Our rating methodology
Every star rating and “best for” pick on NRIWallah follows the same written process, applied the same way to partners and non-partners. Whether a provider pays us a commission has no bearing on its score, and several of our top-rated providers pay us nothing. This page explains how we rate, so you can judge the ratings yourself.
What the stars mean
| Rating | Meaning |
|---|
| 4.5 – 5.0 | Excellent: the strongest option in its category |
| 4.0 – 4.4 | Very good — strong choice with minor trade-offs |
| 3.5 – 3.9 | Good — right for specific situations |
| 3.0 – 3.4 | Fair — acceptable, but better options usually exist |
| Below 3.0 | Not recommended |
Scoring criteria
Remittance services
We weight the things that actually change how many rupees arrive in India:
- Total cost (40%) — the exchange-rate margin above the mid-market rate plus transfer fees, measured on typical amounts (USD/GBP 1,000 and 10,000). Providers that advertise “zero fees” but put the cost in the rate score no better than those with clear upfront fees. Our remittance comparison uses the same total-cost lens.
- Speed (20%) — how fast funds actually settle in an Indian account (IMPS in minutes vs SWIFT in days).
- NRI account support (20%) — direct deposit to NRE/NRO accounts, which matters for tax-free interest and repatriation. See our NRI banking guide for why this matters.
- Transparency & trust (20%) — upfront pricing before you commit, regulatory standing (RBI/FinCEN/FCA licensing), and track record.
Banks, fixed deposits, and brokers
For products in our FD rate comparison and broker comparison, we score on headline rates or fees, NRI eligibility (NRE/NRO/FCNR support, country restrictions), account-opening friction from abroad, and repatriation flexibility.
Insurance and mortgages
For insurance and mortgage comparisons, we score on premium or rate competitiveness, NRI eligibility and documentation burden, claims or approval track record, and cross-border servicing (can you manage the product after returning to India?).
How we gather data
- Provider websites, published fee schedules, and rate pages, checked directly
- Live exchange-rate data refreshed daily via our automated pipeline
- Regulatory registers (RBI authorised dealers, FCA, FinCEN MSB registry)
- Real user feedback from the NRI community
Every comparison page shows a last verified date. If a table is more than a quarter old, treat it as indicative and check current terms — providers change pricing without notice.
What we don’t do
- We don’t accept payment for a rating or a “best for” pick
- We don’t remove or soften cons because a provider is a partner
- We don’t rate products we can’t verify from primary sources
- We don’t provide personal financial advice — our content is informational; consult a qualified adviser for your situation
Questions or corrections
Spotted an outdated rate or disagree with a rating? Contact us — corrections from readers make the comparisons better for every NRI. You can also read how we make money for full detail on our affiliate relationships.
