Last updated: June 1, 2026
Rankings first
Card rankings are determined by our scoring model — not by advertiser relationships or commission rates.
Full transparency
We disclose affiliate relationships clearly on every page. You always know how we earn.
Kept current
Card terms change. We update our database when rates, fees, or bonuses change and flag outdated information.
How we select cards to review
We review credit cards based on consumer demand and category breadth — not on whether we have an affiliate relationship with the issuer. Our database covers cards across all major U.S. issuers including Chase, American Express, Capital One, Citi, Discover, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, U.S. Bank, and Barclays.
A card may appear in our database without an affiliate link. Its rank is determined solely by its CardCompass Score — the same formula applied to every card regardless of monetization status.
How our scores are calculated
Every card receives a CardCompass Score calculated from six weighted factors:
- Rewards value — annual earnings modeled against average U.S. household spending by category
- Welcome bonus value — sign-up bonus amortized over 24 months at standard point valuations
- Annual fee math — net value after subtracting the annual fee
- Redemption flexibility — how easy and valuable it is to actually use the rewards
- Accessibility — credit score requirements and estimated approval likelihood
- Foreign transaction fees — factored in for travel and airline card categories
Scores are recalculated when card terms change. Our full methodology is documented on our About page.
How we earn revenue
CardCompass is free for consumers. We earn affiliate commissions when you click an "Apply Now" link and are approved for a card. Commission rates vary by issuer and card. This is standard practice in personal finance publishing.
Compensation does not influence rankings, scores, or editorial content. A card that pays a higher commission does not rank higher as a result. Cards are ordered by their calculated value to the consumer, period. For full details, see our Advertiser DisclosureHow We Rate Cards.
Updating and correcting content
Credit card terms — APRs, bonus offers, earning rates, annual fees — change frequently. We update our card database when we become aware of changes. Where we cannot confirm current terms, we flag the card entry and encourage you to verify with the issuer before applying.
If you spot an error or outdated information, please contact us and we'll review and correct it promptly.
Affiliate link labeling
All "Apply Now" buttons on CardCompass are affiliate links unless otherwise stated. We do not use "nofollow" to hide this — we disclose it plainly. The presence of an affiliate link does not indicate editorial endorsement beyond the card's calculated score.
No sponsored placements
CardCompass does not accept payment for featured placement, guaranteed top rankings, or sponsored editorial content. If that changes, we will label sponsored content clearly and separately from organic rankings.
Contact our editorial team
Questions about our editorial process, factual corrections, or partnership inquiries: help@cardcompass.app or visit our Contact page.