Pikimal – Make the Right Decision

Pikimal is a web-application that takes the hassle out of choosing. Whether you’re deciding which car to buy, which blouse to wear, or which baseball team to bet on, Pikimal has got the answer. The answers that Pikimal provides are based on quantifiable data and publically available information that the site has used to create comprehensive databanks – or “pikis,” as they’re called – about each and every product available for review.

Although you have to create an account to start contributing to the Pikimal site, you don’t need to sign in to have a look around. Review the categories on the left side of the Pikimal homepage and pick any topic that strikes your fancy. Let’s say you’re trying to decide which amusement park to visit on your summer vacation. Click on the amusement park piki and you’ll instantly see a list of the best parks based on a range of categories, such as the best parks for roller coasters lovers, families, or people who like cheap season passes. Click on the category that seems most important to you and you’ll see a list of the top 10 results. If you’re having a hard time deciding which of the parks from that list looks best, then you can use the comparison tool to have a deeper view of all the information that goes into the park’s Pikimal rating.

Pikimal gets it data from retailers, manufacturers, review sites, and government-published databases, however it’s up to the individual Pikimal users to decide what to do with that information. Users who have definite opinions about products or places can create their own accounts and set their own preferences about any topic imaginable. As more users contribute their opinions on the site, Pikimal will become infinitely more useful in the future.

Practical Uses:

• Make a decision on which beach to visit this summer
• Get help choosing whether to buy a Nook or a Kindle
• Decide between two HDTVs with a similar price tag
• Settle a debate with friends about which baseball team is the best

Insider Tips:

• Pikimal’s information comes from retailers, manufacturers, and government databases
• Users can email Pikimal directly to fix incorrect data
• PikiRank scores show how any product stacks up against similar competitors
• Users with accounts can write reviews of their favorite products

What we liked:

• Pikimal chooses which new pikis to add based on user suggestions
• Reviews are based on actual data, rather than just user opinions
• People aren’t required to sign up for an account to start using the site
• Pikimal can be used to settle debates among friends

What we didn’t like:

• Because Pikimal is still new, there are not as many products and places listed on the site as you may expect

Alternatives:

• FindTheBest – http://www.findthebest.com
• Hunch – http://hunch.com
• Quora – http://quora.com

Company Info:

• Launched: October 2010
• Privately Held
• Headquarters: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Founded by: Eric Silver
• Web site: http://pikimal.com

Costs:

• Free