How do we evaluate credit cards?

At CardCritics™, all credit cards are evaluated based on a consistent set of criteria to ensure fairness and transparency. We look closely at key factors such as fees, interest rates, balance transfer options, introductory bonuses, rewards programs, and additional cardholder benefits. Our goal is to provide you with unbiased, data-driven reviews that help you find the best credit card to meet your specific financial needs.

Our Evaluation Criteria

Our critics assess each card using the following attributes:

  • Annual Fee: How much cardholders are charged annually for keeping the card.
  • Ongoing APR Range: The regular interest rates applied to purchases after introductory periods expire.
  • Intro APR for Purchases: Any promotional lower interest rates on new purchases when the card is first opened.
  • Intro APR for Balance Transfers: Special introductory interest rates for transferring a balance from another card.
  • Balance Transfer Fee: The cost of transferring a balance, typically expressed as a percentage of the transfer amount.
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: Fees charged when making purchases outside the U.S. in a foreign currency.
  • Other Fees: Additional charges, such as late payment fees or over-limit fees.
  • Intro Bonus Value: The value of any welcome bonuses for new cardholders.
  • Intro Bonus Spend Requirement: The amount you need to spend to qualify for a bonus.
  • Intro Bonus Spend Timeframe: The period you need to meet the spend requirement.
  • Ongoing Rewards Base Rate: The standard rewards rate for all purchases, outside of bonus categories.
  • Ongoing Rewards Category Rates: Higher reward rates for specific spending categories, like dining or travel.
  • Rewards Category Flexibility: The ability to change or customize which spending categories earn higher rewards.
  • Rewards Category Diversity: How diverse the categories offering higher rewards are.
  • Rewards Caps: Whether there’s a limit on how much you can earn in rewards.
  • Additional Perks: Extra benefits such as extended warranties, purchase protections, or concierge services.
  • Travel Benefits: Special travel-related perks, such as airport lounge access or no foreign transaction fees.
  • Accessibility: How easily applicants can qualify, including requirements to be a member of a specific bank or organization.

How We Score

For each attribute, we establish a baseline, and cards are scored based on how they compare to this baseline. These scores are weighted differently depending on the type of card. For instance, a card in the Balance Transfer category will have more weight placed on its balance transfer fees and introductory APR, while a Travel card may score higher if it offers strong rewards on travel-related purchases or travel perks.

Once the individual attribute scores are calculated, we combine them to produce a category-specific rating. Each card also receives an overall rating, which is based on its performance in its main card category, such as Cash Back, Low APR, or Travel.

Unbiased and Transparent

CardCritics™ is an ad-supported site. We may receive compensation from card issuers when you apply for a card through our site. This compensation may influence which cards are featured across our site, however, it does not influence our evaluation process. Our ratings and opinions are completely our own and are not commissioned by any of our advertising partners. We are committed to providing you with the most accurate and unbiased reviews to help you find the credit card that best suits your needs.