# 'Recommended' badge on one of four packages: about +6% purchases

- Outcome: Won
- Page type: Pricing page (SaaS)
- Elements: Plans, Recommendation
- Date shared: 2016
- Test run by: [Jagex](https://liftarchive.com/practitioners/jagex/)
- Commentary by: LiftArchive (our analysis, not theirs)
- Original source: https://wingify.com/success-stories/runescape/
- Page: https://liftarchive.com/test/runescape-recommended-package-badge/

Marking one of four packages as "Recommended" lifted purchases by almost 6% on the RuneScape website. Jagex, the company behind the game, ran this A/B test, and it was published as a VWO case study. It was a follow-up: the control was the winner of an earlier test that showed four packages side by side.

## Result

**about +6% purchases**

- Purchases: up almost 6% against the previous winner.
- The earlier test, which added the four-package section, had lifted purchases by almost 10%, so the two changes stacked.
- Confidence level and sample size were not shared.

## Control

The Treasure Hunter page showed four packages of in-game keys with equal weight. This page had already beaten the original design in an earlier test.

## Variant

The same page, with one of the four packages labelled "Recommended".

## Why it likely won (our reading)

- Four similar options can stall a buyer. A clear pick removes the need to compare every package.
- A recommendation acts as a default. Many people take the option the seller points to when they are unsure.
- the badge may also signal which package offers the best value, which makes the choice feel safer.

## Caveats

These were in-game digital item purchases from an existing player base, tested in 2016. Sample size and confidence were not shared.

## How to run this test

- Hypothesis: If we mark one plan or package as Recommended, then more visitors will buy because they no longer have to compare every option to decide.
- Primary metric: Purchase conversion rate from the pricing or package page
- Guardrail: Average order value
- Guardrail: Share of buyers choosing each package
- Guardrail: Refund or cancellation rate
- Who should test it: Any SaaS, app or digital product with three or more similar plans or bundles. It matters less if you only offer one or two options, or if buyers already know exactly which tier they need.

---

Credit: Jagex ran this test and owns the result. Summary and commentary by LiftArchive (https://liftarchive.com/test/runescape-recommended-package-badge/).
Usage: Free to use, quote and build on, with credit and a link: name the practitioner or organization that ran the test and link to its LiftArchive page. The results belong to the practitioners who ran and shared them; the summaries and commentary are LiftArchive's.