shrwed.co

Rating Methodologies

How we score.
Why it matters.

Every shrwed.co rating is built from real data, tested by real Kenyans, and weighted for how people in Kenya actually make financial decisions.

📅 Updated: May 2026 ✉️ editorial@shrwed.co

Example · Mobile Loan Rating

Tala Kenya7.8
Cost
6.8
Access
9.0
Speed
8.5
Digital
8.0
Trust
7.2
Value
5.0

Pillar weights differ by category — what matters most depends on what you're comparing.

Our 6-Pillar Scoring System

Every product on shrwed.co is scored 0–10 on each of six independent pillars. The pillars are then weighted differently by category — because what matters most to a first-time mobile loan borrower is very different from what matters to a forex trader or SACCO member.

💵
Pillar 1
💵
Cost
True total cost — interest, fees, spreads, penalties. No headline masking.
Variable weight
🚪
Pillar 2
🚪
Access
Who can actually get in — CRB policies, income types, documentation barriers.
Variable weight
Pillar 3
Speed
Advertised vs. actual time to money in hand. Measured, not estimated.
Variable weight
📱
Pillar 4
📱
Digital
App quality, M-Pesa integration, USSD fallback, WhatsApp support.
Variable weight
🛡️
Pillar 5
🛡️
Trust
Licensing, complaint history, data privacy, brand longevity.
Variable weight
🎁
Pillar 6
🎁
Value
Dividends, loyalty rewards, returns, benefits beyond basic cost.
Variable weight

The Score Scale

Each pillar is scored 0–10. Pillar scores are combined into an overall 0–10 score, then displayed as 0–5 stars. A score of 10 means the best in category at the time of our last review.

0–3Below avg
4–5Average
6–7Good
8–9Excellent
10Best in class

Score → Stars conversion

9–10
5 stars
7–9
4–4.5 stars
5–7
3–3.5 stars
3–5
2–2.5 stars
0–3
1–1.5 stars

Editorial Independence

Our credibility is the product. The moment a rating can be bought, the platform is worthless. This is enforced structurally, not just by policy.

❌ What we never do
  • 💸
    Pay-for-play: No institution can pay to improve their rating. Ever.
  • 🔗
    Affiliate bias: Affiliate revenue does not touch pillar scores.
  • 🤫
    Undisclosed partnerships: All commercial relationships are publicly disclosed.
✅ What we always do
  • 📖
    Open methodology: You're reading it. Every calculation is visible.
  • 🔍
    Independent verification: We test products ourselves, regardless of partnerships.
  • ⏱️
    24-hour corrections: Error reports acknowledged within one business day.

Correction Policy

Found something wrong? Send your report to editorial@shrwed.co with subject: "Correction: [Product Name] — [Issue]". Include evidence — screenshots, documents, links.

1
Acknowledge
Within 24hrs
2
Investigate
1–3 days
3
Correct
Within 5 days
4
Notify
By email

Frequently Asked Questions

Are your ratings truly independent?

Yes. We maintain a structural firewall between commercial partnerships and editorial ratings. Affiliate revenue does not influence pillar scores.

How often are ratings updated?

Rates and fees are verified regularly. Full reviews are updated quarterly. Licensing status is checked monthly directly from regulatory registries.

Can an institution pay to improve their rating?

No. Full stop. This would destroy the only thing that makes shrwed.co useful.

Should I always choose the "Best Overall" product?

Not necessarily. Choose based on your situation. Need money fast? Filter by Speed. First-time borrower? Filter by Access. Worried about harassment? Filter by Trust.

Can an institution appeal their rating?

Yes. Email editorial@shrwed.co with subject "Rating Appeal: [Product Name]". We require evidence — not just disagreement.

Seen enough? Start comparing.

Your money, your decision — with all the facts in front of you.