By
·
2 minute read
If you're searching for international schools in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, or Brunei, chances are you've come across multiple school listing platforms.
At first glance, they may look similar. But there’s a key difference:
Some tools show you schools based on what fits your family. Others show you schools based on who paid to appear first.
This post breaks down what to look out for, how sponsored listings affect what you see, and how doris offers a truly impartial alternative — one that’s free for parents, guided by your needs, and powered by AI.
What Are Sponsored Listings?
Sponsored listings are when a school pays to appear higher in a search result, be featured on a homepage, or be included in an editorial list.
These placements may look like recommendations — but they’re paid advertisements.
In some cases, even school “rankings” or “reviews” are influenced by payment.
If a school platform accepts money to feature certain schools, you may not be seeing the full picture — or the best fit for your child.
How the Most Popular Platforms Compare
| Feature | doris | International School Database | WhichSchoolAdvisor | Good Schools Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free for parents | Yes ✅ | Yes ✅ | Yes ✅ | No ❌ |
| Sponsored listings | No ❌ | Yes ✅ | Yes ✅ | Yes ✅ |
| Paid rankings or editorial placements | No ❌ | Yes ✅ | Yes ✅ | Yes ✅ |
| AI-powered school matching | Yes ✅ | No ❌ | No ❌ | No ❌ |
| Built for Southeast Asia | Yes ✅ | Yes ✅ | Yes ✅ | No ❌ |
| Filters for curriculum, fees, language, SEN | Yes ✅ | Limited ⚠️ | Partial ⚠️ | No ❌ |
| Impartial results | Yes ✅ | No ❌ | No ❌ | No ❌ |
This table is based on publicly available information as of 2025.
Why Impartiality Matters
When you're choosing a school for your child, what you need is clear, unbiased information — not advertising.
You deserve to:
-
See all your real options
-
Filter by what matters to your family (not what someone else paid to promote)
-
Get recommendations based on your child’s needs, not someone else’s marketing budget
That’s what doris was built for.
How doris Works Differently
-
No paid placement, ever
Schools can’t pay to appear higher in search results or to be “recommended.” Your matches are built around your inputs only. -
Powered by AI, not ads
The doris assistant uses your answers to suggest schools that align with your values, priorities, and child’s learning needs. -
Built for real parent concerns
Filter by curriculum, fees, class size, language support, SEN services, and more — across all live schools in Southeast Asia.
FAQs
Why are sponsored listings a problem?
They often blur the line between marketing and recommendation. You may be choosing based on prominence — not relevance.
Can I trust school rankings online?
Most rankings are either subjective or influenced by commercial partnerships. doris doesn’t rank schools — it lets you compare based on what matters to you.
How is doris free if it doesn’t take money from parents or promote schools?
Schools can opt to add more details to their profiles, but they cannot pay for visibility. That ensures the experience stays impartial for families.
Final Thoughts
Not all school search tools are built with parents in mind. Some are built for schools.
At doris, we don’t take sides — we just help you find the right school.
When you use doris, you get:
-
A personalised school search
-
100% impartial results
-
Zero advertising influence
-
Tools that simplify your entire decision-making process