How StackPick Reviews Software

StackPick reviews Australian small business software. This page explains exactly how those reviews are researched, scored, and kept up to date - and how we make money.

Who writes the reviews

All reviews on StackPick are written by Brett Armstrong, founder of StackPick and co-founder of Melbourne digital agency Armstrong Creative. Brett has personally used Xero, MYOB, and QuickBooks running his own businesses, and has 20+ years of experience in digital marketing and SEO.

Brett is not a registered tax agent, BAS agent, or chartered accountant. StackPick reviews the software from the perspective of a business owner actually using it day to day - not from the perspective of a professional accountant. For tax advice specific to your situation, talk to a registered accountant.

How reviews are researched

Every product review on StackPick is based on at least one of the following:

  • Direct use - I've personally signed up, imported real business data, and used the software for an extended period. This applies to Xero, MYOB, and QuickBooks.
  • Trial account testing - I sign up for a free trial, complete a full set of tasks (invoice creation, bank feed setup, BAS prep, payroll run where applicable), and document the experience.
  • Vendor documentation and official pricing pages - checked directly, not paraphrased from other review sites.
  • User feedback from real Australian small business owners - friends, clients, and industry contacts who use these tools daily.

What we score software on

Reviews assess software across these criteria:

  • Pricing transparency - is the real cost obvious, or hidden behind "contact sales" pages and usage limits?
  • Australian compliance - Single Touch Payroll, GST, BAS, superannuation handling
  • Ease of use - how quickly can a non-accountant business owner get productive?
  • Core feature quality - invoicing, bank reconciliation, reporting, payroll
  • Integrations - does it connect to the other tools Australian SMBs actually use?
  • Support - phone and chat availability, AU business hours, documentation quality
  • Value for money - cost relative to features and alternatives

How we make money

StackPick earns affiliate commissions when readers sign up to software through our tracking links. Some links on this site are affiliate links; some aren't. You pay nothing extra either way.

What this means for you:

  • Rankings are not for sale. No vendor pays for a higher position.
  • Commission rates do not influence which tool we recommend in each scenario.
  • Affiliate relationships are disclosed on every review.
  • Where a tool we don't earn a commission from is the right fit, we recommend it.

How often reviews are updated

Australian software pricing changes regularly. Every review on StackPick shows a "Last updated" date at the top. We check pricing and plan structures quarterly as a minimum, and update immediately when a vendor announces a change.

If you spot outdated information in a review, email hello@stackpick.com.au and we'll fix it.

What we don't do

  • No sponsored content disguised as reviews
  • No "best of" lists where placement was paid for
  • No AI-generated content pretending to be first-hand experience
  • No scraping vendor websites and calling it a review

Questions or corrections

Email hello@stackpick.com.au. Software vendors wanting to clarify pricing or correct factual errors should use the same address.