Find the credit card that earns you the most rewards
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Ranked by net annual rewards value (earnings minus annual fee).
Our calculator takes your actual monthly spending across eight categories — groceries, dining, gas, travel, online shopping, streaming, utilities, and everything else — and runs it against a database of 16 popular credit cards. For each card, we multiply your spending by the card's earn rate in each category, convert points to dollar value using current valuations from The Points Guy, subtract the annual fee, and rank the results by net annual value. It's pure math — no opinions, no bias.
Not all points are created equal. Cashback is always worth 1 cent per point. Travel points vary: Chase Ultimate Rewards points are valued at 2.05 cents each, Amex Membership Rewards at 2.0 cents, and Capital One Miles at 1.85 cents. These valuations reflect typical redemption value through each program's travel portal. Transferring points to airline or hotel partners can sometimes yield even higher value — 3-5 cents per point or more — but requires more effort and flexibility.
Crypto rewards cards like the Coinbase Card offer a different proposition: instead of fixed cashback or points, you earn cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.) on every purchase. The upside is that your rewards could appreciate significantly over time. The downside is volatility — your rewards could also lose value. The Coinbase Card is a debit card (not credit), meaning you spend from your existing crypto balance. The Coinbase One Credit Card offers 4% Bitcoin back but requires a $30/month subscription. Use our calculator's Crypto Corner to see how crypto rewards compare to traditional cards at your spending level.
Want to learn more? Check out our guide to the best 0% APR credit cards for financing large purchases, or read our comparison of BNPL vs. credit cards to understand the full cost of different payment methods.