Guide · 5 min read
How the SpotCheck bot-risk score works
A transparent look at the signals behind SpotCheck’s 0–100 bot-risk score: follower-to-engagement ratio, growth-pattern anomalies, naming heuristics, and curator behaviour.
What the score is
The bot-risk score is a 0–100 estimate of how likely a playlist’s activity is artificial, where higher means riskier. It’s a decision aid, not a verdict: it tells you where to look and what to weigh before spending money, drawing only on public metrics.
The signals it weighs
The score blends several independent signals so no single metric dominates:
- Follower-to-engagement ratio — followers measured against the saves/likes a real audience would produce.
- Growth-pattern anomalies — step-changes and spikes in follower history that organic growth doesn’t produce.
- Naming heuristics — keyword-stuffed, generic names built to catch search rather than serve listeners.
- Curator behaviour — clusters of near-identical playlists created together, and high track-churn rates.
Why history matters
A single snapshot can be gamed; a trend is much harder to fake. SpotCheck records follower snapshots over time, so the score gets sharper the longer a playlist is monitored — a flat-then-vertical-then-flat line is a strong artificial-growth signal that a one-off number can’t show.
This is why the score you see on a first check is a starting point, and why monitoring (Premium) tightens confidence over weeks.
How to read it
Treat low scores as "fine to pitch," medium as "verify the specifics before paying," and high as "likely artificial — avoid." Always glance at the contributing factors rather than the headline alone: two playlists can share a score for very different reasons.
FAQ
Is the bot-risk score accurate?
It’s an estimate from public signals, designed to flag risk before you spend money, not to deliver a definitive verdict. Accuracy improves with follower history, which is why monitoring sharpens the score over time.
What data does the score use?
Only publicly available playlist metrics: follower count and history, track engagement, playlist naming, and the curator’s other public playlists. It never touches your Spotify account or private data.
Validate before you pay
SpotCheck scores bot risk on any Spotify playlist, right on the page. Free to check — see plans.
Start a 7-day free Pro trialLast updated 2026-06-22.