Evaluation Scorecard Template
Last updated: 2026-05-18
A practical template for evaluating AI tools before you commit. Copy this into a spreadsheet or doc, fill it out per tool, and you'll have a consistent record to compare against.
Tool Information
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Tool name | |
| Category | |
| Pricing | |
| URL | |
| Date evaluated |
Scoring Criteria (1-5)
Rate each criterion from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent). Add notes on anything that influenced your score.
| Criterion | Score (1-5) | Weight | Weighted | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capability fit | 20% | Does it actually do what you need? | ||
| Ease of use | 15% | How quickly can you get productive? | ||
| Integration quality | 15% | Does it connect to your existing stack? | ||
| Pricing value | 15% | Cost relative to what you're getting? | ||
| Data privacy | 15% | How does it handle your data? | ||
| Support quality | 10% | Is help available when you need it? | ||
| Documentation quality | 10% | Clear, accurate, and complete? |
Weighted total — Sum of (Score × Weight) for each row. Maximum is 5.0.
Weighted Total Calculation
Weighted Total = (Capability × 0.20) + (Ease × 0.15) + (Integration × 0.15) + (Pricing × 0.15) + (Privacy × 0.15) + (Support × 0.10) + (Docs × 0.10)Adjust weights to fit your context. Enterprise buyers often weight privacy higher. Early-stage teams often weight ease of use higher.
Comparison Section
When choosing between two or more tools:
| Criterion | Tool A | Tool B | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capability fit | |||
| Ease of use | |||
| Integration | |||
| Pricing | |||
| Privacy | |||
| Support | |||
| Documentation | |||
| Weighted total |
Final Verdict
| Verdict | When to use |
|---|---|
| Keep | Add to stack. Meets your requirements. |
| Trial | Run a 14-day test. Needs validation before committing. |
| Pass | Doesn't meet requirements. Look elsewhere. |
Notes Section
Use this for anything that didn't fit elsewhere:
- Pros and cons summary
- Deal breakers
- Follow-up questions for the vendor
- Next steps
How to Use This Template
- Fill in the tool information section.
- Score each criterion and add notes.
- Calculate the weighted total.
- If comparing tools, fill in the comparison section.
- Assign a verdict and document your reasoning.
Saving these evaluations builds a useful record over time, especially when revisiting decisions or onboarding teammates.