Methodology
How the LanceRank Score is calculated.
One number, six factors, zero mystery. Every input is independently verified and the weights are public. One strong platform is enough — multi-platform is a bonus, not a requirement.
Algorithm v6.1 — effective 2026-05-22
At a glance
Six factors. One hundred points. One career stage.
Each factor is weighted by how reliably it signals genuine trust. Verified track record and consistent ratings dominate because they are the hardest to fake.
Each factor explained
What earns the points.
Track Record
up to 35 ptsVolume × earnings × hours, log-scaled, with a Bayesian rating-quality lift.
The single hardest thing to fake. Track Record averages three sub-signals: total verified jobs (log-scaled to 100 jobs = full marks), tracked earnings (log-scaled to $100K = full), and hours logged (log-scaled to 2,000 hours = full). Missing fields don't penalize — a Fiverr profile without an "hours" field is averaged on the fields that ARE present. A tenure ramp (years active) reaches full multiplier in 2 years. Volume sub-signal also counts verified direct reviews + client-confirmed offline projects toward "jobs". A Bayesian-smoothed rating across all sources is multiplied in as a quality lift (a 4.9 across 250 reviews beats a 5.0 across 3).
Recency & Tenure
up to 20 ptsActive recency (16 pts) + years of history (4 pts).
Sixteen points for recency (18-month half-life — a senior between contracts isn't punished) and four for tenure (5+ years = full marks). The score reflects both freshness and depth.
Claimant Credibility
up to 20 ptsIdentity verification + OAuth proofs + extension-confirmed platform ownership.
Identity verified via Stripe Identity, LinkedIn OAuth, GitHub OAuth, or LanceRank Chrome extension confirming you own the platform profiles you connected. The more proofs you carry, the higher this factor — non-platform-derived, so single-platform freelancers can still build a strong score.
Platform Credibility
up to 10 ptsBest badge held — across all your platforms.
MAX across platforms — the strongest credential wins. One Top Rated Plus on Upwork is full credit; you don't need it on three platforms. Elite badges (Top Rated Plus, Expert-Vetted, Verified Toptal member, Top Rated Seller) → 10 pts; high-tier (Top Rated, Level 2 Seller, Preferred Freelancer) → ~8; mid-tier (Rising Talent, Level 1 Seller) → ~5; strong Upwork Job Success Score without a badge → ~7. One platform is enough.
LinkedIn Endorsements
up to 10 ptsSkill endorsements + LinkedIn profile-signal credibility.
A 2026-05-22 addition. Pulls skill endorsement counts and LinkedIn profile signals (tenure, listed services, recommendations) — imported through the LanceRank Chrome extension when you sync your own LinkedIn profile. Only your own profile, only with your active click — never scraped from outside your browser.
Skills
up to 5 ptsPassed skill quizzes — admin-set point value per quiz.
Optional. Take a LanceRank skill quiz; pass it; the score-impact value (set per quiz by the admin team) lands here. Caps at 5 points across all passed quizzes combined.
Career stages
The number, translated.
The 0–100 number gives the precision. The stage gives the verdict at a glance.
Top tier on LanceRank — proven across volume, quality, and consistency.
Trusted by clients across platforms with a deep verified history.
Proven track record. Established freelancer worth shortlisting.
Building momentum. Has the credentials, building the volume.
Just getting started. Score grows fast as work accumulates.
For new freelancers
Your score shows from day one — depth of proof shows alongside it.
Earlier versions hid the number behind a 10-verified-items gate. v6 retired that gate: the score is computed from whatever data you have today, and the "backed by N sources" chip beside it shows the depth of proof at a glance. A profile with two verified reviews scores honestly low; a profile with two hundred scores honestly higher; the chip lets a client tell those apart instead of the number pretending they are the same.
Verified items are: connected platform jobs, verified direct reviews, vouched offline projects, and passed skill quizzes. Each new verified item makes the score steadier — the algorithm puts more weight on factors that have more signal behind them.
Why you can trust the number
No editorial layer. No pay-to-rank.
Every input is verified
Reviews require proof of work. Offline projects require the client to confirm by email. Platform data is scraped from publicly visible profiles only.
You cannot pay for a higher score
Subscription tiers unlock features (analytics, custom URL, review requests). They do not change the algorithm. The math is identical for free and paid accounts.
Recalculated continuously
Every new verified review, vouched project, or platform sync triggers a fresh score. There is no manual approval and no editorial intervention.
See your own score.
Free forever. Two minutes to claim. Your reputation, finally portable.