dollarscout
Methodology

How we rank financial products

Every ranking on DollarScout is the result of a five-step editorial process. Here's exactly how it works.

  1. Step 1

    Research the category

    We identify every major player in the category, read industry reports, monitor regulator filings, and map out the competitive landscape before writing a single review.

  2. Step 2

    Define the scoring rubric

    Each category has a custom rubric. For brokers we weigh fees, research quality, platform reliability, and customer support. For credit cards we weigh rewards rate, fees, perks, and APR. The rubric is public.

  3. Step 3

    Hands-on testing

    We open accounts, run trades, fill out forms, and stress-test customer support. Where hands-on testing isn't possible, we rely on public filings and verified user feedback from aggregators.

  4. Step 4

    Score each product

    Each product is scored against the rubric on a 0-5 scale per category. The overall DollarScout rating is a weighted average where the weights reflect what matters most to mainstream consumers.

  5. Step 5

    Update continuously

    Reviews are refreshed at least every 6 months, or immediately when there's a material change (fee hikes, feature launches, regulatory actions).

What we don't do

  • Sell placement in our rankings. No financial institution can pay to be ranked #1.
  • Exclude products that don't pay us. When a non-affiliate product deserves a top spot, it gets one.
  • Publish sponsored reviews. Every review on DollarScout is written independently by our editorial team.
  • Provide personalized financial advice. Our content is informational only — always consult a qualified advisor for your specific situation.