Methodology
How we rank buyers and platforms
Every company on this site is scored against a written rubric with fixed weights. Each sub-score points to the facts behind it, each fact links to its source, and whether a company pays us is never an input.
This page explains the rubric, how we gather facts, and when a company gets no score at all.
- Criteria per rubric
- 5
- Evidence needed to score
- 35% of weight
- Recheck cadence
- Monthly
- Referral fees in the score
- Never
01
The short version
- 1We gather facts from primary sources first: the company's own pages, terms and filings, then reputable reporting. For each fact we log where it came from, when it was published (if we can tell), when we last checked it, and whether it comes from the company itself.
- 2Every criterion gets a 0 to 10 mark, measured against the anchors set out below and backed by at least one cited fact. With no evidence, we leave it unscored rather than estimate.
- 3The overall score is the weighted average of the criteria we could score, rescaled to the weight they cover, rounded to one decimal.
- 4A company only gets a published score when the criteria we can evidence carry at least 35% of the total weight. Below that, its page says there is not enough public data.
- 5The list runs from highest score down. Companies without a full score sit underneath, sorted by how many criteria we could back up. The order is identical for everyone.
02
Buyers of company data
Pay and evidence
Weight
30%
What earns a high score
The buyer advertises offers reaching $1M or more, and outside reporting confirms actual deals or a committed budget at that level. A range that only the buyer vouches for earns less.
Privacy and data protection
Weight
20%
What earns a high score
A third party scrubs personal data before anything moves, data the business holds for its clients stays out, and the process is documented in writing (a SOC 2 Type II report is one example).
Contract terms
Weight
20%
What earns a high score
The seller keeps ownership, can review samples before transfer, and signs a license rather than a sale. Fees and exclusivity are stated in writing.
Speed to payment
Weight
15%
What earns a high score
The contract commits to paying within 30 days of signature. A quick offer followed by net 30 to 60 payment earns slightly less.
Transparency and track record
Weight
15%
What earns a high score
Named founders or leadership, independent reporting of completed deals, and no unresolved incidents. Reported breaches or lawsuits lower this score.
| Criterion | Weight | What earns a high score |
|---|---|---|
| Pay and evidence | 30% | The buyer advertises offers reaching $1M or more, and outside reporting confirms actual deals or a committed budget at that level. A range that only the buyer vouches for earns less. |
| Privacy and data protection | 20% | A third party scrubs personal data before anything moves, data the business holds for its clients stays out, and the process is documented in writing (a SOC 2 Type II report is one example). |
| Contract terms | 20% | The seller keeps ownership, can review samples before transfer, and signs a license rather than a sale. Fees and exclusivity are stated in writing. |
| Speed to payment | 15% | The contract commits to paying within 30 days of signature. A quick offer followed by net 30 to 60 payment earns slightly less. |
| Transparency and track record | 15% | Named founders or leadership, independent reporting of completed deals, and no unresolved incidents. Reported breaches or lawsuits lower this score. |
03
AI training platforms for experts
Pay
Weight
30%
Basis
Median pay in public job listings for each field, once our pay index is published
Work availability
Weight
20%
Basis
Listing volume over 90 days
Payment reliability
Weight
20%
Basis
Published payment terms and reported late payments
Onboarding fairness
Weight
15%
Basis
Paid or unpaid screening, its length, and whether you can try again
Reputation and incidents
Weight
15%
Basis
Docked for reported breaches, lawsuits or cuts to pay
| Criterion | Weight | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | 30% | Median pay in public job listings for each field, once our pay index is published |
| Work availability | 20% | Listing volume over 90 days |
| Payment reliability | 20% | Published payment terms and reported late payments |
| Onboarding fairness | 15% | Paid or unpaid screening, its length, and whether you can try again |
| Reputation and incidents | 15% | Docked for reported breaches, lawsuits or cuts to pay |
04
Evidence rules
- Primary sources come first. Reporting fills gaps and confirms claims.
- If two sources give different numbers, we print both and flag the conflict.
- A company's own claims are labelled as its own claims wherever they appear.
- Anything without a source, or with only one shaky source, waits until we can confirm it.
- Negative facts such as breaches, lawsuits and ownership conflicts stay on the profile they belong to. We never remove them for a commercial reason.
05
Updates and corrections
Facts and scores get a fresh check every month at minimum, and the same day if a buyer rewrites its terms or major news breaks. If you spot an error, tell us through the contact page. Fixes are logged on our corrections page.
06
Who sets the scores
Scores are set by our editorial team. Commercial relationships are handled separately, and every one of them is listed on how we make money.
FAQ
Questions, answered
Can a company pay for a better score?
No. Money never moves a score, buys a badge or gets a fact taken down. Some buyers pay us referral fees, and those relationships are listed on our disclosure page.
Why do some companies show no score?
Because we could not evidence enough of the rubric. We would rather say there is not enough public data than guess.
How often do scores change?
Whenever the facts behind them change. We check every company at least monthly.
Find the buyers that fit your company
Answer a few questions about your size, tools and history. We show which buyers want a company like yours. Free, no files.