Evidence before arithmetic
Every editorial-ready national profile receives a RealReviews score. The exact offer must be resolved, material official terms must be current, independent evidence must be inspected, and the score record must include a method version, evaluation date, source-packet hash, dimension breakdown, weights, and written rationales. Not scored is only a temporary internal or release-held research state; an unscored profile cannot be treated as editorial-ready or published.
How outside reviews affect the score
RealReviews records each platform's displayed rating, review count, capture date, and collection context separately. Researchers also code a disclosed sample of content-bearing review and complaint bodies for recurring themes and counterexamples. That attributed evidence informs the customer-evidence dimension alongside sampling limitations. We never average platform stars together or rescale an outside rating into the final 0–10 score.
What the 0–10 scale means
| Range | Editorial meaning |
|---|---|
| 0.0–2.9 | Serious evidence-backed problems make the offer unsuitable for most buyers in scope. |
| 3.0–4.9 | Weak fit with substantial constraints; most buyers should compare stronger alternatives. |
| 5.0–6.9 | Conditional fit; useful for a defined buyer when the documented limitations are acceptable. |
| 7.0–8.4 | Strong fit for many buyers in scope, with material limitations still stated. |
| 8.5–10 | Exceptional evidence-backed fit; never a guarantee and still subject to individual constraints. |
Scores can change
Prices, policies, products, service performance, regulatory facts, and review evidence can change. Every score is dated. A meaningful change requires a new evidence review and a new score record rather than silently overwriting the rationale.
Affiliate relationships do not enter the formula
Commission rate, affiliate approval, sponsorship, and advertiser status carry zero weight. RealReviews may earn a commission from a recommended or poorly scored offer, but the relationship must be disclosed and cannot alter criticism, alternatives, ranking order, or the score.