Methodology

How we determine a verdict

Every threat-level verdict on this site is a claim backed by evidence, not an opinion. Here's exactly how it works.

Threat Tiers

Every entry gets exactly one of three threat levels. The label and description below are the same ones shown in the tracker legend on the home page — there is only one place this wording is written.

High Threat

Named challengers are actively eroding the moat

Medium Threat

Credible pressure exists, but the moat still holds

Low Threat / Safe

The moat is durable — no near-term path to replacement

Evidence Types

A verdict draws on three kinds of evidence. This section defines what each one means — it does not cite specific examples from any tracked app.

Traffic/usage stats

Measurable shifts in visits, sessions, or engagement that suggest people are relying on the platform more or less than before.

AI capability benchmarks

A documented case where an AI tool matches or exceeds what the platform offers, judged against a public release, benchmark, or independent review.

User migration signals

Public, verifiable indications that people are moving their activity elsewhere — reviews, creator statements, or reported usage shifts.

Content Integrity Rule

Every entry on this site must cite at least one verifiable source. The moat explanation must cite at least one of those sources, and any named challenger must cite a source for its evidence. If a source is missing, or a citation points to a source that doesn't exist, the site's build process fails and names the exact field and file responsible — the entry never reaches production.

Related Apps Grouping

Each entry's detail page lists "related apps" — the other tracked apps that share its category (Social, Content, Knowledge, or Community). If an entry is the only one in its category, this section is left out.