RankMethodology
Every RankTrusted score is computed from public, verifiable data. We only use sources whose data is openly accessible, and every fact we store links back to where it came from.
Seven dimensions
Each dimension is normalized within its category to a 0-100 scale, then weighted:
| Dimension | Default weight | Crypto tools | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| User ratings | 25% | 15% | App Store, Google Play and other openly accessible rating platforms, adjusted for the number of ratings. |
| Editorial consensus | 20% | 10% | How many trusted editorial lists recommend the product, and how prominently. |
| Hands-on testing | 20% | 15% | Our own tests against a fixed checklist for each category. |
| Adoption | 10% | 10% | Rating counts, install ranges, website traffic rank and open-source stars. |
| Activity | 10% | 10% | How recently and how often the product ships updates. |
| Value | 10% | 5% | Free tier availability and starting price. |
| Privacy & security | 5% | 35% | Known data breaches, hacks and other recorded security incidents. |
Rules
- If a dimension has no data for a product, its weight is redistributed across the others and the product's data coverage drops.
- A product needs real data in at least two evidence dimensions (user ratings, editorial consensus, adoption, activity, hands-on testing) and at least 50% data coverage to receive a rank. Otherwise it is shown as "not enough data".
- Privacy & security adjusts a score but never qualifies a product for a rank on its own: a clean record is expected, not a reason to rank.
- Star ratings are first shrunk toward the category average, so a handful of five-star ratings cannot beat thousands of reviews, then mapped to an absolute scale (3.0 stars = 0, 5.0 stars = 100).
- Editorial consensus is measured relative to the most-recommended product in the category; a product no trusted list recommends scores 0 on this dimension.
- Commercial relationships never affect scores. Nobody can pay to be listed or to move up.
- For crypto tools we rank tools only, never tokens, and security carries the largest weight.
Updates
App store data and scores are refreshed weekly; editorial lists monthly; crypto security data daily or weekly.