Review methodology

Ratings on FairScoreGuide are editorial opinions on a 1–10 scale. They summarize how well a product fits common goals for our audience (building or rebuilding credit), not every possible use case.

We weigh factors such as:

• Annual fee and total 12-month ownership cost (25%)
• APR structure and penalty terms (20%)
• Minimum deposit or access requirements (15%)
• Bureau reporting and credit-building relevance (15%)
• Upgrade or graduation pathway clarity (10%)
• Servicing quality and user tooling (10%)
• Policy transparency and disclosures (5%)

Data is sourced from issuer and lender disclosures at the time of review; always verify current terms before applying. We periodically revisit listings when rates or features change materially.

Product rankings can shift when inputs change materially (for example: APR changes, fee updates, policy revisions, or bureau-reporting behavior). We annotate significant updates and retain internal revision notes for review continuity.