Star Rating Methodologies
Our star ratings are designed to give consumers a quick, reliable signal of a product's overall quality and value. Ratings are determined solely by our editorial team using objective criteria — advertisers have no influence over our scores.
Below is a detailed breakdown of how we calculate star ratings for each major product category. Ratings are on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 5 being the highest.
Rating Scale
💳 Credit Cards
We evaluate the earning rate on everyday categories (dining, groceries, travel, gas) and the flexibility of the rewards program.
We assess whether the card's benefits justify its annual fee, including welcome bonuses, credits, and perks.
We consider the ongoing APR range, introductory 0% APR offers, and penalty rates.
Travel protections, purchase protections, cell phone insurance, lounge access, and other cardholder perks.
Issuer reputation, mobile app quality, customer service ratings, and ease of account management.
🏦 Personal Loans
The APR range offered, including both minimum and maximum rates available to qualified borrowers.
Available loan amounts, repayment term options, and prepayment flexibility.
Origination fees, late payment fees, prepayment penalties, and other charges.
Minimum credit score, income requirements, and accessibility to a broad range of borrowers.
BBB rating, customer reviews, regulatory history, and transparency.
🛡️ Insurance Products
Breadth and depth of coverage available, including optional riders and endorsements.
Competitiveness of premiums and availability of discounts (bundling, safe driver, loyalty, etc.).
Ease of filing claims, average claim settlement time, and customer satisfaction with claims handling.
AM Best, Moody's, or S&P financial strength ratings indicating ability to pay claims.
Important Notes
- Ratings are reviewed and updated at least annually, or when significant product changes occur.
- A product's placement in our listings may be influenced by compensation from partners, but written ratings and scores are never affected.
- Ratings reflect our editorial team's assessment and are not a guarantee of product performance or suitability for any individual consumer.