Magic Quadrant

A Magic Quadrant is a proprietary research methodology by Gartner that evaluates technology vendors within a specific market, placing them into four quadrants — Leaders, Challengers, Visionaries, and Niche Players — based on completeness of vision and ability to execute.

Magic Quadrants are among the most influential documents in enterprise technology purchasing. When a procurement team evaluates software vendors, the Magic Quadrant for their category is often one of the first references they check. Being positioned as a Leader — or even being included at all — carries significant weight in enterprise sales cycles.

For SaaS companies, the Magic Quadrant matters beyond the report itself. Gartner Peer Insights reviews are used as inputs in Magic Quadrant evaluations, making GPI the only review platform with a direct connection to analyst research. Reviews on G2, Capterra, or TrustRadius exist independently — GPI reviews feed into the same ecosystem that produces the MQ.

This creates a unique value proposition: strong reviews on Gartner Peer Insights can influence not just your Customers' Choice badge positioning, but also how analysts perceive your product when preparing Magic Quadrant research. No other review platform offers this dual benefit.

It's important to distinguish between two related but distinct Gartner publications:

Magic Quadrant — Analyst research that evaluates vendors based on "Completeness of Vision" and "Ability to Execute." This includes product capabilities, market understanding, sales execution, customer experience, and operations. Analysts conduct vendor briefings, customer reference calls, and use GPI reviews as one of many inputs.

Voice of the Customer (VOC) — A separate publication based entirely on verified customer reviews from Gartner Peer Insights. The Customers' Choice badge comes from VOC reports, not Magic Quadrants. VOC placement is determined by review data alone — no analyst interpretation.

Both matter for enterprise vendors, but they serve different purposes. Magic Quadrant positioning is what analysts conclude; VOC positioning is what customers report. Gartner maintains strict boundaries between these programs, which is why their marketing compliance rules are so strict.