Small review counts
A high average from few reviews is weak evidence.
HomeProcurementG2 procurement software ratings: how to read them
Review site guide
G2 procurement software ratings: how to read them
G2 is one of the largest public review sites for business software. This guide shows how to use its procurement categories well, and where its ratings can mislead you.
By Procurement VMS Editorial TeamLast updated
Before you read the stars
A rating is a starting point, not a verdict
Imagine two products, both rated high. One has hundreds of recent reviews from companies like yours. The other has a handful, from companies nothing like yours. The numbers look alike. The evidence behind them does not. That is the first lesson in reading any review site: the count, the recency and the similarity of the reviewers matter as much as the average.
What it is
About G2
G2 lets business software users post reviews and rate products on overall satisfaction and on specific features. It publishes category pages and periodic grid reports that group products by satisfaction and market presence.
Vendors can also pay G2 for other services, such as profile upgrades and advertising. This does not mean the reviews are false, but you should know the site is a business with vendor customers.
How to read it
A five minute method for G2
- 1. Filter to your sizeNarrow reviews by company size and industry to see people like you.
- 2. Sort by newestSoftware changes, so recent reviews matter most.
- 3. Read the middle ratingsThree and four star reviews often hold the most balanced detail.
- 4. Look for patternsOne complaint is a story. Ten of the same complaint is a pattern.
- 5. Note what reviewers did not mentionIf nobody mentions support, ask about it in your demo.
Watch for
What can mislead you
Incentivised reviews
Some reviews are collected with gift offers. Check whether a review says so.
Different buyer profiles
A review from a small business tells you little about an enterprise rollout.
Old reviews
A review from several years ago may describe a different product.
Use it with our pages
How this fits with the rest of your research
We do not copy scores from G2 onto our pages, because scores change and we cannot keep a copy accurate. Open the live profile of each product on your shortlist, read the recent reviews and then bring your questions to the vendor. Our comparison and review pages tell you what to ask.
Want a shortlist for your team?
Tell us your company size and region. We use AI to match you to products, and a person checks the list before it reaches you, with the reason behind each pick.
Disclosure: Zapro AI appears on some comparison pages as an editor's pick, and the people behind this site have a professional connection to Zapro AI.
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We will email your shortlist, usually within one business day. While you wait, browse the related guides above.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Does G2 rank products?
It groups products by user satisfaction and market presence in its reports. Read the method on the live site.
Are G2 reviews reliable?
They are useful evidence if you read them with care and look for patterns.
Why do you not show G2 scores?
Scores change often. Check the live profile.