At Capterra, we rely on proprietary data to offer unique, independent, and objective insights to our audience. Our data sources and methodologies ensure the quality and accuracy of the information we provide.
How we source our data
The data we use at Capterra is classified into several key categories. Each category is sourced and analyzed through its own distinct methods:
User reviews
Capterra has carefully verified over 2 million user reviews to bring you authentic software experiences from real users. Reviewers rate and comment on various criteria, including overall experience, features and functionality, value, and more. These ratings and comments inform our research, comparison tools, software buyers guides, and product rankings.
Our human moderators verify that reviewers are real people and that reviews are authentic. They use leading tech to analyze text quality, detect plagiarism, and generative AI.
Buyer interactions
Our advisor team interacts with thousands of buyers from a broad range of industries and functions interested in learning more about software solutions. Advisors have access to our database of more than 100,000 solutions, and a track record of having delivered over 1 million recommendations to help businesses find options that fit their needs. Our content team analyzes these interactions to identify patterns and themes that can help buyers make better business decisions with software.
Vendor-sourced research
For the product profiles featured on our site, we use a combination of information provided by vendors and information independently researched by our software researchers. Capterra product profiles are free to any software provider, though providers can choose to sponsor their profile to gain premium placement in some marketplace content (learn more below).
Market surveys
Our analysts survey business leaders, stakeholders, and consumers across various industries and functions to better understand their challenges and needs. We use these results to provide insights on trends, challenges, and solutions for businesses. Our Research Lab team of research specialists uses industry-leading best practices for data collection and analysis to ensure the quality of data used in all of our reports.
Our methodological approaches
For our content, Capterra develops proprietary methodologies using our data.
Our methodologies vary by output. There are those that:
- Are independent and objective. This includes editorial research and product rankings, in which sponsorship status has no bearing on inclusion of any products mentioned. Detailed information about the specific methodology used can be found on the page of each report.
- Consider sponsorship status. This includes sponsored listings and suggested alternatives.
How we develop our research
Capterra uses the data and methodologies described above to provide insights through a variety of content experiences, each presenting our proprietary data uniquely:
Editorial research
Editorial research uses an independent and objective methodology to provide insights derived from our proprietary data, and sometimes in collaboration with external contributors specializing in specific markets or topics. This research uses specific methodologies to inform insights and undergoes editorial scrutiny to ensure independence and objectivity in the methodologies used and the research delivered. Sponsorship has no bearing on inclusion of any products referenced in our editorial research. For product ranking articles, in which we highlight the top products in a given category, is an example of editorial research. Read more about Capterra ranking methodology for a given category or Buyers Guides’ here.
For research based on survey results, such as our annual Tech Trends reports, our Research Lab team ensures panels used and results shared are representative and accurate. Likewise, the full methodology can be found on each report.
Algorithmic research
Algorithmic research applies defined methodologies to our proprietary data algorithmically. This research is interactive and customizable to user needs. Users input requirements, and content is generated based on a predetermined algorithm. While not a direct criterion of these algorithms, sponsorship status may influence the outcomes of some methodologies comparing products and/or features.
Marketplace content
Marketplace content is content intended to help users interact with software profiles. This content lists, compares, and describes software via standard profiles and without editorial commentary. It relies on a mix of data from sources we’ve authenticated and data contributed by vendors. We authenticate reviews, pricing data, and features offered by vendors to ensure category fit. However, we don’t provide editorial oversight on data provided by vendors or by reviewers. Inclusion or placement of specific products in marketplace content may be influenced by sponsorship status. Vendors can choose to sponsor their product profile, and this may enable premium placement in some marketplace content.
Capterra’s use of artificial intelligence
For some content, when appropriate, we use proprietary data science algorithms to identify trends in our proprietary data sets, helping us understand user sentiment, preferences, and priorities. We also use generative AI tools to summarize findings from these algorithms.