Product Comparison Matrix

# Product Comparison Matrix

Research and compare products, tools, or services with feature matrices, pricing, and personalized recommendations.

## When to Use

- "Compare {Product A} vs {Product B}"
- "What's the best {product category} for {use case}?"
- "Help me choose between these 3 options"

## Requirements

- **Brave Search MCP** for product research and reviews
- **python3** for scoring and cost calculations

## Workflow

### Step 1 — Comparison Brief

- **Products to compare** (2-5 options)
- **Use case** (what you'll use it for)
- **Budget**
- **Must-have features**
- **Nice-to-have features**
- **Deal-breakers**

### Step 2 — Research Each Option

```
brave_web_search: "{PRODUCT_A} review {YEAR}"
brave_web_search: "{PRODUCT_B} review {YEAR}"
brave_web_search: "{PRODUCT_A} vs {PRODUCT_B} comparison {YEAR}"
brave_web_search: "{PRODUCT_CATEGORY} best {USE_CASE} {YEAR}"
brave_web_search: "{PRODUCT_A} pricing plans {YEAR}"
brave_web_search: "{PRODUCT_B} pricing plans {YEAR}"
```

### Step 3 — Build Comparison Matrix

```markdown
# Comparison: {CATEGORY}
🎯 Use case: {USE_CASE} | 💰 Budget: ${BUDGET}

## Feature Matrix
| Feature | {Product A} | {Product B} | {Product C} |
|---------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
| Price | ${X}/mo | ${X}/mo | ${X}/mo |
| {Must-have 1} | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| {Must-have 2} | ✅ | ⚠️ Partial | ✅ |
| {Must-have 3} | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| {Nice-to-have 1} | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| {Nice-to-have 2} | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Free tier | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| API access | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |

## Pricing Deep Dive
| Plan | {Product A} | {Product B} | {Product C} |
|------|-------------|-------------|-------------|
| Free | {limits} | {limits} | {limits} |
| Basic | ${X}/mo | ${X}/mo | ${X}/mo |
| Pro | ${X}/mo | ${X}/mo | ${X}/mo |
| Enterprise | Contact | ${X}/mo | Contact |

## Pros & Cons

### {Product A}
✅ Pros: {list}
❌ Cons: {list}
👤 Best for: {use case}

### {Product B}
✅ Pros:
❌ Cons:
👤 Best for:
```

### Step 4 — Score by Your Priorities

```bash
python3 << 'PYEOF'
weights = {
    "{Must-have 1}": 10,
    "{Must-have 2}": 10,
    "{Must-have 3}": 8,
    "Price": 7,
    "{Nice-to-have 1}": 5,
    "{Nice-to-have 2}": 3,
}

# Score each product (0=missing, 5=partial, 10=full)
scores = {
    "{Product A}": [{S1}, {S2}, {S3}, {S4}, {S5}, {S6}],
    "{Product B}": [{S1}, {S2}, {S3}, {S4}, {S5}, {S6}],
    "{Product C}": [{S1}, {S2}, {S3}, {S4}, {S5}, {S6}],
}

weight_list = list(weights.values())
for name, s in scores.items():
    weighted = sum(w * score for w, score in zip(weight_list, s)) / sum(weight_list)
    print(f"{name}: {weighted:.1f}/10")
PYEOF
```

### Step 5 — Recommendation

```markdown
## 🏆 Recommendation: {WINNER}

**For your use case ({USE_CASE})**, {WINNER} is the best fit because:
1. {Key reason 1}
2. {Key reason 2}
3. {Price justification}

**Runner-up:** {SECOND} — choose this if {specific condition}

**Avoid:** {THIRD} — because {missing must-have or deal-breaker}
```

### Step 6 — Save Comparison

```bash
mkdir -p outputs/research
cat > "outputs/research/comparison-{CATEGORY_SLUG}-{DATE}.md" << 'EOF'
{COMPARISON}
EOF
```

## Important Rules

- All specs, prices, and features must come from Brave Search — verify, don't assume
- Note pricing dates — prices change frequently
- Weight must-haves higher than nice-to-haves in scoring
- Include a deal-breaker check before scoring
- If no clear winner, say so — close scores mean either works

## Example Prompts

- "Compare Notion vs Obsidian vs Logseq for personal knowledge management"
- "Best project management tool for a 5-person startup?"
- "Compare MacBook Air M3 vs ThinkPad X1 for software development"