Criteria and weighting
Each tool receives sub-scores from 0 to 10 with one decimal place. The overall score is the weighted average.
Criterion | Weight | What we check |
|---|---|---|
Features | 25% | core features according to the documentation, plan limits |
Data protection & location | 20% | DPA, EU data location, sub-processors, international transfers |
Security | 15% | SSO, MFA, encryption, certifications such as ISO/IEC 27001, SOC 2, C5 |
Usability & onboarding | 10% | interface, languages, help centre and onboarding according to the docs |
Integrations | 10% | ready-made connectors, API, webhooks, import and export |
Pricing model | 10% | free plan, billing, upgrades needed for key features |
Support | 10% | channels, languages, committed response times |
In reviews, we combine pricing model and support into one sub-score weighted at 20 percent, which results in six sub-scores. In comparisons, we group the criteria to suit the category and list them in the comparison itself.
What the scores mean
9.0 to 10: outstanding, hardly any limitations for the target group
7.0 to 8.9: good, with clearly stated weaknesses
5.0 to 6.9: usable, but with significant limitations
below 5.0: not recommended for small and mid-sized businesses
Which sources we use
Our assessments are based on publicly available material. We do not run long-term hands-on tests or our own measurements, and we do not claim to. We use:
vendor documentation, help centres and release notes
vendors' pricing, trust and privacy pages and DPA templates
certificates and audit reports, where public
legal texts and publications by authorities such as the European Commission, the German BSI and data protection regulators
public registers such as the EU-US Data Privacy Framework List
Every article lists its sources and the date the information reflects. One example is our Mattermost review. All comparisons are listed in our comparisons overview.
Independence
SaaS Column does not accept money for placements or scores. Our pages contain no affiliate links. Rankings in comparisons are an editorial assessment based on the criteria above.
Updates and corrections
Prices, plans and the legal situation change. We review comparisons and reviews regularly and whenever something important changes, such as new court rulings or plan structures. We record substantive changes with a date in the article's change log. We correct errors as soon as we learn of them and mark the correction.
Frequently asked questions
Do you test the tools yourselves?
We assess tools based on publicly documented features, pricing models and privacy and security documentation. We do not run long-term hands-on tests, and our articles say so explicitly.
Do vendors pay for good scores?
No. SaaS Column accepts no money for placements or scores and uses no affiliate links.
Why does data protection carry so much weight?
Our readers are small and mid-sized businesses in the EU. For them, the DPA, data location and international transfers often decide whether a tool is an option at all.
What happens when prices or laws change?
We update the affected articles, record the change with a date and adjust scores if the basis for the assessment changes.