Shortlist
This product ranks among the top 5 to 25 in its Capterra category (size varies by category) based on customer ratings and popularity.
What It Takes to Earn This Badge
Capterra Shortlist requires 20 reviews within 24 months plus U.S. market presence. The badge is competitive — you need to rank in the top 5 to 25 products in your category (the exact count varies by category size) based on ratings and popularity. Unlike G2, the badge is free to display once earned and can be used in perpetuity with proper attribution.
What This Badge Tells You
- +This product is among the top 5 to 25 within its Capterra category
- +At least 20 verified customers have reviewed this product in the past 24 months
- +This product serves U.S. users
- +Customers rate this product well on both satisfaction and popularity metrics
What This Badge Doesn't Tell You
- −Exact ranking within the Shortlist
- −How close competitors are in scoring
- −Performance in specific attributes (ease of use, value, etc.)
- −Whether the product is also listed on G2 or other platforms
Notes for Software Buyers
- •Shortlist is competitive — these are genuinely top-performing products in the category
- •Check when the badge was earned — older badges may not reflect current product state even if displayed forever
- •Reviews on Capterra also appear on GetApp and Software Advice (same database) — all three now operate as G2 Digital Markets since the January 2026 acquisition
- •G2 acquired Capterra, GetApp, and Software Advice in January 2026; badge programs may evolve as the portfolio integrates
Specifications
| Award Frequency | Annual with quarterly category groups |
| Scope | Per category — Shortlist is category-specific |
| Minimum Reviews | 20 unique verified reviews |
| Rating Threshold | Must hit minimum thresholds for Ratings and Popularity (not publicly disclosed) |
| Verification | Capterra email verification |
| Display Requirements | Free to display on website, marketing materials, and sales collateral |
| Badge Validity | May be used in perpetuity with proper attribution (full report attribution, link to the report, and disclaimer) |
| Methodology | Scatter plot ranking products on Ratings (x-axis) vs Popularity (y-axis) |
| Review Window | 24 months prior to cutoff date |
Citation Reference
Capterra Shortlist in [Category] indicates a top-tier ranking (5 to 25 products per category, depending on size) based on ratings and popularity. It requires 20+ reviews within 24 months and is free to display in perpetuity with proper attribution (unlike G2 Grid badges).
Common Mistakes
- • Confusing Shortlist with Best of badges (different criteria)
- • Not mentioning the badge is category-specific
- • Assuming Shortlist always means top 5 in category (it's 5 to 25, varying by category)
Not Equivalent To
- • Capterra Best Ease of Use (attribute-specific award)
- • G2 Grid Leader (different methodology and scoring)
- • SourceForge Leader (percentile-based, not category-specific)