diff --git a/docs/recipes/custom-audit/searchable-audit.js b/docs/recipes/custom-audit/searchable-audit.js
index 083ecbf11bbd..f79de44897ab 100644
--- a/docs/recipes/custom-audit/searchable-audit.js
+++ b/docs/recipes/custom-audit/searchable-audit.js
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ const MAX_SEARCHABLE_TIME = 4000;
 class LoadAudit extends Audit {
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'MyCustomCategory',
       name: 'searchable-audit',
       description: 'Search box initialized and ready',
       failureDescription: 'Search box slow to initialize',
diff --git a/lighthouse-cli/types/types.ts b/lighthouse-cli/types/types.ts
index 799bdbae40f6..f1bb8c9111cc 100644
--- a/lighthouse-cli/types/types.ts
+++ b/lighthouse-cli/types/types.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ interface AuditFullResult {
   error?: boolean;
   description: string;
   name: string;
-  category: string;
   helpText?: string;
   extendedInfo?: {value: string};
 }
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/accesskeys.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/accesskeys.js
index 1368a74e4489..6773382c7c17 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/accesskeys.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/accesskeys.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class Accesskeys extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'accesskeys',
       description: '`[accesskey]` values are unique.',
       failureDescription: '`[accesskey]` values are not unique.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-allowed-attr.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-allowed-attr.js
index ba44a1b7ac2d..1593ad64b45e 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-allowed-attr.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-allowed-attr.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class ARIAAllowedAttr extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'aria-allowed-attr',
       description: '`[aria-*]` attributes match their roles.',
       failureDescription: '`[aria-*]` attributes do not match their roles.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-required-attr.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-required-attr.js
index 686f7291fc1e..3077ae3fe007 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-required-attr.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-required-attr.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class ARIARequiredAttr extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'aria-required-attr',
       description: '`[role]`s have all required `[aria-*]` attributes.',
       failureDescription: '`[role]`s do not have all required `[aria-*]` attributes.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-required-children.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-required-children.js
index feb78a327ccc..7f562bf99962 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-required-children.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-required-children.js
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ class AriaRequiredChildren extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'aria-required-children',
       description: 'Elements with `[role]` that require specific children `[role]`s, are present.',
       failureDescription: 'Elements with `[role]` that require specific children `[role]`s, ' +
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-required-parent.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-required-parent.js
index d8d6e35788d7..753a6a1d55cd 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-required-parent.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-required-parent.js
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ class AriaRequiredParent extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'aria-required-parent',
       description: '`[role]`s are contained by their required parent element.',
       failureDescription: '`[role]`s are not contained by their required parent element.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-roles.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-roles.js
index be4050a9679a..80887286f45d 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-roles.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-roles.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class AriaRoles extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'aria-roles',
       description: '`[role]` values are valid.',
       failureDescription: '`[role]` values are not valid.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-valid-attr-value.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-valid-attr-value.js
index 727e7e8a82b0..8de80c6be402 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-valid-attr-value.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-valid-attr-value.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class ARIAValidAttr extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'aria-valid-attr-value',
       description: '`[aria-*]` attributes have valid values.',
       failureDescription: '`[aria-*]` attributes do not have valid values.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-valid-attr.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-valid-attr.js
index 973a241657aa..d9935a40b2ce 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-valid-attr.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/aria-valid-attr.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class ARIAValidAttr extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'aria-valid-attr',
       description: '`[aria-*]` attributes are valid and not misspelled.',
       failureDescription: '`[aria-*]` attributes are not valid or misspelled.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/audio-caption.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/audio-caption.js
index 3f253a1b1dd7..d0f5e01b6c26 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/audio-caption.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/audio-caption.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class AudioCaption extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'audio-caption',
       description: '`<audio>` elements contain a `<track>` element with `[kind="captions"]`.',
       failureDescription: '`<audio>` elements are missing a `<track>` element with ' +
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/button-name.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/button-name.js
index 4be931aff667..ce116059096b 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/button-name.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/button-name.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class ButtonName extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'button-name',
       description: 'Buttons have an accessible name.',
       failureDescription: 'Buttons do not have an accessible name.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/bypass.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/bypass.js
index 57ffaacc817f..2998d5c84823 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/bypass.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/bypass.js
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ class Bypass extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'bypass',
       description: 'The page contains a heading, skip link, or landmark region.',
       failureDescription: 'The page does not contain a heading, skip link, or landmark region.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/color-contrast.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/color-contrast.js
index cea5fce686b2..368ff604e972 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/color-contrast.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/color-contrast.js
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ class ColorContrast extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'color-contrast',
       description: 'Background and foreground colors have a sufficient contrast ratio.',
       failureDescription: 'Background and foreground colors do not have a ' +
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/definition-list.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/definition-list.js
index 4cc5649e8c4f..4dad90bd655c 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/definition-list.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/definition-list.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class DefinitionList extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'definition-list',
       description: '`<dl>`\'s contain only properly-ordered `<dt>` and `<dd>` groups, `<script>` ' +
           'or `<template>` elements.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/dlitem.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/dlitem.js
index 403fd1141e25..ddeb8ab22b2f 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/dlitem.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/dlitem.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class DLItem extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'dlitem',
       description: 'Definition list items are wrapped in `<dl>` elements.',
       failureDescription: 'Definition list items are not wrapped in `<dl>` elements.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/document-title.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/document-title.js
index 3a9c117c2f1f..af321459f254 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/document-title.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/document-title.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class DocumentTitle extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'document-title',
       description: 'Document has a `<title>` element.',
       failureDescription: 'Document does not have a `<title>` element.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/duplicate-id.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/duplicate-id.js
index f3a4f1118a0e..86166eea8f6f 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/duplicate-id.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/duplicate-id.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class DuplicateId extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'duplicate-id',
       description: '`[id]` attributes on the page are unique.',
       failureDescription: '`[id]` attributes on the page are not unique.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/frame-title.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/frame-title.js
index e0b911a93488..2f4be437db1b 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/frame-title.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/frame-title.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class FrameTitle extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'frame-title',
       description: '`<frame>` or `<iframe>` elements have a title.',
       failureDescription: '`<frame>` or `<iframe>` elements do not have a title.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/html-has-lang.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/html-has-lang.js
index d5a48a371f58..fa1a192ce862 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/html-has-lang.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/html-has-lang.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class HTMLHasLang extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'html-has-lang',
       description: '`<html>` element has a `[lang]` attribute.',
       failureDescription: '`<html>` element does not have a `[lang]` attribute.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/html-lang-valid.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/html-lang-valid.js
index 0d00e93f9fe5..4198374d1f22 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/html-lang-valid.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/html-lang-valid.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class HTMLLangValid extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'html-lang-valid',
       description: '`<html>` element has a valid value for its `[lang]` attribute.',
       failureDescription: '`<html>` element does not have a valid value for ' +
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/image-alt.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/image-alt.js
index e749fd2f33c6..d49378dc4633 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/image-alt.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/image-alt.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class ImageAlt extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'image-alt',
       description: 'Image elements have `[alt]` attributes.',
       failureDescription: 'Image elements do not have `[alt]` attributes.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/input-image-alt.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/input-image-alt.js
index 48ef4fa1fa76..ed52c4f30e1a 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/input-image-alt.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/input-image-alt.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class InputImageAlt extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'input-image-alt',
       description: '`<input type="image">` elements have `[alt]` text.',
       failureDescription: '`<input type="image">` elements do not have `[alt]` text.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/label.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/label.js
index 91df415f54fa..45d443b119b1 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/label.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/label.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class Label extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'label',
       description: 'Form elements have associated labels.',
       failureDescription: 'Form elements do not have associated labels.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/layout-table.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/layout-table.js
index e088e8b3cde8..0e5deb741728 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/layout-table.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/layout-table.js
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ class LayoutTable extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'layout-table',
       description: 'Presentational `<table>` elements avoid using `<th>`, `<caption>` or the ' +
           '`[summary]` attribute.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/link-name.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/link-name.js
index ff55c3b12e5e..a1fbd6686a49 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/link-name.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/link-name.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class LinkName extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'link-name',
       description: 'Links have a discernible name.',
       failureDescription: 'Links do not have a discernable name.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/list.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/list.js
index 65f670d13fba..efcba58861e4 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/list.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/list.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class List extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'list',
       description: 'Lists contain only `<li>` elements and script supporting elements ' +
           '(`<script>` and `<template>`).',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/listitem.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/listitem.js
index 78a81c052aac..36ecb52db4de 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/listitem.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/listitem.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class ListItem extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'listitem',
       description: 'List items (`<li>`) are contained within `<ul>` or `<ol>` parent elements.',
       failureDescription: 'List items (`<li>`) are not contained within `<ul>` ' +
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/meta-refresh.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/meta-refresh.js
index 81045cf64c0a..9b09021747b4 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/meta-refresh.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/meta-refresh.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class MetaRefresh extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'meta-refresh',
       description: 'The document does not use `<meta http-equiv="refresh">`.',
       failureDescription: 'The document uses `<meta http-equiv="refresh">`.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/meta-viewport.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/meta-viewport.js
index a83479336db6..33a60fdcbf9c 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/meta-viewport.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/meta-viewport.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class MetaViewport extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'meta-viewport',
       description: '`[user-scalable="no"]` is not used in the `<meta name="viewport">` ' +
           'element and the `[maximum-scale]` attribute is not less than 5.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/object-alt.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/object-alt.js
index 740ef6df613e..c30d044f89a4 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/object-alt.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/object-alt.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class ObjectAlt extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'object-alt',
       description: '`<object>` elements have `[alt]` text.',
       failureDescription: '`<object>` elements do not have `[alt]` text.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/tabindex.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/tabindex.js
index 8e2e31b3f769..c705b1569880 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/tabindex.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/tabindex.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class TabIndex extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'tabindex',
       description: 'No element has a `[tabindex]` value greater than 0.',
       failureDescription: 'Some elements have a `[tabindex]` value greater than 0.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/td-headers-attr.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/td-headers-attr.js
index bde77487e056..de6d55a6c3ab 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/td-headers-attr.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/td-headers-attr.js
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ class TDHeadersAttr extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'td-headers-attr',
       description: 'Cells in a `<table>` element that use the `[headers]` attribute only refer ' +
           'to other cells of that same table.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/th-has-data-cells.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/th-has-data-cells.js
index 8786623beec6..d5bcc26d569d 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/th-has-data-cells.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/th-has-data-cells.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class THHasDataCells extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'th-has-data-cells',
       description: '`<th>` elements and elements with `[role="columnheader"/"rowheader"]` have ' +
           'data cells they describe.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/valid-lang.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/valid-lang.js
index bea299ec4fc9..9f847540f022 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/valid-lang.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/valid-lang.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class ValidLang extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'valid-lang',
       description: '`[lang]` attributes have a valid value.',
       failureDescription: '`[lang]` attributes do not have a valid value.',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/video-caption.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/video-caption.js
index 8ac90cdbdc8a..60d405e63098 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/video-caption.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/video-caption.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class VideoCaption extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'video-caption',
       description: '`<video>` elements contain a `<track>` element with `[kind="captions"]`.',
       failureDescription: '`<video>` elements do not contain a `<track>` element ' +
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/video-description.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/video-description.js
index 68ea42fd70fd..becb06545f87 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/video-description.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/accessibility/video-description.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class VideoDescription extends AxeAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Accessibility',
       name: 'video-description',
       description: '`<video>` elements contain a `<track>` element with `[kind="description"]`.',
       failureDescription: '`<video>` elements do not contain a `<track>` element with ' +
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/audit.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/audit.js
index 8635fbc76c7e..c3de174d840f 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/audit.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/audit.js
@@ -157,7 +157,6 @@ class Audit {
       informative: audit.meta.informative,
       manual: audit.meta.manual,
       name: audit.meta.name,
-      category: audit.meta.category,
       description: auditDescription,
       helpText: audit.meta.helpText,
       details: result.details,
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/offscreen-images.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/offscreen-images.js
index d62db9e8ebb6..5291832cfd7a 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/offscreen-images.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/offscreen-images.js
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ class OffscreenImages extends ByteEfficiencyAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Images',
       name: 'offscreen-images',
       description: 'Offscreen images',
       informative: true,
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/total-byte-weight.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/total-byte-weight.js
index 3c10602dfe6f..ff85c872695e 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/total-byte-weight.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/total-byte-weight.js
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ class TotalByteWeight extends ByteEfficiencyAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Network',
       name: 'total-byte-weight',
       optimalValue: `< ${this.bytesToKbString(OPTIMAL_VALUE)}`,
       description: 'Avoids enormous network payloads',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/unused-css-rules.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/unused-css-rules.js
index fec38095cf16..22c1be9ce34c 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/unused-css-rules.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/unused-css-rules.js
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ class UnusedCSSRules extends ByteEfficiencyAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'CSS',
       name: 'unused-css-rules',
       description: 'Unused CSS rules',
       informative: true,
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/unused-javascript.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/unused-javascript.js
index 2fd59593ab6f..60a56941971d 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/unused-javascript.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/unused-javascript.js
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ class UnusedJavaScript extends ByteEfficiencyAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Performance',
       name: 'unused-javascript',
       description: 'Unused JavaScript',
       informative: true,
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/uses-optimized-images.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/uses-optimized-images.js
index ec960cc7484b..7d9a2b799fba 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/uses-optimized-images.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/uses-optimized-images.js
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ class UsesOptimizedImages extends ByteEfficiencyAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Images',
       name: 'uses-optimized-images',
       description: 'Optimize images',
       informative: true,
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/uses-request-compression.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/uses-request-compression.js
index 099cbff2b536..3e1da31e13b7 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/uses-request-compression.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/uses-request-compression.js
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ class ResponsesAreCompressed extends ByteEfficiencyAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Performance',
       name: 'uses-request-compression',
       informative: true,
       description: 'Enable text compression',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/uses-responsive-images.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/uses-responsive-images.js
index 46b383a99e20..4caf555f2696 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/uses-responsive-images.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/uses-responsive-images.js
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ class UsesResponsiveImages extends ByteEfficiencyAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Images',
       name: 'uses-responsive-images',
       description: 'Properly size images',
       informative: true,
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/uses-webp-images.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/uses-webp-images.js
index b3d3fae41fd7..d20484cf998e 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/uses-webp-images.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/byte-efficiency/uses-webp-images.js
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ class UsesWebPImages extends ByteEfficiencyAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Images',
       name: 'uses-webp-images',
       description: 'Serve images as WebP',
       informative: true,
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/cache-start-url.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/cache-start-url.js
index 3645f8c144e3..38a520f0536d 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/cache-start-url.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/cache-start-url.js
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ class CacheStartUrl extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Manifest',
       name: 'cache-start-url',
       description: 'Cache contains start_url from manifest (alpha)',
       failureDescription: 'Cache does not contain start_url from manifest (alpha)',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/consistently-interactive.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/consistently-interactive.js
index def826c1570d..c97e4deaa6d1 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/consistently-interactive.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/consistently-interactive.js
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ class ConsistentlyInteractiveMetric extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Performance',
       name: 'consistently-interactive',
       description: 'Consistently Interactive (beta)',
       helpText: 'Consistently Interactive marks the time at which the page is ' +
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/content-width.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/content-width.js
index 5b28169e1a8e..424206417799 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/content-width.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/content-width.js
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ class ContentWidth extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Mobile Friendly',
       name: 'content-width',
       description: 'Content is sized correctly for the viewport',
       failureDescription: 'Content is not sized correctly for the viewport',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/critical-request-chains.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/critical-request-chains.js
index fbb03b129a5e..6ba91646f73a 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/critical-request-chains.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/critical-request-chains.js
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ class CriticalRequestChains extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Performance',
       name: 'critical-request-chains',
       description: 'Critical Request Chains',
       informative: true,
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/deprecations.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/deprecations.js
index 69aa02be70dd..63c77d0d5c01 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/deprecations.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/deprecations.js
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ class Deprecations extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Deprecations',
       name: 'deprecations',
       description: 'Avoids deprecated APIs',
       failureDescription: 'Uses deprecated API\'s',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/appcache-manifest.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/appcache-manifest.js
index dbfc215e5cbd..d51475bb46f1 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/appcache-manifest.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/appcache-manifest.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class AppCacheManifestAttr extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Offline',
       name: 'appcache-manifest',
       description: 'Avoids Application Cache',
       failureDescription: 'Uses Application Cache',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/dom-size.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/dom-size.js
index 216b68200d11..10194497eab9 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/dom-size.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/dom-size.js
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ class DOMSize extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Performance',
       name: 'dom-size',
       description: 'Avoids an excessive DOM size',
       failureDescription: 'Uses an excessive DOM size',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/external-anchors-use-rel-noopener.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/external-anchors-use-rel-noopener.js
index a7eb425f680a..56cc5a1a95d9 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/external-anchors-use-rel-noopener.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/external-anchors-use-rel-noopener.js
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ class ExternalAnchorsUseRelNoopenerAudit extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Performance',
       name: 'external-anchors-use-rel-noopener',
       description: 'Opens external anchors using `rel="noopener"`',
       failureDescription: 'Does not open external anchors using `rel="noopener"`',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/geolocation-on-start.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/geolocation-on-start.js
index 7d0ab4221c10..d4501db6ad58 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/geolocation-on-start.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/geolocation-on-start.js
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ class GeolocationOnStart extends ViolationAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'UX',
       name: 'geolocation-on-start',
       description: 'Avoids requesting the geolocation permission on page load',
       failureDescription: 'Requests the geolocation permission on page load',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/link-blocking-first-paint.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/link-blocking-first-paint.js
index 7bef4c36f544..54f9cab3a05a 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/link-blocking-first-paint.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/link-blocking-first-paint.js
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ class LinkBlockingFirstPaintAudit extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Performance',
       name: 'link-blocking-first-paint',
       description: 'Reduce render-blocking stylesheets',
       informative: true,
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/no-document-write.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/no-document-write.js
index 1fd7bf87b23a..11afa3f86ac0 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/no-document-write.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/no-document-write.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class NoDocWriteAudit extends ViolationAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Performance',
       name: 'no-document-write',
       description: 'Avoids `document.write()`',
       failureDescription: 'Uses `document.write()`',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/no-mutation-events.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/no-mutation-events.js
index ff15451bea1e..0593d29625e6 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/no-mutation-events.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/no-mutation-events.js
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ class NoMutationEventsAudit extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'JavaScript',
       name: 'no-mutation-events',
       description: 'Avoids Mutation Events in its own scripts',
       failureDescription: 'Uses Mutation Events in its own scripts',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/no-old-flexbox.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/no-old-flexbox.js
index 06bdef45af4b..85c99bef3567 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/no-old-flexbox.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/no-old-flexbox.js
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ class NoOldFlexboxAudit extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'CSS',
       name: 'no-old-flexbox',
       description: 'Avoids old CSS flexbox',
       failureDescription: 'Uses old CSS flexbox',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/no-vulnerable-libraries.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/no-vulnerable-libraries.js
index 0379bacdb3b0..ea931e2a68aa 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/no-vulnerable-libraries.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/no-vulnerable-libraries.js
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ class NoVulnerableLibrariesAudit extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Security',
       name: 'no-vulnerable-libraries',
       description: 'Avoids front-end JavaScript libraries'
         + ' with known security vulnerabilities',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/no-websql.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/no-websql.js
index 3298db822d35..63ecd8fa5386 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/no-websql.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/no-websql.js
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ class NoWebSQLAudit extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Offline',
       name: 'no-websql',
       description: 'Avoids WebSQL DB',
       failureDescription: 'Uses WebSQL DB',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/notification-on-start.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/notification-on-start.js
index 417005eb1735..5ad05c713a24 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/notification-on-start.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/notification-on-start.js
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ class NotificationOnStart extends ViolationAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'UX',
       name: 'notification-on-start',
       description: 'Avoids requesting the notification permission on page load',
       failureDescription: 'Requests the notification permission on page load',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/password-inputs-can-be-pasted-into.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/password-inputs-can-be-pasted-into.js
index 7e6273f653c0..db9e7a91a0a3 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/password-inputs-can-be-pasted-into.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/password-inputs-can-be-pasted-into.js
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ class PasswordInputsCanBePastedIntoAudit extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'UX',
       name: 'password-inputs-can-be-pasted-into',
       description: 'Allows users to paste into password fields',
       failureDescription: 'Prevents users to paste into password fields',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/script-blocking-first-paint.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/script-blocking-first-paint.js
index 832147e56cc2..ad107c2c1293 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/script-blocking-first-paint.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/script-blocking-first-paint.js
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ class ScriptBlockingFirstPaint extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Performance',
       name: 'script-blocking-first-paint',
       description: 'Reduce render-blocking scripts',
       informative: true,
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/uses-http2.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/uses-http2.js
index 0e1760904a43..ecf2265e7f05 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/uses-http2.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/uses-http2.js
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ class UsesHTTP2Audit extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Performance',
       name: 'uses-http2',
       description: 'Uses HTTP/2 for its own resources',
       failureDescription: 'Does not use HTTP/2 for all of its resources',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/uses-passive-event-listeners.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/uses-passive-event-listeners.js
index 0059ff4e83db..e496cff85612 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/uses-passive-event-listeners.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/dobetterweb/uses-passive-event-listeners.js
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ class PassiveEventsAudit extends ViolationAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'JavaScript',
       name: 'uses-passive-event-listeners',
       description: 'Uses passive listeners to improve scrolling performance',
       failureDescription: 'Does not use passive listeners to improve scrolling performance',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/errors-in-console.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/errors-in-console.js
index fbec0a88655c..df4de1e1178d 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/errors-in-console.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/errors-in-console.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class ErrorLogs extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'ErrorLogs',
       name: 'errors-in-console',
       description: 'No browser errors logged to the console',
       helpText: 'Errors logged to the console indicate unresolved problems. ' +
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/estimated-input-latency.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/estimated-input-latency.js
index 150a3b13e850..3d08e47ec318 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/estimated-input-latency.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/estimated-input-latency.js
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ class EstimatedInputLatency extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Performance',
       name: 'estimated-input-latency',
       description: 'Estimated Input Latency',
       optimalValue: `< ${Util.formatMilliseconds(SCORING_POINT_OF_DIMINISHING_RETURNS, 1)}`,
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/first-interactive.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/first-interactive.js
index 83298e59fa78..31736126f1b1 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/first-interactive.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/first-interactive.js
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ class FirstInteractiveMetric extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Performance',
       name: 'first-interactive',
       description: 'First Interactive (beta)',
       helpText: 'First Interactive marks the time at which the page is ' +
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/first-meaningful-paint.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/first-meaningful-paint.js
index 6dc5145ba19c..b80d27554da2 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/first-meaningful-paint.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/first-meaningful-paint.js
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ class FirstMeaningfulPaint extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Performance',
       name: 'first-meaningful-paint',
       description: 'First meaningful paint',
       optimalValue: `< ${Util.formatMilliseconds(SCORING_POINT_OF_DIMINISHING_RETURNS, 1)}`,
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/image-aspect-ratio.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/image-aspect-ratio.js
index 7273e65d63a1..de487da5ee82 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/image-aspect-ratio.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/image-aspect-ratio.js
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ class ImageAspectRatio extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Images',
       name: 'image-aspect-ratio',
       description: 'Uses Images with appropriate aspect ratio',
       failureDescription: 'Does not use Images with appropriate aspect ratio',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/is-on-https.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/is-on-https.js
index 6578b0e33ee5..095747999507 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/is-on-https.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/is-on-https.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class HTTPS extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Security',
       name: 'is-on-https',
       description: 'Uses HTTPS',
       failureDescription: 'Does not use HTTPS',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/load-fast-enough-for-pwa.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/load-fast-enough-for-pwa.js
index 8878b9a2c625..7f126406c805 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/load-fast-enough-for-pwa.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/load-fast-enough-for-pwa.js
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ class LoadFastEnough4Pwa extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'PWA',
       name: 'load-fast-enough-for-pwa',
       description: 'Page load is fast enough on 3G',
       failureDescription: 'Page load is not fast enough on 3G',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/manifest-short-name-length.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/manifest-short-name-length.js
index b30605653656..cf1f31ba4acc 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/manifest-short-name-length.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/manifest-short-name-length.js
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ class ManifestShortNameLength extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Manifest',
       name: 'manifest-short-name-length',
       description: 'Manifest\'s `short_name` won\'t be truncated when displayed on homescreen',
       failureDescription: 'Manifest\'s `short_name` will be truncated when displayed ' +
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/manual/pwa-cross-browser.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/manual/pwa-cross-browser.js
index 1d6400417f89..8f327b2faf28 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/manual/pwa-cross-browser.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/manual/pwa-cross-browser.js
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ class PWACrossBrowser extends ManualAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return Object.assign({
-      category: 'PWA',
       name: 'pwa-cross-browser',
       helpText: 'To reach the most number of users, sites should work across ' +
       'every major browser. [Learn more](https://developers.google.com/web/progressive-web-apps/checklist#site-works-cross-browser).',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/manual/pwa-each-page-has-url.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/manual/pwa-each-page-has-url.js
index 54ff6cfd20a1..09f96f5c547b 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/manual/pwa-each-page-has-url.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/manual/pwa-each-page-has-url.js
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ class PWAEachPageHasURL extends ManualAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return Object.assign({
-      category: 'PWA',
       name: 'pwa-each-page-has-url',
       helpText: 'Ensure individual pages are deep linkable via the URLs and that URLs are ' +
           'unique for the purpose of shareability on social media. [Learn more](https://developers.google.com/web/progressive-web-apps/checklist#each-page-has-a-url).',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/manual/pwa-page-transitions.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/manual/pwa-page-transitions.js
index 4363832a6534..8ab0c1cd9e86 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/manual/pwa-page-transitions.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/manual/pwa-page-transitions.js
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ class PWAPageTransitions extends ManualAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return Object.assign({
-      category: 'PWA',
       name: 'pwa-page-transitions',
       helpText: 'Transitions should feel snappy as you tap around, even on a slow network, a key ' +
           'to perceived performance. [Learn more](https://developers.google.com/web/progressive-web-apps/checklist#page-transitions-dont-feel-like-they-block-on-the-network).',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/predictive-perf.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/predictive-perf.js
index 6898dbd1a6af..8098050720ac 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/predictive-perf.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/predictive-perf.js
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ class PredictivePerf extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Performance',
       name: 'predictive-perf',
       description: 'Predicted Performance (beta)',
       helpText: 'Predicted performance evaluates how your site will perform under ' +
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/redirects-http.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/redirects-http.js
index a3bdf219dc92..04ab8871f12a 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/redirects-http.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/redirects-http.js
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ class RedirectsHTTP extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Security',
       name: 'redirects-http',
       description: 'Redirects HTTP traffic to HTTPS',
       failureDescription: 'Does not redirect HTTP traffic to HTTPS',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/redirects.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/redirects.js
index fcb8eb294ac4..dd9b67dd0bf9 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/redirects.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/redirects.js
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ class Redirects extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Performance',
       name: 'redirects',
       description: 'Avoids page redirects',
       failureDescription: 'Has multiple page redirects',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/screenshot-thumbnails.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/screenshot-thumbnails.js
index 717bbb21dd50..383744c5eb28 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/screenshot-thumbnails.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/screenshot-thumbnails.js
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ class ScreenshotThumbnails extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Images',
       name: 'screenshot-thumbnails',
       informative: true,
       description: 'Screenshot Thumbnails',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/seo/http-status-code.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/seo/http-status-code.js
index 97ab5000ea26..981f52af719e 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/seo/http-status-code.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/seo/http-status-code.js
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ class HTTPStatusCode extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Crawling and Indexing',
       name: 'http-status-code',
       description: 'Page has successful HTTP status code.',
       failureDescription: 'Page has unsuccessful HTTP status code',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/seo/meta-description.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/seo/meta-description.js
index 8b230d338214..f2399f3fe7af 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/seo/meta-description.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/seo/meta-description.js
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ class Description extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Content Best Practices',
       name: 'meta-description',
       description: 'Document has a meta description',
       failureDescription: 'Document does not have a meta description',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/service-worker.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/service-worker.js
index 5c71f5d08c86..360a2c057ac2 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/service-worker.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/service-worker.js
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ class ServiceWorker extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Offline',
       name: 'service-worker',
       description: 'Registers a service worker',
       failureDescription: 'Does not register a service worker',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/speed-index-metric.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/speed-index-metric.js
index 05fc9e7460ce..4e51d32c635c 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/speed-index-metric.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/speed-index-metric.js
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ class SpeedIndexMetric extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Performance',
       name: 'speed-index-metric',
       description: 'Perceptual Speed Index',
       helpText: 'Speed Index shows how quickly the contents of a page are visibly populated. ' +
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/splash-screen.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/splash-screen.js
index 347f9eac78a8..f9b8811ec28e 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/splash-screen.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/splash-screen.js
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ class SplashScreen extends MultiCheckAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'PWA',
       name: 'splash-screen',
       description: 'Configured for a custom splash screen',
       failureDescription: 'Is not configured for a custom splash screen',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/themed-omnibox.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/themed-omnibox.js
index 4a1ff868be0b..a0fcfa29b230 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/themed-omnibox.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/themed-omnibox.js
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ class ThemedOmnibox extends MultiCheckAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'PWA',
       name: 'themed-omnibox',
       description: 'Address bar matches brand colors',
       failureDescription: 'Address bar does not match brand colors',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/time-to-first-byte.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/time-to-first-byte.js
index 55ae26bd011d..b54846dc30c2 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/time-to-first-byte.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/time-to-first-byte.js
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ class TTFBMetric extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Performance',
       name: 'time-to-first-byte',
       description: 'Keep server response times low (TTFB)',
       informative: true,
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/user-timings.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/user-timings.js
index 3fa3924e076a..31b3c1d94eee 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/user-timings.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/user-timings.js
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ class UserTimings extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Performance',
       name: 'user-timings',
       description: 'User Timing marks and measures',
       helpText: 'Consider instrumenting your app with the User Timing API to create custom, ' +
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/viewport.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/viewport.js
index a9869ba1d783..8404150f4d7d 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/viewport.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/viewport.js
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ class Viewport extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Mobile Friendly',
       name: 'viewport',
       description: 'Has a `<meta name="viewport">` tag with `width` or `initial-scale`',
       failureDescription: 'Does not have a `<meta name="viewport">` tag with `width` ' +
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/webapp-install-banner.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/webapp-install-banner.js
index 966b9ad4010f..4c94c9d791bf 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/webapp-install-banner.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/webapp-install-banner.js
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ class WebappInstallBanner extends MultiCheckAudit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'PWA',
       name: 'webapp-install-banner',
       description: 'User can be prompted to Install the Web App',
       failureDescription: 'User will not be prompted to Install the Web App',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/without-javascript.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/without-javascript.js
index 6e4433083d3e..962398ac7dee 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/without-javascript.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/without-javascript.js
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ class WithoutJavaScript extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'JavaScript',
       name: 'without-javascript',
       description: 'Contains some content when JavaScript is not available',
       failureDescription: 'Does not provide fallback content when JavaScript is not available',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/audits/works-offline.js b/lighthouse-core/audits/works-offline.js
index 79632410ce8f..98c751bfc222 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/audits/works-offline.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/audits/works-offline.js
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ class WorksOffline extends Audit {
    */
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Offline',
       name: 'works-offline',
       description: 'Responds with a 200 when offline',
       failureDescription: 'Does not respond with a 200 when offline',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/closure/typedefs/Audit.js b/lighthouse-core/closure/typedefs/Audit.js
index a0fab0873e90..8e0aee703dff 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/closure/typedefs/Audit.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/closure/typedefs/Audit.js
@@ -15,9 +15,6 @@
  */
 function AuditMeta() {}
 
-/** @type {string} */
-AuditMeta.prototype.category;
-
 /** @type {string} */
 AuditMeta.prototype.name;
 
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/closure/typedefs/AuditResult.js b/lighthouse-core/closure/typedefs/AuditResult.js
index 0a48fff40eb8..6a1ea1da9eb6 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/closure/typedefs/AuditResult.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/closure/typedefs/AuditResult.js
@@ -83,9 +83,6 @@ AuditFullResult.prototype.extendedInfo;
 /** @type {string} */
 AuditFullResult.prototype.name;
 
-/** @type {string} */
-AuditFullResult.prototype.category;
-
 /** @type {string} */
 AuditFullResult.prototype.description;
 
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/config/config.js b/lighthouse-core/config/config.js
index f6da1145ed14..3ccb714ec20b 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/config/config.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/config/config.js
@@ -179,10 +179,6 @@ function assertValidAudit(auditDefinition, auditPath) {
     throw new Error(`${auditName} has no meta.name property, or the property is not a string.`);
   }
 
-  if (typeof auditDefinition.meta.category !== 'string') {
-    throw new Error(`${auditName} has no meta.category property, or the property is not a string.`);
-  }
-
   if (typeof auditDefinition.meta.description !== 'string') {
     throw new Error(
       `${auditName} has no meta.description property, or the property is not a string.`
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/test/audits/accessibility/axe-audit-test.js b/lighthouse-core/test/audits/accessibility/axe-audit-test.js
index 1e208786ce3d..128e2e0cb07f 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/test/audits/accessibility/axe-audit-test.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/test/audits/accessibility/axe-audit-test.js
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ describe('Accessibility: axe-audit', () => {
       class FakeA11yAudit extends AxeAudit {
         static get meta() {
           return {
-            category: 'Accessibility',
             name: 'fake-aria-fail',
             description: 'You have an aria-* issue.',
             requiredArtifacts: ['Accessibility'],
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/test/audits/manual-audit-test.js b/lighthouse-core/test/audits/manual-audit-test.js
index adf3a1946df4..f452af3a92bd 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/test/audits/manual-audit-test.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/test/audits/manual-audit-test.js
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ const assert = require('assert');
 class TestAudit extends ManualAudit {
   static get meta() {
     return Object.assign({
-      category: 'AuditCategory',
       name: 'manual-audit',
       helpText: 'Some help text.',
     }, super.meta);
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/test/config/config-test.js b/lighthouse-core/test/config/config-test.js
index e09a539664a7..46b6d0096969 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/test/config/config-test.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/test/config/config-test.js
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ describe('Config', () => {
       static get meta() {
         return {
           name: 'MyAudit',
-          category: 'mine',
           description: 'My audit',
           failureDescription: 'My failing audit',
           helpText: '.',
@@ -211,10 +210,6 @@ describe('Config', () => {
       audits: [basePath + '/missing-audit'],
     }), /audit\(\) method/);
 
-    assert.throws(_ => new Config({
-      audits: [basePath + '/missing-category'],
-    }), /meta.category property/);
-
     assert.throws(_ => new Config({
       audits: [basePath + '/missing-name'],
     }), /meta.name property/);
@@ -442,7 +437,6 @@ describe('Config', () => {
       static get meta() {
         return {
           name: 'custom-audit',
-          category: 'none',
           description: 'none',
           failureDescription: 'none',
           helpText: 'none',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-audit.js b/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-audit.js
index 2a0bdb7e56c2..916124ede081 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-audit.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-audit.js
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ class MissingRequiredArtifacts extends LighthouseAudit {
   static get meta() {
     return {
       name: 'missing-category',
-      category: 'Custom',
       description: 'Missing required artifacts',
       helpText: 'This is missing required artifacts',
       requiredArtifacts: ['HTML'],
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-category.js b/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-category.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 61e4e835170a..000000000000
--- a/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-category.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * @license Copyright 2016 Google Inc. All Rights Reserved.
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the License.
- */
-
-'use strict';
-
-const LighthouseAudit = require('../../../audits/audit');
-
-class MissingRequiredArtifacts extends LighthouseAudit {
-  static get meta() {
-    return {
-      name: 'missing-category',
-      description: 'Missing required artifacts',
-      helpText: 'This is missing a required category',
-      requiredArtifacts: ['HTML'],
-    };
-  }
-
-  static audit(_) {
-    return {
-      rawValue: true,
-    };
-  }
-}
-
-module.exports = MissingRequiredArtifacts;
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-description.js b/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-description.js
index ee694e9c3887..f87ab08a032c 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-description.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-description.js
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ class MissingRequiredArtifacts extends LighthouseAudit {
   static get meta() {
     return {
       name: 'missing-description',
-      category: 'Custom',
       helpText: 'This is missing required description (and failure description)',
       requiredArtifacts: ['HTML'],
     };
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-generate-audit-result.js b/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-generate-audit-result.js
index 51eb57db4ee2..a9579d3720a5 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-generate-audit-result.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-generate-audit-result.js
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 class MissingRequiredArtifacts {
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Custom',
       name: 'missing-required-artifacts',
       description: 'Missing required artifacts',
       helpText: 'This is missing required artifacts',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-help-text.js b/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-help-text.js
index ea89013bff5a..4126b826a816 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-help-text.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-help-text.js
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ class MissingRequiredArtifacts extends LighthouseAudit {
   static get meta() {
     return {
       name: 'missing-description',
-      category: 'Custom',
       description: 'Missing required artifacts',
       failureDescription: 'Missing required artifacts is failing',
       requiredArtifacts: ['HTML'],
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-name.js b/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-name.js
index 6339dc2cdf62..f12a676ec18f 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-name.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-name.js
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ const LighthouseAudit = require('../../../audits/audit');
 class MissingRequiredArtifacts extends LighthouseAudit {
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Custom',
       description: 'Missing name',
       helpText: 'This is missing required name',
       requiredArtifacts: ['HTML'],
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-required-artifacts.js b/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-required-artifacts.js
index 6ae1d2f21b7e..0ed41d7c42de 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-required-artifacts.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/missing-required-artifacts.js
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ const LighthouseAudit = require('../../../audits/audit');
 class MissingRequiredArtifacts extends LighthouseAudit {
   static get meta() {
     return {
-      category: 'Custom',
       name: 'missing-required-artifacts',
       description: 'Missing required artifacts',
       failureDescription: 'Missing required artifacts is failing',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/require-error.js b/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/require-error.js
index 1af6b6baa5ab..40a6db098f0f 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/require-error.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/invalid-audits/require-error.js
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ class RequireErrorAudit extends LighthouseAudit {
   static get meta() {
     return {
       name: 'require-error',
-      category: 'Custom',
       description: 'Require Error',
       helpText: 'This one has a bad require()',
       requiredArtifacts: ['HTML'],
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/valid-custom-audit.js b/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/valid-custom-audit.js
index e8be18aded26..c48aac416b48 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/valid-custom-audit.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/test/fixtures/valid-custom-audit.js
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ class ValidCustomAudit extends LighthouseAudit {
   static get meta() {
     return {
       name: 'valid-audit',
-      category: 'Custom',
       description: 'Valid Audit',
       failureDescription: 'Valid failing Audit',
       helpText: 'Valid-sounding helpText',
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/test/index-test.js b/lighthouse-core/test/index-test.js
index caad68754ee6..73b9a949fd46 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/test/index-test.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/test/index-test.js
@@ -97,7 +97,6 @@ describe('Module Tests', function() {
         displayValue: '',
         rawValue: true,
         name: 'viewport',
-        category: 'Mobile Friendly',
         description: 'HTML has a viewport <meta>',
       }],
     }).then(results => {
diff --git a/lighthouse-core/test/runner-test.js b/lighthouse-core/test/runner-test.js
index 18679cd619ff..08855cec60b4 100644
--- a/lighthouse-core/test/runner-test.js
+++ b/lighthouse-core/test/runner-test.js
@@ -184,7 +184,6 @@ describe('Runner', () => {
 
   describe('Bad audit behavior handling', () => {
     const testAuditMeta = {
-      category: 'ThrowThrow',
       name: 'throwy-audit',
       description: 'Always throws',
       failureDescription: 'Always throws is failing, natch',