BuyScore explained
BuyScore is the weighted average of a product's criterion scores. Each category has its own criteria and weights, which add up to 100 and are published on the category's methodology page. Scores are relative to products on sale now.
We round only at the end and store the unrounded criterion scores, so later recalculations don't drift.
The formula
BuyScore = Σ (criterion score × weight) ÷ Σ weights used, rounded to a whole number only at the end.
Weights are set per category and add up to 100. Neither the AI nor the editor types the BuyScore: the site calculates it from the criterion scores.
Example weights: Air fryers
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Cooking performance | 30 |
| Ease of use and cleaning | 20 |
| Capacity and footprint | 15 |
| Reliability | 15 |
| Value | 15 |
| Noise | 5 |
Methodology v1.0. Full criteria and rubric
Score bands
| 90–100 | Exceptional |
|---|---|
| 80–89 | Recommended |
| 70–79 | Good |
| 60–69 | Mixed |
| 0–59 | Weak |
Scores are relative to products on sale now. Most published products land between 70 and 89; a 90+ should be rare.
Caps and hard rules
| Situation | Rule | What you see |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence Confidence is Insufficient | No BuyScore | "Not enough evidence to score yet" |
| Criteria worth more than 30% of the weight lack evidence | No BuyScore | "Not enough evidence to score yet" |
| Any criterion below 40 | BuyScore capped at 79 | "Held back by: [criterion]" |
| Active safety recall on units being sold | Score hidden, removed from all picks | Recall notice with the official source and date |
| Software: unresolved breach or unpatched critical vulnerability in the last 12 months | Capped at 69, not a pick until reviewed | Security notice with dated sources |
| Evidence Confidence is Limited | Score shown, not eligible for picks | "Limited evidence" next to the score |
| "Best overall" label | Needs High or Very high evidence | – |
| Discontinued product | Removed from picks, score frozen | "Discontinued · score from [month]" |
When evidence is missing
If the evidence for a criterion falls below its weakest acceptable basis, it is marked "Evidence limited" and left out; the other weights are scaled up to 100. If criteria worth more than 30% of the weight are limited, there is no BuyScore at all. It is never shown as zero.
One score applies worldwide. Prices differ by country, so value guidance changes by region; the BuyScore doesn't.
Changelog
- Air fryers v1.0 26 Sep 2026 · First published criteria and weights.
- Business laptops v1.0 26 Sep 2026 · First published criteria and weights.
- Business payments v1.0 26 Sep 2026 · First published criteria and weights.
- Call tracking v1.0 26 Sep 2026 · First published criteria and weights.
- Email marketing v1.0 26 Sep 2026 · First published criteria and weights.
- Headphones v1.0 26 Sep 2026 · First published criteria and weights.
- Helpdesk v1.0 26 Sep 2026 · First published criteria and weights.
- HR & payroll v1.0 26 Sep 2026 · First published criteria and weights.
- Password managers v1.0 26 Sep 2026 · First published criteria and weights.
- Project management v1.0 26 Sep 2026 · First published criteria and weights.
- Sales prospecting v1.0 26 Sep 2026 · First published criteria and weights.
- Web hosting v1.0 26 Sep 2026 · First published criteria and weights.
- Website & landing page builders v1.0 26 Sep 2026 · First published criteria and weights.