Directory / Methodology
How we research the directory
Reviewed by the Contractor AI Shop research team · Last updated Oct 14, 2026 · How we research
Contractor AI Shop is a DIY-first directory. We want a contractor to be able to pick a tool, see what it really costs, and find a free way to start, without paying a consultant. Here is how listings get on the site and how we keep them accurate.
1. Screening candidates
New tools come from research passes across construction software, agent frameworks, local AI and marketing tools. Each candidate is recorded with its official URL, category, a one-line description, its pricing and the pricing page it came from. Our most recent pass researched 30 candidates; 30 of them are now listed. We look for a working official site, a clear use for contractors or small businesses, and pricing we can describe honestly.
2. Verifying pricing on the vendor site
Pricing notes come from the vendor's own pricing page, not from review sites. In our last pricing audit we checked 58 existing pricing notes against vendor pages and corrected 20 of them. Today 74 of 92 listings have pricing we confirmed. The other 18 are labeled Pricing unverified on the site because we could not confirm a current price on the vendor's site. Pricing notes are summaries, so always confirm on the vendor's site.
3. Checking links
Every tool page shows the date its official link was last checked. Current check dates: Oct 13, 2026, Oct 14, 2026. In our Oct 14, 2026 URL health check, 56 of 57 tool URLs loaded cleanly; 1 pointed to a parked domain, and we updated it to the company's current site.
4. DIY and free-first
Where a tool has a free plan, a free trial, an open-source edition or a free download, we record it as the free path on its page. 52 of 92 listings currently have one. We also publish step-by-step guides for running AI on hardware you own.
5. Sponsorship never affects rankings
Listings are free. Any sponsored or featured placement is clearly labeled as sponsored, and sponsored links use rel="sponsored". Payment never changes the order of tools, what we write about them or whether they are listed. We are not affiliated with any listed vendor.
6. Corrections
If a price, link or description is wrong, tell us through the submit form or the About page. We fix confirmed errors, update the check date and note pricing corrections on the tool's page.