Badge criteria & scoring
Nothing here is secret. These are the exact criteria a brand is reviewed against. Each tier is a stricter level of the one before it — a Top Pick also meets every Recommends and Verified criterion.
Kurums Verified
The brand is a real, operating business meeting baseline legitimacy standards.
| V1 | Live, functioning website with a real product or service |
| V2 | Identifiable legal entity or clear ownership |
| V3 | Working contact channel |
| V4 | A clear, stated privacy policy |
| V5 | No active pattern of unresolved fraud or scam reports |
| V6 | Operating for a reasonable period, or otherwise credibly established |
Cap: None. Verified is meant to be broad.
Kurums Recommends
Passed a documented review, confirmed by a second reviewer. Recommended in a defined category, backed by evidence.
| R1 | Category fit clearly defined — recommended for what |
| R2 | Demonstrated capability in that category |
| R3 | Credible independent signal of quality |
| R4 | Transparent pricing or a clear commercial model |
| R5 | Responsive, real support |
| R6 | No unresolved material trust concerns |
Cap: Max 8 per subcategory, to keep the signal meaningful.
Kurums Top Pick
Ranked at the top of its category in comparative editorial review for the year.
| S1 | Evaluated head-to-head against category peers |
| S2 | Top or near-top on the category’s weighted scorecard |
| S3 | A standout strength that differentiates it |
| S4 | Consistent quality over time, not a one-off |
Cap: One per category per year (up to 3 for genuinely broad categories).
Second-eye sign-off
No Recommends or Top Pick badge is published on one person’s judgment. A second reviewer independently confirms the verdict — criteria genuinely met, evidence sufficient, firewall respected — before it goes live.
