PlanGauge

How we compare PM tools

Last updated 2026-06-18.

Most "best PM software" lists rank on commission and gloss over the pricing tricks. We're transparent about exactly what our comparison is — and what it isn't.

What our comparison is based on

Every figure on PlanGauge — per-user prices, seat minimums, free-tier limits, feature gating, monthly-vs-annual premiums — comes from each vendor's own pricing and feature pages, and is dated. We record source URLs and a last verified date (currently 2026-06-18) and re-check on a schedule. We always show seat minimums and the annual-vs-monthly gap, because that is where the real cost hides.

What it is not

We do not publish "we used it for a month" reviews or onboarding narratives. Plenty of sites imply hands-on use without evidence; we'd rather be honest that our edge is clear, sourced pricing and feature analysis — untangling per-seat plans so you can compare like for like.

How the recommender scores tools

Our selector turns your inputs (use case, team size, budget per user) into a ranking, combining the verified entry price with transparent editorial scores we assign from published plans:

  • Small-team fit and agency fit — how well the plans and features suit each.
  • Free tier — how usable the free plan is for a real team.
  • Value — per-user price against what's included.
  • Ease and integrations — learning curve and connector breadth.
  • Seat minimum — a hard cost check (it penalises tools that make small teams overpay).

These capability scores are judgements, not hands-on tests — which is why we publish them here. Budget and seat-minimum fit use the real dataset numbers. The result is deterministic: the same inputs always produce the same ranking.

How we stay independent

PlanGauge earns affiliate commissions from some tools (see our affiliate disclosure). Commissions never influence scores or rankings, which are set by the criteria above. We include tools that pay us nothing where relevant, and we say plainly who each tool is wrong for.

Our sources

The dataset behind this site draws on official vendor pricing and feature pages, including: