Ranking methodology (v1)

Public, versioned, verifiable. No payment ever enters the calculation.

1. Unit

We rank a tool for a given use case, never "in general".

2. Reviews

Each review is tied to a use case, profile, usage duration and plan.
At least one con is mandatory.
Optional numeric outcome with period.
Every review is moderated before publication.

3. Verification levels

Level	Proof	Weight w
1 - Declared	Signed-in account (LinkedIn OpenID or email link)	1
2 - Proof of use	Invoice/dashboard screenshot checked then deleted	2
3 - Verified outcome	Before/after stats verified (agent + human spot checks)	3

4. Formula

review_rating = (2×effectiveness + ease + value) / 4
review_weight = w(verified_level) × 0.5^(age_months / 12)
R = Σ(weight×rating) / Σ(weight)
Score = (C×m + Σweight×R) / (C + Σweight)   (Bayesian average; m = use-case mean, C = 10)
If Σweight < 5: "provisional ranking"; an agent test (if run) may count up to 20%.
Non-compliant tools are excluded.

Implemented server-side in /api/scores (open source in the project repository).

5. Anti-fraud

1 review per account, tool and use case (database constraint).
Detection: review spikes, text similarity, new accounts, IP/device clusters, vendor domains.
No vendor incentives; vendor-solicited reviews labeled.
Public vendor replies; no removal on request.
Monthly transparency report.

6. ToS compliance

Badges: ✓ Compliant, ⚠ Grey area, ✕ Non-compliant (automation of invites, messages, likes, comments or scraping on LinkedIn/Instagram - LinkedIn User Agreement §8.2, Instagram Terms). Non-compliant tools are excluded.

7. Prices

Prices are read from official pricing pages, with source link and date. When a page can't be read reliably we show "unverified" or "to confirm".

8. Sponsorship

Paid placements are outside rankings, labeled "Sponsored", listed in the public register. Sales (including our agents) has no write access to scores or reviews.

The AIGrowthRank badge that makers can show on their site is free and optional. It never affects rankings, scores, reviews or the order of tools.

9. Disclosure

Founded by Marion Carneiro, who also runs an Instagram growth agency (My name is Bond). Her own services are not ranked.

10. Affiliate links

Some links to tools are affiliate links. An affiliate link is a form of advertising: each one is marked "Ad: affiliate link" right next to the button, and the link carries rel="sponsored".

If you click one of these links and then subscribe to the tool, AIGrowthRank may earn a commission from the tool maker. The price stays the same for you.

The label sits next to the link, not only in the footer. This follows French rules on commercial communication (law no. 2023-451 of 9 June 2023) and the FTC Endorsement Guides in the United States.

Affiliate deals and paid placements never change scores or rankings. Rankings are based only on verified user reviews. Until a use case has enough verified reviews, its order is editorial and provisional, and it is set without looking at affiliate deals. A tool with an affiliate program follows the same rules as a tool without one.

Tools with an active affiliate link: ManyChat, Sorank.

Changelog

v1.3, 2026-10-23: the makers' badge is described; it never affects rankings. Comparisons and alternatives pages state how they are made.

v1.2, 2026-10-22: affiliate links are now labeled "Ad: affiliate link".

v1.1, 2026-10-22: affiliate links section added.

v1 - 2026-10-15.