How we rank: PulseRank v3.2 methodology

What is PulseRank?

PulseRank is the composite ranking algorithm we built specifically for the adult creator discovery problem. It produces a single, comparable number we call the LyraScore — a 0–100 grade that bundles seven independently-weighted signals into one verdict you can scan.

Every ranking on fanlyra.com is generated by PulseRank. No paid placements. No “featured” tiers. Higher scores rank higher, and every score is recalculated daily.

The seven signals

  • Trust (20%) — Verified identity, account longevity, response rate to subscribers, dispute history.
  • Quality (20%) — Editor-rated content quality based on a rubric covering production, originality, and consistency of output.
  • Value (15%) — Price-to-content ratio benchmarked against the niche median.
  • Engagement (15%) — Average likes per post and creator reply rate.
  • Freshness (15%) — Days since last active, with a 30-day half-life decay.
  • Popularity (10%) — Subscriber count, log-scaled so megastars don’t drown out emerging creators.
  • Consistency (5%) — Steadiness of posting cadence over the prior 90 days.

Penalties

On top of the signal blend we deduct points for documented issues:

  • Unverified identity: −5
  • Ghosting / no reply within 7 days: −10
  • Documented subscriber complaints: −15

Freshness & staleness

The freshness signal uses an exponential decay with a 30-day half-life — a creator who hasn’t posted in a month loses half their freshness score. Listings older than 90 days lose an additional 5% per month they go un-updated. This is enforced automatically by a daily cron job at 03:30 UTC.

Bands

Band Score Meaning
Elite 90–100 Top of category, near-perfect on every signal.
Excellent 80–89 Strong across the board, recommended without reservation.
Strong 70–79 Worth subscribing, with minor weaknesses.
Solid 60–69 Decent, but check the breakdown before committing.
Mixed 50–59 Significant trade-offs — only for the specific use case.
Weak 35–49 Better alternatives exist.
Avoid 0–34 Documented issues outweigh anything positive.

Editorial independence

No creator can pay to alter their LyraScore. We do not accept money in exchange for placement, removal, or weighting changes. Affiliate links, where present, are disclosed at the point of click and do not feed into PulseRank.

Version history

Current version: PulseRank v3.2 (released May 2026). Algorithm changes are tracked publicly and re-runs are applied retroactively to every listing.