How MoneyGeek Rates and Reviews Credit Cards

At MoneyGeek, we know that details matter. The right credit cards not only save you money but also provide peace of mind. You can rely on our credit card ratings whether you're shopping for a new card or simply checking to see if there's a better option than your current one. Here’s why:

We collect 32 data points for over 240 of the most popular cards in the US, from redemption rate options to penalty APRs. These data points are used directly or in calculated values, such as the rate of return on an introductory cash back offer. We update our card data almost daily and assess each card every 90 days.

We focus on value, not the marketing copy. We develop our ratings by calculating the economic value of each card's offerings, from the worth of rewards points to access to airport lounges. Then, we match these values with our in-house consumer spending models based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Our team adheres to editorial standards, so you can be confident that our advice is unbiased and fact-based.

There's no single "best" card — every card has strengths and weaknesses. We develop and maintain multiple credit card rating systems to help you find the best card for your needs and lifestyle. In the sections below, we outline the rating methodology for each card category.

The Balance Transfer Card rating is designed to help you find the best card for managing debt. We use this rating on our Best Balance Transfer Cards page. The top two factors in our scoring methodology are the balance transfer offer and the introductory purchase APR.

The entire list of factors we consider, in order of priority, are as follows:

• Balance Transfer Offer
• Introductory Purchase APR Offer
• Regular APR
• Recommended Credit Rating
• Annual Fees
• Issuer Satisfaction
• Penalties (Late Fees and Penalty APRs)
• Reward Rates

A robust balance transfer offer can provide a lengthy period of low or no interest. The balance transfer offer is scored by calculating the interest savings, which includes the length of the introductory APR period, the introductory APR, and any balance transfer fees. In general, we give high scores to cards with long 0% intro APR periods, even if these cards have higher balance transfer fees. 

A favorable introductory purchase APR prevents new purchases from accruing high interest while you’re working on your balance transfer. This is scored based on the length of the 0% APR introductory period.

Cash back cards can be challenging to assess due to the variety of rewards programs. Is 5% cash back on rotating categories with a quarterly maximum better than a flat cash back card? MoneyGeek's ratings turn this complexity into a simple score that guides users to the best cash back cards. The top two factors in our ratings are the effective reward rate and annual fee.

Our comprehensive rating methodology includes the following factors based on their importance:

• Effective Reward Rate
• Annual Fee
• Intro Purchase Offer APR
• Recommended Credit
• Issuer Satisfaction
• Penalties (Late Fees and Penalty APRs)
• Foreign Transaction Fees
• Introductory Bonus Offer

We calculate the effective reward rate using our average consumer spending model combined with the card’s cash back rates, including spending caps. We use the prior two years of categories for quarterly rotating cards as potential categories.

Annual fees are ranked across all cards in our database and given a score between 5 and 1, where 5 corresponds to no annual fees. 

MoneyGeek's dining card rating translates a card’s features into straightforward scores, guiding users to the best dining cards. The top two factors in our methodology are the expected dining rewards and the annual fees, which impact the value you receive from the card.

The entire list of factors we consider, in order of importance, are as follows:

• Expected Dining Rewards
• Annual Fees
• Issuer Satisfaction
• Overall Reward Rate
• Intro Purchase APR Offer
• Recommended Credit
• Penalties
• Foreign Transaction Fees

When it comes to dining cards, we give the most significant scoring weight to the card's expected dining rewards. We calculate all expected rewards for spending categories using the same methodology. We run two scenarios. The first is using the card exclusively for spending in the category, in this case, dining. The second is looking at the rewards earned in the category when the card is used for all purchases. 

The second largest factor is the rating of annual fees. This takes into account whether a card charges an annual fee and, if so, how that fee might offset the benefits earned through dining rewards. It's a balance between cost and benefit that can significantly affect the net value of the card's rewards.

MoneyGeek's ratings provide a streamlined comparison that helps users identify the cards that offer the best value for their fuel purchases. The top two factors in our gas rewards ratings are the expected gas rewards and the annual fees, which are crucial in determining how much value a cardholder can get from their spending at gas stations. For more details on the best gas rewards cards, visit our Best Gas Rewards Cards page.

The entire list of factors we consider, in order of importance, are as follows:

• Expected Gas Rewards
• Annual Fees
• Issuer Satisfaction
• Overall Reward Rate
• Intro Purchase APR Offer
• Recommended Credit
• Penalties
• Foreign Transaction Fees

For gas cards, the factor that we’ve given the largest weight is the expected gas rewards rating, which reflects the direct benefits a cardholder receives when using the card for gas purchases. This rating is calculated based on the rewards multiplier for gas purchases and any additional benefits specifically related to fuel spending.

The second most significant factor is the annual fee rating. This takes into account whether a card charges an annual fee and, if so, how that fee might reduce the benefits earned through gas rewards.

The top two factors in our grocery rewards ratings are the expected grocery rewards and the annual fees, which are vital in determining how much value a cardholder can get from their spending at grocery stores. For more details on the best grocery rewards cards, visit our Best Grocery Rewards Cards page.

The entire list of factors we consider, in order of importance, are as follows:

• Expected Grocery Rewards
• Annual Fees
• Issuer Satisfaction
• Overall Reward Rate
• Intro Purchase APR Offer
• Recommended Credit
• Penalties
• Foreign Transaction Fees

We give expected grocery rewards the largest weight when scoring grocery cards, reflecting the direct benefits a cardholder receives when using the card for grocery purchases. Note that we exclude superstore and warehouse store purchases when calculating grocery rewards. 

The second largest factor is the rating of annual fees. This takes into account whether a card charges an annual fee and, if so, how that fee might offset the benefits earned through grocery rewards. It's a balance between cost and benefit that can significantly impact the net value of the card's rewards.

The top two factors in our zero-interest card ratings are the introductory purchase APR offer and the balance transfer offer. These are critical for those looking to manage existing debt or make large purchases without accruing interest immediately. These factors are weighted heavily and evenly in our ratings because they directly affect the cards' cost-saving potential.

The entire list of factors we consider, in order of priority, are as follows:

• Balance Transfer Offer Rating
• Introductory Purchase APR Offer Rating
• Recommended Credit Rating
• Issuer Satisfaction Rating
• Penalties Rating
• Annual Fee Rating
• Effective Reward Rate Rating

Learn more about our top-rated cards in our Best Zero-Interest Cards review page.

Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) are four-digit numbers used to classify businesses based on the type of goods or services they provide. These codes categorize businesses primarily by the type of goods or services they provide. Every merchant accepting card payments, from restaurants and gas stations to airlines and grocery stores, is assigned an MCC.

Credit card issuers use MCCs to determine how much cash back, points or miles you can earn on purchases. For instance, if a credit card offers 3% cash back on all purchases at grocery stores, the card issuer will look at the MCC to verify whether your purchase was indeed made at a grocery store. The merchant’s bank codes each transaction you make, and when that transaction is processed, your credit card issuer uses the MCC to decide if your purchase qualifies for enhanced rewards.

By considering MCCs in our credit card evaluations, we ensure that our recommendations reflect each card's actual earning potential, giving you a clearer picture of what to expect from your credit card rewards.

We collect credit card data from the issuer’s websites as well as the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau's credit card agreement database. We review each card in our database for accuracy at least every 24 hours and update our insights whenever appropriate. Here are the data points we collect: