What is the RaveReviews Algorithm?
It is a 0 to 10 score built from the rankings other publishers already do. We are not pretending to have tested every product ourselves. We are doing the less glamorous work: finding the credible lists, reading the methodology, normalizing the positions and showing the math.
The score is not a vote. It is a weighted summary. A source that specializes in the category and publishes a clear method counts more than a broad list that mentions the category in passing. A current ranking counts more than a stale one. A paid placement that cannot be separated from editorial judgement does not count at all.
The algorithm, step by step
Collect the source rankings
We start with published rankings from established comparison sites, publishers and research organizations. Each source has to disclose how it makes money and how its list was produced.
Normalize every position
A number one pick and a number ten pick are not the same signal. Each position is converted to a 0 to 100 score within its own list, so lists of different lengths can be compared without rewarding a long tail.
Weight the sources
Category fit, recency and methodology quality decide the weight. A dedicated online-college ranking carries more weight on an education page than a general finance list. A ranking updated this year carries more weight than one from three years ago.
Calculate the RaveReviews Algorithm score
The weighted scores are averaged, converted to a 0 to 10 scale and rounded to one decimal. Providers need a minimum number of source appearances to qualify. The result is the RaveReviews Algorithm score.
What counts as an eligible source?
The ranking must be publicly available and reviewed within the last 12 months unless the category changes slowly and the source clearly states its methodology.
The source must explain how providers were selected, what was measured and whether compensation affected placement.
The source must actually rank the category. A general personal-finance list does not count as a dedicated car-insurance ranking.
Affiliate funding is allowed when disclosed. A provider-owned list, a paid placement dressed as editorial or an undisclosed sponsored ranking is not eligible.
When a source changes a ranking, we update the RaveReviews Algorithm. If we correct our own data, we date the change and keep the record visible.
What the score does not do
The score does not replace your own constraints. A provider can be highly ranked and still be wrong for your budget, your state or your workflow. Use the RaveReviews Algorithm score to narrow the shortlist. Use the review, the methodology and the provider's current terms to make the final decision.
It also does not hide disagreement. If one source loves a provider and another does not, the average reflects that tension. We publish the source count and the source list so you can see how strong the RaveReviews Algorithm is.
How sources are displayed
Each ranking page lists the sources used for its RaveReviews Algorithm score, the date the source review was completed and the number of rankings included. The source registry below shows the default source set for each section. A ranking can use a different set when the category demands it, and that set is disclosed on the ranking page.
Corrections and updates
If a source changes its ranking, we update the RaveReviews Algorithm. If we misread a position, cite the wrong source or miss a material update, tell us through the corrections desk. We date the change and keep the record visible.
We collect credible rankings. We normalize the positions. We weight the sources. We show the sources. The score is the result, not the authority.