Methodology
How we calculate the Marketraa Score
This page sets out what every number on Marketraa actually means, where it comes from, and how it is worked out. It is deliberately specific about which figures are computed live from our data and which are editorial judgments that are not.
Most recent tool review update: June 30, 2026
Marketraa is an independent directory that reviews and compares marketing and SEO tools. We think you should be able to see exactly how our numbers are produced before you trust them, so this page breaks down each figure the way our editorial standards describe our wider process, and points to the people behind the reviews.
The numbers on this site
These four figures describe the size of the directory. All of them are counted directly from our data files every time the site is rebuilt, so they cannot fall out of step with what is actually published.
Tools reviewed: 354
- What it counts
- Every marketing or SEO tool that has its own published review page in the directory. It does not count tools we have only mentioned in passing, nor tools that are researched but not yet published.
- Where it comes from
- The tool data files in src/data/tools/, one file per reviewed tool.
- How it is calculated
- Counted directly from the number of tool data files each time the site is rebuilt. Publish a new review and this figure goes up on its own.
Categories covered: 19
- What it counts
- The number of distinct category labels assigned across all reviewed tools, for example AI Visibility, SEO Suites, and Content Writing. Each tool sits in one primary category, and this figure counts how many different primary categories exist in the data.
- Where it comes from
- The `category` field on each tool data file in src/data/tools/.
- How it is calculated
- Built by collecting the `category` value from every tool file into a set of unique values and counting that set at build time. It excludes secondary cross-listings, which are tracked separately.
Comparison pages: 3,521
- What it counts
- Head-to-head pages that put two or more tools side by side, such as "Tool A vs Tool B". It does not count the individual tool reviews those pages draw from.
- Where it comes from
- The comparison data files in src/data/comparisons/, one file per comparison page.
- How it is calculated
- Counted from the number of comparison data files at build time, so it always matches the comparison pages that actually exist on the site.
Best-for guides: 113
- What it counts
- Persona and use-case guides that answer "best tool for X", for example a specific team size, budget, or job to be done. It does not count category listing pages or individual reviews.
- Where it comes from
- The best-for data files in src/data/best-for/, one file per guide.
- How it is calculated
- Counted from the number of best-for data files at build time.
The Marketraa Score
Every reviewed tool gets an overall Marketraa Score from 0 to 10, shown at the top of its review page. That headline number sits on top of five category scores, each also rated from 0 to 10:
How quickly a new user can get set up and productive: onboarding, the clarity of the interface, and how steep the learning curve is in day-to-day work.
The depth and breadth of what the tool actually does, judged against what its category is expected to cover rather than against tools in a different space.
What you get for the price, weighed against category peers. A higher price can still score well if the capability justifies it, and a low price does not score well on its own.
How well the tool connects to the rest of a stack: API access, native integrations, data export, and connectors to analytics and BI platforms.
Documentation quality, responsiveness of help channels, onboarding assistance, and the level of account support offered on paid plans.
How the overall score relates to the five categories
Here is the part we want to be plain about: the overall score is not a fixed-weight average of the five category scores. Each category is scored independently from research, following the process on our editorial standards page. The overall number is then a holistic editorial judgment across those five categories together with the wider context from the research: how the pricing fits the value on offer, the tool’s standout strengths and weaknesses, and how it stacks up against its category peers.
In practice that means the overall score usually lands close to the average of the five categories, but not always. For roughly one in five tools it differs noticeably from a plain average, because a single factor can matter more or less than an even split would suggest. We do this on purpose rather than publish a precise-looking formula that we do not actually apply.
What each band means
The same six bands and colours are used on every review, so a score means the same thing across the whole site.
- 9.0 to 10Excellent
- 8.0 to 8.9Very good
- 7.0 to 7.9Good
- 6.0 to 6.9Average
- 5.0 to 5.9Below average
- Under 5.0Poor
Across the 354 tools reviewed so far, published overall scores currently run from a low of 2 to a high of 9.1, with an average of 7.7. These three figures are calculated live from the score on every tool data file, so they update as reviews are added or revised. We do not grade on a curve to hit a target average, and a tool that earns a low score keeps it.
How the numbers are produced
Two different things happen behind the figures on this site, and it matters which is which.
Computed live from our data
The inventory counts near the top of this page, tools reviewed, categories covered, comparison pages, and best-for guides, plus the score range and average just above, are all computed directly from the site’s data files every time the site is rebuilt. Nobody types these numbers in by hand, so they can never drift out of sync with what is actually published. When we add a review, the tool count rises on its own.
Editorial, not live
Individual tool scores work differently. They are authored by our editorial team during research, and they are re-reviewed and updated periodically as pricing and features change. They are not recomputed continuously by an algorithm. Each review shows an "Updated" date in its header so you can see how recent the assessment is. If a vendor changes its pricing today, our score does not move until an editor reviews it, so treat any review as a starting point and confirm current details on the vendor’s own site before you buy.
Not independently audited
Every score is Marketraa’s own editorial assessment, not a certified or independently audited rating. Scores are never influenced by payment. There is no pay-to-rank tier and no way to buy a higher score or a better position, consistent with our terms of use. Some outbound links may be affiliate links, but the score is decided first, on the merits, and the link type has no bearing on it.
Corrections
If you believe a score or a fact is wrong, email hello@marketraa.com and point us at the specific claim. We check it against primary sources and correct anything that is genuinely wrong.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Marketraa Score independently audited?
No. The Marketraa Score is our own editorial assessment, not a certified or independently audited rating. It reflects the judgment of our editorial team based on research, and it is never influenced by payment: there is no pay-to-rank tier and no way to buy a higher score. Treat it as an informed opinion to help you shortlist tools, not as a formal audit of any vendor.
Why is the overall score not just an average of the five categories?
Because the overall score is a holistic editorial judgment, not a fixed-weight formula applied mechanically. Each of the five categories is scored independently from research, and the overall number reflects those five scores together with wider context from the research, such as how pricing fits the value on offer, standout strengths or weaknesses, and how the tool compares to its category peers. For roughly one in five tools the overall score differs noticeably from a plain average of the five sub-scores, which is expected when a single factor matters more or less than an even split would imply.
How often are the scores updated?
Scores are re-reviewed periodically rather than recomputed continuously by an algorithm. Every review carries a visible "Updated" date in its header, and we re-check reviews when something material changes, such as a new pricing tier or a removed feature. The score you see is the one from that last editorial review, not a live feed that changes the moment a vendor updates its site.
How do I flag a score or fact I think is wrong?
Email hello@marketraa.com and point us at the specific claim or score. We check it against primary sources, usually the vendor’s own site or documentation, and correct anything that is genuinely wrong. We would rather be told and fix it than leave an error standing.
See also: how we research and score tools and who writes our reviews.