any financial relationships with software vendors. This includes:
- Personal investments in vendor stock
- Previous employment with a reviewed vendor
- Consulting relationships with vendor competitors
- Family members employed by vendors under review
Any potential conflict triggers an automatic recusal from the affected review. An alternate editor takes over the piece.
Advertising Standards Compliance
StackInsider complies with FTC endorsement guidelines and Google AdSense policies:
- All affiliate relationships are disclosed in the article footer
- Sponsored content (if offered) is clearly labeled and separated from organic reviews
- Ad placements do not interfere with content readability or navigation
- No native advertising disguised as editorial content
Revision History
- June 2026: Initial publication of editorial policy
- Ongoing: This policy is reviewed and updated quarterly or when regulatory requirements change
For questions about this policy, contact editorial@stackinsider.org.
