About Stack Checked

An independent publication reviewing AI and SaaS tools that actually save creators, builders, and operators time.

Who runs this site

I'm Jay Sharma, an independent creator-publisher based in Edmonton, Alberta. Before launching Stack Checked, I spent years building software, running workflows, and watching colleagues waste hundreds of dollars a month on AI tools they barely used. I started the site because I wanted a single place that reviewed these tools the way I'd review them for myself: with my own credit card, on my own clock, with at least 30 days of actual use before publishing anything.

I also run FirstAnswer, a separate consulting practice focused on Answer Engine Optimization for small businesses. Stack Checked is editorially independent — no consulting client has ever influenced a review on this site, and they never will.

How I review

Every review on Stack Checked follows the same five-step process:

1. Pay for it myself — using my own card, signed up like any other user. No comp accounts, no press tier.
2. Use it in real work — usually 30+ days inside an actual project, not a sandbox.
3. Track the time saved or wasted — concrete numbers, not vibes.
4. Write the review before adding any affiliate link — my opinion gets formed first, the link gets added second.
5. Update it on a schedule — pricing and features change. If the review is older than six months, I retest.

What I cover

Right now Stack Checked focuses on AI and SaaS tools for content creators, indie builders, and small operators. Specifically:

• AI writing tools — Jasper, Copy.ai, Claude, ChatGPT, etc.
• AI voice and audio — Murf, ElevenLabs, Descript, Synthesia.
• Productivity and project management — Notion, ClickUp, Linear, Airtable.
• AI video — Runway, Pika, Synthesia, Arcads.

I generally avoid reviewing tools I haven't paid for personally, and I never review categories I don't operate in (no crypto, no MLM, no high-risk financial products).

How the site is funded

Stack Checked is funded by affiliate commissions. When you click a link in a review and subscribe to a tool, the company pays me a referral commission. You pay the same price either way — usually you get a discount through the link.

Important: I never adjust a review's verdict based on whether the company has an affiliate program. There are tools I recommend that don't pay me anything, and tools that pay me well that I'd never recommend. The link is added after the review is written; if a brand demands editorial control, they don't get a link.

For full details, see the affiliate disclosure.

Get in touch

For tip-offs, corrections, or to suggest a tool I should test next, email info@stackchecked.com.

I do not accept guest posts, sponsored content, or paid placements. Every word on this site is mine.