Methodology

Data we collect for a card

For any product we cover, we keep a record of the following, using the issuer’s own documents:

• Card name and issuer, and who the card may suit.
• Annual fee and regular purchase APR.
• Intro APR and how long it lasts.
• Balance transfer APR and fee, and cash advance APR.
• Foreign transaction fee.
• Rewards and any welcome offer.
• Credit requirements, as the issuer describes them.
• A link to the official product page and to the source of the terms.
• The date we last checked the information.

How we verify it

1. We take terms from the issuer’s website, rates and fees table or cardholder agreement. Other websites may point us to a product, but they do not count as verification.
2. We record the date we checked and the source link.
3. A record stays private until it has been marked verified. Our site is built so unverified terms are not shown to readers.
4. We recheck records periodically. If a record is out of date and has not been rechecked, we take it down or mark it as outdated.

Terms can change at any time, and offers may vary by applicant. So you should always confirm the current terms with the issuer before applying.

How we compare products

We compare products according to what a reader is trying to do:

Goal	What we look at first
Starting or rebuilding credit	Reporting to credit bureaus, total fees, deposit terms, path to an unsecured card
Earning rewards	Net value on sample spending after fees, caps, redemption rules
Paying down debt	Transfer fee, length of promotional period, regular rate afterward
Financing a purchase	Intro APR period, regular rate afterward, fees
Traveling	Foreign transaction fee, annual fee, redemption flexibility

When we use sample spending or balances, we show them, so you can replace them with your own using our calculators.

Scores and rankings

We do not currently assign scores or star ratings to products. If we introduce a scoring system, we will publish how it works, including its criteria and weights, and base it only on data we can verify. A ranking is an editorial judgment, and we will describe it as one, not as the result of laboratory-style testing.

What we will not claim

• That we tested a card, unless we actually held and used it, and say so.
• That a card is the best for everyone.
• That you will be approved, or that your credit score will change by any amount.
• That our comparison covers every card on the market. It will not.

Calculators

Our calculators use standard math and stated assumptions, such as a fixed payment and an APR divided by 12 for each month. Real issuers often calculate interest daily, and your balance and fees can change. Results are estimates. Each calculator explains its own assumptions.

Commercial relationships

Any future payment from an issuer will not buy a placement or a favorable conclusion in our editorial content. If a comparison ever includes paid links, it will say so. See our Affiliate Disclosure.