Lycos' Top 5% 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. The Top 5% directory received an upgrade in June 1997. 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.