For brands & readers
Awards & the ARI Seal
Stars describe quality. Awards mark distinction — and they are deliberately scarce.
The honors
| Award | How it is earned |
|---|---|
| #1 in Category | The single top-ranked product in a subcategory for that year. One per category, per year. |
| ARI Top Pick | Department-level selection: among the strongest products in a flagship Top 30. |
| Five-Star Rated | Any product with an ARI Score of 93+ and no failing subscore may display the five-star badge with its category and year. |
Rules of use
- Badges always carry the category and the year, and link back to the ranking.
- A badge is valid while the product and its score remain materially unchanged; a re-verification that changes the score retires the old badge.
- Awards cannot be purchased, licensed for a fee, or exchanged for coverage.
- Misuse of the seal — altering it, or displaying it after it lapses — ends a brand’s eligibility.
Brands: if your product holds an ARI award, the
badge artwork and link code are provided with the ranking at no charge.
Displaying it is how readers find the full ranking — and how the
ranking is checked.