Capterra and software review sites: what are they for?
💡 Transparency: this article is written by the SubmitX team, which sells construction software. We are therefore both judge and party. The facts about Capterra, GetApp, Software Advice and G2 come from their public pages viewed on October 26, 2026. We quote no overall rating from these sites, only examples we saw ourselves on that date. A mistake? Write to support@submitx.ca.
These sites gather software listings, user reviews, side-by-side comparisons and sometimes advisors. They save you time to build a first shortlist. They do not replace a trial with your own files.
For construction in Quebec, they have a built-in limitation: the criteria that matter here (French, CCQ payroll, GST/QST, holdbacks, SEAO) are almost never filters on these sites. It is up to you to check them.
How these sites make money (according to their own pages)
Capterra
The transparency banner on a Capterra Canada listing, viewed on October 26, 2026, states that the site is free for users, that vendors pay it for sponsored profiles that send them traffic and sales opportunities, and that Capterra may earn referral fees when you visit a vendor through its links or talk to an advisor. The same text states that this revenue does not influence its research or methodology, and that all vendors are listed, not only those who pay. Sponsored profiles carry a link icon pointing to the vendor's website.
GetApp
On a GetApp Canada listing viewed the same day, the disclosure is almost identical: sponsored profiles paid by vendors, possible referral fees, a free service because vendors pay when GetApp generates traffic and sales leads for them, and a statement that this does not influence the methodology.
Software Advice
A Software Advice listing viewed on October 26, 2026 states that its advisors are free for users, that the site may earn referral fees when an advisor connects you with a vendor, and that vendors pay for sponsored profiles.
G2
G2's methodology page explains that its score combines satisfaction (drawn from reviews, weighted by number, recency, quality and source) and market presence, which takes into account, among other things, the vendor's number of employees according to LinkedIn, ZoomInfo or Crunchbase and its presence on the web. G2 states that reviews are subjective and that a review obtained without an incentive carries more weight.
Nothing abnormal here: it is a disclosed advertising and referral model. But it has consequences on what you see first.
Biases to know before trusting a rating
1. The number of reviews favours large vendors
American software used in thousands of companies accumulates reviews faster than niche Quebec software. At G2, market presence also takes the vendor's size into account. A small number of reviews does not mean bad software.
2. A rating based on few reviews says almost nothing
Example seen on October 26, 2026: on Capterra Canada, the listing for Sercom, a Quebec field service software, showed a rating of 5.0 based on 2 reviews. It is a positive signal, but statistically fragile, in either direction.
3. Categories mix very different tools
Also on October 26, 2026, the Houzz Pro listing on Software Advice, in the construction category, suggested Jira, Asana, monday and Trello as alternatives: general project management tools, with no construction quoting or invoicing. Compare tools of the same type (see our ranking by type).
4. The displayed price may differ from the official page
On the same day, that Software Advice listing showed Houzz Pro "starting at $399 per month", while Houzz Pro's official pricing page showed a Design plan at $99 and a Pro plan at $199 per month. These gaps often come from renamed plans or a delayed update. The price that counts is the one on the vendor's page, on the day you sign.
5. Reviews do not talk about Quebec
Nothing guarantees that a review comes from a Quebec company: look at the author's country and industry when the listing shows them. A review written elsewhere says nothing about CCQ payroll, French for your crews, QST or SEAO.
6. Soliciting reviews influences the average
A vendor that actively asks its satisfied clients for reviews will get more of them. G2 says it gives more weight to reviews obtained without an incentive and prohibits targeted solicitation of satisfied clients only. Read the critical reviews and the vendor's replies: they often say more than the average.
What to check yourself
| Point to check | Where to check it | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Price, currency and period | Vendor's pricing page | USD or CAD, monthly or annual, activation fees |
| French | Website and app, during a trial | Interface and client documents |
| CCQ payroll | Demo, with a real payroll | Rates by trade and sector, monthly report |
| GST/QST and holdbacks | Trial, with a real contract | Exact calculation on every invoice |
| Data hosting | Privacy policy | Law 25 and subprocessors |
| Data export | Help centre or written request | Being able to leave with your data |
| Review dates | Review site listing | A 2021 review describes a different version |
| Sponsored profile or not | Icon or mention on the listing | Knowing whether the vendor pays for visibility |
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A 5-step trial checklist for construction software
Use review sites for the shortlist, not for the choice
Keep 3 or 4 tools of the same type that show the features you need.
Read recent and critical reviews
Filter by date and by company size similar to yours. Note the problems that keep coming up.
Check the facts on the vendor's website
Price, currency, languages, hosting, trial. Take dated screenshots.
Test with your own files
Redo 5 to 10 recent quotes, a progress invoice with a holdback and a payroll. Time it.
Ask for comparable references
A Quebec contractor in your trade and of your size is worth more than an average of ratings.
Our method for comparing software is described on the Comparisons page.
And where does SubmitX fit in?
SubmitX is a young company (public launch in June 2026): there are therefore still few independent reviews about it. We do not ask you to take our word for it. Apply the same checklist to us: permanent Free plan, 7-day trial of paid plans with no card, prices on request in CAD (Pricing), limitations listed on Pros and cons and hosting explained in the security FAQ.
Reminder: SubmitX's AI can make mistakes. Every generated quote remains a draft that you review before sending.
A review site will be useful to you if…
- You are starting from scratch and want a first shortlist quickly.
- You read recent reviews from companies of your size.
- You compare tools of the same type.
A trial is worth more than a rating if…
- Your needs are specific to Quebec: CCQ, QST, SEAO, French.
- The software you are interested in has few reviews.
- You are hesitating between two similar tools.
Frequently asked questions
Are Capterra reviews reliable?
Capterra says it verifies that review authors are real people. Reviews remain subjective, and the site is partly funded by vendors (sponsored profiles, referral fees), which it discloses. Use them to build a shortlist, then check for yourself.
Why does Quebec software have few reviews?
A vendor present in many more companies accumulates reviews faster, and at G2 the vendor's size counts in market presence. Few reviews does not mean bad software: test it.
Are Capterra, GetApp and Software Advice the same thing?
Their disclosures, viewed on October 26, 2026, describe a very similar model: free for the user, sponsored profiles paid by vendors and possible referral fees. Software Advice highlights free advisors.
Is the price shown on a review site up to date?
Not always. On October 26, 2026, we saw a different starting price on a Software Advice listing and on the vendor's official page. Rely on the vendor's pricing page.
How do you know whether a listing is sponsored?
According to Capterra and GetApp, sponsored profiles carry a link icon pointing to the vendor's website. When in doubt, look for an advertising or sponsorship mention on the page.
Sources consulted
Public vendor pages viewed on October 26, 2026. Prices and features change often: check on the vendor's website before deciding. A mistake? Write to support@submitx.ca, and we will correct it.
- Capterra Canada: Sercom listing and transparency banner, viewed on October 26, 2026
- Capterra Canada: About, viewed on October 26, 2026
- GetApp Canada: Sercom listing and disclosure, viewed on October 26, 2026
- Software Advice: Houzz Pro listing and disclosure, viewed on October 26, 2026
- G2: Research Scoring Methodologies, viewed on October 26, 2026
- Houzz Pro: official pricing page, viewed on October 26, 2026
- SubmitX: Pricing
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