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Editorial Standards

How We Review Credit Cards

Our ratings are never paid for. Every card is scored against a consistent rubric using real spending data, verified terms, and independent analysis.

Our Scoring Model

Every credit card on CardWise is assigned a score out of 5.0. That score is calculated from a weighted rubric across seven dimensions we believe matter most to real cardholders.

30%
Rewards Value
Annual earn rate × point valuation, measured against the average American spending profile ($60,000/yr)
20%
Signup Bonus
Bonus value relative to spend requirement and time window. Higher ratio = higher score
20%
Fee Value
Net annual value after subtracting the annual fee. Cards with credits are judged on realistic usage
15%
Travel Benefits
Insurance protections, lounge access, credits, and travel partner value
10%
Flexibility
Number of redemption options, transfer partners, and how difficult rewards are to use
5%
Accessibility
Credit score requirements, approval rates, and applicant inclusivity

Point Valuations

We assign dollar values to each major rewards currency based on observed transfer partner rates, portal redemption values, and published cash-out rates. Our valuations are updated monthly.

We do not use the maximum theoretical value of a point — we use the median value a real cardholder is likely to achieve. This makes our reward calculations honest and achievable.

Data Sources

Card terms are verified directly against issuer websites and updated within 48 hours of changes. We cross-reference against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's credit card database for APR accuracy. Signup bonus values are based on the current public offer and marked clearly when elevated bonuses are available.

Advertiser Disclosure: CardWise earns affiliate commissions when readers are approved for cards through our links. This commission is paid by the card issuer — never by you. Our editorial scores and rankings are 100% independent of these commercial relationships. Cards paying no affiliate commission are reviewed and ranked using the same criteria. We have turned down paid placements that would conflict with our editorial independence.

Updating Our Reviews

Credit card terms change constantly. We review all cards in our database quarterly at minimum, and immediately when major changes (APR shifts, bonus changes, benefit restructuring) are announced. Every card page shows the date it was last reviewed.

What We Don't Do

We do not accept payment to rank a card higher. We do not use "editorial content" that is actually paid advertising. We do not show different ratings based on who's reading. We do not suppress negative reviews of cards that pay us commissions.