How We Rate
Every rating on this site is reproducible. Here is the exact framework.
Card ratings (0 to 10)
A card's score weighs five factors: earning power on real-world spend (30%), welcome bonus value at our point valuations (20%), benefits and credits measured against the annual fee assuming realistic usage, not perfect usage (25%), the value and flexibility of the rewards currency (15%), and protections plus quality of life such as travel insurance, FTF, and issuer service (10%). Invite-only status symbols score on math, which is why a Centurion rates below a $95 Hyatt card.
Point valuations
Our cents-per-point values reflect what a reasonably skilled member actually achieves through transfer partners, not theoretical maximums from one famous redemption and not the issuer's marketing floor. Valuations are reviewed when programs devalue and every page shows them consistently: the same number prices the bonus rankings, the portfolio calculator and every review.
Offer data
Every card carries its current public offer and a tracked offer history that powers the charts. Each record shows a last-verified date. Our tracker watches issuer pages and six industry publishers daily; material changes update the card page, the charts, the bonus table and the deal calendar from a single data edit.
What compensation can and cannot do
Affiliate relationships, where they exist, decide nothing editorial. They cannot move a rating, a ranking position, a verdict or a valuation. A card with no affiliate program competes on identical terms; several of our highest-rated cards pay us nothing. The full policy lives in our advertiser disclosure.
Corrections
Comments are open on every review, list and reference page. Documented corrections are applied with the data's verification date updated. The fastest way to flag something is right there on the page, or through the contact page.