StackVersus

Methodology: how we compare, score and rank

How StackVersus collects prices and specs, computes benchmark scores, builds its calculators and rankings, and what it does not test.

Last updated: October 29, 2026 · StackVersus

StackVersus compares products with numbers you can check. This page explains where those numbers come from, how the scores and rankings are calculated, and what they leave out.

Where the data comes from

  • Every price, plan limit and spec is read on the manufacturer's or vendor's own page (store, pricing page, spec sheet or help centre). We currently track 28 products across 21 official sites, last checked on October 29, 2026.
  • Each comparison lists its sources and the review date. A figure that could not be read on an official page is shown as "Not listed" or left out; it is never estimated.
  • Products whose prices or specs we could not verify are not compared at all. For example, inverter/chargers sold only through dealers and satellite kits whose spec pages could not be read are not in the dataset.
  • Prices are the ones shown on the US store on the review date, including sales, which are labelled as such.

Benchmark scores

Each benchmark comparison picks one measurable metric for the category:

  • Portable power stations and RV batteries: capacity per dollar (rated Wh divided by the price).
  • Field-service and booking software: the monthly cost for a 3-user team on the cheapest published plan that allows three users, or the fee on a $100 in-person card sale.
  • Card readers: the fee on a $100 in-person card sale.

The better value scores 10 and the other scores in proportion. The scores are computed by a script from the verified data, never typed by hand, and a validation script checks that the published scores still match the data.

Calculators and rankings

  • Runtime calculator: runtime = capacity × 85% (inverter losses) ÷ your average load. Device wattages are typical starting values for you to edit. Motors and compressors can need 2-3 times their running watts to start.
  • Software cost calculator: the cheapest month-to-month plan that covers your team, including per-user add-ons, before tax and card fees.
  • Rankings: sorted by the same metrics as the benchmarks, with the specs that the metric ignores (output, cycle life, weight, caps) shown alongside.

What we do not test

These are calculations from published specifications and prices, not lab or field tests. Real capacity, battery ageing, charging speed in cold weather, app reliability and customer support are not measured. Articles say so where it matters, and never claim hands-on testing.

Writing and review

Articles are drafted with AI assistance from the verified data only, then checked by the editor against the sources before publication. The data fields in every article (prices, specs, scores) are written from the dataset, not by the model.

Money

Some links are affiliate links and may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Commissions do not change the data, the formulas or the ranking order. See the affiliate disclosure. Spotted an error? Tell us.