G2 Announces 2026 Best Software Winners

- G2’s proprietary ranking algorithm considers a company's Market Presence and Satisfaction scores, which are based on verified user reviews submitted between January 1 and December 31 of the previous year. - This year's awards saw significant turnover, with 47% of the top 100 products and 34% of the top 100 global software companies being new to the lists, indicating a market shift towards tools that demonstrate value quickly. - Salesforce led the 2026 awards with six #1 rankings, followed by Canva, Microsoft, and Hootsuite, each securing three top spots. - To reflect market changes, G2 introduced new categories for 2026, including "Best Agentic AI Software" and "Best ERP Software Products." - For many public colleges, the focus on software procurement is heightened by the upcoming April 24, 2026, deadline for compliance with the Department of Justice's Title II regulations. - This federal mandate requires public institutions serving 50,000 or more people to ensure their websites, apps, and digital content meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards. - Current trends in higher education procurement show a strategic shift from simple cost-cutting to overall value creation, with an increased reliance on AI and data analytics to improve efficiency and analyze spending patterns. - Out of more than 175,000 software vendors listed on the G2 marketplace, less than 1% earn a spot on the annual Best Software lists.