Methodology

No proof,
no credit. Simple.

Our methodology is built on transparency, issuer data, and your real usage — so you can make the right decision before your annual fee hits.

Independent
Privacy-first
No bank login
No issuer bias
Just the math

Our philosophy in one glance

Counted in ROI

  • Annual fees

    The real cost you pay.

  • Statement credits

    Fixed dollar credits from issuers.

  • Reset frequency

    Monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual.

  • Enrollment requirements

    We flag what's required to unlock value.

  • Authorized user fees

    When applicable, we include them.

  • Your statement override

    Your real usage always wins.

Listed but not counted

  • Lounge access

    Value is subjective and varies by person.

  • Hotel status

    Benefits and value vary wildly by user.

  • Concierge services

    Highly subjective. Not a fixed dollar value.

  • Points & miles

    Value depends on how you redeem them.

  • Marketing estimates

    We don't use inflated or issuer-supplied guesses.

If the issuer doesn't publish a fixed dollar value, we don't count it.

How our methodology works

1

We verify every dollar.

We collect credit and fee data directly from issuer pages, cardmember agreements, and official terms.

Every data point includes a last verified date so you know it's current.

See our sources
2

We show reset timing clearly.

Credits reset at different intervals. We show exactly when each credit resets so you never miss value.

MonthlyQuarterlySemiannualAnnualUse-it-or-lose-it
3

We account for enrollment.

If a credit requires enrollment, we clearly flag it. If it requires using a specific portal, we show that too.

No hidden requirements. No surprises.

4

We let your statement override.

Our data is powerful, but your real statement is the final say.

Upload a PDF, review matches, and confirm what counts. Your confirmed matches update your Fee Report.

How statement scan works
5

We calculate using real math.

Net Value = Captured Value − Annual Fee

Break-even Progress shows how close you are to covering your fee. No fluff. Just arithmetic.

See an example report
6

We stay updated.

Issuer benefits change. We monitor, verify, and update cards regularly.

You'll always see the last verified date on every card page.

View change log

Why you can trust the bottom line

Independent

We don't rank cards. We measure them. The bottom line is based on your usage, not partnerships.

Transparent

Every credit, fee, and rule is shown. No black boxes. You can see the logic behind every number.

User-controlled

You decide what counts. You can edit, override, or exclude anything.

Privacy-first

No bank login. No Plaid. No aggregators. Your data stays yours.

Do the math that works for you.

Stop guessing. Start knowing. See if your card is worth the fee.

  • No bank login
  • No guesswork
  • Just verified dollar math
  • Your statement wins