TOP 5% of all Web Sites was a web directory run by Lycos that aimed to review, categorize and award the top 5% of all websites. TOP 5% was started in 1994 by Point Communications and was a pioneer in the field. In 1997, it was acquired by Lycos, and its founder, Chris Kitze, and editor, Mark Simmer, both became Vice Presidents of Lycos. It was then edited by Tim Riley.
Lycos retired the TOP 5% directory in 2000. Webmasters of sites listed in the directory were allowed and encouraged to include a banner on their home page to announce its TOP 5% status. "TOP 5%" was an entirely arbitrary designation, with the editors simply picking excellent websites from the few available in the early days of the Internet.