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How to tell if software reviews can be trusted
Practical ways to spot fake, paid or biased software reviews, and what to read instead of the star rating.
Stackpick Editorial2 min readTHE SHORT ANSWER
Don't rely on the average rating. Check who wrote the review, whether they had a reason to be positive, whether it has specific details, and how the site makes money. Then test the product yourself.
In this guide
01
Look at who wrote it
A useful review tells you who the reviewer is in terms that matter to you: their role, company size and how long they've used the product. A glowing review from a very different kind of team may not apply to you at all.
02
Look for specifics
Real users tend to mention specific workflows, integrations, support experiences and frustrations. Be careful with reviews that could describe almost any product, such as praise for being easy to use with no detail on what they did with it.
- What task did they use it for?
- What did it replace?
- What didn't work well?
- How long have they used it?
03
Ask whether the reviewer had a reason to be positive
Gift cards, discounts and reviews from a vendor's staff or partners can all skew results. Rules are tightening too. The US Federal Trade Commission's rule on consumer reviews and testimonials, in effect since October 2024, bans fake reviews and rewards tied to a particular sentiment, and requires company insiders to disclose their connection.
04
Read the three-star reviews
Five-star reviews are often short, and one-star reviews can come from a single bad experience. Middle ratings often describe the real trade-offs, which is what you need to know. Look for the same complaint from several people, as a pattern tells you more than any single review.
05
Check the dates
Software changes quickly, so a review from a few years ago may describe a different product. Give more weight to recent reviews, and be wary of a sudden burst of positive ones.
06
Find out how the site makes money
Many review and comparison sites earn money from vendors through ads, leads or affiliate links. That isn't automatically a problem, but it should be clear. Look for a public explanation of how rankings work, and whether paying can change a product's position.
- Are sponsored placements labeled?
- Is the ranking method published?
- Can a vendor pay to remove a bad review?
- Do affiliate links affect which products are recommended?
07
Use reviews to build a shortlist, not to decide
Reviews are best for ruling products out and finding questions to ask. Before you buy, ask people in a similar role, run a short trial on your own work, and check the points that reviewers complained about.
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