Finance & Reporting

With businesses around the country and the world facing continual disruption, technological tools are increasingly crucial to the success of established enterprises and start-ups alike. Which tools can you rely on? Working with Statista Inc., the globally recognized data research company, Newsweek has produced an authoritative list of America's Best Business Tools.

We name the top providers of business software and software services in 54 categories: from audio editing software to cybersecurity tools. We also looked specifically at a new generation of workers. The first members of Generation Z (people born after 1995) are graduating from college and finding jobs—or creating their own—and we highlight the business tools preferred by these energetic young employees and entrepreneurs.

Nancy Cooper, Global Editor-in-Chief

Methodology:

The Best Business Tools list is based on a nationwide survey of more than 10,000 professional users of software and software service providers. There was an additional evaluation of more than 1,500 Gen Z users (born 1995 and later), who completed the survey. The survey was administered using an online access panel, and young entrepreneurs from business schools across the U.S. were invited to take the survey by Newsweek. In 54 categories, participants were asked to identify all providers of business software and software services they know and have used before. Within each category, the participants could choose from an autofill list of providers of software and software services, compiled through research from relevant online registers. Participants were also invited to name other, additional providers. The survey examined the participant's willingness to recommend the provider and asked them to rate the provider in categories of trust; service promise; reliability; security; improvement and satisfaction. Each participant evaluated several providers of business software and software services: more than 71,000 evaluations have been collected. For every provider, a weighted score from 0 to 100 was calculated using the criteria above. In each category, the providers with a score of 75 and higher are cited; therefore, the number of recognized providers for each category varies. In total, 416 business software and services were awarded in 54 categories. Providers with the highest score among Gen Z users were marked as "Gen Z Favorite." The complete description of the methodology is available here. If your company is listed below, you can find out more about the licensing options visiting the Statista website.