{
  "version": 1,
  "edition": "2026-09",
  "editionLabel": "September 2026",
  "publishedAt": "2026-09-13T12:15:29.334Z",
  "scope": "ToolScout first-party observations. This is not a measure of global market share, vendor revenue or industry-wide popularity.",
  "methodology": {
    "catalog": "Named tools are included only when their ToolScout factual record is within 45 days, their official HTTPS source is currently healthy, and that source was checked within 10 days.",
    "search": "Search-demand figures come from the Google Search Console Search Analytics data already ingested by ToolScout. Impressions are visibility, not visits or market demand estimates.",
    "shortlist": "Shortlist frequency counts appearances in current ToolScout guide shortlists after category, structured capability, hard attribute, relevance and trust gates. It is an editorial coverage measure, not user popularity.",
    "independence": "Affiliate status, commission and payout do not increase editorial eligibility, shortlist frequency or ranking."
  },
  "sourceState": {
    "catalogRecords": 101,
    "verifiedCurrentTools": 92,
    "excludedFromNamedAnalysis": 9,
    "categoriesRepresented": 17,
    "freePlanRecorded": 60,
    "gscAvailable": true,
    "gscSource": "Google Search Console Search Analytics API"
  },
  "searchVisibility": {
    "clicks": 1,
    "impressions": 2215,
    "ctr": 0.0451,
    "intentsWithSignals": 31
  },
  "observedDemand": [
    {
      "intent": "best-seo-tools-for-agencies",
      "title": "Best SEO Tools for Agencies",
      "url": "https://trytoolscout.org/best-seo-tools-for-agencies.html",
      "impressions": 535,
      "clicks": 0,
      "ctr": 0,
      "position": 77.0355,
      "evidenceConfidence": "meaningful"
    },
    {
      "intent": "best-funnel-builder",
      "title": "Best Funnel Builder",
      "url": "https://trytoolscout.org/best-funnel-builder.html",
      "impressions": 127,
      "clicks": 0,
      "ctr": 0,
      "position": 77.1024,
      "evidenceConfidence": "meaningful"
    },
    {
      "intent": "best-project-management-tools",
      "title": "Best Project Management Tools",
      "url": "https://trytoolscout.org/best-project-management-tools.html",
      "impressions": 67,
      "clicks": 0,
      "ctr": 0,
      "position": 40.0448,
      "evidenceConfidence": "meaningful"
    },
    {
      "intent": "best-crm-for-sales-teams",
      "title": "Best CRM for Sales Teams",
      "url": "https://trytoolscout.org/best-crm-for-sales-teams.html",
      "impressions": 50,
      "clicks": 0,
      "ctr": 0,
      "position": 75.52,
      "evidenceConfidence": "meaningful"
    },
    {
      "intent": "best-free-project-management-tools",
      "title": "Best Free Project Management Tools",
      "url": "https://trytoolscout.org/best-free-project-management-tools.html",
      "impressions": 47,
      "clicks": 0,
      "ctr": 0,
      "position": 55.383,
      "evidenceConfidence": "meaningful"
    },
    {
      "intent": "best-free-crm",
      "title": "Best Free CRM Tools",
      "url": "https://trytoolscout.org/best-free-crm.html",
      "impressions": 42,
      "clicks": 0,
      "ctr": 0,
      "position": 73.0952,
      "evidenceConfidence": "meaningful"
    },
    {
      "intent": "best-keyword-research-tools",
      "title": "Best Keyword Research Tools",
      "url": "https://trytoolscout.org/best-keyword-research-tools.html",
      "impressions": 42,
      "clicks": 0,
      "ctr": 0,
      "position": 74.3095,
      "evidenceConfidence": "meaningful"
    },
    {
      "intent": "best-forms-for-small-business",
      "title": "Best Forms for Small Business",
      "url": "https://trytoolscout.org/best-forms-for-small-business.html",
      "impressions": 4,
      "clicks": 0,
      "ctr": 0,
      "position": 4.5,
      "evidenceConfidence": "low"
    },
    {
      "intent": "best-product-analytics-tools",
      "title": "Best Product Analytics Tools",
      "url": "https://trytoolscout.org/best-product-analytics-tools.html",
      "impressions": 4,
      "clicks": 0,
      "ctr": 0,
      "position": 20.25,
      "evidenceConfidence": "low"
    },
    {
      "intent": "best-productivity-tools-for-teams",
      "title": "Best Productivity Tools for Teams",
      "url": "https://trytoolscout.org/best-productivity-tools-for-teams.html",
      "impressions": 4,
      "clicks": 0,
      "ctr": 0,
      "position": 38,
      "evidenceConfidence": "low"
    }
  ],
  "categoryCoverage": [
    {
      "category": "business",
      "count": 13
    },
    {
      "category": "marketing",
      "count": 11
    },
    {
      "category": "crm",
      "count": 9
    },
    {
      "category": "developer",
      "count": 7
    },
    {
      "category": "seo",
      "count": 7
    },
    {
      "category": "analytics",
      "count": 6
    },
    {
      "category": "support",
      "count": 6
    },
    {
      "category": "automation",
      "count": 5
    },
    {
      "category": "forms",
      "count": 5
    },
    {
      "category": "social",
      "count": 5
    },
    {
      "category": "website",
      "count": 5
    },
    {
      "category": "ai-writing",
      "count": 3
    },
    {
      "category": "ecommerce",
      "count": 3
    },
    {
      "category": "sales",
      "count": 3
    },
    {
      "category": "design",
      "count": 2
    },
    {
      "category": "ai-research",
      "count": 1
    },
    {
      "category": "content",
      "count": 1
    }
  ],
  "shortlistLeaders": [
    {
      "slug": "asana",
      "name": "Asana",
      "category": "business",
      "guideAppearances": 4,
      "eligibleGuides": [
        "best-free-project-management-tools",
        "best-productivity-tools-for-teams",
        "best-project-management-tools",
        "best-tools-for-agencies"
      ],
      "sourceUrl": "https://asana.com/",
      "factualReviewDate": "2026-09-01",
      "sourceCheckedAt": "2026-09-13T10:16:46.773Z"
    },
    {
      "slug": "close",
      "name": "Close",
      "category": "crm",
      "guideAppearances": 4,
      "eligibleGuides": [
        "best-crm-for-consultants",
        "best-crm-for-real-estate",
        "best-crm-for-sales-teams",
        "best-crm-with-automation"
      ],
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.close.com/",
      "factualReviewDate": "2026-09-01",
      "sourceCheckedAt": "2026-09-13T10:16:46.773Z"
    },
    {
      "slug": "freshsales",
      "name": "Freshsales",
      "category": "crm",
      "guideAppearances": 4,
      "eligibleGuides": [
        "best-affordable-crm",
        "best-crm-for-sales-teams",
        "best-crm-for-small-business",
        "best-free-crm"
      ],
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.freshworks.com/crm/sales/",
      "factualReviewDate": "2026-09-01",
      "sourceCheckedAt": "2026-09-13T10:16:46.773Z"
    },
    {
      "slug": "hubspot",
      "name": "HubSpot",
      "category": "crm",
      "guideAppearances": 4,
      "eligibleGuides": [
        "best-affordable-crm",
        "best-crm-for-real-estate",
        "best-crm-with-automation",
        "best-free-crm"
      ],
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.hubspot.com/",
      "factualReviewDate": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceCheckedAt": "2026-09-13T10:16:46.773Z"
    },
    {
      "slug": "ahrefs",
      "name": "Ahrefs",
      "category": "seo",
      "guideAppearances": 3,
      "eligibleGuides": [
        "best-competitor-seo-tools",
        "best-keyword-research-tools",
        "best-seo-tools-for-agencies"
      ],
      "sourceUrl": "https://ahrefs.com/",
      "factualReviewDate": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceCheckedAt": "2026-09-13T10:16:46.773Z"
    },
    {
      "slug": "attio",
      "name": "Attio",
      "category": "crm",
      "guideAppearances": 3,
      "eligibleGuides": [
        "best-affordable-crm",
        "best-crm-for-small-business",
        "best-free-crm"
      ],
      "sourceUrl": "https://attio.com/",
      "factualReviewDate": "2026-09-01",
      "sourceCheckedAt": "2026-09-13T10:16:46.773Z"
    },
    {
      "slug": "semrush",
      "name": "Semrush",
      "category": "seo",
      "guideAppearances": 3,
      "eligibleGuides": [
        "best-competitor-seo-tools",
        "best-seo-tools",
        "best-seo-tools-for-agencies"
      ],
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.semrush.com/",
      "factualReviewDate": "2026-08-28",
      "sourceCheckedAt": "2026-09-13T10:16:46.773Z"
    },
    {
      "slug": "surfer",
      "name": "Surfer",
      "category": "seo",
      "guideAppearances": 3,
      "eligibleGuides": [
        "best-keyword-research-tools",
        "best-seo-tools",
        "best-seo-tools-for-agencies"
      ],
      "sourceUrl": "https://surferseo.com/",
      "factualReviewDate": "2026-09-01",
      "sourceCheckedAt": "2026-09-13T10:16:46.773Z"
    },
    {
      "slug": "basecamp",
      "name": "Basecamp",
      "category": "business",
      "guideAppearances": 2,
      "eligibleGuides": [
        "best-project-management-tools",
        "best-team-collaboration-tools"
      ],
      "sourceUrl": "https://basecamp.com/",
      "factualReviewDate": "2026-09-01",
      "sourceCheckedAt": "2026-09-13T10:16:46.773Z"
    },
    {
      "slug": "clickup",
      "name": "ClickUp",
      "category": "business",
      "guideAppearances": 2,
      "eligibleGuides": [
        "best-free-project-management-tools",
        "best-productivity-tools-for-teams"
      ],
      "sourceUrl": "https://clickup.com/",
      "factualReviewDate": "2026-08-29",
      "sourceCheckedAt": "2026-09-13T10:16:46.773Z"
    },
    {
      "slug": "cursor",
      "name": "Cursor",
      "category": "developer",
      "guideAppearances": 2,
      "eligibleGuides": [
        "best-ai-coding-tools",
        "best-developer-tools"
      ],
      "sourceUrl": "https://cursor.com/",
      "factualReviewDate": "2026-09-01",
      "sourceCheckedAt": "2026-09-13T10:16:46.773Z"
    },
    {
      "slug": "fillout",
      "name": "Fillout",
      "category": "forms",
      "guideAppearances": 2,
      "eligibleGuides": [
        "best-forms-for-small-business",
        "best-lead-capture-forms"
      ],
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.fillout.com/",
      "factualReviewDate": "2026-09-01",
      "sourceCheckedAt": "2026-09-13T10:16:46.773Z"
    }
  ],
  "latestEdition": true,
  "pageUrl": "https://trytoolscout.org/software-trends-index.html",
  "dataUrl": "https://trytoolscout.org/software-trends-index.json",
  "citation": "When citing these figures, describe them as ToolScout first-party observations and preserve the metric labels shown here."
}