{
    "name": "STscore",
    "version": "1.0",
    "published": "2026-11-08",
    "owner": "Software Today",
    "method": "Fixed rules, no machine learning. Same inputs always give the same score.",
    "fingerprint_sha256": "15930fa7f1816d055a7b95ee14ff8d45f668c4f162887ebd2a795efcf9f7ccd8",
    "maximum": 100,
    "pillars": {
        "price": {
            "label": "Price transparency",
            "rules": [
                {
                    "id": "A1",
                    "label": "Price or free plan stated",
                    "pts": 8,
                    "how": "A starting price in rupees, or a free plan, is on the product page."
                },
                {
                    "id": "A2",
                    "label": "Price checked recently",
                    "pts": 8,
                    "how": "Full points if we checked the price in the last 120 days, half if in the last 240 days, none otherwise."
                },
                {
                    "id": "A3",
                    "label": "Price source shown",
                    "pts": 5,
                    "how": "The web address where we found the price is recorded, so anyone can check it."
                },
                {
                    "id": "A4",
                    "label": "Price terms explained",
                    "pts": 4,
                    "how": "Plan details or a price note (billing period, GST, set-up) are given."
                }
            ]
        },
        "profile": {
            "label": "Product information",
            "rules": [
                {
                    "id": "B1",
                    "label": "Logo",
                    "pts": 2,
                    "how": "A logo is on the page."
                },
                {
                    "id": "B2",
                    "label": "Screenshots",
                    "pts": 5,
                    "how": "Half points for 1 or 2 screenshots, full points for 3 or more."
                },
                {
                    "id": "B3",
                    "label": "Key features listed",
                    "pts": 5,
                    "how": "Half points for 3 or more features, full points for 6 or more."
                },
                {
                    "id": "B4",
                    "label": "Demo or free trial",
                    "pts": 4,
                    "how": "A demo link or a free trial is offered."
                },
                {
                    "id": "B5",
                    "label": "Website",
                    "pts": 2,
                    "how": "The official website address is recorded."
                },
                {
                    "id": "B6",
                    "label": "Clear summary",
                    "pts": 2,
                    "how": "A plain summary of at least 40 characters."
                }
            ]
        },
        "india": {
            "label": "India readiness (as stated by the vendor)",
            "rules": [
                {
                    "id": "C1",
                    "label": "GST and e-invoicing",
                    "pts": 4,
                    "how": "The product text mentions GST, e-invoice or e-way bill support."
                },
                {
                    "id": "C2",
                    "label": "UPI and Indian payments",
                    "pts": 3,
                    "how": "The product text mentions UPI or an Indian payment gateway."
                },
                {
                    "id": "C3",
                    "label": "WhatsApp",
                    "pts": 3,
                    "how": "The product text mentions WhatsApp."
                },
                {
                    "id": "C4",
                    "label": "Indian languages",
                    "pts": 2,
                    "how": "The product text mentions Hindi or another Indian language."
                },
                {
                    "id": "C5",
                    "label": "Priced in rupees",
                    "pts": 3,
                    "how": "A starting price in rupees is stated."
                }
            ]
        },
        "fit": {
            "label": "Buyer-fit information",
            "rules": [
                {
                    "id": "D1",
                    "label": "Who it is best for",
                    "pts": 3,
                    "how": "The page says which buyers the product suits."
                },
                {
                    "id": "D2",
                    "label": "Pros and cons both given",
                    "pts": 6,
                    "how": "Half points for 2 or more pros, half for at least 1 honest con."
                },
                {
                    "id": "D3",
                    "label": "Software type assigned",
                    "pts": 2,
                    "how": "The product is placed in at least one software type."
                },
                {
                    "id": "D4",
                    "label": "Business types assigned",
                    "pts": 4,
                    "how": "Half points for 1 business type, full points for 3 or more."
                }
            ]
        },
        "trust": {
            "label": "Trust and support",
            "rules": [
                {
                    "id": "E1",
                    "label": "Support details",
                    "pts": 4,
                    "how": "Support hours, channels or languages are stated."
                },
                {
                    "id": "E2",
                    "label": "Year founded",
                    "pts": 3,
                    "how": "The year or date the product was founded is stated."
                },
                {
                    "id": "E3",
                    "label": "Customer testimonials",
                    "pts": 3,
                    "how": "At least one customer testimonial is on the page (supplied by the vendor)."
                }
            ]
        },
        "audit": {
            "label": "Human audit by Software Today",
            "rules": [
                {
                    "id": "F1",
                    "label": "Audited by our team",
                    "pts": 15,
                    "how": "Full points if our team audited the product in the last 12 months, half if in the last 24 months."
                }
            ]
        }
    },
    "relevancy": {
        "version": "R1.0",
        "fingerprint_sha256": "1b84de4d87faaad80e3146f67586154bd9e62ef8b93fc56dc0e47da29b56a678",
        "rules": [
            {
                "id": "R1",
                "label": "Placement",
                "pts": 30,
                "how": "Full points if this is the product's main software type, half if it is a second software type."
            },
            {
                "id": "R2",
                "label": "Feature coverage",
                "pts": 45,
                "how": "The share of this software type's \"features worth comparing\" that the product's own text covers."
            },
            {
                "id": "R3",
                "label": "Buyer fit",
                "pts": 15,
                "how": "Full points if the product's best-for text or business types share words with who usually buys this software type, half for a partial overlap."
            },
            {
                "id": "R4",
                "label": "Named in the product text",
                "pts": 10,
                "how": "The product's own text uses the name of this software type."
            }
        ]
    },
    "never_used": [
        "Any payment, fee or sponsorship by the vendor",
        "Affiliate links or commission",
        "Clicks, page views or lead counts",
        "Lead prices or deals closed",
        "Where a product sits in a list",
        "The old editor score field"
    ]
}