Guides
Buying guides, decided on merit
Short on time? Our guides do the narrowing for you. Each one is a ranked shortlist or head-to-head across a category, built from the same research as our reviews, ordered on merit before we ever check affiliate commissions.
Last updated
Published guides
The best SEO tools, ranked
Our ranked shortlist of the SEO platforms worth paying for, scored on a single rubric.
Read the guide →The best managed WordPress hosting, ranked
Kinsta, WP Engine and Cloudways ranked on speed, support and value, with who each host suits.
Read the guide →The best email marketing software, ranked
MailerLite, Brevo, ActiveCampaign and GetResponse ranked on automation, deliverability and value.
Read the guide →SEO tools
Semrush alternatives: 7 SEO tools worth switching to in 2026
Semrush's entry plan costs $139.95/month and Adobe now owns the platform. We compare 7 Semrush alternatives on price, data quality, and AI search tracking.
Read the guide →Moz alternatives: 5 SEO tools worth trying in 2026
Semrush, Ahrefs, SE Ranking, Mangools, and Ubersuggest compared as Moz alternatives for 2026, with real pricing and AI search visibility features for each.
Read the guide →Local SEO for small business: how to rank locally
Local SEO gets your business found by nearby customers searching for what you sell. Here's what actually works, in priority order, for a small business.
Read the guide →6 MailerLite alternatives compared (2026): pricing, free plans, verdicts
Six real MailerLite alternatives with verified July 2026 pricing: Brevo, Mailchimp, Kit, GetResponse, ActiveCampaign, and Omnisend, matched to sender type.
Read the guide →GetResponse vs Mailchimp: which is right for your business in 2026?
GetResponse vs Mailchimp for 2026: real pricing, automation, deliverability and free-plan limits compared, with a clear pick for small teams and creators.
Read the guide →What is email automation? A beginner's guide
Email automation sends the right email when someone takes an action, without hitting send. Here's how it works, what to automate first, and what to skip.
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a Stackmerit guide and a review?
A review is a deep dive on a single tool, with a score and a verdict. A guide is a ranked shortlist or head-to-head across a whole category, telling you which tool to pick for which situation, drawing on the same research as the individual reviews.
Do affiliate commissions affect which tools make the guides?
No. We decide rankings on merit before checking which tools have affiliate programs. Commissions never buy a place or a higher position, and a tool with no affiliate program at all can still top a guide.
How often are the guides updated?
We revisit a guide whenever a tool changes materially, meaning new pricing, a major feature, or a clear performance shift, rather than on a fixed schedule. Each guide shows when it was last updated so you can judge how current the advice is.