How we rate

Who we cover

Businesses buy from the fintech companies we rate, and those companies sit in five sectors. Agreement is not required for a company to be rated, and a rating cannot be bought.

How the rating works

Eight criteria on each profile are scored from 0 to 100. Four are tied to the sector and record what buyers there need. The other four are shared by every company: onboarding and support, product depth and roadmap, contract terms, and pricing transparency. Averaging the eight, then rounding to a whole number, gives the rating.

What ratings are based on

What the public can see is the basis for ratings: pricing and legal pages, filings, press releases, product documentation, and compliance disclosures. Accounts are not opened, and lab tests are not run. The check date for the facts, plus the sources, appears on each profile.

Shortlist labels

Shortlist means the company meets the needs of most buyers in its sector. Shortlist with caveats means it meets the needs of particular buyers, and the profile names them. Look elsewhere means most buyers have better choices available.

Conflicts of interest

No company pays for advertising, for a ranking, for a rating, or for a listing.

When profiles change

Prices and products change. Every profile displays when its facts were checked, and if a source changes we correct the profile.